Having a Problem

[Sailor Steve]

Computer idiot alert!

I've been wanting to transfer some pictures from my cell phone to my computer. My phone doesn't have a cute little card that pops out and plugs into the computer. I spent a bunch of money on a USB cable that plugs the phone into the computer. When I plugged it in, nothing happens. I get a 'New Hardware Found' message, but it doesn't seem to identify the hardware.

I followed different paths and found that it's listed as USB Mass Storage Device. When I plug in a flash drive it tells me what it is and lets me transfer data back and forth. With the phone I get nothing that refers to it or its location, so I can't take the pictures out of one folder and place them in another.

Any ideas?

[darius359au]

Have you tried to see if your phone manufacturer has any software on their Website? , Motorola and nokia have got tools for their phones available,and most other brands would probably have something as well.

[August]

Forgive me if i am stating the obvious but have you looked in "My Computer" to see if the drive is listed there? If so you should be able to open it like any other hard drive.

[Tchocky]

If you're trying to get files from a motorola to your PC, you have my sympathies.

*looks at phone*

*anger*

[AVGWarhawk]

Can you phone email? I email my pics to my computer.

[Kratos]

I might be stating the obvious here as well, I use the phone menu to transfer my pics.The phone temp. powers down during transfers,then the mass storage device opens with drive 'j' in my case. might help /might not.

[seafarer]

With most phones that don't use flash cards of some sort, the issue is usually the file format of the device not being readable by Windows. You are stuck using software from the device manufacturer, or an open source app like bitpim (http://www.bitpim.org/).

One potential other way is Bluetooth file exchange, if your phone supports the appropriate bluetooth profiles, and your computer has bluetooth.

[August]

I take it Bluetooth doesn't refer to a dental hygiene problem... :D

[Sailor Steve]

Taking everybody's suggestions in order.

@ darius359au: it's starting to look like that is my only real option. I went to Motorola's site and they say I have to use a specific dedicated cable. The generic one I bought doesn't work.

@ August: yeah, this time I actually tried the obvious first. It was when the phone didn't show up on any drives that I started to worry.

@ Tchocky: that doesn't give much hope.:rotfl:

@ AVGWarhawk: I bought this phone specifically because it can do internet - the camera was icing. Now I never use the internet because it only does the most basic stuff. Extras cost more. And no, I can't get it to e-mail.

@ Kratos: that's what Motorola's website says as well. Unfortunately it seems I either have to use their dedicated cable, or download their software. Either one costs more money than I care to spend.

@ seafarer: my phone is one of the many bitpim doesn't support.

@ August again: I can't brush - it's not waterproof. Maybe if I just floss...

Well, now I'm off to the nearest store to see if they have the correct cable. I'm thinking I should go back to the very cheapest Nokia that just makes calls. It had features I liked more that the Motorola's. Maybe I'll spend the extra money on a real digital camera...

[fatty]

Even if you have the correct cable, when I download pictures from my Motorola L6 I must do so through the Motorola software - "Motorola Phone Tools" or something like that. These were NOT included with my phone and had to be acquired seperately. After getting that software transferring files, ringtones, and even contacts exported from MS Outlook was really painless.

[fatty]

http://www.store.motorola.com/mot/en/US/adirect/motorola;jsessionid=83C4E7FF4DB17F424E38C189257C5F AC.mot4?cmd=catProductDetail

This I think is the software package that is needed for transferring files. You should do some more research before you plunk down the benjamins though because I haven't had to use it for a long time.

[Sailor Steve]

Thanks, fatty. That's what I've pretty much found out. $35 for the cable, and another $35 for the software.

What a rip.:dead:

[jumpy]

When I wanted to do a similar thing with my phone and my pc, the usb cable from the phone manufacturer was 35 quid, whereas a bluetooth transmitter for my pc was 12 quid... makes you wonder that a cable is more expensive than a cd and a usb bluetooth dongle :roll: