SD card erasing - One (M7) Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

Hi guys
I'd like to erase my sd card. In the last time i've flashed several roms. Now, i have in system storage two part, one is emulated where is a 0 map with all file i have, end the other one is sdcard0, and there are also all files. Because i have only 5G free space, i want to erase one of them. I want to copy the necessary files to my pc, and the whole sd erase, after then copy back the folder i need. Can i do so? Don't will i erase my rom too?
thanks

mohab216 said:
I'd like to erase my sd card.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
First of all, do you have a real SD card? If so, you don't have the same phone as 99% of people in the HTC One subforum, because the HTC One has no SD card. But in short, nothing you can delete as non-root will hurt your ROM. If you're using a file manager and deleting stuff, you're pretty safe. You can get into more trouble with factory resets or "wipes".

fenstre said:
First of all, do you have a real SD card? If so, you don't have the same phone as 99% of people in the HTC One subforum, because the HTC One has no SD card. But in short, nothing you can delete as non-root will hurt your ROM. If you're using a file manager and deleting stuff, you're pretty safe. You can get into more trouble with factory resets or "wipes".
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Tnaks. It is of course a virtual sd card

You can format it via CWM/TWRP recovery. Back up first, format and put back what you need.
No it won't erase your Rom or wipe. If u use twrp, be sure you uncheck all marks except SDcard (think it's the bottom one)

Note that if you "format internal storage" in CWM, it *will* wipe all your app data. I don't think you want that.
There are "fake" folders on Android 4. The real folders you should have are:
/data/media/0
/data/media/obb (optional)
/data/media/legacy (this is empty on my phone)
You should have no other folders in /data/media. If you see other folders and delete them, it will probably solve your problem. If you don't, your problem may have a more complicated solution.

Related

[q] im about to destroy my nexus!!!!!!!!!

Soooooooooooooo many problems..
1) When I try to delete stuff off my SD card (music, movies, pictures) they will delete but then when I plug my phone into my computer THEY ARE BACK THERE AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
2) When I try to partition my SD card to get a Ext4 partition, all I get is errors.
3) When I put a ROM Zip file on my SD (from my computer), it is there, when I boot into recovery and try to install the zip; i choose install zip from SD card and it isn't there.
Why is my Nexus One trying to piss me off? I've never had issues like these ever!
My Galaxy S, Galaxy S II, and Atrix never did this.
If anyone knows whats going on and can help fix this BS, that'b be awesome. If not, then I will just take this garbage to the shooting range next week.
Your SD card is most likely corrupted / unusable.
Jack_R1 said:
Your SD card is most likely corrupted / unusable.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Is there any way to fix it?
I tried the 4GB that came with my N1, and it doesn't have the same issue....
Do i have to buy a new one?
Try to format it in Windows.
Jack_R1 said:
Try to format it in Windows.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Would disk defrag help?
No, either completely wipe the card or just get a new one. That's simple...
Wow, taking anger out on the phone when its the sd card's problem..
Try formatting it, not just deleting the data. If another card works then it is definitely the card. Stuff happens, just get a new card if anything.
if you are going to format in windows as Jack suggested, use sdformatter--
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/28338566/SDFormatter 2.0.mht
format with full erase and size adjustment on
keep your swap at 0 when you repartition card when back in phone
if that doesn't work--need new card
also wiping system is important when flashing new rom. i like temasek's extreme wipe that is flashable thru recovery--
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/28338566/Extreme-wipe.zip
i still wipe data and caches after flashing the zip, usually wipe all 3x
ken

