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Phone Memory

T

thommyjr

Newbie
Hi everyone,

I really need help. Straight to the point - yesterday, I plugged my Samsung Galaxy S3 to my laptop. I open to view files but I couldn't view my files. Most of the folders are empty but it shows that my phone memory is occupied. My photos are missing. The weird thing is not all the files are gone. Could it be because of a virus or --- how can I retrieve all those files?

I have tried using show hidden files option (when it is plugged to the laptop) just in case maybe they're hidden. Doesn't work, no hidden files.

I've tried scanning my phone and SD card with antivirus (while it is plugged to the laptop) but it shows no threat. Still couldn't find the files.

I've tried sending it to the cellphone repair and service store for help but they asked me to do all the things I have done. And to format my phone and memory stick, of course all the files will be gone. I want those files back. Somehow they're hidden because the memory is occupied but I don't know what else I can do to recover them.

And I can't save any more pictures or download apps because it says I have insufficient storage. Somehow the files are just gone like that, like Bermuda triangle. Please help me. :(
 
Welcome thommyjr!
Is your phone mounted as "PTP" or "MTP" when you try to view files?
I would assume you computer recognizes the device yes?

Can you view the files with a file browser on your device? I think it may be called "My Files"?
Or you can you view them with a file browser such as Astro File Manager, or ES File Explorer?
 
Mikestony said:
Welcome thommyjr!
Is your phone mounted as "PTP" or "MTP" when you try to view files?
I would assume you computer recognizes the device yes?

Can you view the files with a file browser on your device? I think it may be called "My Files"?
Or you can you view them with a file browser such as Astro File Manager, or ES File Explorer?
Click to expand...

Thanks Mikestony.

I tried both PTP and MTP. Yes, my computer recognized the device as GT something which is my phone model and subsequently lead to two other partitions which are the SD Card storage and Phone, and I still have folders inside both. So, I guess until then everything was fine but when I try to view my files inside all the folders, everything is empty except for the music files.

I have "My Files" but I still can't view them. I believe when I was using Sony smartphone it is called Astro File Manager or is it a downloadable apps and can be used in Samsung smartphone? I haven't heard of ES File Explorer though.

I uploaded a screen capture.

nope.PNG

In the dialogue box is the properties of the Phone memory. It shows that altogether the size of everything inside 'Phone' is only 328MB but you can see the 11.1GB on top of it is full. :(

Thanks again Mikestony.
 
funkylogik said:
Can i just say ES File Explorer aparently has developed a bug that gives low memory warning. Dont know if its been patched yet :thumbup:
Click to expand...
Did not know that funky :) What version? I see the most recent version is 3.0.6.0?

thommyjr said:
Thanks Mikestony.

I tried both PTP and MTP. Yes, my computer recognized the device as GT something which is my phone model and subsequently lead to two other partitions which are the SD Card storage and Phone, and I still have folders inside both. So, I guess until then everything was fine but when I try to view my files inside all the folders, everything is empty except for the music files.

I have "My Files" but I still can't view them. I believe when I was using Sony smartphone it is called Astro File Manager or is it a downloadable apps and can be used in Samsung smartphone? I haven't heard of ES File Explorer though.

I uploaded a screen capture.

Thanks again Mikestony. View attachment 64093
Click to expand...
ES File Explorer


Wow, I have not seen that issue before :hmmmm:
I'd have to think about that one ;)
Have you tried a phone reboot?
 
Are the pics stored in the internal memory or an SD card? If they're on an SD, try reading the SD from the PC directly, rather than using the phone, as MTP can often give trouble I've found.
 
mikedt said:
Are the pics stored in the internal memory or an SD card? If they're on an SD, try reading the SD from the PC directly, rather than using the phone, as MTP can often give trouble I've found.
Click to expand...

The pics are stored in internal memory mostly. My SD card is having the same problem. At first I thought this problem is probably because of this one blank file with the extension .nomedia which is used to hide unnecessary photo files of applications whatsoever from appearing in the phone gallery - but it wasn't cause of that.
 
thommyjr said:
The pics are stored in internal memory mostly. My SD card is having the same problem. At first I thought this problem is probably because of this one blank file with the extension .nomedia which is used to hide unnecessary photo files of applications whatsoever from appearing in the phone gallery - but it wasn't cause of that.
Click to expand...

People must think I'm being paid by the developers the amount of times I've promoted this app...but... download Airdroid off the playstore.....forget MTP, PTP, USB whatever this app work fantastic and I couldn't be without it

Airdroid:

AirDroid | Your Android, on the Web.
 
funkylogik said:
Can i just say ES File Explorer aparently has developed a bug that gives low memory warning. Dont know if its been patched yet :thumbup:
Click to expand...

