Using mobile device USB to Laptop blank folders

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[Mike]

Hi:

I’ve got a very irritating issue.

Using Windows 10, 1909 on a Lenovo z580 laptop.

When I plug in my mobile phone via USB (Samsung S7) the laptop recognizes it and says device is ready, but when I open the folders I have on the phone they are empty.  I am able to remove the device and start over with the same results.

I believe I know my way around USB data (MTP) transfer and the options on the phone, but this completely baffles me because it works fine on my desktop pc with the same phone, cable, and Windows 10, 1909.  Never had an issue with Windows 7 either.

I even installed a USB driver from the Samsung website that doesn’t seem to make any difference.

I’m wondering if there is another setup feature I need to turn on or off.   Any help would be appreciated.

Mike

• This topic was modified 5 years, 4 months ago by Mike.
• This topic was modified 5 years, 4 months ago by Mike.

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Mixer,

First things first – try a different USB cord.

Zig

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[Mike]

Mike wrote:

Hi:

I’ve got a very irritating issue.

Using Windows 10, 1909 on a Lenovo z580 laptop.

When I plug in my mobile phone via USB (Samsung S7) the laptop recognizes it and says device is ready, but when I open the folders I have on the phone they are empty.  I am able to remove the device and start over with the same results.

I believe I know my way around USB data (MTP) transfer and the options on the phone, but this completely baffles me because it works fine on my desktop pc with the same phone, cable, and Windows 10, 1909.  Never had an issue with Windows 7 either.

I even installed a USB driver from the Samsung website that doesn’t seem to make any difference.

I’m wondering if there is another setup feature I need to turn on or off.   Any help would be appreciated.

Mike

• This topic was modified 5 years, 4 months ago by Mike.
• This topic was modified 5 years, 4 months ago by Mike.

Mike, sorry if you’ve tried this / checked this, but was / is the phone “unlocked” when you connect it to the laptop?

My iPhone (yes, entirely different system I know) does something very similar when I connect it to my own laptop with it locked still; it shows as connected and I can open it’s “root” photo folder, but it always shows as empty… until I realise it’s still locked; then I have to close the explorer window, unlock it, then re-open it on the laptop.

I can’t believe you wouldn’t have noticed it was locked, but it was so similar to something I get regularly myself, I wanted to mention it.

Another technique you can try; if you have a USB hub handy, try plugging that into the laptop, then the phone into the hub. Using this “middleware” method, I can get my old ipod recognised in Windows 10 when it won’t recognise if I plug it in directly.

Hope that helps.

Regards

James

 

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[Mike]

Thanks for the suggestions.   Any ideas are welcome.  I was reading that this issue came up only after 1803, but that may be “fake news”.

 

@Zig

Good call, but yes I tried that.  I also tried different USB ports.

@James

Another logical step.  I tried that too.  On Android there is a notification that you can sweep down from the top that allows you to select the USB options.  Also, you can get into the so-called developer mode and select (force) MTP.

It’s funny how with two different machines (Lenovo Laptop and Asus Motherboard based) using the exact same OS that the problem is only on the laptop.   Hardware ?  Driver ?

• This reply was modified 5 years, 4 months ago by Mike.

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[Alex5723]

Have you tried the new ‘Your Phone’ app ?
https://www.pcmag.com/how-to/how-to-connect-windows-10-and-android-using-microsofts-your-phone-app

• This reply was modified 5 years, 4 months ago by Alex5723.

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Thanks Alex5723, I was thinking about that, so I should try it out.  The other way used to work in that you would just plug in your mobile phone to a USB port and drag and drop.  Pretty simple.

Oh wait !   Idea:  I wonder if the MS “Your Phone App” is using a driver that is screwing things up.

 

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