Missing file folder on SD card? - Motorola Droid RAZR

I have no idea how this happened. SD card is fine, and all apps that were installed to SD card work, but this is odd.
I made a folder on my SD card and named it "Applications". It has been this way for a while. I put apps and apk files in this folder. This way, I can keep different versions of apps, and free up space.
For some reason, this folder is missing! Had a lot of things there. Any idea why it is gone (didn't run any" cleaners" or do anything different with phone.....) Any suggestions on finding it or getting it back?
Thanks in advance!

Something similar happened to me...
I keep my apps backed up with Es file explorer in sdcard1/backups/apps and after flashing the new rom I always install them from there but once some have disappeared from that folder,not all,just a few, all of which begin with the letters from H to O.
I don't have a clue why that happened...
Sent from my Razr XT910

sherri said:
I have no idea how this happened. SD card is fine, and all apps that were installed to SD card work, but this is odd.
I made a folder on my SD card and named it "Applications". It has been this way for a while. I put apps and apk files in this folder. This way, I can keep different versions of apps, and free up space.
For some reason, this folder is missing! Had a lot of things there. Any idea why it is gone (didn't run any" cleaners" or do anything different with phone.....) Any suggestions on finding it or getting it back?
Thanks in advance!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Check the lost.dir directory on ur sdcard.
It might rename the apks to numbers like 4226 etc.
Sent from my XT912 using XDA Free mobile app

Thanks, but this was back in September. No idea what happened. I just reinstalled from TiBu, and recreated the folder.

Related

Removed apps I shouldn't have...

Got a bit of a problem here...
Not even too sure what I'm doing, to be honest.
I rooted my phone, and removed a ****load of stuff with Titanium Backup...
Two of those were the Backup Assistant, and the default Launcher.
Right after doing so, I saw people were talking about how you shouldn't do just that. Also read that a way to fix it is to put the Fascinate's system dump APK's back onto my phone via the SD card... Here's my problem.
When I mount it via USB, to transfer files to my SD card, my phone says, "No SD Card Detected", and my computer just brings up a 14.7GB Removable Disk image. The contents of it include...
Code:
Android (Folder)
bluetooth (folder)
data (folder)
DCIM (folder)
launcherpro_backup (folder)
layar (folder)
LOST.DIR (folder)
media (folder)
PRIVATE (folder)
TitaniumBackup (folder)
Wapedia (folder)
busybox
com.sh
createlagfix.sh
playlogos1
su
superuser.apk
update (archive)
userinit.sh
What exactly am I looking at, and how do I get access to my SD card?
that should be ur sd card when connecting thru ur pc it read it the sd like a usb drive and will label as such seeing as the phone only has 2gb of space im positive that 15gb is ur sd
Sent from my FroyoEris using XDA App
I also removed my backup assistant as of now my phone still works fine just wanna get it back on there just in case anything happens. I downloaded the fascinate sys dump file put it on my sd card I tried opening the apk it didnt work. obviously im doing something wrong can anyone help me will gladly appreciate it.
Sent from my SCH-I500 using XDA App
devlp1213 said:
that should be ur sd card when connecting thru ur pc it read it the sd like a usb drive and will label as such seeing as the phone only has 2gb of space im positive that 15gb is ur sd
Sent from my FroyoEris using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well that doesn't really help me at all. Whether or not it IS my SD card doesn't matter, I need my phone to recognize it as such. All applications say that I don't have an SD card inserted into my phone.
I'm not positive that I'd actually NEED any of those applications though, as I'm not sure how to get to the System folder in my phone in the first place. I need access to the Systems folder, so that I can replace all the APK files that need to be present before resetting my phone to factory settings.
I finally found a file management app (Astro) that will see my SD card as well as the actual folders on the phone. Problem is, I don't have permissions to paste the files I need, into the /system/apps folder...
Anyone know how I can get around this?
You'll need a file manager that's capable of accessing protected system folders. Root Explorer is by far the best app for this, and though it's not free, it's not terribly expensive (around $3). Otherwise, if you happen to know your way around linux terminal commands, you can install a terminal emulator app for free and copy files that way. If you have no idea what a terminal emulator is, or how to use a linux command line environment, then don't even attempt it, just buy Root Explorer.
ivorycruncher said:
You'll need a file manager that's capable of accessing protected system folders. Root Explorer is by far the best app for this, and though it's not free, it's not terribly expensive (around $3). Otherwise, if you happen to know your way around linux terminal commands, you can install a terminal emulator app for free and copy files that way. If you have no idea what a terminal emulator is, or how to use a linux command line environment, then don't even attempt it, just buy Root Explorer.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Didn't want to bother paying for it, so I just downloaded it, and loaded it on with a backup installer. (They worked fine with a lot of apps, just not the two I had to have on there.)
Used it to copy-paste the files I needed in the directory.
Hopefully now, when I reformat, things will be alright. Fingers crossed, will keep you guys posted.
Successfully factory reset. Booted up with TWLauncher, no snags. One strange thing, though, is the Backup Assistant app still isn't on the list. I hope I'm not missing something that'll come and bite me in the ass later, now...
(Also, SuperUser is still on there, which is kinda weird. I guess rooting it involves the SD card more than anything else, right?)
Theoretically, if I didn't ACTUALLY have Backup Assistant on here, and I tried to update to FroYo when it comes out... What's the worst that could happen?
DuoCultellus said:
I finally found a file management app (Astro) that will see my SD card as well as the actual folders on the phone. Problem is, I don't have permissions to paste the files I need, into the /system/apps folder...
Anyone know how I can get around this?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
you have to copy paste via RootManager

[Q] Can't update apps on SD card

Dear All
I can't update the apps that moved on SD card, but has no problem after moving back to phone ? Anyone know the solution ? Thanks
I had the same problem. I was able to resolve the problem by mounting my phone to USB. Then delete the file smdl2tmp1.asec in the /sdcard/.android_secure/ directory.
After deleting the file from the sdcard, I was able to install all apps again
you can do two thgs.
1:delete the file smdl2tmp1.asec in the /sdcard/.android_secure/ directory wt he said if not
2:you may try this, go to setting and choose save to phone instead of sd card. this may allow updates.
cphkelvin said:
you can do two thgs.
1:delete the file smdl2tmp1.asec in the /sdcard/.android_secure/ directory wt he said if not
2:you may try this, go to setting and choose save to phone instead of sd card. this may allow updates.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i can't find the .android_secure folder. does my phone need to be rooted?
finally!
After reading through a million posts and blogs and pulling out my hair, it was the smdl2tmp1.asec causing all my problems!!! Thanks for the post! Of the hundreds I've read, this is the first reference to the right thing.
any other ideas?
I'm having the same problem. That directory on my phone says it's empty. Yet
, I still can't update apps on the SD card. Any other ideas?
Another path
My .android_secure folder was also empty but other sources said there's another folder to look,
./mnt/secure/asec/
this folder requires root access and using root explorer

[Q] Changing MicroSD broke half my apps

So I got my 32 GB card today. I plugged in my phone copied my external sd stuff to a new folder, switched cards then copied the folder contents on to the new card. I also transferred some pictures from the internal memory to the new card. Now many of my apps claim to be not installed any more. I never did use anything like apps2sd or anything like that. I figured it would work for me to keep internal for apps and external for media.
Thoughts, ideas?
euphoria47 said:
So I got my 32 GB card today. I plugged in my phone copied my external sd stuff to a new folder, switched cards then copied the folder contents on to the new card. I also transferred some pictures from the internal memory to the new card. Now many of my apps claim to be not installed any more. I never did use anything like apps2sd or anything like that. I figured it would work for me to keep internal for apps and external for media.
Thoughts, ideas?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
let me guess, you copied the files and folders with windows explorer? if so then you missed the hidden folders that start with a dot (.) which holds the apps that are/were installed to sd..
If u still got the old card and havent formatted it yet you can still copy them, just enable "show hidden files" in windows explorer (google it) and copy them.
DruNKfuX said:
let me guess, you copied the files and folders with windows explorer? if so then you missed the hidden folders that start with a dot (.) which holds the apps that are/were installed to sd..
If u still got the old card and havent formatted it yet you can still copy them, just enable "show hidden files" in windows explorer (google it) and copy them.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Mac OSX. Still don't remember installing any apps to sd, unless the apps themselves did it. I don't have any directories, etc that I copied or moved that pertains to the apps
DruNKfuX said:
let me guess, you copied the files and folders with windows explorer? if so then you missed the hidden folders that start with a dot (.) which holds the apps that are/were installed to sd..
If u still got the old card and havent formatted it yet you can still copy them, just enable "show hidden files" in windows explorer (google it) and copy them.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So I put the old card back and the apps are working, so that is good news. Next step is I am creating a disk image from the old card (disk utility ftw) and I will use that to restore on to the new one, making it a carbon copy.
Hopefully this works
Slow process!
*ahem* Titanium Backup
If you're not rooted, get root.
jwl12345 said:
*ahem* Titanium Backup
If you're not rooted, get root.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Now that I have everything working again, I'll be sure to do a backup before I break everything. Since it's been a couple weeks since I did one, I am relieved that I didn't have to restore