[Q] Internal SD card not recognized CyanogenMod 7 nightly

I've just now flashed the latest Cyanogenmod 7 nightly on my O2X, and I'm experiencing a problem with my internal SD card.
Any app that want to use the internal SD card is unable to do so because supposedly the card is not mounted, while under Settings - Storage - Internal SD Card, it gives me an option to unmount the card. I've tried unmounting and mounting again, but that didn't do anything.
When I connect my phone to my laptop using USB, the only option I get is the USB Debugging (if I have that on). The only way to get the option to turn on USB storage is if I power off the phone, connect the USB and then power up the phone. That way I get the option to turn on USB storage, but when I do that, nothing happens on the computer or the phone.
If I reboot the phone in recovery mode, then I can select instal zip from internal sd card and then see the different folders on the card, but I have not dared to see if can actually flash Cyanogenmod again in fear of not being able to get any kind of contact with my sd card.
Now I realize that there are ways of fixing this issue, but is there a way that will help me keep the data I have on my internal sd card? I have a lot of information on it that I don't want to lose at all.
Even ideas of how I could backup the internal sd card so that I can just go crazy and format the card would highly appreciated! I've tried the Software Data Cable app, but that didn't work either.
Any help you can give me would be a major relief as I have been struggling with this problem through the night without much results.
Some info:
Before flash: Stock Gingerbread (Android 2.3.4)
Flashed ROM: CyanogenMod-7-20120313-NIGHTLY-p990 (Android 2.3.7)
Phone: LG Optimus 2X p990
No external SD card
Accessing internal storage
Go to settings - CyanogenMod Settings - Application
And check the Internal storage box.
If you have issues with some apps check the "allow moving.." as well
AND change the install location to internal. On automatic this should work anyway since you are not using an externalSD.
--- REMEMBER TO REBOOT---
If you are still having problems fix permissions and reflash the same nightly or a newer one. (data is not lost... dont wipe)
Dont think this applies to you.. but just in case.
If you still have issues with any apps and their settings. Delete the app data at the Application Manager. Then before opening/running the app, delete its associated folders on the sd. (You should be able to mount by now.) Reboot and things should be working fine. Dont worry about this last paragraph if you are not having issues with apps not saving data/starting/cant find sd card etc. Since you dont have a external SD.
Yeah, I found this out just two minutes ago, and now everything works! Thanks a lot elkhawkes!
Woah, I'm happy now!
I don't see why this isn't standard in CyanogenMod though. What are the benefits of "hiding" the internal SD card like that? Is it considered that people who flash CyanogenMod doesn't have anything useful on their internal SD, but rather the external one? At least for me, I had a lot of application data, pictures and text files I needed on the internal SD card.
Well, anyways, all is well for me now, so far...
Ok, I've noticed a problem.
You were right about some apps having problems. It seems like Whatsapp and SwiftKey is unable to save their stats. Message count and keystroke count returns to 0 every time I reboot. Its not the biggest problem, but it might be a symptom of a bigger problem, so I want to fix it.
I have tried all the different suggestions you mention for solving problems with apps, but none of them work. Even when I delete the Whatsapp folder on the internal SD card, the app still has problems saving its stats. I guess that might be because there are more Whatsapp files in one of the android folders on the card.
I was thinking that I might be able to do this sequence of things to fix it, but I'd like to get some confirmation that it might work and I won't brick my phone or will be having to buy and external SD card:
1. Copy everything on the internal SD card to my computer. (Already done!)
2. Re-flash the latest CyanogenMod nightly (and Google Apps) from the internal SD card using ROM Manager and delete all data cache, dalvik and so on.
3. Before installing any apps I go to Settings - CyanogenMod settings - Application and check Use internal storage. That way my internal SD card will be "visible".
4. Go to Settings - Storage and then selecting Erase SD card (note this is the internal SD card, I do not have an external card).
Questions:
- Will step 4. delete everything on the SD card, including all files in the Android folders?
- Will I still be able to use my phone with Cyanogenmod without having any files on the internal SD card (and no external card in the phone) or does flashing CyanogenMod or any other ROM on the phone install crucial files on the internal SD card? I want to know this for sure, because if I can't, then I will have no way of returning to a working ROM or flash a new one. I want to avoid a brick at all cost.
- Can I then start installing all the apps I want and then trying to copy only the folders containing for example the media and messages folders for Whatsapp back to the SD card to recover those on the fresh install?
** What about the Factory data reset option in CyanogenMod? Is that something I can use for this? Will the phone be reset to "factory" with CyanogenMod installed and no other old files on it, so that everything is fresh and I can install my apps and then copy media/backup folders to get the apps running without problems and with my old media?
Any help with this matter would be highly appreciated!
Testing7 said:
Questions:
- Will step 4. delete everything on the SD card, including all files in the Android folders?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes.
- Will I still be able to use my phone with Cyanogenmod without having any files on the internal SD card (and no external card in the phone) or does flashing CyanogenMod or any other ROM on the phone install crucial files on the internal SD card? I want to know this for sure, because if I can't, then I will have no way of returning to a working ROM or flash a new one. I want to avoid a brick at all cost.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Short answer: Yes. Long answer: No properly made Android version should depend on certain files being present on the SD-card. CM7 is a "proper" version.
- Can I then start installing all the apps I want and then trying to copy only the folders containing for example the media and messages folders for Whatsapp back to the SD card to recover those on the fresh install?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You should in most cases be able to do that, yes. You may run into trouble if you copy the data back after installing the app if it is running at the time. You may want to mount USB storage/copy data while in CWM to be sure that does not happen.
** What about the Factory data reset option in CyanogenMod? Is that something I can use for this? Will the phone be reset to "factory" with CyanogenMod installed and no other old files on it, so that everything is fresh and I can install my apps and then copy media/backup folders to get the apps running without problems and with my old media?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, you should be able to do this. (Be aware that a factory reset, whether built-on or CWM, does not delete anything on the SDcard.) Some apps may initialize their external storage on the first start, some apps may find inconsistencies in the external data, especially if they use som kind of secure or encrypted storage, but that is probably not very common
Fix for apps
... Follow the steps in my post above and then uninstall the effected app, reboot and install again.
If you have backed up the whatsapp folder. Put it back on the sdcard before running the newly installed whatsapp and it should ask to import the backed up files.
- I think it only works if you place the files back before running the freshly installed app.
I`m guessing you might have tried this already. Hope this helps
Like Testing7 said, the files visible on the sd card are safe to delete but erasing the sd and factory resetting is probably not necessary. Personally I backup my important folders.. whatsapp etc on the pc regularly and erase the sd all the time. Its not really neccessary and I do this because I like to keep it clean and its just a "bad" habit from testing out different roms. The folders there are generally just clutter and also use a minimum amount of space, so really it is up to you. They do build up again pretty fast so dont worry about it.
- If you are still having problems... Just start from scratch again
# Backup - SMS and apps... I use Sms/app backup and restore... 2 separate apps on market (both free).
# Copy necessary folders and files to pc - then erase SD
# Recovery - Wipe cache, factory reset, Dalvik, battery stats ... on full battery
# Reflash nightly cm7
# Change all settings like in my first post and then reinstall all apps and backup files.
# And remember to restore files first before running the apps for the first time

