[PIT] SGH-S959G: Merge /data and /storage/sdcard0 (/data/media mod)

[dimoochka]

HOW TO:
Merge "Internal Storage" (/storage/sdcard0) and "Data" (/data) partitions.

WHY:
1) Eliminate "not enough storage" limitation on installed apps. Install as many as you want.
2) Increase potential Internal Storage space (adding unused space from the /cache /preload /data and /emmc partitions together into one mega partition).
3) True full device encryption for /data and /storage/sdcard0 (if you desire).

OVERVIEW OF HOW IT WORKS:
1) Use Odin to flash a modified PIT file to repartition your device. /data is sized to 14+ GB, /cache, /preload, and /emmc are all downsized to 10MB each and are unused.
2) Use my script to modify your ROM to store your "Internal Storage" files on the /data/media/0 folder. This script will hijack your "su" and "sdcard" binaries to work properly.
3) Use my custom TWRP recovery for all of your recovery needs (supports encryption).
4) Encrypt your device if you like.

DIFFICULTY:
Medium

REQUIRED SKILLS:
1) Know how to use ADB
2) Know how to use Odin
3) Know how to fully backup your device and restore it after a factory reset.

SUPPORTED DEVICES:
SGH-S959G ONLY

"COULD BE" SUPPORTED DEVICES:
***DO NOT USE THIS METHOD FOR ANYTHING OTHER THAN SGH-S959G OR YOU WILL RISK HARD-BRICKING IT.
***IF YOU WANT TO TRY IT OUT THEN YOU MUST POST TO THIS FORUM FIRST AND WE WILL DISCUSS
***GETTING YOUR DEVICE SUPPORTED
***Possibly SGH-I777
***Possibly SGH-I9100
***Maybe Others

SUPPORTED ROMS:
CyanogenMOD 12+ (and probably derivative ROMs)
*Risk of soft brick if trying on another ROM (but no higher risk of hard brick).

RISKS: There is a very small risk of hard-brick when flashing a PIT file to your device. To minimize your risk:
1) Don't try to flash during a thunderstorm.
2) Don't try to flash to an unsupported device.
3) Don't try to flash if your USB cable / port / charging port is damaged/faulty. YOU MUST HAVE A RELIABLE USB PORT
4) Don't try to flash with your battery at 0%.
5) Don't try to flash with a computer that likes to crash a lot.
6) Don't unplug or restart your device or computer in the middle of a flash (it takes 10 seconds, be patient, geez).

STEPS TO INSTALL:

Step #1:
Make 2 backups of everything on your phone. All partitions, sdcard, micro-SD, etc...
MOVE THESE BACKUPS TO YOUR COMPUTER, THEY WILL BE ERASED FROM YOUR PHONE.
Make sure you know how to fully restore a completely wiped phone (without a preinstalled recovery) using the computer backups, starting only from the phone's BOOTLOADER/Download/Odin mode.
If you don't know how to do this, you must stop here.
PROCEEDING WITH THIS TUTORIAL WILL PERMANENTLY WIPE MOST PARTITIONS ON YOUR PHONE, THAT INCLUDES: /cache /modem /system /data /emmc /preload
Did you back up your /efs?
BACK UP YOUR /efs!!!

Step #2: Download all attached files.

Step #3: Verify that you have an uncorrupted version of both PIT files. To do this, use the md5 tool (attached) in the windows command line:
> md5 Original_SGH-S959G.pit
Output should read:
7237EC02379B497C6028236B5BBC0C91 Original_SGH-S959G.pit

> md5 MEGADATA_SGH-S959G.pit
Output should read:
9036368F41FAD9FAA266D08398EA2A33 MEGADATA_SGH-S959G.pit

If the MD5 sums don't match, STOP HERE.
DO NOT FLASH A .PIT FILE IF THE MD5 SUM IS WRONG.

Step #5: Install recovery ...
SGH-S959G_TWRP_v2.8.7.0_datamedia.zip

Step #6: Flash PIT
Did you do Step 3? Do it again, don't be lazy.
Open Odin (attached), click the PIT button. Select MEGADATA_SGH-S959G.pit
Re-Partition, Auto Reboot and F. Reset Time should be checked. The PIT filename should appear next to the PIT button.
NOTHING ELSE SHOULD BE CHECKED.
Boot your phone into bootloader/download mode and connect it. The first ID:COM field should turn yellow and have text that looks like 0:[COM5]. In the message field you will see something like <ID:0/005> Added!
Review the risks of what you're about to do above.
Hold your breath, press the start button.
Flashing takes about 10 seconds. Once it's done your phone will reboot. You can close Odin at this point.

