The reason I didn't go into details about the 3rd party app I used to help me do the restore was because it was an irrelevant detail.
Your right the app is irrelevant only now that it becomes clear that the app was just an overlay gui for google apps2sd function. If you had just simply made this clear in the first place that would not have been an issue.
However establishing the method itself used for apps2sd was important because some work in different ways. Some require an EXT partition for example, such as Darktremors Apps2SD hack which create a symbolic link in /data/app to move the apk to the sd card. The EXT partition is not recognizable by the phone through the likes of astro or any other file manager. Androids built in system, which is more or less what you used since the third party app was not responsible for moving the app but android was. Androids built in apps2sd starting on froyo works differently because it does not actually need an EXT partition and according to googles android developer blog, as a different way of functioning:
"Note that not all of the contents of an “SD-card-resident” APK are actually on the card; the dex files, private data directories, and native shared libraries remain in internal storage. Then there is CynagonMods version which works the same as Googles, except for it can force all apps to the sd card.
So your right the app proved relevant only due to a further lack of vital information.
The app I used was Superbox. All it does is go thru the list of downloaded apps and summarize the ones for which "move to SD card" is enabled. Tapping on each item in the list brings the user to that app in the standard "manage applications" page for that app, allowing "Move to SD card" to be selected. Nothing tricky was done - basically I used the phone's built-in utility to move the apps that were listed as movable. I also verified those apps were moved to the SD card.
So read about google Apps2SD up above. Better yet I will copy and paste it hear for you:
"Note that not all of the contents of an “SD-card-resident” APK are actually on the card; the dex files, private data directories, and native shared libraries remain in internal storage.
You may think you are helpful, but my definition of helpful is different from yours. You never answered my actual question (apps are on the SD card but do not appear anywhere on new phone's menu or manage apps lists). Your main response was your advice on forum protocol and "netiquette", claiming my method of emphasis is considered yelling and is rude, followed by posts laced with sarcasm and just plain nastiness. This does not create an inviting environment for me or any other users who might have seen your responses to participate in this forum.
Again read my response to your comment about a stub. I am sorry you choose to neglect information provided you to try to spin this in your favor.
Again, the purpose of these technical forums is to assist other members with understanding technical issues, and not create a hostile and unfriendly environment by attacking or criticizing other members when they don't meet your personal standards of posting style. You are not the forum moderator.
If you'd like to be helpful, answer the question: the transferred files, all .asec filetype, are in the appropriate folder on the SD card. Why do they not appear on the phone as apps that can be run?
Then why not cut through the BS and state a simple question such as this. In all your responses to me you never made that clear. Sorry if this was your original question, I guess I couldnt decipher it through all the BS. More or less it is an encrypted file so that other applications can not modify or corrupt them(wow amazing what google does when you dont know something). The encryption key is probably unique to each device. I cant say for sure, but as I pointed out before, using DarkTremorers Apps2SD partition, it was not even able to be re-used after a format. Sounds like this is true of the google apps2sd. Perhaps if you restore the APK from /mount/asec/ it will restore the associated data to. It hard to say though.
In almost 2 years of following android modding I cant say I have ever heard some one use apps2sd as a back up method. As stated above Titanium Backup is a haste free way to back up user apps, leave system apps alone in my experience, but it does require root. However this is really trivial for the most part. Install z4root, tap root, and the phone reboots. Your rooted. Now use TB to backup user apps + data, and then you can even sync them to dropbox on your PC so you have a back up in case something happens to your SD card.