[Q] changed sd cards.. where are the apps?

so the deal here is that i wanted to put a 16gb sd from 8gb that i was using. i had the old sd card (8gb) in my phone, i copied the whole thing on my computer's hard drive. put the new one in my phone, then formatted, then copied back everything from the computer.
Now, i only see 129 apps on the phone out of 285 i used to have. most of the apps i used to have were moved to sd using apps2sd.
i tried searching but i found results regarding how to backup before using new sd, or how to format etc. if i got blind for some reason and have missed the thread can someone please direct me to the right thread? or else can someone please help me that how can i get those apps back?
thanks for any kind of help.
P.S, not rooted.
chubaan said:
so the deal here is that i wanted to put a 16gb sd from 8gb that i was using. i had the old sd card (8gb) in my phone, i copied the whole thing on my computer's hard drive. put the new one in my phone, then formatted, then copied back everything from the computer.
Now, i only see 129 apps on the phone out of 285 i used to have. most of the apps i used to have were moved to sd using apps2sd.
i tried searching but i found results regarding how to backup before using new sd, or how to format etc. if i got blind for some reason and have missed the thread can someone please direct me to the right thread? or else can someone please help me that how can i get those apps back?
thanks for any kind of help.
P.S, not rooted.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
According to me , you have the hidden files and folder disabled on your PC. So enable it, the from your old sdcard(8gb) copy a folder named ".android_secure" and put it in 16GB, then check again if that worked.
mnomaanw said:
According to me , you have the hidden files and folder disabled on your PC. So enable it, the from your old sdcard(8gb) copy a folder named ".android_secure" and put it in 16GB, then check again if that worked.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for reply, will try this..
If you do that you may be subjected to random freezes,lockups,etc. Not saying this for a 100% but usually that's the case. When you install apps and run them certain apps place folders on your sd card that are linked to the app. Also if you move apps to your sd VIA program/mod they are stored in the android_secure folder located on your sd card. When you format,move,alter,etc the folder from the sd or alter the contents inside of the .android_secure folder you remove/break the links, and just dropping the folder back on the SD will work but in most cases it dosent restore the links correctly from my understanding. IMO your best bet is to just uninstall the apps you had moved to your sd and then reinstall them. Also for future reference don't move or alter the
.android_secure folder folder if you have a nandroid that has some of the apps you installed moved to the sd. This is just my understanding. Hope this helps
Edit-as far as how to format your sd or format a new SD read this
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=10878511&postcount=8311
It's good info.
#Root-Hack_Mod*Always\
chubaan said:
so the deal here is that i wanted to put a 16gb sd from 8gb that i was using. i had the old sd card (8gb) in my phone, i copied the whole thing on my computer's hard drive. put the new one in my phone, then formatted, then copied back everything from the computer.
Now, i only see 129 apps on the phone out of 285 i used to have. most of the apps i used to have were moved to sd using apps2sd.
i tried searching but i found results regarding how to backup before using new sd, or how to format etc. if i got blind for some reason and have missed the thread can someone please direct me to the right thread? or else can someone please help me that how can i get those apps back?
thanks for any kind of help.
P.S, not rooted.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
use a linux based system to copy the files and folders over...it overtakes the permissions left behind in a windows format
mnomaanw said:
According to me , you have the hidden files and folder disabled on your PC. So enable it, the from your old sdcard(8gb) copy a folder named ".android_secure" and put it in 16GB, then check again if that worked.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
thanks. i did what you suggested and i got all the apps back.
laie1472 said:
If you do that you may be subjected to random freezes,lockups,etc. Not saying this for a 100% but usually that's the case. When you install apps and run them certain apps place folders on your sd card that are linked to the app. Also if you move apps to your sd VIA program/mod they are stored in the android_secure folder located on your sd card. When you format,move,alter,etc the folder from the sd or alter the contents inside of the .android_secure folder you remove/break the links, and just dropping the folder back on the SD will work but in most cases it dosent restore the links correctly from my understanding. IMO your best bet is to just uninstall the apps you had moved to your sd and then reinstall them. Also for future reference don't move or alter the
.android_secure folder folder if you have a nandroid that has some of the apps you installed moved to the sd. This is just my understanding. Hope this helps
Edit-as far as how to format your sd or format a new SD read this
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=10878511&postcount=8311
It's good info.
#Root-Hack_Mod*Always\
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i already copied the folder and i see everything i had, so ill wait and see if it will freeze.. thanks
wloftus said:
use a linux based system to copy the files and folders over...it overtakes the permissions left behind in a windows format
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
thanks for the solution. but i dont have linux based system nor do i know anything about it, been with windows since 98..

