Question for the tech heads...

[Wingnut]

Alright, I found a cord which runs between my 3G flip-phone and my laptop computer, but I can't get the devices paired and I can't send the phone pics via email without paying some jackholes, and that ain't gonna happen. I've tried various methods of connecting these devices so I can get those trail-riding pics onto my computer, that way I can post 'em. I've messed with the settings on the laptop and unlocked both devices, but to no avail. What am I doing wrong here and how do I get those trail-riding pics transferred? I feel like I'm close to succeeding with this mission, but some snag is holding things up and I'm starting to get aggravated... this is why I put bullet holes in my old desktop PC, it was like therapy, lol. I'm gonna post this thread and go water outside, which I haven't done yet because I've been grappling with this problem.

Maybe one of you heroes always squawking about tech can devise a method of transferring the pics from phone to computer. And yes, I've searched the web for methods, but everything is about smart phones and Android BS, not about my old 3G Verizon flip-phone. I'm off to water, I'll check back later, I'm trying to share these awesome trail-riding pics but my efforts keep getting derailed by this f/u tech glitch. I know I'm close to succeeding... and I do NOT want to "Power Wash" my laptop in order to *possibly* effect a device pairing & pic transfer, not before exhausting all other options. I have some pics of me dear departed mum & dad on the laptop, you see, and I don't want to lose them. There is no other computer to which I might transfer the stuff I want to save, all I have are the ancient flip-phone & the Acer laptop computer.

 

[Supervisor42]

Alright, I found a cord which runs between my 3G flip-phone and my laptop computer, but I can't get the devices paired and I can't send the phone pics via email without paying some jackholes, and that ain't gonna happen. I've tried various methods of connecting these devices so I can get those trail-riding pics onto my computer, that way I can post 'em. I've messed with the settings on the laptop and unlocked both devices, but to no avail. What am I doing wrong here and how do I get those trail-riding pics transferred? I feel like I'm close to succeeding with this mission, but some snag is holding things up and I'm starting to get aggravated... this is why I put bullet holes in my old desktop PC, it was like therapy, lol. I'm gonna post this thread and go water outside, which I haven't done yet because I've been grappling with this problem.

Maybe one of you heroes always squawking about tech can devise a method of transferring the pics from phone to computer. And yes, I've searched the web for methods, but everything is about smart phones and Android BS, not about my old 3G Verizon flip-phone. I'm off to water, I'll check back later, I'm trying to share these awesome trail-riding pics but my efforts keep getting derailed by this f/u tech glitch. I know I'm close to succeeding... and I do NOT want to "Power Wash" my laptop in order to *possibly* effect a device pairing & pic transfer, not before exhausting all other options. I have some pics of me dear departed mum & dad on the laptop, you see, and I don't want to lose them. There is no other computer to which I might transfer the stuff I want to save, all I have are the ancient flip-phone & the Acer laptop computer.

If your 3G flip phone is Verizon, it will reach 'end-of-life' in January 2023 anyway.
See if it can take a micro-SD card, mine did. If so, you can move your photos to it and transfer them.
I set up all the photos taken to be stored on the card so I wouldn't over fill the puny memory of the phone from the beginning. I was able to plug the micro-SD card into my PC using an adapter and move stuff back and forth easily.
If I took a picture with the phone that I needed to email, that's what I did since the flip-phone don't do internet.

 

[Haertig]

You are evidently trying to transfer photos over a wired connection, since you said you "found a cord". This is indeed the best way to do it IMHO (alternately, you could email the photos to yourself, use a "file manager" app installed on the phone, etc. - all of these methods are more difficult than just using a cord).

You said you found a cord, but did you find the right kind of cord? There are two types (aside from the connectors on the ends). You have a "power/charging cable", and you have a "data transfer cable". I believe all data transfer cables also support charging, but not all charging cables support data transfer. I think this is your problem. You said your computer won't "pair with" your phone. That term is used for Bluetooth wireless connections, not with wired connections, but I get what you mean. "Your computer will not recognize your phone." My guess is that this is because you have connected the two with a charging cable that does not support data transfer. If you connect them using this kind of cable, yes indeed, the computer will have no idea that there is a phone (or anything else) at the other end of the cable.

To make matters worse, manufacturers never seem to label their cables as "charging only". So you are left with cables that look identical, but do not always work the same. If you can find a cable that you know for 100% sure that you have used for data transfer in the past, try that cable. If you don't have a cable like this available, ask a friend if you can borrow one of theirs. Since your phone is 3g only, it's quite old. It probably has a micro-USB connector or maybe even a mini-USB connector (this second type is really really old). So most likely you need a "USB type A male to micro-USB male data transfer cable". But if your phone is very old, that might be a "USB type A male to mini-USB male" cable. See the picture below for connector identification.

