Storage? What to do??

Xelkos · 10-04-05, 08:59 AM

Using Mobile 2003 SE

This has no doubt been asked about before, and I have searched the forums and cannot find what I am looking for, help wise.
I looked through the noobie forums too.

I know what BIS, Main Memory, and Card Storage is. But...
I try to install programs to the CF Card whenever possible.
When I get an error that the program won't load correctly, I cancel, and re-install to the default memory.
Okay, you can only install so many applications into the Main Memory!

I had a few applications installed, namely Battery Pack pro trial. That thing was horrid, made my Axim 3x slower. //shudder//
Anyhow, it would yalp off that I was low on memory. Okay, It showed I was. I uninstalled a few trails I had, and the memory seemed to improve.
I got rid of BPPro btw, as I could not stand the lagginess! Ooo, it was bad.

When I look at my memory, I see:

At times I get red meters and see that I have like 5 MB memory left. Okay, I panic. Don't know what to do.
Tried MemMaid tonight, haven't figured out much about it. As with most applications, no one writes a manual to show what the author(s) are offering. So unless you play with it for a few hours/days, it doesn't do that much good.
So looks like a tad more then half my main memory is used by programs, their theme skins, and ext files.

Am I doing something wrong? I swear the larger files are on the CF card. I am going to move some of the My Documents files over to help save a few more KB, but 62 MB doesn't go very far.

Wished was a way to entend the main memory over to a storage card, like Compact Flash.

I haven't gotten a security/password program installed yet. Been using the default thing. I liked "Nice Start" but it cause other annoying issues too.

I have bought SPB's Pocket Plus & Weather, and CT's Tweak2K2 so far. About did my budget in. Thought about WisBar2 Adv, but it adds icon on the start bar that just interfere with my time display. It's good otherwise. I enjoyed the XP like UI.

Seriously thought about reinstalling everything, but that dern wifi settings is something I don't want to tackle again anytime soon. Lost about two days trying to get it re-established and functional.

Anyhow, sorry for being windy. What is the best way to free up the RAM for the Axim X50v??
The tutorials are perty basic, but they keep missing the point on the Storage vs Memory (how to's) to keep a good system going yet having free memory.

BTW: Sent an e-mail to CS at Dell. They said MWM5 due to be released mid October through the end of October. We'll see I guess.

FlyACL · 10-04-05, 09:23 AM

Like you said, you want to keep the Main Memory as free as you can. I personally have run into very few programs that could not be installed to a memory card. For me if it can't be installed somewhere besides Main Memory, then I don't install it.

Another thing you can try is to move (cut/paste) the programs you have installed there now to a memory card and recreate the shortcuts in the windows/start menu/programs file. That sometimes works well for programs that refuse to go anywhere else.

I currently have less then 9Mb in main memory so your 27+ looks like a bit much. Good Luck~

Gdio53 · 10-04-05, 09:25 AM

The only programs that should be installed to main memory are Today plugins, and even some of those can be installed to BIS or a storage card, I have Pocket Breeze installed to BIS and it runs without any problems.

If you do a lot of internet browsing, your Temporary Internet files will take a lot of memory, you can try deleting them, or better yet, use Tweak2K2 to have the files stored on a SD or CF card.
Directories to clean are: \Windows\Cookies, \Windows\History, \Windows\Profiles, \Windows\Temporary Internet Files and \Temp. This could recover several mb.
Also, if you have OdClientCe.exe in \Program Files\Funk Software\Odyssey Client, you can replace it with an empty file, on you PC, create a new, empty text document and rename it OdClientCe.exe, then copy this file to the Program Files\Funk Software\Odyssey Client folder on the X50, this will recover about 2mb.

Gary

Xelkos · 10-04-05, 10:51 AM

So, guess I am probably looking at a reinstall then...
And then hopefully get the stuff on the compact flash card.

Couple nooby questions; what are these and what they for?
> I see folders in BIS and storage named "WMDRM" with an alpha-binary file name under it.
> And a 0 byte files labeled "ignore_my_docs"

Sure wished I could relocate everything under "My Documents" to my CF card (save important backups), and keep the settings pointed there!

[Edited] I think a lot of the uncontrolled installation comes from CAB files. No way that I found when installing via a CAB file where it installs to. That's why I prefer executable versus cabinet files.

Gdio53 · 10-04-05, 11:04 AM

Originally Posted by Xelkos

So, guess I am probably looking at a reinstall then...
And then hopefully get the stuff on the compact flash card.

Couple nooby questions; what are these and what they for?
> I see folders in BIS and storage named "WMDRM" with an alpha-binary file name under it.
> And a 0 byte files labeled "ignore_my_docs"

Sure wished I could relocate everything under "My Documents" to my CF card (save important backups), and keep the settings pointed there!

WMDRM is for the Windows Media Digital Rights Management, it's where the licenses are stored.
The "ignore_my_docs" is created automatically if there is no "My Documents" folder present, if you create a "My Documents" in BIS, and on any storage cards you have, you can delete the "ignore_my_docs" file.

If you have .tsk files stored in My Documents, you can move them to another My Documents folder in BIS or a storage card, this will recover some memory.

I would recommend re-installing the applications rather than cutting/pasting, most apps store information in the registry and you can cause problems if you just move the folders.

Gary

stevodude · 10-04-05, 08:59 PM

Yep I would deffinately recommen uninstalling then re-installing in BIS or Card.