ES's wrong pop up warning message about low storage -while installing/updating an app- is partially patched with ES's update a few days ago :)
No warning any more if I've unchecked it on ES's Settings, Display ...
But when checked I'll get a message about the (right) amount of my external storage as named as 'Internal storage'.
So it's not a useful info, useful would be the real internal storage, meaning the free space for installing apps.
 
nigsy said:
People must think I'm being paid by the developers the amount of times I've promoted this app...but... download Airdroid off the playstore.....forget MTP, PTP, USB whatever this app work fantastic and I couldn't be without it

Airdroid:

AirDroid | Your Android, on the Web.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the suggestion Nigsy. Sounds great. I will certainly give it a try.

But right now I can't even take new pictures, or download new apps, can't even open certain apps like Twitter because it says that I'm running out of memory/space.

I cut and paste all the folders in my phone storage just now, I moved them into my laptop. But look what happen...

T.T.PNG

:( Sobs sobs please somebody help me. I'm dying...
 
Can't you uninstall some of your apps? To free storage for to install ES File Explorer for to explore the storage by the phone's site.
 
Harry2 said:
Can't you uninstall some of your apps? To free storage for to install ES File Explorer for to explore the storage by the phone's site.
Click to expand...

I did that. Uninstall literally everything. But I still get "insufficient storage" warning. Agh. This is driving me insane. Tomorrow, I'm bringing it to the store where I bought it.
 
Harry2 said:
ES's wrong pop up warning message about low storage -while installing/updating an app- is partially patched with ES's update a few days ago :)
No warning any more if I've unchecked it on ES's Settings, Display ...
But when checked I'll get a message about the (right) amount of my external storage as named as 'Internal storage'.
So it's not a useful info, useful would be the real internal storage, meaning the free space for installing apps.
Click to expand...
If that's a sample of Google Translate, then hooray...works great!!!!
 
thommyjr said:
Thanks for the suggestion Nigsy. Sounds great. I will certainly give it a try.

But right now I can't even take new pictures, or download new apps, can't even open certain apps like Twitter because it says that I'm running out of memory/space.

I cut and paste all the folders in my phone storage just now, I moved them into my laptop. But look what happen...

View attachment 64100

:( Sobs sobs please somebody help me. I'm dying...
Click to expand...

I format my phone, sadly. But now I have Airdroid installed in my phone. Great apps! Thanks Nigsy! :)
 
You should always store your pics on the SD card, not the phones internal memory. You can set this within the camera's settings menu. This way even if your phone is damaged, you can usually pull out the SD card and your pics will all be there. Factory resetting the phone does NOT erase the SD card.

Have you looked in the DCIM folder? When you take pictures and store them either on your phone's memory or your SD card, they are stored in the DCIM folder, not in the pictures folder.
 
Netcat said:
You should always store your pics on the SD card, not the phones internal memory. You can set this within the camera's settings menu. This way even if your phone is damaged, you can usually pull out the SD card and your pics will all be there. Factory resetting the phone does NOT erase the SD card.

Have you looked in the DCIM folder? When you take pictures and store them either on your phone's memory or your SD card, they are stored in the DCIM folder, not in the pictures folder.
Click to expand...

I assigned my SD card as my default destination folder for camera but I have only less than 8GB. After it ran out of space, they automatically saved into phone memory.

I did not only looked in the DCIM folder, I literally looked into each and every folder there is in the SD card and my phone, my photos files are nowhere to be found. Until now, I'm not really sure what the problem was. Strange thing was, not all of the photos were gone. My music files are also intact. Anyways, I formatted my phone and SD card.

All my travel logs and photos are untraceable. Unlucky me. But thanks for the tips Netcat. :)
 
My Samsung Galaxy S3 sure is having lots of problem.

After the whole insufficient storage thing, now these...

1. Sometimes it goes stuck, like dark screen but my Options and Back buttons, the lights are still on but they were unresponsive when I tap on them. I had to open the battery and restart.

2. I get intermittent coverage after my mini simcard was cut to microsim, I thought the simcard probably affected by the cutting. But I went to the telco centre to change and get a new proper microsim to see if the problem was the simcard but it was not. My assumption now is perhaps I got a lousy device.

3. Screenshot_2013-11-14-14-40-04.png
A screenshot of my notification roll.

What's with the <?> <?> <?> at the bottom of the picture? I understand that it is the information ticker on the lock screen which we can unable in settings but when it is unable, they should be gone but I still get this, which is annoying.

4. And my motion 'tap and tilt' for quick camera access doesn't work.

Anxious user.
 
I have the Sprint version of the GS3 and when I pull down the notification bar, where your phone shows the many question marks, my phone just says "Sprint". Why all the questions marks? Is it having a problem connecting to a carrier? What carrier are you using? By the way, the Sprint GS3 does not use a sim card so I don't know if your sim card is causing a problem.

If I had these problems, I would try a factory reset, but you said you already did that. Did you buy your phone brand new from a dealer? Has your phone ever been rooted and had a different rom installed? Many custom roms are not complete and certain features may not work. If so, even a factory reset will not restore the phone to the factory settings.
 
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