Left to right: micro-USB male, mini-USB male, and USB type A male

 

[Peanut]

Ditto on the cables Haertig just posted. I have several USB cables I use for doing exactly this... All the plant photos I post are taken with a)andriod phone, b)camera, c)old camera.

One cable fits both my cameras at one end (usb mini). The other end is a USB-A connection I plug into to my laptop or desktop.

The other cable I use connects to my android phone at one end (micro usb), the other end is a standard USB type A.

At home I leave both cables connected to USB ports on my desktop. I simply connect a camera or phone to the other end of the appropriate cable.

Once I turn on the device it automatically appears in the folder tree of my file manager. Using the file manager I just navigate to my photos in the camera. I select the photos I just took...

Then just drag and drop.

My phone asks if I wish to allow another device to connect. I say yes... my cameras don't ask.

Basically... using the file manager I'm treating the phone just like another storage device, hard drive, dvd, thumb drive et al.

I can copy photos from my phone or cameras to my computers... Or copy images from my computers onto the phone or camera memory.

Here's what it looks like in my file manager. Look at the folder tree on the left. For some reason it lists 2 cannon cameras only when I connect my new camera. The old camera only appears once.

 

[Wingnut]

It's a Samsung/Verizon "prepaid" phone too, maybe that makes a difference. I looked for a Sim card or memory card but couldn't find one, not even a micro card or whatever. I have an adapter that came with the Canon cam, if I can locate a micro card I may be able to plug it into that adapter and then load the pics into the laptop in the usual manner, aye? So I'm working on it, I just got frustrated dealing with the tech BS, didn't wanna miss any more of that beautiful sunshine out there, lol. But I'm good now, I ate and showered and everything else, now I can devote my full attention to the problem.

I can see the pics on my flip-phone, and some are awesome, I'd like to be able to share 'em with y'all... or at least with the other dirt bikers & offroaders, lol. Meh, I'll keep tryin', hopefully I can figure it out. I see where the phone halves can be unscrewed---not the removable back panel where the battery is---so maybe once I buy another phone here next month, I can go ahead and take apart the POS 3G flip-phone and FIND the Sim/memory card, lol. I don't wanna do that yet, since I need the POS phone until I buy a new one.

Haertig & Peanut, I just read your posts, and you may have pegged the problem: maybe this cord which fits both devices is JUST a charging cord, so it CAN'T transfer pics or even allow my laptop to recognize another device, in this case my flip-phone. Sure seems like the right jack hole for the job though... at least the pics on the phone aren't going anywhere, so maybe I can take both devices to the library and borrow a cord for a moment if they have one, I hate to waste good beer money on some data transfer cable that I'm only gonna use once, lol. Again, I'll keep trying to do this...

I remember BLASTING my old desktop PC with my .45-70 and my 12-gauge at an impromptu public range outside Show Low, AZ... the thing had given me so much grief over the years, it felt good to finally get my revenge, lol. It was like total THERAPY, blowing huge holes through that POS with the rifle & shotgun. Might have shot it with the Glock 9mm too, I can't remember. I have some funny video on that whole scene, maybe I can find it later! I have to recommend this "therapy" to all who are sick & tired of their computers, it's worth every penny ya spend on cartridges & shells, lol.

 

[backlash]

When you connect a phone to a laptop via a cable you do not need to pair them. Pairing is a Bluetooth operation.
Plug the cable into your phone and laptop. Then go to File Explorer on your laptop then look for your phone in there.
Your phone will be another folder.
Then just move the pictures to your laptop picture folder.

 

[Wingnut]

What if the phone doesn't use or incorporate Bluetooth? Would it make any difference?

 

[Peanut]

It's a Samsung/Verizon "prepaid" phone too, maybe that makes a difference. I looked for a Sim card or memory card but couldn't find one, not even a micro card or whatever. I have an adapter that came with the Canon cam, if I can locate a micro card I may be able to plug it into that adapter and then load the pics into the laptop in the usual manner, aye? So I'm working on it, I just got frustrated dealing with the tech BS, didn't wanna miss any more of that beautiful sunshine out there, lol. But I'm good now, I ate and showered and everything else, now I can devote my full attention to the problem.

I can see the pics on my flip-phone, and some are awesome, I'd like to be able to share 'em with y'all... or at least with the other dirt bikers & offroaders, lol. Meh, I'll keep tryin', hopefully I can figure it out. I see where the phone halves can be unscrewed---not the removable back panel where the battery is---so maybe once I buy another phone here next month, I can go ahead and take apart the POS 3G flip-phone and FIND the Sim/memory card, lol. I don't wanna do that yet, since I need the POS phone until I buy a new one.

