Help [SOLVED] is this possible - browsing internal storage via adb (unable to boot up phone)

[foo]

my father was killed in a car accident last week, and my family & i are trying to get pictures off his phone. the phone doesn't boot past the red Moto logo, but i was able to pull out his SD card & get stuff off that. strangely, it's not every picture he had taken. i imagine some of it is internal? i can get to bootloader mode, but is it possible to use ADB to browse internal storage if I cannot boot into the actual OS itself on the phone? I don't know why it's messed up...i guess it got jacked up what it tumbled around in his vehicle. anyway, if i can browse internal storage (assuming i install proper USB drivers etc), can i pull files from internal storage on a stock/non-rooted bionic?

ANSWER: just needed a stupid battery.

 

[Thom]

Are you sure the battery, SIM, and SD-Ext cards are properly seated when you try turning it on?

Did you try another battery?

In playing around with this for you I encountered a surprise. I had previously connected to a workstation with USB cable and had selected Mass Storage mode. I am usually unlocked.

I turned the lock screen on and then powered off the Bionic.

I powered on the Bionic and then connected it to a USB cable connected to my workstation. The lock screen was displayed. I had access to the SD and SD-Ext cards from my workstation.

Wow.

... Thom

 

[doogald]

Gosh, Foo, horrible news. I'm so sorry.

Thom (or anyone else), do you know if you choose wipe data/factory reset from stock recovery, will it wipe the internal storage as well? It does *not* on a Droid 3, but I don't know if the ICS upgrade also upgraded the stock recovery to wipe internal storage as well.

(Steps for this that should work: with Bionic powered down, hold both Volume buttons and press power. This should bring up a boot menu. Use VolDn to move down through the menu to "Recovery" and press VolUp to select that option. That will show a screen with a triangle with an exclamation point - again, press both Vol buttons to bring up a menu. Use VolDn to move down to "wipe data/factory reset" and, in this menu, press the power button to select menu options.)

If this works, you could wipe the phone to a factory reset, either set up the phone again from scratch or skip setting up by hitting the four corners of the opening screen in this order - upper left, upper right, lower right, lower left - and see if the files/photos still exist on internal storage. They should be in the /DCIM folder.

On my Droid 3 I could find no way to access the phone with adb from stock recovery or the fastboot screen. I believe that the phone may have had to had USB debugging set up first anyway. I know that the ICS Bionic may now be different, but I believe that the two phones are still relatively similar. If anybody knows differently please let us know!

 

[OutOfPhase]

I am 99% positive it will not wipe the internal sd card when a factory data reset is done.

 

[Thom]

I am 99% positive it will not wipe the internal sd card when a factory data reset is done.

I do not know.

I have seen many messages in the past where there was a recommendation to copy data (like pictures and contacts) from the SD to the SD-Ext card because the SD-Ext card was not touched with a Factory Data Reset and the SD card was.

I have never tried looking at it so I do not know.

... Thom

 

[OutOfPhase]

There is an option after you choose FDR from settings-privacy to include your internal sd card or not before you commit. I believe when you do an FDR from recovery it does not give you the option to wipe internal storage. When I get a moment I will backup my system and give it a shot.

 

[foo]

I'd REALLY appreciate that, OutOfPhase. Thank you everyone

 

[foo]

I should also add that i don't have his battery. It was never found in the wreck. I've never had any issues powering on a phone with just the power cable(no batt) in the past, unless it's different for the Bionic?

Starting to think this might be why it's not booting up. When I get to bootloader mode & select recovery, it still just hangs at the red Moto logo. If I choose 'fastboot mode' it says battery low cannot program (which there is no battery). shit. i guess i should try getting a battery first...?


Can anyone test to see if their phone will boot up off a power cable with no battery in their phone?

 

[Thom]

I found that in my testing for you. It will not boot up without a battery. This could be the basis of all your problem.

... Thom

 

[foo]

I found that in my testing for you. It will not boot up without a battery. This could be the basis of all your problem.

... Thom

AW! Good to know. I'll just go pick up a battery then. thanks man...i really appreciate it :thumb:

 

[Thom]

My unasked for opinion ... get a battery from a trusted source (Verizon Store ... Best Buy) ... you have enough other things on your mind.

Let us know how it works out.

(Lost my dad when I was 15. Still vivid.)

... Thom

 

[foo]

Feel like an idiot. All I needed was a battery. doh
all is good..thanks again everyone

 

[Thom]

Great.

Were there pictures?

I had no idea that you had to have a battery inserted for it to load. I happened on it by accident.

... Thom

 

[foo]

Yep! It was nice to hear/watch the vids and see the images of my dad.

 

[SNeitzel]

Yep! It was nice to hear/watch the vids and see the images of my dad.

Being the guy that "knows about computers and phones and stuff", I have had many people bring devices to me and ask if I know how to retrieve pics, video, contacts or other files off of them. Most of their stories are not as tragic as this one, but I do know how happy and thankful they are when I am able to retrieve something they thought was lost. I'm glad you figured it out.