Since I upgraded to JB, when I plug the phone into my laptop, it is no longer mounting the SD card as USB Mass Storage. I went into storage options, and it is no longer even available, just "media device" and "camera" modes.
Unable to figure out how to get it working again. Downloaded an app that purportedly lets you ("USB Mass Storage") but even when using it, my laptop wasn't mounting it as a drive.
Is there a solution? It's bizarre that they disabled such a fundamental functionality...
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I know for the longest time i couldnt mount internal memory, but i found out debuging mode had to be enabled in your settings.... try this maybe they switched it around ... who knows,,, doesnt make sense but maybe?
I missed that change. I just went into settings and my only choices are mtp or ptp. That is weird they would take out that option. I like to use the mass storage setting with my car stereo.
Last edited by 007shark; December 6th, 2012 at 11:28 AM.
Tried 3-4 different apps with different versions, still can't get UMS to work. Anyone know of anything else to try? I'm willing to attempt various .prop or SQL edits.
I do have root and all the various apps to attempt whatever.
Something as basic as that shouldn't require root. And then they don't like it when people root....
Every solution I've seen for other phones where USB Mass Storage was disabled (including the Galaxy S III) was an app that required root. Probably any forthcoming solution for the Razr Maxx HD would too.
"They" might not like it, but I prefer root on my phone, for a variety of reasons (most important being TiBU. But even if not for TiBU, I prefer root as a matter of principle)
I have Media Device (MTP) checked. When I go to My Computer and view my drives I see the Droid Razr HD as a "portable device" connected. When I click on it, I am able to see both the Internal and SD Card which allows me to copy/delete files/photos from the phone to my PC and vice versa. I have attached screen shots.
Are any of you not able to see this?
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That was the the big plus of Moto phones since they still had mass storage mode- a MUCH better option than MTP. Now that the Goog has their hands all over Moto, mass storage went by-by. Well, its that or Jelly Bean zapped the feature out of its framework. One step closer to Google's desire to kill off external storage and force the herd to the cloud. Moooo!
Without mass storage mode. Moto phones are now mortal like the rest
Added:
Wait, no mass storage mode is bad in general
Last edited by rushmore; December 10th, 2012 at 07:45 AM.
This sux if we can't use mass storage...its one of the reasons i got this phone. No better than an iphone for me if mass storage is gone. I'm pissed, have to use it for work, and now I cant sync files or my calendar or anything.
How do you go about changing back to ICS, i don't like anything about this "upgrad" to JB.?
I have Media Device (MTP) checked. When I go to My Computer and view my drives I see the Droid Razr HD as a "portable device" connected. When I click on it, I am able to see both the Internal and SD Card which allows me to copy/delete files/photos from the phone to my PC and vice versa. I have attached screen shots.
Are any of you not able to see this?
I'm seeing the same thing.
I don't get what people are panicking about!
Never mind, I did some reading up on it.
I still don't really see too many real advantages of mass storage. What are you able to do on mass storage that you aren't able to do on media transfer?
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Last edited by pegs520; December 10th, 2012 at 03:38 PM.
If you don't understand why mass storage is important then you might as well follow the sheep to the istore. If you can't UL/DL from a cloud or backup service OTA for compliance reasons like me, the smartphone-turned-to-dumbphone mfrs will no longer allow a private relationship between my computer and my smart-now-dumbphone...so I'm back to a clamshell phone and a pda i guess. It has to be recognized eventually that there are people like me...who don't give a crap about clouds and music and pictures and videos and streaming and sharing what color my underwear is or what i ate for breakfast on the way to work today...that simply want a real smartphone back that I can freakin hook into my computer and the rest of the marketers (I mean manufacturers) will get out of the freakin way!!!!! Imagine, they call it a smartphone, but it won't sync with outlook calendar and contacts, or drop and drag simple files without a combination of 3rd party apps, drivers, and an intruding relationship with carrier/mfr. Damn, my freakin 6yr old blackberry curve would do all that. If you want to argue the points I've made, have at it, but you dont use your phone for what I use it for. Try copying a simple excel file onto your sd card memory via pc, post jellybean "update"...I dare you to come up with a way without rooting, clouding, backupwebbing, buying apps, etc. My RMHD is now a toy with a phone and a really good battery. Motorola/Verizon must come up with something.
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OK I must be totally missing something here. I have the OTA Jelly bean update on my phone and when I plug it into my Windows 7 machine it list the phone under my computer as Droid Razr HD, When I click that I can see my internal storage and my SD card. I can copy files and folders all day long from my PC to either card. I guess I'm not understanding what isn't working?
you must be the only one ive found in 2 days that can use in mass storage mode...lucky guy, something's not right. there are pages in forums about losing ums with JB ota. what's diff bout your setup?
