Help Can't Read SD Card on PC USB Mass Storage

[zebrajeb]

When I hook Bionic to the PC by USB it doesn't show or see the SD Card in "USB Mass Media." (I want to move files between SD Card and PC.) In my Droid I could treat the SD card just like an external drive in Windows Explorer. How can I do that with the Bionic?

In the "PC Mode" and the "Windows Media Sync" modes it sees the SD Card and I can view and open files but can't open file on sd card, make changes and save it back to the SD Card!

Thanks

John

 

[LrdAnkh]

Put it on charge only mode.

 

[zebrajeb]

Put it on charge only mode.

Thanks for suggestion but it didn't work. Still can't see the SD card on the Bionic in Windows Explorer.

John

 

[johnlgalt]

You need to put it in either PC Mode and / or USB Mass Storage mode. Once you do, it may take a bit of time before you can see the actual files themselves - in PC Mode you'll see all of the info in one (seemingly) big folder that you can get access to, but you're right, you cannot edit files on there. You can only copy to / from.

For direct editing you'll want to use USB Mass Storage mode. You'll need to let it sit a while while it scans both partitions and then loads them onto your computer, usually as mapped drives (if you have C, D, an E used, it will probably assign them to F and G)

HTH

 

[zebrajeb]

You need to put it in either PC Mode and / or USB Mass Storage mode. Once you do, it may take a bit of time before you can see the actual files themselves - in PC Mode you'll see all of the info in one (seemingly) big folder that you can get access to, but you're right, you cannot edit files on there. You can only copy to / from.

For direct editing you'll want to use USB Mass Storage mode. You'll need to let it sit a while while it scans both partitions and then loads them onto your computer, usually as mapped drives (if you have C, D, an E used, it will probably assign them to F and G)

HTH

How long would I need to wait? I've plugged in in USB Mass Storage and been waiting 10 minutes. Still hasn't come up.

Do I wait longer? Any other suggestions?

Thanks

John

 

[johnlgalt]

Do you have a lot of media on the internal storage? Or a lot of downloads?

have you tried rebooting the phone?

 

[kramerica]

I too had massive problems with this and had to switch between pc mode and mass storage mode and charge only.

Make sure that you have the drivers needed for this phone installed 1st. Once I went through the different "modes", it worked out for me.

MY PROBLEM, is the ridiculously wicked long transfer times back and forth. I mean ridiculous. It took 29 minutes to transfer 1.2GB of data to the internal card and 11 minutes to transfer 141 8KB (or smaller size) files to the sd ext card.

 

[zebrajeb]

Do you have a lot of media on the internal storage? Or a lot of downloads?

have you tried rebooting the phone?

Not a lot. A little over 1GB.

Rebooting - you mean pulling the battery? Have not done that but did turn the phone on and off a couple of times.

John

 

[johnlgalt]

I too had massive problems with this and had to switch between pc mode and mass storage mode and charge only.

Make sure that you have the drivers needed for this phone installed 1st. Once I went through the different "modes", it worked out for me.

MY PROBLEM, is the ridiculously wicked long transfer times back and forth. I mean ridiculous. It took 29 minutes to transfer 1.2GB of data to the internal card and 11 minutes to transfer 141 8KB (or smaller size) files to the sd ext card.

That sounds about right - it is not a fast process. Class 4 cards (which is what our external SDCard is) are not that fast all things considered.

Not a lot. A little over 1GB.

Rebooting - you mean pulling the battery? Have not done that but did turn the phone on and off a couple of times.

John

I meant power off and on. Perhaps a battery pull and leave it off power for about 5 minutes might help?

 

[HotDawg]

Watching with interest.

 

[zebrajeb]

Well I've rebooted, made sure I had updated drivers, changed between the different modes and still can't see the SD card when in USB Mass Storage mode.

I appreciate all the suggestions. Any other suggestions?

Thanks

John

 

[poof101]

Are you using the usb cable that came packaged with the phone?? Make sure its the cable that came with the phone.

 

[zebrajeb]

Are you using the usb cable that came packaged with the phone?? Make sure its the cable that came with the phone.

Actually, no. I've been using USB cable that I got for a separate charger when I got my original Droid. Since my USB cable for the Bionic is at home I'll have to try that later today.

Thanks

John

 

[johnlgalt]

Also, might need to try the drivers I have linked in my signature - they're slightly newer and were released right when the BIONIC hit the stores or so....

I think they may be BIONIC specific.

