So here's an "Epic. Fail" ... trying to hook up my new Charge to Win7x64 ......... read and weep:



Please wait for a Samsung Agent to respond.
You are now chatting with 'Phelps'. There will be a brief survey at the end of our chat to share feedback on my performance today.
Your Issue ID for this chat is LTK4380870750X
Jeff: hi there
Phelps: Hi, thank you for contacting Samsung Technical Support. How may I help you today?
Jeff: hope you're well today I just bought a new Droid Charge.... I am an IT guy (so reasonably savvy) --- I managed to find some drivers that allowed my Win7 x64 box to "see" the SAMSUNG_Android device in Device Manager, however, when I connect my device to a USB port, and "allow USB storage device to send/receive" from the phone, I cannot see any device in Windows Explorer, nothing under local drives, nothing under removable storage, etc. (phone has 32GB MicroSD card). What am I missing?
Jeff: if I remove the MicroSD card and insert it into an SD adapter, and then insert the adapter into my computer, I can see the file system just fine.
Phelps: I understand that you are trying to connect the phone to pc and transfer the data. Am I correct?
Jeff: I'm in my [very narrow] "14-day" evaluation window from Verizon, and I've already got a couple "issues" with the device, some minor some not so much, but if I can't "see" the device/card when connected to USB, then that's a real deal-breaker and I will have to give up on the Charge. Yes, that is correct, I wish to see the file system of the MicroSD card inserted in the phone when connected to a Windows 7 x64 computer via USB cable.
Phelps: Thank you for confirming.
Phelps: Is there any error message getting displayed, when the device is connected to Pc?
Jeff: none whatsoever, and Device Manager shows no exclamation mark for the device. When I double click the device in Device Manager, the properties page shows "Device is working properly", and I do get the correct audio tones when connecting/disconnecting the device.
Phelps: Okay.
Phelps: I suggest you to perform softreset on the phone and then connect to the Pc.
Jeff: done, several times
Phelps: Softreset will recycle the internal circuit of the phone.
Jeff: both with and without the MicroSD card inserted.
Phelps: Okay.
Jeff: can you point me to the correct, most up to date drivers?
Jeff: possibly I have not the correct driver installed?
Phelps: Let me check this and provide you the information.
Jeff: vg
Phelps: Thanks for holding.
Jeff: sure
Phelps: Let me inform you in this regard.
Phelps: Unfortunately there is no USB driver update available for your phone at this time nor is there an estimated date of one being released. We are unable to speculate when/if a software revision might be available due to the fact that this might lead to inaccurate information and confusion. Should this become available, it will be posted on our website in the Samsung Download Center for your convenience.
Jeff: OK so let me make sure I am perfectly clear in understanding what you are saying: There is currently NO WAY POSSIBLE to connect a newly released $300 mobile device to a Windows Computer (with the vast majority of market share to date) ?
Phelps: I suggest you to delete the temporary files, cookies from the pc. Restart the pc and then connect the device in mass storage mode. Sometimes, temporary files will interrupt in making the connection.
Jeff: uhhhhhhhh
Phelps: I understand your concern.
Jeff: I've been working with x86 based computers since 1991... that's 20 years. I've been working with Microsoft Windows since 1992, that's 19 years. I can confidently say that is absoultely an unrelated "solution".
Phelps: When the phone is connected in mass storage mode. The supported files on the pc should be perfect.
Jeff: we're not talking about supported files on the pc. We are talking about the Samsung Charge and the files on the MicroSD card inserted into it.
Jeff: I'm precariously close to returning this device as "unsatisfactory".
Phelps: I just want to confirm, have you checked by connecting the device to alternate USB ports?
Jeff: in fact, yes.
Jeff: good thought, but my experience suggests this is likely a driver issue. if not a driver issue, then firmware on the device.
Jeff: specifically because this is a 64-bit Operating System.
Phelps: Okay. For your convenience, let me provided you other option.
Phelps: As all the possible trouble shooting steps are performed and we see that the device is not getting connected to pc, at this point of time, I suggest you to contact Samsung support department. They will examine the settings and provide you further assistance in resolving the issue. I will provide you the contact number here, it is toll-free.
Jeff: ok, I thought I *was* chatting with the Samsung support department
Phelps: Let me inform you in this regard.
Phelps: There are two departments, in this chat support, we provide basic trouble shooting steps. For advanced trouble shooting steps, you can contact below given number.
Phelps: You can reach them at 1-888-987-4357, Mon-Fri: 7 AM - 9 PM (CST), Sat: 9 AM - 6 PM (CST).
Jeff: thank you

...so after another 10 painful minutes on the phone with Samsung... guess what I was just told? NO 64-bit support. Ummmmmm hello? You have a "flagship" product that you're charging $300 for (and that's wth a new 2 year contract, non-contract retail pricing is ~$600+) ..... and you don't support the dominant PC platform today? lose. fail. I am so close to bailing on this phone now shame too, because the display truly is drop-dead gorgeous.... but, can't get a call-recorder to work, can't get the damned thing rooted (thanks to the lovely update), and now I can't even connect the bugger to my machine? fcuk that.

 

Holy craps... I swears I tried every iteration of that and wouldn't you know it, sure as siht, you're right... now the damned thing shows up as a drive letter?

I had USB Debugging on [earlier] in failed efforts for attempting rooting, but had turned it off, and despite a few cycles, your advice was correct.

Thanks (and thanked)!

Now, if we can just get a call recorder app working, and root... then we're smokin'!

again many thanks.

Jeff

 

Seriously!

And even after me being exceedingly clear that I was on the verge of returning the phone, he was like "oh well, sorry about that".

sigh.