Mythology of Blue: November 2013

24 November 2013

【Android】Partition and Link2SD

Link2SD is an android application by Bulent Akpinar that lets you move apps and games to the 2nd partition of your SD card. Why do we have to use Link2SD when Froyo and Gingerbread’s Native Apps2sd moves the files to the SD card? Native apps2sd only moves the apk file of the application leaving other files in internal memory thus you still have to manage your on-board memory and limit your choice of apps because it will eat up your memory and later on you cannot install any files anymore. Additionally, widgets and some applications are not intended to be moved to the SD card. However, Link2SD is only for root users because it is required that your phone is ROOTED.

The idea behind the application is the same. But Link2SD has more relevant features which the Native Apps2sd lacked giving Android 1.5 and up users the chance to have a taste of what it’s like to have a big phone memory. Additional features were added by the developer to furher optimize the usage of android devices. By using Link2SD, you can move not only the application file, but also the dalvic-cache and libray files of the application. This means that data will be the only one left to consume your internal memory thus installing applications and games would be easier because you can install anything you want without worrying about the famous low memory problem. Furthermore, Link2sd covers all files even moving widgets and the unmoveable applications to the 2nd partition of your SD card.

Software Needed

MiniTool Partition (for PC i.e. Windows)
Link2SD (for mobile i.e. Android)

PROCEDURE

This is a step by step guide on how you can run Link2SD on your device. This tutorial will work for both stock and cutom ROMs. For ClockWorkMod Recovery users, you can check the other guide below. Follow all the instructions carefully to eliminate possible problems.

First you have to download MiniTool Partition Wizard Manager. You can download it in the link above, download it and install it on PC.
Insert your SD card to a card reader and open it on your computer.(not via USB cable)
Back up all your files to the computer because partitioning will wipe your data.
Open Mini Tool in your computer. Locate your SD card (be careful in choosing and make sure not to choose the drive of your computer)
Right click and choose Delete.

Right click on it again and choose Create New. Create “FAT32″ partition (This is where all your media files will go. Be sure to make it bigger than the 2nd part)
Select “Create as: PRIMARY”

Next, create an ext2/ext3/ext4 partition (I suggest ext2 cause it works on all roms and kernels). This is where your apps will go. I suggest a value of 512Mb would be big enough but its your choice...
Select “Create As: PRIMARY” (make sure that it is both set to primary because it will not work if it is not set to primary)

Click the “Apply” button on the top left corner and wait for it to finish the process. Done.
Put back your SD card to your phone and switch it on.
Download and install Link2sd from Google Play Store link given above.

Open Link2sd. You will be prompted to choose between ext2, ext3, ext4 and FAT32. Select one.
(Give preference in this order ext4>ext3>ext2>fat32/16, Not all may be compatible with your kernel so try each one in the order of preference and use the highest ranking one that works. ext3 is compatible with my kernel so I use that.)

It will say mount script created. Reboot your phone now.
Open link2sd and if the message doesn’t show up, you succeded.
Go to Link2sd>Settings>check the autolink (to automatically move apps upon installation)
If you already have some apps, select “move to phone” then after moving select “Create Link” (be sure to check the three files: app, dalvic-cache and library files)

To check your memory, select “Storage Info”. This will show you the current state of your internal memory, FAT32, and ext2 partition.
Now you’re done and ready to install vast amount of applications as you wish!

FOR CLOCKWORKMOD RECOVERY USERS ONLY (ALTERNATIVE METHOD)

NOTE: You can also use the instructions above. This guide will work on both stock and custom ROMs.

Back up all your files to your computer. Partitioning wipes the files of your SD card.
Go into recovery mode
Select “Advanced”
Select “Partition SD card”
Choose your SD-ext size (if you’re using a 2Gb SD card, choose 512Mb. If your SD card is 4Gb or greater, you can choose 1024Mb)
Select 0 swap
Wait for the process to finish. Reboot.
Download and install Link2SD from Google Play Store.
Open Link2SD you will be prompted to choose between ext2, ext3, ext4 or FAT32. Choose ext4.
Follow instructions number 13-19. DONE!