Haertig & Peanut, I just read your posts, and you may have pegged the problem: maybe this cord which fits both devices is JUST a charging cord, so it CAN'T transfer pics or even allow my laptop to recognize another device, in this case my flip-phone. Sure seems like the right jack hole for the job though...

Look for the charging cable slot. It'll fit to one of the cables haertig posted.

The port is what you should look for... Ignore blue tooth, more trouble than it's worth imho...

Since you ride in remote places… Cell service is very sketchy at my home and many places I go.

Say I wish to explore a new area hunting plants. I can’t rely on cell service so… I might screen save a map on my home pc. Edit and size it then copy it to my phone. I can add text to maps etc. Customize them as needed.

Now I have a photo of this map on my phone for quick reference anywhere, no cell service needed.

 

[Bacpacker]

WG, get you a portable hard drive, or at least a thumb drive. You need to back up the pics on your laptop. I've lost a bunch of pics due to a failure and didn't have them backed up

 

[backlash]

What if the phone doesn't use or incorporate Bluetooth? Would it make any difference?

No, with a cable you don't need Bluetooth.

 

[Supervisor42]

WG, get you a portable hard drive, or at least a thumb drive. You need to back up the pics on your laptop. I've lost a bunch of pics due to a failure and didn't have them backed up

My backup-buddy. 2TB and smaller than my wallet.
It has everything going back to the beginning of time, with plenty of room to spare:

They aren't expensive.

 

[Neb]

My backup-buddy. 2TB and smaller than my wallet.
It has everything going back to the beginning of time, with plenty of room to spare:
View attachment 95792
They aren't expensive.

Hmm...

Do you have a copy of the first email you ever wrote?

Ben

 

[Neb]

When you connect a phone to a laptop via a cable you do not need to pair them. Pairing is a Bluetooth operation.
Plug the cable into your phone and laptop. Then go to File Explorer on your laptop then look for your phone in there.
Your phone will be another folder.
Then just move the pictures to your laptop picture folder.

That is how I used to do it.

Now I just use my smart phone to do the posting.

Ben

 

[Wingnut]

Holy Cr@p!!! I just had a heart-stopping moment when I thought my laptop accidentally went into "Powerwash" mode... took awhile to work my way back out of that hole, lol. I believe I'm done trying to pair these devices today, I've wasted hours on it when I could've been drinking beer and watching some entertainment. I reckon my next move is to borrow or buy a "data transfer cable" to connect these devices, just in case that cord I have is just a charging cable.

The library is my best bet, I reckon, since I'm going to town to ride the ditch manana anyway... the gal at the reference desk has helped me before with computer-related problems, so maybe she can help me again, lol. I'll offer a sack o' dope for her services, 10-4? Second best bet would be some kinda computer shop, ditto on the sack o' dope. Jeez, I'm just glad I didn't lose everything on my laptop, that would've been a minor disaster... goldurned Big Tech devices!!!

I just grabbed a long-overdue cold beer and I am gonna chillax for the rest of the afternoon & evening. I don't need to don my fortune teller's rig or gaze into my crystal ball to determine the future fate of this laptop: it'll eventually get BLASTED just like the old desktop PC, and I'll probably BLAST the cheesed!ck 3G flip-phone as well, that'll make a more difficult target if I set it 50m downrange, lol. Yesiree, these devices GOT IT COMING... for ALL the trouble they've caused, lol.

OKEY-DOKEY, I'M DONE TRYING FOR NOW, I'LL SOLVE THIS PIC TRANSFER PROBLEM LATER...

 

[Supervisor42]

Hmm...

Do you have a copy of the first email you ever wrote?

Ben

Yep... The ones worth keeping.

@Wingnut wrote: "I remember BLASTING my old desktop PC with my .45-70 and my 12-gauge at an impromptu public range outside Show Low, AZ... I don't need to don my fortune teller's rig or gaze into my crystal ball to determine the future fate of this laptop: it'll eventually get BLASTED just like the old desktop PC,"

I plead guilty for using the same method to "secure sensitive data".
We found that an AK with a hi-cap mag to be the most effective and the "erasers" were the least expensive.

 

[Haertig]

Yep... The ones worth keeping.

I have a copy of my very first job resume. Both the original typewritten page, and a scan to PDF. The first resume I did on a computer was in some ancient word processor called "Ami Pro", by Lotus. I still have that Ami Pro file, but I don't know if any software could actually import it these days. The Lotus company may still be around. I vaguely remember something called "Lotus Notes" that I saw recently. "Recently", meaning "within the last 25 years" to me these days.

