Explanation of memory usage in an AUK update

**colonel** · #1 (**permalink**) 05-28-2007, 12:07 PM

Nice work Big D.

However, I feel that it is important to clear up some confusion once again. Adding or removing apps and other stuff in the Rom DOES NOT affect the amount of usable program memory available to the user after flashing.

The device is partitioned to allow for 63MB (+ or - slightly) for the rom. Regardless of how much you add or remove in the rom, you are still flashing a 63MB file. You still have the same 40MB partition for user storage.

Now, there can be a slight difference in available storage due to the number of files that are copied by the initflashfiles. For instance, my latest rom boots with about 35MB free. This is due to the fact that I am copying a lot of files into different directories. However, it is only taking 1-2MB. And remember, this is with 30+ apps installed into the rom.

So, the only place you will actually save memory is in reducing the initflashfiles.

Oh, by the way, it is also just as futile to UPX stuff in the rom aside from getting faster load times.

**Big D5** · #2 (**permalink**) 05-28-2007, 12:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by colonel

Nice work Big D.

However, I feel that it is important to clear up some confusion once again. Adding or removing apps and other stuff in the Rom DOES NOT affect the amount of usable program memory available to the user after flashing.

The device is partitioned to allow for 63MB (+ or - slightly) for the rom. Regardless of how much you add or remove in the rom, you are still flashing a 63MB file. You still have the same 40MB partition for user storage.

Now, there can be a slight difference in available storage due to the number of files that are copied by the initflashfiles. For instance, my latest rom boots with about 35MB free. This is due to the fact that I am copying a lot of files into different directories. However, it is only taking 1-2MB. And remember, this is with 30+ apps installed into the rom.

So, the only place you will actually save memory is in reducing the initflashfiles.

Why?

I feel there is no need for clarification here 40 is 40 we all know that let the user decide if 35 or 37 is better its only a couple of megs but its your own choice what gets added verses someone deciding for you. The additions to your ROM are substantial in nature nut are the main reason for this ROM in my opinion choice is everything.

**colonel** · #3 (**permalink**) 05-28-2007, 12:44 PM

My fault for trying to be helpful. I won't let it happen again.

**luv2chill** · #4 (**permalink**) 05-28-2007, 12:51 PM

Well I am all for free choice, and I think it's great to have several alternatives.

But I'll say that removing things like calculator and the games don't free up anything at all. Those two things will not contribute measurably to the 40MB of storage available. Same goes for EPST and Fieldtrial. This is because they're stored in the ROM as opposed to in the 40MB storage partition. So you can remove them to keep things clean but it's not saving any space for the end user.

I do understand removing MSN and Cyberon as many/most people either don't use them or substitute with Windows Live and MSVC.

Also, for the most part you can "remove" something in a ROM by deleting the shortcut from \Windows\Start Menu. That will keep it from being seen (except for when browsing the \Windows directory) and it won't use any memory.

**Big D5** · #5 (**permalink**) 05-28-2007, 01:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by luv2chill

Well I am all for free choice, and I think it's great to have several alternatives.

But I'll say that removing things like calculator and the games don't free up anything at all. Those two things will not contribute measurably to the 40MB of storage available. Same goes for EPST and Fieldtrial. This is because they're stored in the ROM as opposed to in the 40MB storage partition. So you can remove them to keep things clean but it's not saving any space for the end user.

I do understand removing MSN and Cyberon as many/most people either don't use them or substitute with Windows Live and MSVC.

Also, for the most part you can "remove" something in a ROM by deleting the shortcut from \Windows\Start Menu. That will keep it from being seen (except for when browsing the \Windows directory) and it won't use any memory.

You are correct some of what I removed was just to keep things clean those 4 items are about 550 kb total so not much there but I like things clean.

**schettj** · #6 (**permalink**) 05-29-2007, 05:31 AM

Actually, once Helmi_c releases his new magical rom, I believe having less in the OS does leave you more free internal store? I thoiught I read that over at xda (that the new kitchen system didn't use a fixed rom/store size, so you could either get more in the ROM or have more store) But I could be misremembering that

Rally1 · #7 (**permalink**) 06-02-2007, 01:35 PM

Thanks for the clarification. I have been trying all the ROMS, starting with yours Colonel, and I did wonder why no matter how "heavy" the ROM I always had similar storage available.

So from this knowledge you almost want as much stuff in the 63M as you can to give you more available user storage, almost a contradiction of BigD5.

In an ideal world that ROM space would be adjustable. Because the one thing i dislike about so many apps on the ROM is the inability to upgrade them.

zenak · #8 (**permalink**) 06-02-2007, 01:50 PM

Why was this moved away from the original thread? It's lost most meaning without context.

**Big D5** · #9 (**permalink**) 06-02-2007, 01:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zenak

Why was this moved away from the original thread? It's lost most meaning without context.

Explanation is HERE

TambourineMan · #10 (**permalink**) 06-02-2007, 03:24 PM

So how can one tell how much of the 64M ROM is used in the various ROM versions?

It seems there may be an advantage to removing programs you do not use and replacing them with ones that you do so that they do not need to be installed in program memory. It seems that if you remove them and do not replace them with something else, the ROM stay the same size, 64M, so there is no benefit, correct?

I guess the downside is that if a program that is put in the ROM is updated, you are stuck with the old version unless you recook the ROM.

What I do not understand is why there is no benefit to UPXing other than load speed. I seem to remember that UPXing reduced the size of the PowerPoint file when compressed on a PC, but since it was in ROM it could not be UPX'd on the 6700 so there was no increase in free program memory. But if UPXing reduced the size it took in the ROM, wouldn't that free up space in the ROM for other programs?