Help New S3 Owner

[opaque02]

Hey all

I just got my S3 two days ago, and to be entirely honest, I'm not that happy with it. Don't get me wrong, it has massive processing power, and it's very nice and whatnot. But my problem is my inability to transfer things (namely messages) from my old S2 over. I've tried about 3 apps, and every single time I try, something happens and I can't open the messaging app any more. I'm not sure if it's because the process gets interrupted somehow (maybe a text/call would do that), or if the apps aren't compatible with my S3, but whatever the case, whenever I try to load the messages back, the messaging process just freezes, and asks me to either wait or force close because messaging has stopped responding.

Does anyone know why it does this, or if there's a way to fix it? I have about 42,000 messages over about 150 threads (I text a lot) that I want to keep. Is it perhaps because while I'm trying to restore the messages, I get another call/message, or is it something to do with Samsung/Android etc not allowing us to transfer things over?

Also, before you ask, I'm running my S2 on 4.0.3. Also, Samsung Kies doesn't like working either, as when I go to restore the backup I have of my S2 to my S3, it will copy contacts, memos, etc etc, but not messages

Let me know if you have any ideas, and thanks in advanced . I look forward to playing around with my S3 more than just trying to get messages over

 

[Hadron]

What apps have you tried?

I use SMS Backup+, and while I've not yet tried to transfer messages using it I can't see why it wouldn't work (though it would be slow with that many!).

If you think that new messages coming in is a problem, why not disable the cellular connection while restoring?

 

[opaque02]

What apps have you tried?

I use SMS Backup+, and while I've not yet tried to transfer messages using it I can't see why it wouldn't work (though it would be slow with that many!).

If you think that new messages coming in is a problem, why not disable the cellular connection while restoring?

I've tried Slight backup, SMS Backup & Restore and another app called SMS Backup & Restore. And yeah, you can imagine my frustration with this when I've spent over 15 waking hours trying to fix it because I have so many messages .

And I'll try with the S3 on flight mode. The first time I forgot about it completely. The second time, it was at like 11pm, so I didn't think anyone would text me . The latest time I just completely forgot about flight mode . But, I decided to ask before once more spending 4+ hours to transfer them if it wouldn't work

Thanks for your help though . Hopefully it should work while it's on flight mode. What app do you recommend though for it?

 

[Hadron]

As I say, I use SMS Backup+. Of course that backs up to the cloud, so you need some data connection, but on my HTC I can activate WiFi after putting the phone in airplane mode so that's doable.

MyBackup can back up SMS to a zip on SD, so that might work (back up just SMS, copy zip to new phone, install app on new phone, restore). That would wipe any messages already on the S3 though.

 

[opaque02]

As I say, I use SMS Backup+. Of course that backs up to the cloud, so you need some data connection, but on my HTC I can activate WiFi after putting the phone in airplane mode so that's doable.

MyBackup can back up SMS to a zip on SD, so that might work (back up just SMS, copy zip to new phone, install app on new phone, restore). That would wipe any messages already on the S3 though.

So I just tried in flight mode, and tried to back everything up using SMS Backup & Restore

Unfortunately, it did not work. I'm not sure why, but I still can't access messages (though this time I managed to open the messaging app and open a contact's messages, but when I tried to go back to my list of threads, it started crashing).

Does anyone have any ideas as to how to fix this? I'd rather not try another app unless it's going to work - last night it took me 4.5 hours to restore my messages .

Thanks in advanced for your help

 

[Thechidz]

if you're texting that much i HIGHLY suggest looking into google voice. You get free unlimited texting, saves all your text threads, email notification if you choose, and you can respond by email. It's just a fantastic service and works so well with android.

 

[opaque02]

if you're texting that much i HIGHLY suggest looking into google voice. You get free unlimited texting, saves all your text threads, email notification if you choose, and you can respond by email. It's just a fantastic service and works so well with android.

Does it also backup messages :-D? I've already got unlimited testing so that isn't an issue. But if it cwj backup my messages from my S2 and it will definitely restore them and have them work on the S3, I'll definitely look into it

 

[Skeeter125]

Hot damn why do you need all those messages? You cannot honestly say you will go back and read all 42,000 of them. Delete some of them lol that can't be good for performance of the phone with that many messages.

 

[opaque02]

Hot damn why do you need all those messages? You cannot honestly say you will go back and read all 42,000 of them. Delete some of them lol that can't be good for performance of the phone with that many messages.

