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Tricky Galaxy S3 Problem - Any Ideas?

A

aaronjwalt

Lurker
So I have two GSIIIs sitting in front of me. Both are from the same carrier. Both are the same model. One has a broken screen, the other doesn't.

One is mine, the other (broken one) belongs to my coworker.

When I plug the phone in with the broken screen, Windows 8 sees it and installs device drivers successfully, but it never mounts as a mass storage device.

I plug in the working device (keep in mind that both devices have pattern locks enabled). and it mounts up just fine. I plug in the one with the broken screen and NOTHING.

The capacitive buttons on the broken one do work, but I can't tell if the screen works or not.

THE PROBLEM: I need to get these pictures off of the broken phone's INTERNAL STORAGE for my coworker. Why won't it mount? I looked through the settings on the working GSIII and see nothing related to mounting as a mass storage device. I know right where the images are stored (Phone>DCIM>Camera), so I just need this sucker to mount like the other one.

These are both GSIIIs from the same carrier with the same software (JB)

Ideas? I already shared the miracle of dropbox and other third party cloud storage options with my coworker, so please keep those comments to yourself.

Thanks everyone,

Aaron
 
how comes you cant tell if the screen works or not on the cracked screen phone?

either works, or it doesn't. not trying to be funny or anything.
 
Ok maybe I should have clarified that. I apologize.

The screen does not turn on. I can't see anything. What I meant to say was that I cannot tell if the touch layer is still active. If it is, I could theoretically look at the working GSIII and attempt to blindy fumble my way though the menus

I can't even manage to get it unlocked. The two capacitive buttons light up and make noise when you press them, but if I understand correctly, those buttons have their own capacitive touch layer.

Thanks for point that out, that is a rather confusing way to describe it.
 
And you mention that the pc sees the broken device and installs the drivers. What happens afterwards? Is the device not listed under My Computer? Maybe you can try adding a device?
 
Yes I have tried rebooting while connected, yes it automatically installs device drivers when I plug the phone in for the first time (uninstalled them and tried this twice).

I installed kies on the desktop and it does detect the phone when I plug it in. It just sits at "connecting" though and never connects

Doesn't Samsung have a utility like the iPhone has with iTunes? There has to be some way to get these photos off of here besides putting a new screen on it.

Seems like there has to be some reason why this one is recognized by my computer to install the drivers, but won't mount up as a storage volume. Some setting possibly?
 
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