Write to external SD.

So, I'm not a noob, been rooting and running custom since the Nexus 1. I've searched and tried every fix, but no joy! I'm running doom's latest kernel and Monx latest rom. I've manual changed the proper files, and I've used apps like Fix SD and others and still can't write to my external SD card. Obviously, I'm rooted, so what am I doing wrong? I've seriously tried everything! Even the Music to SD module for exposed acts like it works, but when I try to use Play Music, it says "no space available". Even the Z2 built in "Transfer to SD" facility fails.
Please help!
Thanks,
-Hans
Sent from my D6503 using XDA Free mobile app
Hans.physics said:
So, I'm not a noob, been rooting and running custom since the Nexus 1. I've searched and tried every fix, but no joy! I'm running doom's latest kernel and Monx latest rom. I've manual changed the proper files, and I've used apps like Fix SD and others and still can't write to my external SD card. Obviously, I'm rooted, so what am I doing wrong? I've seriously tried everything! Even the Music to SD module for exposed acts like it works, but when I try to use Play Music, it says "no space available". Even the Z2 built in "Transfer to SD" facility fails.
Please help!
Thanks,
-Hans
Sent from my D6503 using XDA Free mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Try this:
1. Using a root-enabled file manager like root explorer, navigate to /system/etc/permissions
2. Edit platform.xml file and find the WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE permission.
3. Add this group definition: <group gid="media_rw" />
4. Save changes.
5. Restart.
:good:
if the above method doesent work for you
you can try using a xposed module called handle external storage, it automaticly alows use of your External SDcard by default
*(you need root , xposed installer and the modle its self (it can be found from within the xposed installer under downloads)
Tried both these methods. To be fair, I tried them both again, just to make sure. As far as I know, all methods modify platform.xml, but no matter what I do, I can't write to the sdcard1 folder. My usual test is using Root Explorer to try and create a folder on Sdcard1. Always fails. Honestly, the ROM I'm using should have been enough, as it comes with write to external SD already enabled via the platform.xml tweak already. I even did a full factory reset yesterday to test. Still no joy.
Any other thoughts?
Thanks,
-Hans
Sent from my D6503 using XDA Free mobile app
Still not working
Many thanks to the gents who replied already. Unfortunately, none of the posted solutions are working. I can't find any information in the forums or elsewhere online that points to this. Everywhere I look, it says that the modification to platform.xml is THE answer. However, I've made those modifications nine ways to sunday and I still can't do anything with my external SD card. Can't create a file or folder using Root Explorer or E Strongs. Can't write backups using TiBu is the BU folder is on external SD, etc. Can't set then succesfulyl use the save location for camera or music apps as external SD. Very frustrating.
Has anyone seen or heard of this happening?
Thanks,
-Hans
possibly a bad card?
se1000 said:
possibly a bad card?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nope. Card works fine as far as I can tell. I can write to it via MTP when connected to my lappie and I can read from it just fine. But, I'll try a spare card when I get home just to completely verify.
Thanks,
i'm having the same problem but my phone is not rooted, i usually us ES File Explorer to do my file browsing and management but for some reason i can't delete, create or rename files or folders on the external SD card.
i did a clean format with my SDXC card in the phone when i first started the device and that's usually exFat. and thats when i started to notice the problem,... i couldn't delete or create files or folders from the ES File Explorer app,.... so i did a clean install again with the ES File Explorer and the problem is still there,.... also when taking picture and deleting the unwanted pictures that i took.... i would still see the pictures i deleted in the picture gallery / album....
im still confused on whats going on,.... last night i reformatted my SDXC card to FAT32,... but the problem is still there,...
i tried using the File Commander app that came pre-installed with the device...... for some reason i can rename, delete and even create files and folders.... this is the only app that let's me do all those things when it comes to the external SD card.
other apps such as QuickPic won't allow me to delete, rename or whatever i have to do my pictures on the external SD card
