[Q] Install apps to sd by default on Non Rooted Phone - Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

Hi,
I have a Spice Mi-270 dual sim android 2.2 phone.Searching on the internet I came across an article where the procedure for installing the apps by default to sdcard is possible for non rooted phones.I tried it but when I type "adb devices" I get a blank list under list of devices attached.My phone came with the usb drivers, I have installed that.Tried installing Google USB driver package,revision 4.When the phone is plugged in get the message on the phone "USB Debugging started".Windows device manager shows "Android Phone" > Android Composite ADB Interface.Still my device is not detected with the "adb devices" command.I am using winxp pro sp3 32bit.Please Guide!
(If I have posted in the wrong section please inform me where to post)

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I probably won't be helping. But on my un-rooted HTC Sensation i just have an app called app2sd. After i installed an app, if it's supported, i copy it to sd card.
Can't you just use that and save the hassle?

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try this apps2sd

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I have already installed the apps2sd but as said one can move the apps to sd if and only if supported by the app.Besides Android 2.2 by default provides the option to supported apps.How do I change the default install path to sd without rooting?

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sounds like u need to root it and add the a2sd+ scripts OR root, install rom with a2sd+ and partition sd card accordingly.

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do0b said:
sounds like u need to root it and add the a2sd+ scripts OR root, install rom with a2sd+ and partition sd card accordingly.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry doOb but I am not looking at rooting my phone but use the option
adb shell pm setInstallLocation 2.

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Why not root your phone? At the end or the day you still can unroot it. It's not like you flash to a different Rom and lost your stock Rom.
As far as I know your running froyo you already have move app to SD at the manage application in setting. There are free market app that can help you to move apps to SD with simple clicks without going to setting with the slow loading.
I'm afraid there are no default to app to SD unless you root your Rom and flash a2sd script like darktermor to make the whole process default. Better still, you also need to partition your card with an ext partition for it to work.
By the way... You should be able to adb shell your phone with a proper setup from your pc. You need to look for adb shell howto.
Sounds like your doing it from the wrong folder at cmd if your using windows. Try start cmd from the folder with adb.exe or set your system path to include the folder with adb.exe. I'm not with a pc now, I can't direct you. You have to look for it on what I mean.
By the way, can you also post the link for the article you found?
I have friends that can't root their phone. E.g HTC wildfire s
Sent from my HTC Legend using XDA App

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darryl_co said:
Hi,
I have a Spice Mi-270 dual sim android 2.2 phone.Searching on the internet I came across an article where the procedure for installing the apps by default to sdcard is possible for non rooted phones.I tried it but when I type "adb devices" I get a blank list under list of devices attached.My phone came with the usb drivers, I have installed that.Tried installing Google USB driver package,revision 4.When the phone is plugged in get the message on the phone "USB Debugging started".Windows device manager shows "Android Phone" > Android Composite ADB Interface.Still my device is not detected with the "adb devices" command.I am using winxp pro sp3 32bit.Please Guide!
(If I have posted in the wrong section please inform me where to post)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sounds like the original issue was the pc not seeing the device....I know this may be elementary, but do you have it in "charge only" mode and not in the disk drive mode?

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"Sounds like your doing it from the wrong folder at cmd if your using windows. Try start cmd from the folder with adb.exe or set your system path to include the folder with adb.exe." - pysionx
I am starting cmd from the folder with adb.exe that laocated in platform-tools.If I was not doing so I would get the error " 'adb' is not recognized as an internal or external command operable program or batch file." and on typing adb devices in the cmd prompt I would not get the answer "list of devices"
pysionx - "By the way, can you also post the link for the article you found?"
Unfortunately no as this is my first post I am not allowed by the administrator to do so.Please Check out the attachment.Sorry for giving you the trouble to download attachment.
pfroyjr - "Sounds like the original issue was the pc not seeing the device"
If the pc does not see the device how do I get in Windows device manager showing "Android Phone" > Android Composite ADB Interface.
pfroyjr - "I know this may be elementary, but do you have it in "charge only" mode and not in the disk drive mode?"
I do not have it in "charge only" mode but in the disk drive mode, USB debugging started is the message received in the notification area.

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But this causes hw to crash!

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root_toor said:
But this causes hw to crash!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I sorry but I did not understand. what causes hardware to crash?

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Google "Spice driver" I'll find a link if you can't. Windows is odd with its drivers sometimes. I remember the first time I ever used SDK I had to remove the default drivers and install the one from HTC but recently just installing the driver was good enough and I've only used adb and not the SDK. just a suggestion.
Sent from my HTC Glacier using xda premium
EDIT: I forgot which posting I was replying to, sorry....
I found THIS which sounds like it's an issue with the phone and maybe not the same Android OS that everyone else has....just what I read. Happy Googling my friend. Sounds like it's a cool device, just not quite up to par with adb.

