Things should be simple, but as most of the time, in Android, aren't. I need to format the SD card if the user selects the option in my app. Don't ask me why I need to do this if it's already in the OS... not practical but it's a requirement that I need to implement. As you may know, there is an option in Settings \ Storage \ Erase SD Card. I took a look at the froyo source code and it's something like:
final IMountService service =
IMountService.Stub.asInterface(ServiceManager.getService("mount"));
if (service != null) {
new Thread() {
public void run() {
try {
service.formatVolume(Environment.getExternalStorageDirectory().toString());
} catch (Exception e) {
// Intentionally blank - there's nothing we can do here
Log.w("MediaFormat", "Unable to invoke IMountService.formatMedia()");
}
}
}.start();
} else {
Log.w("MediaFormat", "Unable to locate IMountService");
}
It uses android.os.storage.IMountService
and android.os.ServiceManager
and I don't seem to have access to it. So, as I see it I could recursively search every file and delete it but that would be "not on my taste"... or I could start the screen from Erase SD card to the user.
Any help is more then welcome, as I am stuck.
First of all, I think that you may need to umount .android_secure
filesystem before formatting SD card, whatever your approach may be.
Then,
Try including following permissions in your app:
1) MOUNT_FORMAT_FILESYSTEMS
- http://developer.android.com/reference/android/Manifest.permission.html#MOUNT_FORMAT_FILESYSTEMS
2) MOUNT_UNMOUNT_FILESYSTEMS
- http://developer.android.com/reference/android/Manifest.permission.html#MOUNT_UNMOUNT_FILESYSTEMS
Android Settings app already uses the 2nd permission.
================================================================================
When you perform a build of AOSP or any other distribution code, IMountService.java file gets generated automatically. It contains following function which actually sends formatting commands to vold daemon I guess.:
private static class Proxy implements android.os.storage.IMountService
{
private android.os.IBinder mRemote;
Proxy(android.os.IBinder remote)
{
mRemote = remote;
}
public android.os.IBinder asBinder()
{
return mRemote;
}
// **** A LOT OF OTHER CODE IS HERE.....
public int formatVolume(java.lang.String mountPoint) throws android.os.RemoteException
{
android.os.Parcel _data = android.os.Parcel.obtain();
android.os.Parcel _reply = android.os.Parcel.obtain();
int _result;
try {
_data.writeInterfaceToken(DESCRIPTOR);
_data.writeString(mountPoint);
mRemote.transact(Stub.TRANSACTION_formatVolume, _data, _reply, 0);
_reply.readException();
_result = _reply.readInt();
}
finally {
_reply.recycle();
_data.recycle();
}
return _result;
}
}
I can't find again the question here on SO, but It had a working solution. So all credit goes to that guy ;)
public void wipeMemoryCard() {
File deleteMatchingFile = new File(Environment
.getExternalStorageDirectory().toString());
try {
File[] filenames = deleteMatchingFile.listFiles();
if (filenames != null && filenames.length > 0) {
for (File tempFile : filenames) {
if (tempFile.isDirectory()) {
wipeDirectory(tempFile.toString());
tempFile.delete();
} else {
tempFile.delete();
}
}
} else {
deleteMatchingFile.delete();
}
} catch (Exception e) {
Utils.log(e.getMessage());
}
}
private static void wipeDirectory(String name) {
File directoryFile = new File(name);
File[] filenames = directoryFile.listFiles();
if (filenames != null && filenames.length > 0) {
for (File tempFile : filenames) {
if (tempFile.isDirectory()) {
wipeDirectory(tempFile.toString());
tempFile.delete();
} else {
tempFile.delete();
}
}
} else {
directoryFile.delete();
}
}