cHoLoCoY said:
i'm having the same problem but my phone is not rooted, i usually us ES File Explorer to do my file browsing and management but for some reason i can't delete, create or rename files or folders on the external SD card.
i did a clean format with my SDXC card in the phone when i first started the device and that's usually exFat. and thats when i started to notice the problem,... i couldn't delete or create files or folders from the ES File Explorer app,.... so i did a clean install again with the ES File Explorer and the problem is still there,.... also when taking picture and deleting the unwanted pictures that i took.... i would still see the pictures i deleted in the picture gallery / album....
im still confused on whats going on,.... last night i reformatted my SDXC card to FAT32,... but the problem is still there,...
i tried using the File Commander app that came pre-installed with the device...... for some reason i can rename, delete and even create files and folders.... this is the only app that let's me do all those things when it comes to the external SD card.
other apps such as QuickPic won't allow me to delete, rename or whatever i have to do my pictures on the external SD card
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you're not rooted, it's how KitKat now handled external (SDCard) memory. It does not allow apps to read/write outside of it's own folder.
oh wow,..... so what about the pictures i took from the camera? i can never delete picture's??? (data storage: SD card)
i guess i have to get use to using the built-in apps to do some of the stuff i need to do,...
cHoLoCoY said:
i'm having the same problem but my phone is not rooted, i usually us ES File Explorer to do my file browsing and management but for some reason i can't delete, create or rename files or folders on the external SD card.
i did a clean format with my SDXC card in the phone when i first started the device and that's usually exFat. and thats when i started to notice the problem,... i couldn't delete or create files or folders from the ES File Explorer app,.... so i did a clean install again with the ES File Explorer and the problem is still there,.... also when taking picture and deleting the unwanted pictures that i took.... i would still see the pictures i deleted in the picture gallery / album....
im still confused on whats going on,.... last night i reformatted my SDXC card to FAT32,... but the problem is still there,...
i tried using the File Commander app that came pre-installed with the device...... for some reason i can rename, delete and even create files and folders.... this is the only app that let's me do all those things when it comes to the external SD card.
other apps such as QuickPic won't allow me to delete, rename or whatever i have to do my pictures on the external SD card
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah. That's expected behavior on a non-rooted KK phone. My problem is that I'm rooted and I can't get anything to write to external. Total Commander, Root Explorer, ES File Explorer, Camera apps, etc. Nothing will write to External SD no matter how many times I make the required mods to the platform.xml file. It is driving me nuts.
Hans.physics said:
Yeah. That's expected behavior on a non-rooted KK phone. My problem is that I'm rooted and I can't get anything to write to external. Total Commander, Root Explorer, ES File Explorer, Camera apps, etc. Nothing will write to External SD no matter how many times I make the required mods to the platform.xml file. It is driving me nuts.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I had the same issue before when I upgraded my S4 to KK, but installing FolderMount solved it, when I started the app it showed me a message that my phone has some settings that will not make the app work and it asked me if I want to correct it.. I said yes, restart and viola every thing is okay...
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.devasque.fmount
I don't know if it will work on Z2 ( I still didn't have it yet ) but you might try it...
cHoLoCoY said:
oh wow,..... so what about the pictures i took from the camera? i can never delete picture's??? (data storage: SD card)
i guess i have to get use to using the built-in apps to do some of the stuff i need to do,...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah you need to use the built-in file manager, File Commander, to delete your photos on microsd for non-rooted.
Looks like it was a bad card after all. I swapped it out and now everything works as it is supposed to. I have other issue, but I'll open a new thread for those
Thanks for the help folks!

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