[Q] move file to the REAL EXTERNAL SD

peple, i can't believe is so hard to find information about this big problem.
HOW CAN I MOVE INSTALLED APPS TO MY EXTERNAL SD??
I tried all "App2SD" in google play, but looks like Optimus 2x mount its SD in a different way, so what these apps does is move apps to/from internal memory (it is not the same as internal sd??? why 2?) and internal sd.
So i boght a 32GB sd for just videos and mp3???
I googled and found a link talking about "Mod Install Location".
Well, this "Mod Install" doesn't work too. I can't install news apps in external sd nor can i move installed apps.
No one bottered with this situation too???? Is impossible to move installed files in Optimus 2x do the external SD?
install CM7 Custom ROM
siibel said:
install CM7 Custom ROM
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What exactly that does?
But i want to try another ROMs. There is not another way?
Another question about this SD problem: looks like that after flash roms and firwares the internal sd will be totally wiped. Well, so Titanium Backup is useless for Optimus 2x, as it doens't let choose directory for backups. Solution?
presuntinho said:
What exactly that does?
But i want to try another ROMs. There is not another way?
Another question about this SD problem: looks like that after flash roms and firwares the internal sd will be totally wiped. Well, so Titanium Backup is useless for Optimus 2x, as it doens't let choose directory for backups. Solution?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
+1 on CM7. That ROM will render your internal SD useless as EVERYTHING can be thrown to the external SD.
I have Titanium Backup Pro and there's an option to choose the backup location in preferences. I'm pretty sure it's also present in the free version.
(TB is very useful for me. Enough for me to purchase it.)
If you are using app2sd from market to move your application to sdcard, meaning you can do it manually from your application manager, each and every app you click will have a button to move to sd. App2sd market app just simplifies this process. Please note that this method only moves some app files to the sdcard not all of it, it will still leave app dalvik and app user data on the internal memory.
The real app2sd/app2sd+/data2sd that creates a link from your internal phone data partition and relocate your data folder to external sd are script based, and you have to make a ext3/4 partition on your external sdcard in addition to your fat32 partition. This is what you need If you want to totally move all data to external sdcard.
I have not seen ppl making tutorials using this script in o2x forum, because the 1.5gb app space is good for most people, unless if you have alot of games in your phone. For what I know the app2sd+ script is universal for all phones, you may just need to make some modifications to the script to make it work on every specific phone type/model.
About the flashing firmware wiping internal sd, I have not encountered such issue. For what reason do you flash a firmware? I havent tried flashing rom the official way since you can just use cwm to flash rom, but I flash baseband alot of times, no internal sd wipes, but it does wipe data partition.
TB doesn't let you change the backup folder like that. You have to copy the "TitaniumBackup" folder with a few backup files to where ever you want and then the app scans for folders with backups.
salisbury_steak said:
+1 on CM7. That ROM will render your internal SD useless as EVERYTHING can be thrown to the external SD.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
But i will lost the 8 GB of this "internal SD" or i can still use it?
You have games installed in the external SD? They run as faster as in the internal?
Thanks
Chris4evernoob said:
TB doesn't let you change the backup folder like that. You have to copy the "TitaniumBackup" folder with a few backup files to where ever you want and then the app scans for folders with backups.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
After flashing a ROM or firware i just open TB and it will recognize the old backups? I just install TB and then overwrite with the old folder?
Thanks
tablighs said:
If you are using app2sd from market to move your application to sdcard, meaning you can do it manually from your application manager, each and every app you click will have a button to move to sd. App2sd market app just simplifies this process. Please note that this method only moves some app files to the sdcard not all of it, it will still leave app dalvik and app user data on the internal memory.
The real app2sd/app2sd+/data2sd that creates a link from your internal phone data partition and relocate your data folder to external sd are script based, and you have to make a ext3/4 partition on your external sdcard in addition to your fat32 partition. This is what you need If you want to totally move all data to external sdcard.
I have not seen ppl making tutorials using this script in o2x forum, because the 1.5gb app space is good for most people, unless if you have alot of games in your phone. For what I know the app2sd+ script is universal for all phones, you may just need to make some modifications to the script to make it work on every specific phone type/model.
