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I Installed Magisk AND One UI 7 on a 3.5" HDD: A Deep Dive and Comprehensive Guide

The prospect of running a modern mobile operating system like Android, specifically Samsung’s One UI 7, off a traditional 3.5" hard disk drive (HDD) might seem unconventional, even ludicrous at first glance. However, with the right tools, configuration, and a healthy dose of technical know-how, it’s entirely possible. We will guide you through the intricacies of achieving this feat, the performance considerations, and the potential applications. We will also explore the integration of Magisk, a powerful tool for rooting Android devices and customizing the system, to unlock a whole new level of control.

Understanding the Components: Magisk, One UI 7, and 3.5" HDDs

Magisk: Rooting, Modules, and Systemless Modifications

Magisk is more than just a rooting tool; it’s a comprehensive suite for systemless modifications on Android. Unlike traditional rooting methods that directly modify the system partition, Magisk operates by patching the boot image. This allows you to make changes to your device without altering the core system files, ensuring that over-the-air (OTA) updates can still be applied.

One UI 7: Samsung’s Android Skin and its Features

One UI 7 represents Samsung’s latest iteration of their custom Android skin. It’s built on top of the Android Open Source Project (AOSP) and brings a plethora of Samsung-exclusive features, a refined user interface, and various performance optimizations.

3.5" HDDs: Characteristics and Limitations for Mobile OS Use

A 3.5" HDD, typically found in desktop computers, is a traditional storage device that uses spinning platters and a read/write head to access data. Compared to modern Solid State Drives (SSDs), HDDs have several limitations:

The Process: Installing Magisk and One UI 7 on a 3.5" HDD

This is an advanced project that requires a thorough understanding of Android, Linux, and hardware. Proceed with caution and ensure you have backups of your important data.

Prerequisites

  1. Compatible Hardware:
    • Android device (phone or tablet) with USB OTG support.
    • 3.5" HDD with sufficient storage space for One UI 7 and your apps.
    • SATA to USB adapter to connect the HDD to your Android device.
    • External power supply for the HDD, as the Android device may not be able to provide enough power.
    • A computer with ADB (Android Debug Bridge) and Fastboot installed.
  2. Software:
    • One UI 7 ROM (custom ROM based on One UI 7) for your Android device.
    • Magisk ZIP file.
    • TWRP (Team Win Recovery Project) custom recovery for your device.
    • Disk imaging software (e.g., Rufus, Etcher) on your computer.
    • Partitioning software (e.g., GParted) on your computer.

Step-by-Step Guide

  1. Partitioning the HDD:

    • Connect the 3.5" HDD to your computer using the SATA to USB adapter.
    • Use partitioning software like GParted to create the necessary partitions:
      • System Partition: Allocate at least 32GB for the system files of One UI 7. Format this partition as ext4.
      • Data Partition: Allocate the remaining space for your app data and media files. Format this partition as ext4.
      • Cache Partition: Allocate 2-4 GB for the system cache. Format this partition as ext4.

  2. Installing TWRP Custom Recovery:

    • Enable Developer Options on your Android device by going to Settings > About Phone > Software Information and tapping the Build Number repeatedly until Developer Options are unlocked.

    • Enable USB Debugging in Developer Options.

    • Download the TWRP image file for your device from the official TWRP website.

    • Connect your device to your computer using a USB cable.

    • Open a command prompt or terminal on your computer and navigate to the directory where you downloaded the TWRP image file.

    • Use the following command to flash TWRP to your device:

      adb reboot bootloader
fastboot flash recovery twrp.img
fastboot reboot

    • Replace “twrp.img” with the actual name of the TWRP image file.

  3. Flashing One UI 7 ROM:

    • Download the One UI 7 ROM for your Android device. Ensure that the ROM is compatible with your device model and Android version.
    • Copy the One UI 7 ROM ZIP file to a USB drive or SD card.
    • Boot your device into TWRP recovery mode. This is usually done by pressing and holding the Power button and Volume Up button simultaneously while the device is booting.
    • In TWRP, select “Wipe” and then “Advanced Wipe.”
    • Select the following partitions to wipe: Dalvik / ART Cache, Cache, System, and Data.
    • Go back to the main menu in TWRP and select “Install.”
    • Select the USB drive or SD card where you copied the One UI 7 ROM ZIP file.
    • Select the One UI 7 ROM ZIP file and swipe to flash it.

  4. Installing Magisk:

    • After flashing the One UI 7 ROM, do not reboot your device.
    • Copy the Magisk ZIP file to the same USB drive or SD card.
    • In TWRP, select “Install” again.
    • Select the Magisk ZIP file and swipe to flash it.

  5. Connecting the HDD and Mounting the Partitions:

    • After flashing Magisk, reboot your device.

    • Once your device has booted into One UI 7, connect the 3.5" HDD to your Android device using the SATA to USB adapter and the external power supply.

    • You will need to use a terminal emulator app on your Android device (e.g., Termux) and root access (provided by Magisk) to manually mount the partitions on the HDD.

    • First, identify the block device names for the partitions on the HDD. You can use the lsblk command in Termux to list the block devices. The HDD partitions will likely be listed as /dev/sda1, /dev/sda2, and /dev/sda3.

    • Create mount points for the partitions:

      su
mkdir /mnt/system
mkdir /mnt/data
mkdir /mnt/cache

    • Mount the partitions:

      mount -t ext4 /dev/sda1 /mnt/system
mount -t ext4 /dev/sda2 /mnt/data
mount -t ext4 /dev/sda3 /mnt/cache

    • Modify the /system/etc/fstab file to automatically mount the partitions on boot. This requires root access and a text editor with root privileges. Add the following lines to the fstab file:

      /dev/block/sda1 /system ext4 ro,barrier=1 wait
/dev/block/sda2 /data ext4 noatime,nosuid,nodev,barrier=1,errors=panic wait,check
/dev/block/sda3 /cache ext4 noatime,nosuid,nodev,barrier=1,errors=panic wait,check

  6. Configuring Magisk Modules (Optional):

    • Open the Magisk Manager app.
    • Go to the “Modules” section.
    • Search for and install modules that enhance performance, improve battery life, or add new features.
    • Some useful modules for this setup include:
      • FDE.AI: Optimizes memory management and task scheduling.
      • LKT (Linux Kernel Tweaker): Allows you to fine-tune kernel parameters.
      • Greenify: Hibernates background apps to save battery.

Performance Considerations and Optimizations

Running One UI 7 from an HDD will inevitably result in slower performance compared to using internal flash storage or an SSD. Here are some tips to optimize performance:

Potential Applications and Use Cases

While running One UI 7 from an HDD might seem impractical for everyday use, it can be useful for specific applications:

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Conclusion

Installing Magisk and One UI 7 on a 3.5" HDD is a challenging but rewarding project that pushes the boundaries of what’s possible with Android. While it’s not a practical solution for everyday use due to performance limitations, it can be useful for specific applications and provides a valuable learning experience. By carefully following the steps outlined in this guide and optimizing the system for performance, you can successfully run One UI 7 from an HDD and unlock a new level of customization and control. Remember to always back up your data and proceed with caution, as any modification to your device can potentially lead to data loss or damage. The journey from the conventional to the unconventional is paved with experimentation, patience, and a willingness to delve into the technical depths of Android.

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