Step #7: Format partitions.
Boot into recovery.
Format EMMC: adb shell make_ext4fs mmcblk0p11
Format PRELOAD: adb shell make_ext4fs mmcblk0p12
Wipe CACHE using recovery interface (from advanced wipe screen).
Format DATA using recovery interface (special button present on wipe screen) .
Wipe INTERNAL STORAGE using recovery interface (from advanced wipe screen).

Step #8: Restore partitions.
Reboot into recovery (you must do this again after you format, and the recovery must be datamedia version if you are installing, regular version if you are uninstalling - did you follow step #5?).
... restore your /modem /system /data and /emmc partitions. /cache and /preload should not be restored.

Step #9: Modify Android ...
(I tested on a fully booted android system, but probably works from recovery too.)

Run these commands (obviously correcting the "C:datamedia_installer" path).
*********************************
** If installing from recovery **
*********************************
** mount /data **
** mount /system **
*********************************
adb root
adb push "C:datamedia_installer" /data/local/datamedia_installer
adb shell chmod 700 /data/local/datamedia_installer

To Install: adb shell /data/local/datamedia_installer install
Note: If you ever flash a new ROM in the future it will likely disable this mod. You'll have to do the Step #9 command(s) again.
To Uninstall: adb shell /data/local/datamedia_installer uninstall

Reboot.

Step #10: Adjust /data/media permissions ...

adb root
adb shell chown -R media_rw /data/media/0
adb shell chgrp -R media_rw /data/media/0
adb shell find /data/media/0 -type d -exec chmod 775 {} +
adb shell find /data/media/0 -type f -exec chmod 664 {} +
adb shell chcon -R ubject_r:media_rw_data_file:s0 /data/media/0

Congratulations, if you made it this far you're golden.


STEPS TO UNINSTALL:

Step #1: Install recovery ...
SGH-S959G_TWRP_v2.8.7.0.zip

Step #2: MD5 Verify and then Flash PIT ... (see Step #6 above)
Original_SGH-S959G.pit

Step #3: Format Partitions ... (see Step #7 above)

Step #4: Restore partitions ... (see Step #8 above)
Make sure you are using regular version, not datamedia version.
**You can optionally skip the /emmc restore at this point, and instead finish Step #5 below, then restore to /storage/sdcard0 while Android is running (not in recovery). This should (theoretically) setup the right permissions so you can skip step #6 below.

Step #5: Modify Android ... (see Step #9 above)
Only difference is the first argument for datamedia_installer script (use "uninstall")

Step #6: Adjust /mnt/media_rw/sdcard0 permissions ...
Not sure exactly what the permissions need to be, never had to do this. Let me know if you are trying to do this and I can help you troubleshoot.
**See my note in uninstall Step #4 if you are having trouble here.

XDA:DevDB Information
[PIT] SGH-S959G: Merge /data and /storage/sdcard0 (/data/media mod), Tool/Utility for the AT&T Samsung Galaxy S II SGH-I777

Contributors
dimoochka, Lanchon (thanks for the idea!)

Version Information
Status: Stable

Created 2015-10-07
Last Updated 2015-10-07

 

[Lanchon]

great work!

for those wanting to peek at the script without downloading 17MB...

if [ $1 ] && [ $1 == "install" ]
then
  if [ -e /system/bin/sdcard_bin ]
  then
    echo "Already installed."
  else
    mount -o remount,rw /system
    cp /system/xbin/su /data/local/su_bin_backup
    cp /system/bin/sdcard /data/local/sdcard_bin_backup
    chmod 700 /data/local/su_bin_backup /data/local/sdcard_bin_backup

    cp /system/bin/sh /system/bin/sdcard_sh
    mv /system/bin/sdcard /system/bin/sdcard_bin
    mv /system/xbin/su /system/xbin/su_bin

    echo "#!/system/bin/sdcard_sh" > /system/bin/sdcard
    echo "" >> /system/bin/sdcard
    echo "while true; do" >> /system/bin/sdcard
    echo "  sleep 10000" >> /system/bin/sdcard
    echo "done" >> /system/bin/sdcard

    echo "if [ \$7 ] && [ \$7 == \"/storage/sdcard0\" ]" >> /system/bin/sdcard
    echo "then" >> /system/bin/sdcard
    echo "fi" >> /system/bin/sdcard


    echo "#!/system/bin/sh" > /system/xbin/su
    echo "" >> /system/xbin/su
    echo "if [ \$1 ] && [ \$1 == \"--daemon\" ]" >> /system/xbin/su
    echo "then" >> /system/xbin/su
    echo "  /system/xbin/sdcardd&" >> /system/xbin/su
    echo "fi" >> /system/xbin/su
    echo "/system/xbin/su_bin \"\[email protected]\"" >> /system/xbin/su