OK I just checked my daughters maxx HD. We just bought it last week . Its not rooted and has the Jelly bean OTA update. When I plug it into my Windows 7 machine the phone says " Connected as a media device" but my windows 7 machine sees both cards and I can drag and drop all day long.
what kind of files? again, im not interested in media files. i can hook up as a media device but not what im trying to do. again, try to move an excel or word file, anything but a media type file, and see if yours will do that? it won't because yours is also connected as a "media device" which means only media files can be managed.
robdec17, when you connect usb, do you have an option under usb connections for "mass storage device". if not, you do have the same issue that we all have...you cannot use your phone as a mass storage device. only a media device.
i know i sound snarky but i spent months of investigation and elimination to get the the RMHD. the top priority was mass storage, which it had when i bought it using my 2yr contract upgrade, and it still cost over $250. now, less than 2 months later, my phone no longer communicates with my pc, can't drag and drop files, can't sync my calendar/contacts, notification light is gone, etc. etc., and i'm out $250 plus stuck with a brick for another 22 months...unless MOT comes up with a quick fix.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by budfox66
what kind of files? again, im not interested in media files. i can hook up as a media device but not what im trying to do. again, try to move an excel or word file, anything but a media type file, and see if yours will do that? it won't because yours is also connected as a "media device" which means only media files can be managed.
OK, I just did it, no problem. I moved a small Excel file from my PC to my phone. I created a new folder on my phone called "Excel Files" and dragged-and-dropped the file from my PC into the new folder on my phone. I did get a pop-up window saying my phone may not be able to read the file, but it DOES read it.
Edited to add: I moved the file to my SD card, not phone's internal memory, if that matters.
what kind of files? again, im not interested in media files. i can hook up as a media device but not what im trying to do. again, try to move an excel or word file, anything but a media type file, and see if yours will do that? it won't because yours is also connected as a "media device" which means only media files can be managed.
I have a HD Maxx (with Jelly Bean) and when plugged in I can access both the SD card and the internal storage. I use it like a thumbdrive and just copied the MS Office install files yesterday (setup files, exe's, etc). There is no difference between this and when i plug in a real thumbdrive. I'm not sure what is wrong with your phone/computer, but it doesn't seem like it's the normal behavior.
robdec17, when you connect usb, do you have an option under usb connections for "mass storage device". if not, you do have the same issue that we all have...you cannot use your phone as a mass storage device. only a media device.
I am connecting between my RMHD and an iMac. I have to use Android File Transfer (which can be flakey), but I can transfer all sorts of files, not just media files.
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robdec17, when you connect usb, do you have an option under usb connections for "mass storage device". if not, you do have the same issue that we all have...you cannot use your phone as a mass storage device. only a media device.
Yes it only shows as media device . But as I have said several times before but you refuse to believe me. I can access both internal and external cards. I CAN create files and folders to the root level of both cards. I have copied .txt, pdf, xl, zip, rar and doc files so far with NO issues. So yes I can use it as a mass storage device!
I think I know what's going on. I have the following:
1) Motorola USB driver (https://motorola-global-portal.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/88481) I don't know if this is a requirement, but I installed it as part of getting root.
2) I set my USB Storage as Camera (Settings, Storage, - click on the menu at the top right corner -, USB Computer Connection, Camera PTP.
3) I used the *MOTOROLA* cable. If you use a generic cable that's meant for charging it may not work. I tried two generic cables that came with chargers and it did *not* work.
And here's the proof (couldn't embed the pic for some reason. Adding a link to my box.com where I uploaded the screenshot.
Interesting...someone just posted that you need an SD Card to use mass storage. And I actually an SD card. Regardless, the cable issue is still valid. If you don't have the right cable, it will not mount the drives.
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You lucked out.
What is special about the Motorola cable is Motorola Quality Control.
A generic cable might work and it might not. The Motorola cable will work (unless there is a problem with the port).
Recommendation ... keep the Motorola cable around as a safeguard. Try others if you like. If you run into a problem swap in the Motorola cable. If the problem goes away ... well ... you get the point.
I still don't really see too many real advantages of mass storage. What are you able to do on mass storage that you aren't able to do on media transfer?
Mass storage mode is better in all regards:
1. It is a LOT LOT faster reading files and directories
2. Can have multiple folders open
3. Folder drag and drop into other folders (a problem more than not with MTP)
4. Works with more devices and cables
5. It is a LOT faster writing files
6. It is less intrusive
7. Can edit files and folders while transferring data
8. MTP is designed mainly for media files, so can be a problem if trying to copy an entire drive for backup.
9. MTP has problems sometimes reading all files and can easily stop working and need a replug of the storage to get working again. MTP can sometimes "freak out" with non-media files.
MTP sucks butt compared to mass storage mode.