About the flashing firmware wiping internal sd, I have not encountered such issue. For what reason do you flash a firmware? I havent tried flashing rom the official way since you can just use cwm to flash rom, but I flash baseband alot of times, no internal sd wipes, but it does wipe data partition.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If i use the external sd with ext3/4 using the entire space, i will able to send file using usb, bluetooth, etc? I mean, there is any colateral?
Moving all data to MicroSD make the apps run slowly?
2 big games are enough to almost fill the entire internal memory.
tablighs said:
About the flashing firmware wiping internal sd, I have not encountered such issue. For what reason do you flash a firmware? I havent tried flashing rom the official way since you can just use cwm to flash rom, but I flash baseband alot of times, no internal sd wipes, but it does wipe data partition.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, maybe is my enlglish that is horrible, but that is what i understand reading this:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=26191714&postcount=3
"Installing this file WILL fully wipe your device, including the Internal SD. Back up!"
So:
1 Changing the ROm will wipe the internal sd?
2 Changing the firware (firmware and baseband are the same thing, correct) will?
presuntinho said:
If i use the external sd with ext3/4 using the entire space, i will able to send file using usb, bluetooth, etc? I mean, there is any colateral?
Moving all data to MicroSD make the apps run slowly?
2 big games are enough to almost fill the entire internal memory.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you use app2sd+ script method, everything will function normally. A class 6 or 10 sdcard can perform as fast as your internal phone storage. You may wear your sdcard faster though since it is being regularly used and accessed.
The only problem is to fine the script itself that is specifically customised for o2x, I myself do not know how to do it, although I used it before for my HTC Desire phone, but that was long time ago and the script was integrated in custom roms since htc desire only has 150mb app space.
presuntinho said:
Well, maybe is my enlglish that is horrible, but that is what i understand reading this:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=26191714&postcount=3
"Installing this file WILL fully wipe your device, including the Internal SD. Back up!"
So:
1 Changing the ROm will wipe the internal sd?
2 Changing the firware (firmware and baseband are the same thing, correct) will?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, all threads will say that, its just cautionary purposes. I just recently reflashed my baseband to v20c a a month ago using smartflash, it did wipe my rom data, but not my internal sd. But just incase, make a backup of everything, it doesn't hurt to do that.
tablighs said:
If you use app2sd+ script method, everything will function normally..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
but to use apps2sd +script i need to have a partition ext3 or ext4, right? This partition in ext3 will work with usb, bluetooth, etc?
It is a good option to have the enitre microsd in ext3 instead 1 partition in ext3 and 1 in fat32?
Thanks
presuntinho said:
but to use apps2sd +script i need to have a partition ext3 or ext4, right? This partition in ext3 will work with usb, bluetooth, etc?
It is a good option to have the enitre microsd in ext3 instead 1 partition in ext3 and 1 in fat32?
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The ext partition will always be mounted for android system, so you cannot access via pc. You need a fat32+ext3/4 partitions combo.
First you need to know how much storage do you need for apps, please note that I think the internal 1.5gb app storage will be left unused if you decide to link your data (which will fool android system thinking it is phone memory) folder to your external sd.
We have talk too much on this topic but I myself is unsure whether you can find the script to run on o2x. Maybe its time for you to take some time on how to actually find and modify one so it works for o2x. I cannot help you on that at all. Keep us posted if you have any progress.
tablighs said:
The ext partition will always be mounted for android system, so you cannot access via pc. You need a fat32+ext3/4 partitions combo.
First you need to know how much storage do you need for apps, please note that I think the internal 1.5gb app storage will be left unused if you decide to link your data (which will fool android system thinking it is phone memory) folder to your external sd.
We have talk too much on this topic but I myself is unsure whether you can find the script to run on o2x. Maybe its time for you to take some time on how to actually find and modify one so it works for o2x. I cannot help you on that at all. Keep us posted if you have any progress.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
But can i alternatively make a backup of big games in the sd so i don't need to download 700 MB every time i want to install it again? As already said Titanium Backup will not do that. I could cut and paste only the backup of the game i want to sd, but Titanium show the name of backups in a way wich is dificult to read among many files. Plus i am not sure TB will backup all data of the game.

sdcard "01" folder in internal storage

Today, I have experienced a very "odd" problem. I have just found out that there is a folder called "storage" visible in my Internal Storage.
When I thought that, since it was visible, it did not contain much useful files (Only 2 xml files I found which would be in both internal and external storage) so I deleted that folder and everything in my SD Card and Internal Storage vanished.
I found out that the "storage" folder had a link to both storage devices but the weird thing is, why was that there and why is it visible? I could of sworn that I have never seen that before on my Xperia Z...
Can anyone else see their "storage" folder in the internal storage or is it just me?
ZeroInfinity said:
Today, I have experienced a very "odd" problem. I have just found out that there is a folder called "storage" visible in my Internal Storage.
When I thought that, since it was visible, it did not contain much useful files (Only 2 xml files I found which would be in both internal and external storage) so I deleted that folder and everything in my SD Card and Internal Storage vanished.
I found out that the "storage" folder had a link to both storage devices but the weird thing is, why was that there and why is it visible? I could of sworn that I have never seen that before on my Xperia Z...
Can anyone else see their "storage" folder in the internal storage or is it just me?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi.
At root, i have sdcard and sdcard1 and storage. Inside storage folder i have sdcard0 and sdcard1. I have seen this before for long time ago.
CiscoX said:
Hi.
At root, i have sdcard and sdcard1 and storage. Inside storage folder i have sdcard0 and sdcard1. I have seen this before for long time ago.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
but this is totally different from what I have experienced.
From Windows, Internal Storage would have a folder called "storage" with another folder called "01" inside the storage folder. So "Internal Storage/storage/01/" if it was read on a Windows PC. inside the storage folder, there is just 1 folder called "01", nothing else. inside "01" folder, there are ONLY 2 .xml files which are the same as the 2 .xml files you would have by default in the root of your Internal and External Storage.
In short- Internel Storage has a folder called storage, inside storage has a folder called 01, inside 01 there are only 2 .xml files. The strange thing is, if it were linked to Internal/External Storage, why only 2 .xml files are visible in the 01 folder?
EDIT: When I tried to delete the storage folder (At the time I did not know that it was linked) Windows loading bar for deleting files did not move so I had to cancel it. Once cancelled, everything in my external/internal storage was wiped off. Thankfully, I recovered most of my lost pictures with Recuva
Not sure but I think this folder came somehow from the recovery maybe a bug.
I hope you didn't lost important things.
Sent from my GT-I9500 using xda premium
ZeroInfinity said:
but this is totally different from what I have experienced.
From Windows, Internal Storage would have a folder called "storage" with another folder called "01" inside the storage folder. So "Internal Storage/storage/01/" if it was read on a Windows PC. inside the storage folder, there is just 1 folder called "01", nothing else. inside "01" folder, there are ONLY 2 .xml files which are the same as the 2 .xml files you would have by default in the root of your Internal and External Storage.
In short- Internel Storage has a folder called storage, inside storage has a folder called 01, inside 01 there are only 2 .xml files. The strange thing is, if it were linked to Internal/External Storage, why only 2 .xml files are visible in the 01 folder?
EDIT: When I tried to delete the storage folder (At the time I did not know that it was linked) Windows loading bar for deleting files did not move so I had to cancel it. Once cancelled, everything in my external/internal storage was wiped off. Thankfully, I recovered most of my lost pictures with Recuva
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, this is very strange. I remember when i did see this after i bought my phone i was thinking this must be an bug. Another thing, in root i also have a folder named: ext_card and it is the same as sdcard1 here. Sdcard1 is my microSD card i have, but why so many folder linked to the same folders.
At root i go to storage, inside i have folders: emulated, removable, sdcard0, sdcard1 usbdisk.
Inside emulated i have 0 and legacy. etc etc
All of them are linked and goes to the same internal card and external card,
gm007 said:
Not sure but I think this folder came somehow from the recovery maybe a bug.
I hope you didn't lost important things.
Sent from my GT-I9500 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If it really is a bug, we need to know what did actually cause this to happen.
And yeah, Recuva was really useful for me
CiscoX said:
Yes, this is very strange. I remember when i did see this after i bought my phone i was thinking this must be an bug. Another thing, in root i also have a folder named: ext_card and it is the same as sdcard1 here. Sdcard1 is my microSD card i have, but why so many folder linked to the same folders.
At root i go to storage, inside i have folders: emulated, removable, sdcard0, sdcard1 usbdisk.
Inside emulated i have 0 and legacy. etc etc
All of them are linked and goes to the same internal card and external card,
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Too many linked folders make it confusing, why would there be a linked folder visible in the Internal Storage though? this is what is really confusing me right now.
Need more reports if any one else has found this mysterious "storage" folder in their Internal Storage...
im not sure but if everyone with this folder are running 4.2.2 it is for the multiuser or multitasking feature of jellybean 4.2.2
skinsfanbdh said:
im not sure but if everyone with this folder are running 4.2.2 it is for the multiuser or multitasking feature of jellybean 4.2.2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Strange, this is the first time I have ever seen this. I only saw this folder today and I have been on custom roms based on stock xperia firmware android 4.2.2 for ages now... Why would it appear just today? I don't think multitasking will cause this to happen since it doesn't create any folders/files related to it (afaik).
