[Gen8 Android Development] $aur0n:
Since it's kind of crowdy here and it's hard to guess what people are actually asking about - I've create separate thread for my release http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?p=10239773. Please go to talk about this changes there...

-- OLD POST --

Ok here is my 2.0.71 Android by Archos on SD card with r/w, and ext4. It's still not complete work - but because of emails ... ;)

Why bother:

- ext4 (much faster than ext3, files >4GB comparing to FAT32)

- full r/w to every part of system

- root (su + superuser.apk) out of the box

- possibility to remove some google/Archos apps (already done partly)

- swap memory

- no 300MB limit for apps (an no faulty app2sd required)

Warning

First - it's kind of expansion of my previous post - so please read it before.

I'm currently using 3 partitions (it's sizes are up to you):

0,5GB rootfs

1GB /data

rest /mnt/whatever

but You can create one big partition instead - I've made my configuration because of easiness to backup and upgrade (rootfs is easy to upgrade later on, /data has only runtime data and application, rest is for movies etc.)

linux-machine:~# fdisk -l /dev/sdb

Disk /dev/sdb: 16.0 GB, 16012804096 bytes
199 heads, 44 sectors/track, 3571 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 8756 * 512 = 4483072 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
I/O size (minimum/optimal): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x00000000

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sdb1 1 121 529716 83 Linux
/dev/sdb2 122 362 1055098 83 Linux
/dev/sdb3 363 3571 14049002 83 Linux

So create at least one primary partition on SD card with fdisk, parted etc.

Format it with EXT4 - but without huge_file option (it won't work with this feature since it requires special kernel option that brakes compatibility with existing modules).

mkfs.ext4 -O ^huge_file /dev/sdb1

you can change chekout time/count for FS for something larger ;)

tune2fs -i 9999 -c 999 /dev/sdc1
fsck.ext4 /dev/sdc1

If you created more partitions - do those steps for everyone.

Extract content of rootfs.tar.gz onto first partition on sd card (it HAS to be first one). Update initramfs.gz and zImage. Boot development mode...

You should see all yours apps etc. - it should look like your archos ;), but with su/superuser.apk etc.

now you should copy /data files onto sd card. Use terminal emulator (from market can be "Android Terminal Emulator") or sshd (QuickSSHd and log into your tablet) and do:

If you have ONE partition

su
cp -rp /data/* /data.new/

If two or more

su
mount -t ext4 /dev/block/mmcblk2p2 /data.new
cp -rp /data/* /data.new/
umount /data.new/

Poweroff device, put card into computer and:

one partion

remove /data

rename /data.new to /data

edit /init.rc...

# Comment this
# mount ext3 /dev/block/mmcblk0p4 /data noatime nosuid
# Uncomment this
# mount ext4 /dev/block/mmcblk2p2 /data noatime
mount ext3 /dev/block/mmcblk0p4 /data.old noatime nosuid

two or more

edit /init.rc...

# Comment this
# mount ext3 /dev/block/mmcblk0p4 /data noatime nosuid
# Uncomment this
mount ext4 /dev/block/mmcblk2p2 /data noatime
mount ext3 /dev/block/mmcblk0p4 /data.old noatime nosuid

You can also now mount (if you have) other partition putting in init.rc (just after mount /data.old for example)

for ext4
mount ext4 /dev/block/mmcblk2p3 /mnt/storage/sdcard noatime nosuid
or fat32
mount vfat /dev/block/mmcblk2p3 /mnt/storage/sdcard

Reboot - it should work :)

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/1017593/ArchosGEN8/2.0.71-01/rootfs.tar.gz

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/1017593/ArchosGEN8/2.0.71-01/initramfs.cpio.gz

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/1017593/ArchosGEN8/2.0.71-01/zImage

To remove some default apps

App started at the boot time are stored in /system/app, I've already removed some of them by moving it to /system/app.old/ - but you can do it by your own - but remember - some of them are actually required to run system ;)