Well, I need most of the conversations. And with my S2 at least, it didn't slow my phone down that much . I imagine it'll be better on the S3

 

[Thechidz]

Does it also backup messages :-D? I've already got unlimited testing so that isn't an issue. But if it cwj backup my messages from my S2 and it will definitely restore them and have them work on the S3, I'll definitely look into it

yep, backs up messages right on google's server, much better than on your phone, an it's free dude might as well save like $20 per month or whatever unl messaging costs these days

 

[Thechidz]

other awesome google voice features include blocking callers, really cheap international dialing, calling and texting from your computer etc etc etc

 

[matttye]

Are you rooted? If so, you could try copying and pasting the text message db from your old phone to your new one. Not sure where it's located on the file system though. I suspect it's /data but Im not rooted so I can't check.

 

[rushmore]

No offense, but giving the device a thumbs down due only to message transfer when apparently it is the best device released to date respectfully seems superfluous.

 

[opaque02]

Are you rooted? If so, you could try copying and pasting the text message db from your old phone to your new one. Not sure where it's located on the file system though. I suspect it's /data but Im not rooted so I can't check.

I haven't rooted either phone unfortunately :-(

yep, backs up messages right on google's server, much better than on your phone, an it's free dude might as well save like $20 per month or whatever unl messaging costs these days

Oh, nice! If it can indeed backup my previous messages, you will be a lifesaver . Where do I get it from?

 

[Thechidz]

I haven't rooted either phone unfortunately :-(



Oh, nice! If it can indeed backup my previous messages, you will be a lifesaver . Where do I get it from?

oh no I didnt realize you meant previous messages no it cant do that. I meant it will create a log of all messages once you start using the service.


https://www.google.com/voice

 

[ebonybranch]

So I just tried in flight mode, and tried to back everything up using SMS Backup & Restore

Unfortunately, it did not work. I'm not sure why, but I still can't access messages (though this time I managed to open the messaging app and open a contact's messages, but when I tried to go back to my list of threads, it started crashing).

Does anyone have any ideas as to how to fix this? I'd rather not try another app unless it's going to work - last night it took me 4.5 hours to restore my messages .

Thanks in advanced for your help

I transferred a years worth of texts from my S2 to my new S3 with SMS Backup+

Install on old phone, run backup. Install on new phone, log into same google account, run restore. I had to run restore a couple of times to get the whole year of old texts, but it worked.

 

[opaque02]

No offense, but giving the device a thumbs down due only to message transfer when apparently it is the best device released to date respectfully seems superfluous.

Don't get me wrong, I love the phone. Very smooth, VERY nice screen, nice camera app, runs well. Absolutely love it. Just without the messages, I can't really seem to do much

oh no I didnt realize you meant previous messages no it cant do that. I meant it will create a log of all messages once you start using the service.


https://www.google.com/voice

Ah, shame . I might use it though once I do have all my messages across

I transferred a years worth of texts from my S2 to my new S3 with SMS Backup+

Install on old phone, run backup. Install on new phone, log into same google account, run restore. I had to run restore a couple of times to get the whole year of old texts, but it worked.

Oh, really? I'll have to try again. Any tips on what I should do? And also, what version of Android did you have on your S2? Maybe the problem is because I've upgraded to Android 4.0.3 on my S2 :S?

 

[opaque02]

I transferred a years worth of texts from my S2 to my new S3 with SMS Backup+

Install on old phone, run backup. Install on new phone, log into same google account, run restore. I had to run restore a couple of times to get the whole year of old texts, but it worked.

So I'm doing it with SMS Backup+ now. It's getting there. Still in the backup process. It says it can't store more than 100 messages per person per thread on Gmail. Currently some people already have two or more threads. When I restore these, will they all combine into one thread, or will it have lots of threads for lots of people with only 100 messages max in them ?

 

[Thechidz]

So I'm doing it with SMS Backup+ now. It's getting there. Still in the backup process. It says it can't store more than 100 messages per person per thread on Gmail. Currently some people already have two or more threads. When I restore these, will they all combine into one thread, or will it have lots of threads for lots of people with only 100 messages max in them ?

It gives you different threads but it is easy to just search the person your looking for and have all the threads right there for you

 

[opaque02]

It gives you different threads but it is easy to just search the person your looking for and have all the threads right there for you

So I'll have lots of threads with only 100 texts in them D:?

 

[greggebhardt]

42000 messages.

Maybe you phone is trying to tell you something. There is no way there is a need to keep that much cr^p. I know other will say it is his own business and I agree but 42000 is rediculous.

 

[opaque02]

42000 messages.

Maybe you phone is trying to tell you something. There is no way there is a need to keep that much cr^p. I know other will say it is his own business and I agree but 42000 is rediculous.

Yeah, but they're my messages, my history, and quite often I have to go back to them to search for something and find out a message I sent months ago, and it's easier to transfer them all instead of just the past 6 months to be honest .