I've had something like this happen where in emulated/0 (my main internal SD storage) there was another 0 folder that freaked out recoveries and such. I had the similar "can't delete from windows" thing, but using a in-recovery file manager I just deleted it, problem solved. tl;dr if you want to delete it and its causing problems delete it from recovery.
Sent from rooted carbon note 2, with the xda app.
shbaldw said:
I've had something like this happen where in emulated/0 (my main internal SD storage) there was another 0 folder that freaked out recoveries and such. I had the similar "can't delete from windows" thing, but using a in-recovery file manager I just deleted it, problem solved. tl;dr if you want to delete it and its causing problems delete it from recovery.
Sent from rooted carbon note 2, with the xda app.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
exactly what im talking about. lots of threads in the htc one forum about it and being this device was released with 4.1.2(like the htc one) and has recently been updated to 4.2.2(like the htc one) maybe its the same thing, not saying it is because i dont know. just sounds like the same thing
shbaldw said:
I've had something like this happen where in emulated/0 (my main internal SD storage) there was another 0 folder that freaked out recoveries and such. I had the similar "can't delete from windows" thing, but using a in-recovery file manager I just deleted it, problem solved. tl;dr if you want to delete it and its causing problems delete it from recovery.
Sent from rooted carbon note 2, with the xda app.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Windows did not make any progress in deleting it, it was stuck on the Preparing to delete... window. Once I cancelled it because it took too long, everything from sd card/ internal storage was gone. All because of that storage folder inside my Internal Storage...
I know about the emulated/0 issue (From previous HTC One X Android 4.2.2 AOSP roms) but this seems to be completely different from it.
skinsfanbdh;44594029...and being this device was released with 4.1.2(like the htc one) and has recently been updated to 4.2.2(like the htc one)...[/QUOTE said:
hmm, I updated my phone from 4.1.2 to 4.2.2 prior to seeing this. This might be the cause. Anyone else have this happen?
Sent from rooted carbon note 2, with the xda app.
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Click to collapse
shbaldw said:
hmm, I updated my phone from 4.1.2 to 4.2.2 prior to seeing this. This might be the cause. Anyone else have this happen?
Sent from rooted carbon note 2, with the xda app.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't think it has anything to do with an upgraded android version. Like I said before, I have been on Android 4.2.2 a long time now (Upgraded when the firmware first came out) and I have never seen this folder before. I have just seen it yesterday. Another strange thing is that after I attempted to delete the storage folder, Everything was gone INCLUDING that storage folder. I haven't seen the storage folder after that happened. I'm going to go flash another rom and full wipe to see if the storage folder pops up again.
EDIT: Right, no there is no more storage folder in Internal Storage after a full wipe and formatted everything! Very strange indeed...
Wierd storage folder symlink inside internal storage!
ZeroInfinity said:
I don't think it has anything to do with an upgraded android version. Like I said before, I have been on Android 4.2.2 a long time now (Upgraded when the firmware first came out) and I have never seen this folder before. I have just seen it yesterday. Another strange thing is that after I attempted to delete the storage folder, Everything was gone INCLUDING that storage folder. I haven't seen the storage folder after that happened. I'm going to go flash another rom and full wipe to see if the storage folder pops up again.
EDIT: Right, no there is no more storage folder in Internal Storage after a full wipe and formatted everything! Very strange indeed...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I know this is a very old thread but I face the same issue in Android 5.1.1 now and I too deleted the folder named storage only to see that all the data from the sd card has vanished because of that. Any idea what caused this buggy symlink to be created?
All my data is now gone because I just deleted one folder inside my sdcard, and I didn't even think to backup anything since I didn't even dream that deleting a single folder will delete the parent folder! Again recuva was my friend but still I am not able to recover everything in internal storage, any suggestions on what to use to scan the internal storage?
anantharam said:
I know this is a very old thread but I face the same issue in Android 5.1.1 now and I too deleted the folder named storage only to see that all the data from the sd card has vanished because of that. Any idea what caused this buggy symlink to be created?
All my data is now gone because I just deleted one folder inside my sdcard, and I didn't even think to backup anything since I didn't even dream that deleting a single folder will delete the parent folder! Again recuva was my friend but still I am not able to recover everything in internal storage, any suggestions on what to use to scan the internal storage?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Did you upgrade to newer firmware using a zip? That's a common bug when upgrading via zip.
The only proper way is to backup ur entire internal storage and flash a full ftf. Then you will not have the annoying symlink.
langeveld024 said:
Did you upgrade to newer firmware using a zip? That's a common bug when upgrading via zip.
The only proper way is to backup ur entire internal storage and flash a full ftf. Then you will not have the annoying symlink.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I did do a factory reset before flashing a new firmware. Not sure what else I should do..
