How to create Ext2 Partition

[Stryder]

Changelog:
-8/10/09-Added Method 4 (do it completely through your phone)
-6/13/09- Added an alternative method to creating a live CD (for those who aren't capable of burning a CD). Method 1 is using the live CD. Method 2 is installing programs. Steps 1-6 will differ between the 2 methods. Steps 7 and on are the same. Method 3 is using Window's Paragon Partition Manager.

Regardless of either method, you will need a USB microSD card reader because Ubuntu isn't capable of mounting your microSD card from your phone (last I checked).

Some people are wondering how to create the ext2 partition. This is do-able for free. You just need to have a USB microSD card reader. It might work just plugging your G1 in but you will need to unmount the SD from your phone after it's plugged in (haven't tried that myself yet).

<-- METHOD 1 --> (using Live CD)

This is a free solution as long as you have a blank CD, a CD burner, and the previously mentioned SD reader.

1. First, download Ubuntu (free download of a linux OS).
2. Burn the ISO image to a cd. (ImgBurn or Ashampoo are free solutions).
3. BACKUP everything from your microSD (partitioning will wipe your card clean).
4. Once that is done, place the CD in your computer and reboot.
5. It'll start up asking you to select a lanuage. Pick one (probably english).
6. Choose "Try Ubuntu without installing to your computer" (make sure you pick this option so you don't go installing Ubuntu to your computer). It'll load Ubuntu on your computer temporarily.
7. - 13. Steps found below


<-- METHOD 2 --> (dual booting)

This is a free solution as long as you have the previously mentioned SD reader.

1. First, download Ubuntu (free download of a linux OS).
2. Next, download Wubi to the same folder as Ubuntu (Wubi's website)
3. Follow instructions here to install Wubi: http://wubi-installer.org/faq.php
4. BACKUP everything from your microSD (partitioning will wipe your card clean).
5. Reboot your computer, picking Ubuntu instead of Windows on the boot screen. [Screenshot]
6. Login to Ubuntu. Now we will need to install the partition editor:
-Go to Applications and click "Add/Remove Programs"
-Search for "Gnome Partition Editor"
-Check the box next to the name and apply the changes
-That will install the partition editor you need.
7. - 13. Steps found below


<-- STEPS 7 to 13 -->

7. Plug in your microSD to your computer. Click on "System" and pick "partition editor"
8. From the drop down, select your SD card (probably second option on there). Make sure you select your SD card and not your hard drive. Check the size of the partition you are working with because this can mess up your computer if you format your hard drive instead of the SD card.
9. Right click on the partition and select "Unmount" then Delete the existing partition.
10. Create a new partition (FAT32 format) and allocate a certain amount of space. (I have a 8GB card so I gave it about 6.5 GB)
11. Create a new partition out of the unallocated space (EXT2 format) and give it the rest of the remaining space (which was about 1.5 GB in my case). If you did it correctly, you should see two primary partitions, one as FAT32 with most of the space and one as EXT2 with a smaller portion of space (depending how much you want to give to each partition).
12. Apply the changes and it should say it was successful.
13. Close the window then click the top right corner (power icon). Shut down the computer. (Method 1 should remove the CD at this point). Reboot your computer. (Method 2 can unstall Ubuntu like any other program at this point to undo the changes to your computer). You are done


<-- METHOD 3 -->
Follow instructions here to use Paragon Partition Manager:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=512873

<-- METHOD 4 -->
Follow instructions here to create the EXT partition through Cyanogen's recovery screen:
http://androidcommunity.com/forums/v...&catid=2&id=39
This is probably now the easiest method to use since it doesn't require many steps.

<-- NOTES -->
-You can't format the card while it is in use, which is why a USB reader works. Using the G1 as the reader did not work for me. I had forgotten to unmount it from the G1 first so I don't know if it'll work otherwise.