Also, you may not see my signature in this post - b/c of the way the forum handles signatures.

It only shows a person's signature once - the very first time he posts in a thread. So, to see the link, see this post near the top instead:

http://androidforums.com/motorola-d...-sd-card-pc-usb-mass-storage.html#post3225388

 

[zebrajeb]

Thanks johnlgault - I thought I had the latest drivers but evidently didn't. I just ran the Motohelper for "update drivers." After it was finished I plugged in the Bionic and it worked! In USB Mass Storage I could see files, open, edit and save files.

I wonder if there can be a 32 bit vs 64 bit thing going on here. When I got my original Droid I had similar problem. It would work on my 32 bit work computer but not my home 64 bit computer. Both my computers now are 64 bit as are most new computers.

Seems to be working now.

Thanks again for your patience and suggestions.

John

 

[HotDawg]

Thanks johnlgault - I thought I had the latest drivers but evidently didn't. I just ran the Motohelper for "update drivers."

Is that the program that opens up when you connect the phone to the PC? I ran that last night and it said there were no updates, but I still can't see my drives.

I'll try John's

 

[zebrajeb]

Is that the program that opens up when you connect the phone to the PC? I ran that last night and it said there were no updates, but I still can't see my drives.

I'll try John's

I just ran the Motohelper you are talking about. Are you sure it ran the update for USB drivers? I'm asking because when you open it there is a "Mode" box in the lower left hand corner. The default is "clean only." Below that is a check box for "update drivers." I check the update drivers and hit the "start" button. It ran and installed drivers. Then my "USB Mass Storage" was recognized!

John

 

[HotDawg]

Thanks, but not sure we're seeing the same thing. The only way I see to update is to right click the taskbar icon and select "Check for Motorola Device Driver update" - it has no "Mode" choice.

I ran the drivers in John G's signature and when in PC Mode it showed my internal SD, no external SD, for just a minute. Then it asked to reboot the computer and now it's all gone. I had it for a second!

 

[zebrajeb]

Thanks, but not sure we're seeing the same thing. The only way I see to update is to right click the taskbar icon and select "Check for Motorola Device Driver update" - it has no "Mode" choice.

I ran the drivers in John G's signature and when in PC Mode it showed my internal SD, no external SD, for just a minute. Then it asked to reboot the computer and now it's all gone. I had it for a second!

OK - on your Bionic when you plug it into "USB Mass Storage" it should show you internal SD and one of them is MOT. It has Motohelper installed on it. I had previously used that and installed Motohelper on my PC. It was in using Motohelper that I got the update and information I gave in my previous e-mail. There might be other ways to update drivers but that worked for me.

If you don't find it on your Bionic I'll provide better instructions. You can also Google Motohelper and find it at Motorola or a number of other places.

John

 

[HotDawg]

One of them is MOT - one of what? The drives? on the Bionic screen?
Thanks, John - I'll look into it. The app I have is called MotoHelper...

So now - When I connect with PC mode I can see internal SD, and when I connect with USB Mass mode I can see external. Better than nothing, but I can't easily transfer files back and forth.

I'm loading up home made icons and I've actually decided that just storing them on the ext SD is better, I can access them fine. But this will still bug me.

 

[zebrajeb]

One of them is MOT - one of what? The drives? on the Bionic screen?
Thanks, John - I'll look into it. The app I have is called MotoHelper...

So now - When I connect with PC mode I can see internal SD, and when I connect with USB Mass mode I can see external. Better than nothing, but I can't easily transfer files back and forth.

I'm loading up home made icons and I've actually decided that just storing them on the ext SD is better, I can access them fine. But this will still bug me.

OK - I've got to correct myself. On your Bionic is a drive called "Motorola." On it is a file called Motohelper. . . You need to click on this and install Motohelper on your computer.

Once Motohelper is installed on your PC you open the program "Motorola driver installer." After you open, it will run automatically. However, this will leave a screen that I'd previously mention to look at the lower left box and check "update drivers." After using it to upgrade drivers I found that in "USB Mass Storage" I could use Windows Explorer to open, move, etc. files on my Bionic just like an external drive connected to PC.

John

 

[roc045]

Hi I am also having a problem with not seeing my sd card when mounted, If I put in charge only still can't see it. Where would I change settings from PC to USB? my phone is an HTC inspire thanks,
Roc

 

[Thom]

On a Bionic it is in the Notification in the Notification drop-down when you plug in the USB cable.

You could ask in the HTC Inspire what it is on that device.

... Thom