I actually just did a Hard reset, deleted ALL BIS and programs on sdcard, did a clean install of all applications to BIS ( EVERYTHING) appart from really large programs that went into SDcard, and now it runs really well.

I have all my 'utilities and required stuff installed' now I just got to install all the 'extra goodies', about 30 programs installed so far, including WA2,Ilauncher,Pbreeze, WA2 VGA theme expea2

Edit registry - moved PIE cache to sdcard, new ODClient.exe to zero byte file, moved Mydocuments to bis/my docuemts, removed 'ignoremydocs' from bis.

only have tombo notes in main memmory as I want that synced to pc.

will have to get a alternate 'my documents' sync tool.

X50v

Storage:
Allocated 11.46
In use 3.30
Free 8.16Mb

Program:
Allocated 50.29
In use 18.9
Free 31.4

WOOOT :-)

CdSlc · 10-04-05, 11:13 PM

Originally Posted by Xelkos

I think a lot of the uncontrolled installation comes from CAB files. No way that I found when installing via a CAB file where it installs to. That's why I prefer executable versus cabinet files.

You can use the freeware CabInstl which will give you an option to install CAB files into any card and any directory.

Originally Posted by stevodude

will have to get a alternate 'my documents' sync tool.

You can try the freeware Mobsync application. This utility will sync any folder on your Axim to any folder on your PC.

Xelkos · 10-05-05, 12:03 AM

Cool, thanks for the helpful advice. Will get on it in the next day or two.
I do have another question too... how can one find out how much BIS is left?
Rescoe Explorer, File Explorer, & my PC's own Windows Explorer does not show the size, or space remaining. Seems to only show the amount of space used.

(Typed on Axim. God I enjoy this wifi ability!)

stevodude · 10-05-05, 01:00 AM

goto show memory settings(ising ilauncher battery meter) then storage card, shows 'in use' and 'free'
also you can go through start/settings/memory then 'storage card' then you can select BIS or sdcard/cfcard etc.

btw, if you have about a 1Gb sd/cf card, formating the card on a PC with fat16 is WAY faster than fat32... well reading anyway, which is what it mainly does.

Xelkos · 10-05-05, 07:19 AM

For curiosity, how much does MWM5 use in BIS on X51v?

I see in my X50v, 3.81 MB used and 87.62 MB free; with a total of 91.43 MB.
My CF Card has over 400 MB free space. This will be interesting rebuilding.

I know the security programs I was using, and the Today+ Programs wanted installed in "default". Thing is, these programs never tell you what the "default" path is.
Unlike installing software in your PC, you get asked where you want to program installed. It shows you exactly where the main program will be installing "default" wise.

Sure wished MWM5 was here, so the rebuilding would be over and not have to redo it in another week or two.

I noticed that the MemMaid trial I am using, shows the storage/file space used anywhere, including the BIS.

CdSlc · 10-05-05, 09:41 AM

Originally Posted by Xelkos

<...snip...>Thing is, these programs never tell you what the "default" path is.
Unlike installing software in your PC, you get asked where you want to program installed. It shows you exactly where the main program will be installing "default" wise.<...snip...>

Maybe what you are looking for is this excellent article

written by Menneisyys on Mad Programmer's File Dialog Changer, killer of CabInstl – a real must!

RobertCF · 10-05-05, 12:19 PM

Resco File Explorer DOES tell you the space on the BIS. The latest version even has a Today Plug-in that gives you a graphic for each type of storage, whether it's power, RAM, ROM, SD, CF......

Also, if you open Resco File Explorer and expand My Device, you'll see a folder for Built-in Storage. Tap and hold to bring up the context-sensitive menu. Choose Properties. It will tell you how many folders and files are in BIS, total space, used space, and free space, as well as a bar graph with percentage. A lot of people keep forgetting to try tap-and-hold on their PDAs, much like the forget to try right-clicking in Windows to bring up context menus for stuff they're looking for. BTW, in this same properties window you should see a tab for FORMAT. Yes, you can format cards, etc., but just be careful if you use this...as you should any time you're formatting something.

Xelkos · 10-06-05, 03:06 AM

I click-and-hold a lot. Mac style mouse setup for the stylus.

I was using the demo of Rescoe Explorer. Oddly it would not ally me to view all files. Maybe cause it was a trail. It's an okay Explorer, but not worth $30 IMO.

[I had a program installed, Norton AntiVirus for PDA. Bad mistake, but, tried to uninstall it. It would not uninstall.
Tried to find the file that was loading it on startup, and couldnt find a thing, using Rescoe Explorer.
Okay, fired up File Explorer, had the option on tap-hold to View All Files. Sure enough, was a file in the Startup folder. Rescoe Explorer did not see the file.]

Rebuilt this evening, things better, faster, smoother. No Rescoe Explorer installed. Debating about Rescoe Photo Viewer.

Also debating about the MS .NET Framework. Think that's one of them programs that is quite large, and wants installed to the "default" storage. (Of course it doesn't say where it wants to go exactly, just default.)

Pocket Plus wanted installed to default, it didn't like being told to install to the BIS. /shrug

Rescoe Explorer is nice, to a point. But I did not find it a total solution (see above).
I wished I could port Norton Navigator over to the PPC! I still use it ( 95b version) in XP.

Xelkos · 10-07-05, 09:37 AM

So the latest understanding of MWM5 it that is wants 66MB BIS and our poor X50/51 have only 64MB??

Why does MS think they need to bloat off old code instead of re-writing from scratch??? I think we are about to see compression mounting of the BIS like the old way of compressing files on older smaller hdd's!

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