-Method 1 only - Choosing to "Try Ubuntu without any changes to your computer" will not install anything to your computer. It'll simply run Ubuntu from the CD. Once you take the CD and reboot, your computer will load normally. For those who want more information on this, you are using a LiveCD.

-Method 2 only - You uninstall Wubi/Ubuntu as any other applications. In Windows go to the control panel and select "Add or Remove Programs", then select Wubi/Ubuntu and uninstall it. You can also use the uninstaller that you find in the installation folder. [Screenshot]

-Method 3 - Was not developed by me so do not ask me about it. I haven't tried it.

-Having a microSD card with the ext2 partition allows you to move your apps and cache to it if you have root, which is quite handy. The ext2 partition will store the apps and cache if you move them there and the FAT32 partition will store everything else, such as pictures and music.

-There is a program on Windows that can do this, but it is not free (though I believe you can downlaod a trial). I never tried it using the Windows solution so can't help you there.

-If you need to use EXT3 instead of EXT2, just pick EXT3 instead of EXT2 when creating the partition. Alternatively, if you already have EXT2, you can right click on it to change the format to EXT3.

This was crudely written since I'm a bit lazy to take screenshots. If you need any help, just post your questions here and I'll try to help. I'm not an expert in anyway but this was how I created my ext2 partition and it wasn't too hard.

Hope this helps someone.

Edit: If someone has a link to a Mac guide, please PM it to me so I can link it in here for Mac users. TIA!

Edit Edit: If you're new to rooting or modding the G1, visit AndroidQ.com for basics

[JohnnyLicious]

this is using a mac right?

[tjt486]

No, this is using Ubuntu, a Linux distribution.

Or I guess more specifically, not necessarily. Im pretty sure Ubuntu would run on a mac, but my understanding is that a mac can format ext2 partitions anyway, so the Live CD wouldn't be necessary

[AndroidJR]

My first problem is i have 3.7gig left on my 8gig card after trying to partion it. any help?

[JohnnyLicious]

No, this is using Ubuntu, a Linux distribution.

Or I guess more specifically, not necessarily. Im pretty sure Ubuntu would run on a mac, but my understanding is that a mac can format ext2 partitions anyway, so the Live CD wouldn't be necessary

can you give me a short tutorial how to do this on a mac?

thanks would be really appreciated.

[JuanGil]

can you give me a short tutorial how to do this on a mac?

thanks would be really appreciated.

in a Mac you just download EXTfs and then use Disk Utility to format, choose the flash drive select erase with fat32,once you erase then partition.. select size for every partition, highlight the first partition, from the drop down menu select FAT32, then highlight second partition and select EXT2.. hit Apply and you are done
pretty much self explained and really quick, much quicker than Paragon ( a lot more)
EDIT: this in Leopard, I don't know if Tiger or any other will do it

[Stryder]

this is using a mac right?

@JohnnyLicious - Sorry, the steps I provided are for Windows. However, Mac's should be able to run ubuntu as well so you would just need to figure out how to burn the ISO then boot from the CD. I've never used a mac before so can't really give you specific instructions. Changed the title to be clearer

@AndroidJR- Did you follow my steps? If so, you can choose what to do with that space. If you use the partition editor from Ubuntu, it can resize your partitions if you have leftover unallocated space. You can just assign it back to a particular partition. Just click on that partition, then click "resize" then drag the bar or adjust the settings until there is no free space left.

@JuanGil -That sounds about right on how to do it on a Mac. At least the guys from xda seem to provide similar steps. Btw, thanks for your dark keys in your sig. Was looking for an app like that!

[JohnnyLicious]

alright thanks for clearing that up.

[Stryder]

No problem. Sorry I couldn't help more with instructions on a mac. If you figure it out, please do let us know for future reference

[zero.fx]

i m using a mac and i m still not getting this right, i thought i managed to partition it with disk utility but it doesn't appear to work for me. Can some one who had success share some light, i have installed extfs btw so i m able to format the card into ext2 and fat32 i believe.