References:

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2142844

http://www.noypigeeks.com/android/tutorial-a-guide-to-link2sd/

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.buak.Link2SD

http://www.link2sd.info/

10 November 2013

【ROOT】/【UNROOT】/【Install CyanogenMod】 for Samsung Galaxy Ace S5830

To begin, Rooting is the process whereby one can gain advanced control over their devices.

Advantages of ROOTING:

Delete unwanted apps
Expand system memory
Theming your device
Moving apps to SD-Card
Installing Firewall
many more

But the disadvantage which follows is:

WARRANTY BECOMES VOID (you can always gain it back by installing Official Firmware)

P.S: I am not responsible for anything which goes wrong. The process mentioned has been tried several times and is universally recognized. Therefore if anything goes wrong it'll be Your and solely your fault.
PS: This Rooting method is only for people on 2.3.x Firmware i.e GINGERBREAD. Pls do not follow this if you are on Froyo.

Now to begin with the process of Rooting:

Download the file update.zip to your PC
Copy it on your SD Card.
Switch off your Galaxy Ace.
Once off, press HOME and POWER button until you come to a screen like this.
Using Volume Up and Down key select Option APPLY UPDATE FROM SDCARD. Press HOME key to select the option as touch won't work.
Then select CHOOSE ZIP FROM SD CARD.
Now select the file you downloaded her.
After installing finishes go back and Reboot Device.

Congrats you have finished rooting your device.

To UNROOT
Simply download Unroot.zip and follow Steps 2 to 5.

Install CM for Samsung Galaxy Ace (cooper)
Note: DISCLAIMER
Modifying or replacing your device's software may void your device's warranty, lead to data loss, hair loss, financial loss, privacy loss, security breaches, or other damage, and therefore must be done entirely at your own risk. No one affiliated with the CyanogenMod project is responsible for your actions. Good luck.

Installing a custom recovery

Download ClockworkModRecovery kernel (Applicable to Gingerbread only)

Recovery kernel for Galaxy Ace: download
md5: ba3d09df567757081da5dd6e8fb2d0b0

Once the CWM zip file is downloaded, place it to your sdcard.
Now reboot in recovery mode by holding Home & Power buttons.

Select Apply Update from SDcard and select the CWM zip file placed in your sdcard.

Restart. For verifying, go into recovery again. You will find that recovery has been updated to CWM Recovery.
For the instructions following after this, the phone needs to be turned ON (either normally or in CWM Recovery).

Installing CyanogenMod from recovery
Note:
Some devices do not have removable SD cards. Regardless, there should still be a partition on the device named "/sdcard" that can be used for flashing purposes, even though the contents of /sdcard may actually be in internal storage.

Download the prebuilt release of CyanogenMod you wish to install. (Or if you've built CM yourself, look in the $OUT directory for the .zip.)
Optional: Download any supplemental 3rd-party applications packages for the device you wish to use.
Place the CyanogenMod rom .zip file on the root of the SD card using adb:

Transfer your file(s): adb push YOURROMZIP.zip /sdcard/

If you boot directly to recovery and have an internal sdcard, you may need to run adb shell mount /sdcard or mount data through the recovery menu before transferring.
If you see "error: device not found" there is likely a driver issue on the PC.
If you see "error: insufficient permissions for device", try "adb kill-server" and then run "adb devices" to see if the device is attached.
On some devices, the zip file can be copied to the device using standard USB Mass Storage or MTP support. Boot the device normally and transfer the file to it.
Optional: Place any supplemental packages (e.g. Google Apps or kernel) .zip file(s) on the root of the SD card.

Boot to recovery mode on the device by holding Home & Power button until Samsung logo appears, then release Power.
Once the device boots into the ClockworkMod Recovery, use the physical volume buttons to move up and down. On most devices, the power button is used to confirm your selection, although for some devices the power button is used as a "back" button to go up one level, in which case the home button is used to confirm the selection.
Optional/Recommended: Select backup and restore to create a backup of the current installation on the device.
Select the option to wipe data/factory reset.
Select install zip from sdcard.
Select choose zip from sdcard.
Select the CyanogenMod file you placed on the sdcard. You will then need to then confirm that you do wish to flash this file.
Optional: Install any additional packages you wish using the same method.
Once the installation has finished, return back to the main menu, and select the reboot system now option. The device should now boot into CyanogenMod.