And as for the internal storage recovery, I followed these different guides but raw file using vhdtool and recuva did not give me any single file that was last present in my internal memory and even extundelete didn't return any single file that was in the internal storage, some of these tools return hundreds of text files and images that I had no idea was in my internal storage but none of them return me any of the hundreds of images and videos that I was sure were in my internal storage.
anantharam said:
I did do a factory reset before flashing a new firmware. Not sure what else I should do..
And as for the internal storage recovery, I followed these different guides but raw file using vhdtool and recuva did not give me any single file that was last present in my internal memory and even extundelete didn't return any single file that was in the internal storage, some of these tools return hundreds of text files and images that I had no idea was in my internal storage but none of them return me any of the hundreds of images and videos that I was sure were in my internal storage.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes but if you factory reset on 4.4.2 (for example) and then flash 5.0.2 fw via zip in recovery, you will get the annoying folder symlink.
The only way to upgrade to lollipop is by flashing a full ftf (which will wipe internal sd) after that you won't have the annoying symlink.
But you flashed zip instead of ftf and discovered the folder symlink which seemed not harmful to delete so you deleted it. Right?
Then there's no chance in getting the data (photos etc) back.
I was the same situation as you, twice, I tried every possibility to recover my photos but it ended up with nothing. Everything was gone.
On a mechanical harddrive, when you wiped data, the data will only be gone when the wiped sectors are overwritten (e.g. format harddrive, which overwrite with empty buffer).
As long as the wiped data in those sectors are not overwritten, you'll be able to recover almost all - if not all - data you deleted.
On flash memory instead, (such as ssd drives and internal storage of our phone) deleted data is immediately deleted.
(that's also one of the reasons on Android, you never have to defragment the internal sd, same story for an ssd)
I'm sorry for u to say but I'm afraid you're unfortunately lost the photos and there's no way to get it back.
But my advice to you is:
Never upgrade between android versions (e.g. 4.4 > 5.0) using a zip installable.
Only use full factory images (ftf), they will wipe internal sd in order to get correct mappings so backup everything before flashing.
Once u on a firmware, an update to the same firmware is allowed (e.g. from one 5.0.2 rom to another 5.0.2 rom).
I hope it helps u in the future.
Regards
langeveld024 said:
Yes but if you factory reset on 4.4.2 (for example) and then flash 5.0.2 fw via zip in recovery, you will get the annoying folder symlink.
The only way to upgrade to lollipop is by flashing a full ftf (which will wipe internal sd) after that you won't have the annoying symlink.
But you flashed zip instead of ftf and discovered the folder symlink which seemed not harmful to delete so you deleted it. Right?
Then there's no chance in getting the data (photos etc) back.
I was the same situation as you, twice, I tried every possibility to recover my photos but it ended up with nothing. Everything was gone.
On a mechanical harddrive, when you wiped data, the data will only be gone when the wiped sectors are overwritten (e.g. format harddrive, which overwrite with empty buffer).
As long as the wiped data in those sectors are not overwritten, you'll be able to recover almost all - if not all - data you deleted.
On flash memory instead, (such as ssd drives and internal storage of our phone) deleted data is immediately deleted.
(that's also one of the reasons on Android, you never have to defragment the internal sd, same story for an ssd)
I'm sorry for u to say but I'm afraid you're unfortunately lost the photos and there's no way to get it back.
But my advice to you is:
Never upgrade between android versions (e.g. 4.4 > 5.0) using a zip installable.
Only use full factory images (ftf), they will wipe internal sd in order to get correct mappings so backup everything before flashing.
Once u on a firmware, an update to the same firmware is allowed (e.g. from one 5.0.2 rom to another 5.0.2 rom).
I hope it helps u in the future.
Regards
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you very much for the detailed explanation, after wasting two whole days trying everything described anywhere in the internet for recovering data from internal storage, I have also learnt it the hard way that it won't be possible to recover my data. Anyways the good news is google photos had backed up most of my photos, so it would actually be the call recordings, whatsapp history and other documents that I would have to loose permanently.
langeveld024 said:
Never upgrade between android versions (e.g. 4.4 > 5.0) using a zip installable.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As for the upgrade issue, is this only for lollipop or any android version? I have never seen anything similar when I upgraded from 4.0 to 4.1 or 4.2 to 4.4 e.t.c. If I shouldn't use zip installable to upgrade android versions how else do I upgrade to kitkat or lollipop? I don't think there are any factory images published for lollipop for my phone since support for it ended long time ago.
ZeroInfinity said:
Today, I have experienced a very "odd" problem. I have just found out that there is a folder called "storage" visible in my Internal Storage.
When I thought that, since it was visible, it did not contain much useful files (Only 2 xml files I found which would be in both internal and external storage) so I deleted that folder and everything in my SD Card and Internal Storage vanished.
I found out that the "storage" folder had a link to both storage devices but the weird thing is, why was that there and why is it visible? I could of sworn that I have never seen that before on my Xperia Z...
Can anyone else see their "storage" folder in the internal storage or is it just me?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Am again reviving this old thread as today I deleted a folder named sdcard inside my oneplus 3's internal storage and lost everyrhing. Though I had never upgraded my phone using any zip file and always went with the OTA update
I also made a thread https://forum.xda-developers.com/oneplus-3/help/strange-t3537998