    echo "#!/system/bin/sh" > /system/xbin/sdcardd
    echo "" >> /system/xbin/sdcardd
    echo "while [ \"\$mprop\" != running ]; do" >> /system/xbin/sdcardd
    echo "  sleep 1" >> /system/xbin/sdcardd
    echo "  mprop=\`getprop init.svc.fuse_sdcard0\`" >> /system/xbin/sdcardd
    echo "done" >> /system/xbin/sdcardd
    echo "  setenforce 0" >> /system/xbin/sdcardd
    echo "  runcon u:r:init:s0 /system/bin/sh -c \"
              setenforce 1;
              /system/bin/sdcard_bin -u 1023 -g 1023 -d /data/media/0 /storage/sdcard0&
              /system/bin/sdcard_bin -u 1023 -g 1023 -d /mnt/media_rw/sdcard1 /storage/sdcard1&
              /system/bin/sdcard_bin -u 1023 -g 1023 -d /mnt/media_rw/usbdisk0 /storage/usbdisk0&
            \"&
         " >> /system/xbin/sdcardd

    chmod 755 /system/xbin/su /system/xbin/sdcardd
    chmod -R 755 /system/bin/sdcard /system/bin/sdcard_sh
    chown -R root /system/bin/sdcard /system/bin/sdcard_sh
    chgrp -R shell /system/bin/sdcard /system/bin/sdcard_sh

    chcon u:object_r:su_exec:s0 /system/xbin/su
    chcon u:object_r:su_exec:s0 /system/xbin/sdcardd
    chcon u:object_r:sdcardd_exec:s0 /system/bin/sdcard
    chcon u:object_r:sdcardd_exec:s0 /system/bin/sdcard_sh
    mount -o remount,ro /system
    echo "Successfully installed (you can ignore any device busy errors and should not see any other errors)."
  fi
fi

if [ $1 ] && [ $1 == "uninstall" ]
then
  if [ -e /system/bin/sdcard_bin ]
  then
    mount -o remount,rw /system
    mv -f /system/bin/sdcard_bin /system/bin/sdcard
    mv -f /system/xbin/su_bin /system/xbin/su
    rm /system/bin/sdcard_sh
    rm /system/xbin/sdcardd
    mount -o remount,ro /system
    echo "Successfully installed (you can ignore any device busy errors and should not see any other errors)."
  else
    echo "Not installed."
  fi
fi

 

[cidlover]

This looks interesting to me, I have the 4 GB pit mod on my S959G and I have been wondering if one could take the internal SD card space and put it to /data. You made my day with this but has anyone had luck in doing this mod and using xposed modules to make the external SD card the card apps, music, pictures, downloads, and etc folders as a fake internal SD card or is that what modding the android system does so that ROMs see the external SD card as the only expandable memory directory?

Sent from my CM 10 Toshiba Thrive using XDA Free mobile app

 

[dimoochka]

This looks interesting to me, I have the 4 GB pit mod on my S959G and I have been wondering if one could take the internal SD card space and put it to /data. You made my day with this but has anyone had luck in doing this mod and using xposed modules to make the external SD card the card apps, music, pictures, downloads, and etc folders as a fake internal SD card or is that what modding the android system does so that ROMs see the external SD card as the only expandable memory directory?

Sent from my CM 10 Toshiba Thrive using XDA Free mobile app

In a nutshell, this is what my mod does:
/data points to mmcblk0p10 (I think off the top of my head)
/storage/sdcard0 points to /mnt/media_rw/sdcard0 which points to mmcblk0p11 (I think off the top of my head)

By installing my PIT, you severely shrink mmcblk0p11 and expand mmcblk0p10 to monster size.

My script then changes the location that /storage/sdcard0 points to (to /data/media/0 which is located on mmcblk0p10).

Android puts everything (pictures, downloads, etc.) by default onto /storage/sdcard0 -> so these files get redirected to the partition which has all the space (/data/media/0 or mmcblk0p10).

So, to answer your question, an Xposed mod to redirect all of that stuff to /storage/sdcard1 (external SD) instead may or may not work depending on the method it uses. If it tells the system that the default directory to use is /storage/sdcard1 via some environment variable or method then there should be no interaction (which is probably the way that the mod works; that's the simplest method). If it does some unmounting/mounting of directories then that may interfere with my script depending on the timing with which the Xposed mod activates.

