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Galaxy Note 8.0 Transfer Files to/from PC

EnzoS

EnzoS

Newbie
Can someone please direct me to any documentation that might be available to provide me step-by-step instructions how to correctly use the stock charger/data cable to transfer files between the Note 8.0 and our XPSP3 PC? I won't go into it now herein this forum but I was not entirely successful in simply attaching the tablet to the USB2.0 port on our XP PC. Everything looked OK when it was initially connected but went down hill from there. I was able to copy a small file FROM the tablet to the PC but couldn't tranfer a .cvs file (address book) from the PC to the Note 8.0. I'm sure I left out a step or something that didn't allow me full control.

Many thanks to those who respond.

EnzoS
 
Nope...not gonna use wireless. I want to connect in mass storage mode but can't find anything pertaining to the setup. I've read that it's a snap...simply hook up the stock charging/data cable and the PC recognizes the Note 8.0 as an external drive. It sorta did but was not able to transfer files from the PC to the Note. I'm convinced I have not done some setup step on the Note. The question is: where is this setup on the Note?
 
Sorry to say, the newer Androids are now using MTP (media transfer protocol). So, it will not be seen as an external storage device. It will be seen as a multimedia device with storage. There is no way to change this.

I would suggest installing KIES only to get the proper drivers installed on the computer. That could be the issue you may be experiencing, but not too sure.

Only other workaround, if all else fails, would be to use a card reader and microSD card. Format the microSD card to exFAT (but WinXP may need additional drivers for this) as that allows for larger file transfers and does not have the restrictions one would encounter with FAT32.
 
Thank you very much for answering my question with such clear detail. I knew there had to be a catch in the process that prevented me from doing a simple file transfer as I've always been able to do with a PC an other USB peripherals. The question now is...how do I go about accomplishing what I want to do with the MTP process that is now in place? I haven't bought the micro SD card yet but have all intentions of using one for file transfer purposes in the future. I'd just like to be able to be able to plug the tab into a PC and do a SIMPLE file transfer like I thought it was capable of doing. Thanx agn.
 
Unfortunately, I haven't used WinXP in a long while. Did you have a dialogue box show up when you tried transferring a file? Something about compatibility or something along those lines? Maybe you dismissed it and at the same time requested the dialogue to not show again. Not sure how you would get the dialogue box back though.
 
I've read in other posts about the dialog box which "might" pop up giving the user the option to open the device to view files. I got not such pop up but did get a wizard to connect a digital camera despite having selected MTP on the tab. No...didn't dismiss the pop up dialog...never got it in the first place.

I did get to the tablet's files under the PC's "My Computer" where it displayed the tablet as a digital camera (go figger). I was not able to see any files in the tablet's directories, however. I tried another XP computer (laptop) and it did indeed open the tablet to a subdirectory titled "tablet". Therein I could transfer files.

The only real difference between the 2 computers was that the PC was XPSP3 with WMP9 and the laptop was XP-HomeSP3 with WMP11. I've read that the presence of WMP11 might be an issue worth investigating.

Why is there nothing documented by Android about USB connectivity with MTP on Windows computers???
 
Actually, have you tried connecting it as a Camera (PTP)? On Win7, I can still transfer files to/from the PC/Note 2 without any issues. Really unsure at this moment.

Unfortunately, I don't have a Note 8 and basing my troubleshooting with Note 2 and Win7 PC. I don't have a system with WinXP anymore.
 
EnzoS said:
Nope...not gonna use wireless. I want to connect in mass storage mode but can't find anything pertaining to the setup. I've read that it's a snap...simply hook up the stock charging/data cable and the PC recognizes the Note 8.0 as an external drive. It sorta did but was not able to transfer files from the PC to the Note. I'm convinced I have not done some setup step on the Note. The question is: where is this setup on the Note?
Click to expand...
I just hooked the micro USB cable end to the note and the regular USB end to the PC running XP. It came up and asked if I wanted to "sync" media files or open a Windows Explorer window (like when I stick in an SD card) . I opened the file explorer window. Then transferred 380 Mb of files in less than the time it's taken me to type this.
 
I'm not in the habit of giving up easily but I've come to the realization that there's really nothing wrong with the tab and there are a number of options that could be used to accomplish what I need to do.

What we've really been interested in doing is transfering pictures from our digital camera's SD card to the tab while we're on vacation. After waiting 3 weeks for Amazon.com to deliver (free delivery) a micro-USB OTG adapter cable, I can finally plug in flash drives and external memory cards that make file transfers a snap.

The only thing I have concern with now is that along with use of this "dongle" comes the planting of a directory (folder) titled: LOST.DIR onto whatever external storage device is connected. I understand its function and that it is of little consequence but I'm not too comfortable with an external device writing to the chip that's used in the ol' Canon Power Shot. I've always been told that the SD chip that's used in the camera should be formatted, written to, erased, and re-formatted ONLY in the camera!

Is that still true? Should I be concerned?

I should probably post this info somewhere else but let's see if anyone has any opinion on this one.

Once again, thank you all for helping me with this.

EnzoS
 
I have a Canon PowerShot S3 IS using a regular SD card. I never formatted a card in the camera before. I format the SD using Windows FAT32 on my PC. Never had an issue with it on my camera so far. This is an old 8GB SDHC card too (been using it with my Dell Axim x51v back in the day).

I think they most say to use the camera to be on the safer side of things as it puts its directory folders into the card and can properly read/write to its preset directories. In case of issues where it might not be able to do that if formatted outside the camera.

You can always 'lock' the SD card to ensure that it is in Read Only state and cannot be (re)written.
 
I think you hit the nail right on the head. Your comments are right in line with what I've read in the past about SD card maintenance and problem prevention.

Our camera is an a720IS that also uses standard SD cards. I've had a 4Gb card in there since day 1 and it's never failed us. It has never been formatted outside the camera.

I'm gonna format it in the camera, take a couple pictures, throw the 'lock' switch on then hook it up to the OTG dongle and see if the tab (Note 8.0) complains. If it doesn't and the pictures are visible and available to copy, I'll say this conversation is over and you have given me the definitive answer to this issue.

Thank you very much for your suggestion.

EnzoS
 
Hi all...

As a quick followup for those who are interested...I performed the following experiment to verify the effectiveness of NeoGrandizer's suggestion:

* Formatted the SD card in the camera (to ensure LOST.DIR was removed entirely)
* Snapped a couple pictures
* Removed the SD card and 'locked' it (switched to read-only)
* Plugged the SD card into an USB card reader then plugged it into the tab (via OTG dongle)
* Verified that pix on the card could be copied to the tab
* Checked to see if LOST.DIR was written to the card

SON OF A GUN !!! No LOST.DIR on the card and it worked just fine as an external (read-only) drive to the tab. Of course, I removed it from the tab, switched the 'lock' OFF and put it back in the camera. Everything works as it should !!!

Many thanks to all the smart people who helped me solve this little issue.

I love Android stuff.

EnzoS
 
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