Added: Mass storage was the number one reason I almost turned my GS3 in for the HD Maxx, in spite of the 17% smaller usable display and weaker camera. Since now the same as the GS3 with the same lame a$$ MTP, no reason to change.
I think the reason Moto zapped it is no more lapdock support. Perhaps that was in the custom feature set some time ago, but there was a dev lag for removing the feature. Mass storage mode was needed for the lapdock to work as designed for the external storage ports. Mass storage mode went away like the lapdocks.
Last edited by rushmore; December 12th, 2012 at 07:59 AM.
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1. It is a LOT LOT faster reading files and directories
2. Can have multiple folders open
3. Folder drag and drop into other folders (a problem more than not with MTP)
4. Works with more devices and cables
5. It is a LOT faster writing files
6. It is less intrusive
7. Can edit files and folders while transferring data
8. MTP is designed mainly for media files, so can be a problem if trying to copy an entire drive for backup.
9. MTP has problems sometimes reading all files and can easily stop working and need a replug of the storage to get working again. MTP can sometimes "freak out" with non-media files.MTP sucks butt compared to mass storage mode.
Really? It's crazy, I have had none of those problems so far on jb.
How the heck could it be intrusive? That just sounds made up.
OK I just checked my daughters maxx HD. We just bought it last week . Its not rooted and has the Jelly bean OTA update. When I plug it into my Windows 7 machine the phone says " Connected as a media device" but my windows 7 machine sees both cards and I can drag and drop all day long.
robdec17, i have windows xp, not 7. maybe thats the diff? otherwise i have the moto drivers installed, and i got my companionlink calendar to sync this morn. my phone shows up as a camera device if my usb settings are ptp, but it does not show up at all if set to mtp, or media device. still playing with the settings but no help at all from moto...wonder if something is wrong with my phone, or if it is really a win 7 thing? thanks for your responses though!!
btw, are you using usb debugging ON setting on the phone?
Last edited by budfox66; December 12th, 2012 at 09:53 AM.
Reason: idea
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Quote:
Originally Posted by budfox66
robdec17, i have windows xp, not 7. maybe thats the diff? otherwise i have the moto drivers installed,
Maybe there are different moto drivers for different versions of Windows. Are you running the Moto drivers for Windows XP? You might need an older version of the Moto drivers for XP.
Really? It's crazy, I have had none of those problems so far on jb.
How the heck could it be intrusive? That just sounds made up.
Everything described are problems with MTP, since not a function designed with file managing in mind, but media file trasfer. How is something that is less functional not intrusive to function? It is disruptive compared to mass storage.
Added:
Another point not mentioned is files are very awkward to playback using MTP as the external source. Mass storage provides direct playback without a file mirror on the device needed to be created.
Given your conjecture of me making something up, it seems that given my points are based on facts- you are the one making stuff up
No way to have the same overall function as mass storage using MTP.
Last edited by rushmore; December 12th, 2012 at 12:09 PM.
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Everything described are problems with MTP, since not a function designed with file managing in mind, but media file trasfer. How is something that is less functional not intrusive to function? It is disruptive compared to mass storage.
Added:
Another point not mentioned is files are very awkward to playback using MTP as the external source. Mass storage provides direct playback without a file mirror on the device needed to be created.
Given your conjecture of me making something up, it seems that given my points are based on facts- you are the one making stuff up
No way to have the same overall function as mass storage using MTP.
Rush is right on all his points. MTP is inferior in many ways to mass storage. However, if all you ever do is drag and drop files from your PC to your phone, then you really won't notice much difference. The only things that really bothers me is the slow transfer speeds when transferring numerous files at once and that you can't navigate through the rest of the sdcard while transferring a file from you PC to the phone. I have a collection of 500+ wallpapers and it always takes forever to transfer via MTP.
However, one big plus (for me anyway) that MTP offers is that you don't need to mount/unmount the sdcard. This means you can access all the files on your sdcard while still plugged into your PC.
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robdec17, i have windows xp, not 7. maybe thats the diff? otherwise i have the moto drivers installed, and i got my companionlink calendar to sync this morn. my phone shows up as a camera device if my usb settings are ptp, but it does not show up at all if set to mtp, or media device. still playing with the settings but no help at all from moto...wonder if something is wrong with my phone, or if it is really a win 7 thing? thanks for your responses though!!
btw, are you using usb debugging ON setting on the phone?