If you decide to try to get Xposed to do this and it doesn't work - let me know what mod you're using. I can fix my script to accommodate it.

Alternatively, you don't even need Xposed. Instead you can just edit the script at this point (in notepad):
/system/bin/sdcard_bin -u 1023 -g 1023 -d /data/media/0 /storage/sdcard0&
/system/bin/sdcard_bin -u 1023 -g 1023 -d /mnt/media_rw/sdcard1 /storage/sdcard1&

First line: change /storage/sdcard0 to /storage/sdcard1
Second line: change storage/sdcard1 to /storage/sdcard0
*don't add/remove any whitespace or new lines (or really change anything other than the 0 and 1) or you may break the script

This will swap the folders so that /storage/sdcard0 points to external SD and /storage/sdcard1 points to /data/media/0.

Why do you want to do this anyway? 14+ gigs of /data not enough for your carefully curated porn collection?

 

[cidlover]

In a nutshell, this is what my mod does:
/data points to mmcblk0p10 (I think off the top of my head)
/storage/sdcard0 points to /mnt/media_rw/sdcard0 which points to mmcblk0p11 (I think off the top of my head)

By installing my PIT, you severely shrink mmcblk0p11 and expand mmcblk0p10 to monster size.

My script then changes the location that /storage/sdcard0 points to (to /data/media/0 which is located on mmcblk0p10).

Android puts everything (pictures, downloads, etc.) by default onto /storage/sdcard0 -> so these files get redirected to the partition which has all the space (/data/media/0 or mmcblk0p10).

So, to answer your question, an Xposed mod to redirect all of that stuff to /storage/sdcard1 (external SD) instead may or may not work depending on the method it uses. If it tells the system that the default directory to use is /storage/sdcard1 via some environment variable or method then there should be no interaction (which is probably the way that the mod works; that's the simplest method). If it does some unmounting/mounting of directories then that may interfere with my script depending on the timing with which the Xposed mod activates.

If you decide to try to get Xposed to do this and it doesn't work - let me know what mod you're using. I can fix my script to accommodate it.

Alternatively, you don't even need Xposed. Instead you can just edit the script at this point (in notepad):
/system/bin/sdcard_bin -u 1023 -g 1023 -d /data/media/0 /storage/sdcard0&
/system/bin/sdcard_bin -u 1023 -g 1023 -d /mnt/media_rw/sdcard1 /storage/sdcard1&

First line: change /storage/sdcard0 to /storage/sdcard1
Second line: change storage/sdcard1 to /storage/sdcard0
*don't add/remove any whitespace or new lines (or really change anything other than the 0 and 1) or you may break the script

This will swap the folders so that /storage/sdcard0 points to external SD and /storage/sdcard1 points to /data/media/0.

Why do you want to do this anyway? 14+ gigs of /data not enough for your carefully curated porn collection?

Lol, no, I wanted to see if we turn, in theory, our Galaxy S2 phones into a phone with no Internal Memory and the only expandable memory is a external sd card to expand it, i just was thinking a few xposed modules can help after doing this mod.

 

[dimoochka]

Lol, no, I wanted to see if we turn, in theory, our Galaxy S2 phones into a phone with no Internal Memory and the only expandable memory is a external sd card to expand it, i just was thinking a few xposed modules can help after doing this mod.

Just to clarify, the behavior of the device after this mod is identical. If installed properly, this mod does not create any new problems that need fixing. It still behaves exactly the same as if an internal storage partition exists.

 

[cidlover]

Just to clarify, the behavior of the device after this mod is identical. If installed properly, this mod does not create any new problems that need fixing. It still behaves exactly the same as if an internal storage partition exists.

Sorry to bring this up again, but how is sd card data handled? Like .obb files in the Android folder on the internal SD card after this mod. And has anyone tried this mod yet?

 

[dimoochka]

Sorry to bring this up again, but how is sd card data handled? Like .obb files in the Android folder on the internal SD card after this mod. And has anyone tried this mod yet?

Real simple. Instead of files being placed into /storage/sdcard0 they are redirected to /data/media/0. At the end of the day that is the primary difference.

The /data/media/obb folder remains empty (I have no idea what this is used for normally).

I've been using this mod for 2 months, it's worked great. I think me and you are probably the only two people interested in doing it :laugh:

 

[Lanchon]

The /data/media/obb folder remains empty (I have no idea what this is used for normally).

http://blog.notfaqs.com/2013/05/android-obb-files-location.html
http://developer.android.com/google/play/expansion-files.html

 

[fennectech]

/system 1gb

I would like to get some help modifying the /system partition to be 1 gb is there any help i can get?