Changing internal SD to portable storage for root

I want to flash Xposed Framework and some other things to my phone, but I figured out that TWRP cannot find my zips in the internal SD card. I think I need to change my internal SD card back to portable storage in order to flash things. I backed up my data (Nandroid) so when I do change my SD card to portable, I can recover everything. Will changing my SD card affect SuperSU or anything on my phone?
fairnightzz said:
I want to flash Xposed Framework and some other things to my phone, but I figured out that TWRP cannot find my zips in the internal SD card. I think I need to change my internal SD card back to portable storage in order to flash things. I backed up my data (Nandroid) so when I do change my SD card to portable, I can recover everything. Will changing my SD card affect SuperSU or anything on my phone?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I did that few days ago, I rooted 7 days ago , and find out that in MM you can format sd card as internal memory. Wasn't with android for the last 2 years and i am learning every day about new features that i missed.
I formatted sdcard to internal and coudn't flash enything, however if you copy that zip to /data folder you can see it. Huge problem is that nandroid cannot be performed, I usually have 2 backups always and with 5GB of availabole memory, and 2-3 gigs are already taken it is impossible to backup my system which takes around 3 GB of data, even more .
I was thinking about getting USB OTG cable and external flash for nandroid and dflashing things, but still I am looking for some news about TWRP support for internal memory in some new editions.
When I switched back to normal mode ( sdcard as portable storage ) I didn't lost anything, only thing that you want to take care of is that when you are ready to switch back your sdcard as a portable, to perform migrate option and leave phone to do it ( 5 minutes ), to free sdcard and move back data to internal ( if there is a space enoough on internal so that is one more problem to care about.
I also asked this question and got no answers, but I really do like to know how other members manage their free space with this MM stuff, which is good but very limiting so far.
dejson said:
I did that few days ago, I rooted 7 days ago , and find out that in MM you can format sd card as internal memory. Wasn't with android for the last 2 years and i am learning every day about new features that i missed.
I formatted sdcard to internal and coudn't flash enything, however if you copy that zip to /data folder you can see it. Huge problem is that nandroid cannot be performed, I usually have 2 backups always and with 5GB of availabole memory, and 2-3 gigs are already taken it is impossible to backup my system which takes around 3 GB of data, even more .
I was thinking about getting USB OTG cable and external flash for nandroid and dflashing things, but still I am looking for some news about TWRP support for internal memory in some new editions.
When I switched back to normal mode ( sdcard as portable storage ) I didn't lost anything, only thing that you want to take care of is that when you are ready to switch back your sdcard as a portable, to perform migrate option and leave phone to do it ( 5 minutes ), to free sdcard and move back data to internal ( if there is a space enoough on internal so that is one more problem to care about.
I also asked this question and got no answers, but I really do like to know how other members manage their free space with this MM stuff, which is good but very limiting so far.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So if I move the zip to the data folder, I can flash? If so, could you show me step by step, because I tried but it wouldn't let me copy or paste anything. If not, I could just backup my photos (all other data not important), redownload the apps from the playstore, then just use link2sd to move the apps to portable SD card.
fairnightzz said:
So if I move the zip to the data folder, I can flash? If so, could you show me step by step, because I tried but it wouldn't let me copy or paste anything. If not, I could just backup my photos (all other data not important), redownload the apps from the playstore, then just use link2sd to move the apps to portable SD card.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wll actually i found that here post #6, you have to use root explorer or similar app.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/htc-one-m8/help/internal-storage-twrp-external-sd-card-t3242540
You can save apks with titanium backup and restore it with update.zip option ( to save a lot of time of redownloading apps.
link2sd doesn't work with MM, requires that micro sd is formatted as internal.
There is workaround and I will maybe test this tonight and will let you know if it works.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=65411424&postcount=19
Thanks, dejson! I figured out that I wasn't using a root explorer, so I downloaded Solid Explorer and moved the zip to data/media and it worked! Thanks a lot for helping me!
fairnightzz said:
Thanks, dejson! I figured out that I wasn't using a root explorer, so I downloaded Solid Explorer and moved the zip to data/media and it worked! Thanks a lot for helping me!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Uhm, there is a thank you button also available .
Glad you did it mate, I tested everything with sdcard formatted as internal, but losing option to perform nandroid is not the compromise that I am able to consider.
I was very tired last night and accidentally deleted a lot of things from sdcard which was formatted as internal, I forgot to migrate data, but luckily fresh nandroid backup was taken just before testing and saved to laptop.
I can confirm that after installing apps2sd from playstore, and after that I installed link2sd and boom, the app is working good. This kernel supposedly doesn't have init.d enabled [decypher] so I need to test even more because even when it was working every few minutes i was receiving message from system that sdcard is corrupted and some minor errors.
This idea about first installing apps2sd is something that I found somewhere, and it is not my invention. So I think that after some more testing I week find a way to finally utilize my big sdcard.

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