Good news! I did locate a pc with win7, and drag/drop works flawlessly, without downloading any drivers!! So after trying on 4 machines with win xp(none work ums), and one win 7 ive concluded that a win 7 upgrade is a must. need a new computer for work anyway, so might as well go for it...on 6yr old tech now and slow. Not looking forward to the massive learning curve for me but happy to know that RMHD will stick around. Another note, i did the factory data reset, which did not fix the drag/drop ums issue but it did fix many other issues, as noted by previous posters. Thanks for your patience in assisting me in coming to this final conclusion.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by budfox66
Good news! I did locate a pc with win7, and drag/drop works flawlessly, without downloading any drivers!! So after trying on 4 machines with win xp(none work ums), and one win 7 ive concluded that a win 7 upgrade is a must. need a new computer for work anyway, so might as well go for it...on 6yr old tech now and slow. Not looking forward to the massive learning curve for me but happy to know that RMHD will stick around.
Good to hear. BTW, I made the switch from XP to Win 7 last spring when I built myself a new computer. There is no massive learning curve. It's a pretty easy transition.
Good news! I did locate a pc with win7, and drag/drop works flawlessly, without downloading any drivers!! So after trying on 4 machines with win xp(none work ums), and one win 7 ive concluded that a win 7 upgrade is a must. need a new computer for work anyway, so might as well go for it...on 6yr old tech now and slow. Not looking forward to the massive learning curve for me but happy to know that RMHD will stick around. Another note, i did the factory data reset, which did not fix the drag/drop ums issue but it did fix many other issues, as noted by previous posters. Thanks for your patience in assisting me in coming to this final conclusion.
Glad you finally have it working. Drag and drop works flawless on mine.
What are your thinking Google & Moto?!! Bright shiny new RAZR M, updated to wonderful Jelly Bean. ZAP - no USB mass storage. My major purposes for having this fancy gadget just went POOF, gone! And my nice 32GB SD is toast.
Yeah, yeah, the cloud is wonderful, but that doesn't mean you burn the rest of us who have built up extremely useful infrastructures that are now useless. I hope somebody is listening...
I have an alienware laptop with Windows 7 Pro and when I plug in my Razr Maxx HD, it shows up as a portable drive. I can drag and drop files and folders both from my Maxx HD (both internal storage and my SD card) to my laptop and vice-versa.
I to am not a big fan of the cloud so the ability to move files back and forth is a requirement.
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Good news! I did locate a pc with win7, and drag/drop works flawlessly, without downloading any drivers!! So after trying on 4 machines with win xp(none work ums), and one win 7 ive concluded that a win 7 upgrade is a must. need a new computer for work anyway, so might as well go for it...on 6yr old tech now and slow. Not looking forward to the massive learning curve for me but happy to know that RMHD will stick around. Another note, i did the factory data reset, which did not fix the drag/drop ums issue but it did fix many other issues, as noted by previous posters. Thanks for your patience in assisting me in coming to this final conclusion.
Drag-and-drop may work flawlessly, but there are several folders from my computer that I'd like to automatically update on my droid when it's connected via USB. That worked well with mass storage, as it was a mountable-disk and would work with SyncBack or other automated backup programs.
With the MTP protocol, one can simply do drag-and-drop but cannot mount it as a disk that automated copy programs can access. Such an "advancement" in the OS is actually a step back into the stone-age when it comes to copying files to an SD card from the PC's hard drive.
(Granted, I could use a program like SugarSync to access files from the cloud - but syncing via cable kept me "up to date" and didn't use up any of my monthly data allotment.
Just my 2¢.
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i totally agree with you drtrask! major step backwards with no ums capability. hope moto will reconsider and allow ums in future...but not likely since clouds are/will be revenue generators and mine for marketable data.
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I recently installed a custom jb 4.2 rom only to find that ums wasn't working. It would connect my computer in MTP mode which was annoying so I tried to find a way to change it back to ums and finally found that the option is hidden away in system settings-->storage. Once you're on that page, open the hidden options menu and "USB computer connection" option should show up. Im not sure how you would access this hidden menu since the HD maxx doesnt have physical hard keys (my phone, the SGS2, has an "options" touch key next to the physical menu button). Once you access this menu, you should have no problem getting ums mode to work.
Ive attached some pictures below.
tl:dr
ums on jb 4.1/4.2 is possible, you just gotta get to the hidden menu.
Google has deprecated mass storage mode in android for reasons having to do with file system complexity. There was a post about it around the launch of the Galaxy Nexus.
Android always have had 3 modes of connections to PC: MTP, PTP and UMS.
MTP - Media Device is used to transfer MEDIA files
PTP - Camera is used to transfer photos
UMS - Mass Storage is used to transfer ALL TYPE of files.
Since JB (Jelly Bean) an coincidentally with the announcement of Google Nexus 7, device that NOT HAVE sd card. Google android have decided to remove sd card or USB mass storage.
The Motorola DROID RAZR HD comes with one of the thinnest profiles among Android devices, just like its predecessor. The upgraded RAZR features the same size, but Moto has managed to increase the display size to 4.7 inches by extending the screen f... Read More
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Jelly Bean USB Mass Storage