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I do have the drivers of my mobile Spice Mi-270 which was shipped along with the phone. The drivers files are of similar names with that of the google usb drivers for android except for the file versions.
Thanks pfroyjr for the link.It seems it is the problem with the phone itself as I am not the only one facing the problem with adb comand.

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darryl_co said:
I do have the drivers of my mobile Spice Mi-270 which was shipped along with the phone. The drivers files are of similar names with that of the google usb drivers for android except for the file versions.
Thanks pfroyjr for the link.It seems it is the problem with the phone itself as I am not the only one facing the problem with adb comand.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Best advice is stay active searching for an answer...someone will eventually figure it out

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I think it can be done with the help of adb .
Just run command from the folder having adb.exe file after connecting your phone in USB Debugging Mode.
"adb shell pm setInstallLocation 2"
YOu can change it to default by the following command.
"adb shell pm setInstallLocation 0"
Type the commands without quotes....
Hope it helps!!!

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darryl_co said:
I have already installed the apps2sd but as said one can move the apps to sd if and only if supported by the app.Besides Android 2.2 by default provides the option to supported apps.How do I change the default install path to sd without rooting?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hey try this adb command from the directory having adb.exe file after connecting your phone to your pc by enabling USB Debugging Mode on it.
adb shell pm setInstallLocation 2
You can change it back to default by this command ..
adb shell pm setInstallLocation 0
Hope it helps you ...

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yagya said:
Hey try this adb command from the directory having adb.exe file after connecting your phone to your pc by enabling USB Debugging Mode on it.
adb shell pm setInstallLocation 2
You can change it back to default by this command ..
adb shell pm setInstallLocation 0
Hope it helps you ...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
when I type "adb devices" I get a blank list under list of devices attached.When my phone is not listed how would the adb shell pm setInstallLocation command work ?
but The pc does see the device and I get in Windows device manager showing "Android Phone" > Android Composite ADB Interface.

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Try to install universal root/z4root/any other rooting app and shell commander in your phone then root your device temporarily (temporary root means root will be removed when you reboot)with universal root asn then in shell commander type the commands
su
pm SetInstallLocation 2
and then you can unroot your phone
Also if you want to change back do the same but change 2(externel) to 0(auto)
Hope it helped you!!!
---------- Post added at 09:34 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:33 PM ----------
Try to install universal root/z4root/any other rooting app and shell commander in your phone then root your device temporarily (temporary root means root will be removed when you reboot)with universal root asn then in shell commander type the commands
su
pm SetInstallLocation 2
and then you can unroot your phone
Also if you want to change back do the same but change 2(externel) to 0(auto)
Hope it helped you!!!

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yagya said:
Try to install universal root/z4root/any other rooting app and shell commander in your phone then root your device temporarily (temporary root means root will be removed when you reboot)with universal root asn then in shell commander type the commands
su
pm SetInstallLocation 2
and then you can unroot your phone
Also if you want to change back do the same but change 2(externel) to 0(auto)
Hope it helped you!!!)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I installed universal androot and rooted the phone.
Instead of shell commander I installed Move2SD Enabler.The move2sd had three radio buttons Auto, Internal and External.Initially it displayed the radio button on Auto.I selected External and clicked apply.Now it shows External.Then I unrooted the phone.In Apps2SD I found many apps that were listed under phone only under movable apps.Few questions do arise
1.If I restore to factory defaults will the installation to external storage be resetted?
2.Whenever I Install new apps it gets installed in the phones internal storage and the I have to move to sd.Why is that so?
3.Even after moving to the sd some amount remains in the phone internal storage.why?
4.Can I check using shell commander if the install location has changed? what is the command? Do I have to root the phone again to use the command?

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darryl_co said:
I installed universal androot and rooted the phone.
Instead of shell commander I installed Move2SD Enabler.The move2sd had three radio buttons Auto, Internal and External.Initially it displayed the radio button on Auto.I selected External and clicked apply.Now it shows External.Then I unrooted the phone.In Apps2SD I found many apps that were listed under phone only under movable apps.Few questions do arise
1.If I restore to factory defaults will the installation to external storage be resetted?
2.Whenever I Install new apps it gets installed in the phones internal storage and the I have to move to sd.Why is that so?
3.Even after moving to the sd some amount remains in the phone internal storage.why?
4.Can I check using shell commander if the install location has changed? what is the command? Do I have to root the phone again to use the command?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Restoring factory default settings will reset default install location to auto.
Since you used move to sd enabler it only makes all apps movable to sd but doesn't move them automatically.
System apps and Those apps that don't support app to sd by default can't be completely moved to sd card
Yes, you can check using shell commander but you need to riot you phone to use the command.
pm getInstallLocation
(returns default install location)
pm setInstallLocation 2
(installs app direct to external storage)
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