 

[Haertig]

Holy Cr@p!!! I just had a heart-stopping moment when I thought my laptop accidentally went into "Powerwash" mode... took awhile to work my way back out of that hole...

I'm not going to ask how you got from transferring files over USB to almost wiping your hard drive. But it must have been a stressful day. Indeed.

 

[Wingnut]

Gonna see about making that pic transfer today... AFTER I ride the concrete drainage ditch, lol.

 

[Wingnut]

I want to thank Haertig and you other site members for your sage advice, I picked up a "Micro-USB to USB Cable" today at WallyWorld, and it only set me back $6 and chump change, well worth it to retrieve those pics from my trail ride the other day in the Sacramento Mountains! I'll be effecting that transfer in a bit, first I have to share a hilarious anecdote in another thread. Here's the cable, and Haertig, "YOU DA MAN!!!" If you were here, I'd give ya a cold beer or a handful of buds, lol. Thanks to you other heroes as well... "GOOD ON YA!!!"

 

[Haertig]

If you were here, I'd give ya a cold beer or a handful of buds, lol.

If you were here, I'd give you a handful of USB cables from the stash of them that I have. Plugging your phone into your computer - you should be ready to go with this cable (assuming it's a data transfer cable - the labeling on the front of the package does not say this, but most likely it is - the back of the package might say something about "sync", which is synonymous with data transfer).

If you were plugging your phone into some other portable device, say a tablet or another phone, you might need what's called an "OTG cable", especially if the devices are older. OTG stands for "On The Go". These are used when the two devices can't decide who is the master and who is the slave. Most newer devices don't require this however, they provide a software interface where you can set master/slave. I don't think "master/slave" is the correct terminology these days - it's not woke enough to satisfy the snowflakes - but the concept is still alive. One device controls the connection and the other device does what it is told to do.

But when you plug a normal cable - like the one you just bought - into a computer on one end, the computer will always assume the master role and the other device (your phone) assumes the slave role. So you can forget about all this "OTG" stuff I've talked about. It's irrelevant when a computer is in the loop.

OTG, or a user selectable software option, is required when you have two devices that each normally expect to be a slave (like two phones). One of them has to be the master. Smart phones have gotten so smart these days that now they often expect to be the master. So instead of having two phones fighting over who gets to be the slave, you have two phones fighting over who gets to be the master.

 

[Haertig]

Another thing to note: The question might come up, "Why would anyone buy a charging-only cable? Since data transfer cables also support charging, you'd think a data cable is all you need. And you'd be right. Partially.

Newer devices have all kinds of different "fast charging" protocols. These use different voltages, and different maximum currents. Not all cables support the higher power options needed for the fastest of charging. So another fly lands in the ointment. You've got your data cables, your charging cables, and your "fast charging" cables. An inexpensive data cable will probably NOT support fast charging, but it will support slow charging. @Wingnut - you don't have to worry about this, because fast charging is usually implemented on USB-C connectors. Yet another different type of connect that we have not discussed above. Your (current) phone does not have USB-C, so my description here is just for knowledge enhancement, not because you need to know it (currently - with your existing phone - you may need to know it if you buy a newer smart phone though).

But there is another reason why you might want to use a "charging only" cable. Airports. Or other public locations that provide a USB charging port for you to recharge your devices. If you were to plug in a data transfer cable into one of these public charging ports, you just gave whoever is on the other end of that charging port an open data connection to your phone! Meaning they have access to your private data. Oops! That's not something you want to do. Now, most public charging ports do not connect to a nefarious back-end that is trying to steal your data. But they certainly could. So to be on the safe side, and thwart an attempt to steal your data, connect to public ports using a "charging only" cable. Then there is no data path available for someone to steal your stuff. Alternately, always use your own charging device instead of a public charging port. These are the little cube devices that plug into a standard 120v electrical outlet. There is no data connection through a 120v electrical outlet.

 

[Wingnut]

Okey-dokey, I reckon the charging cable was decades old, and I don't expect to see another commercial airport in my lifetime (Thank God!!!), but I appreciate the input & advice, 10-4? Now, time to grab a beer & load my glass bong, lol.

 

[Wingnut]

Dang, even with the new data transfer cable (says so on the package), I can't get the computer to recognize the phone and vice versa... just spoke to my good friend 'SatCommBoy' in Colorado, he's a tech wizard, and he gave me some tips to resolve this issue. I'll try those actions later, I'm a bit tired of the whole tech scene right now, and I may even take a little nap, lol. But I'll keep trying this afternoon, I'm beginning to think this task will take me all weekend, lol. Goldurned devices, I'd like to shoot the lot just for therapeutic reasons, but I don't wanna lose those trail-riding pics, there are some good ones trapped inside that flip-phone! Arrrrrrrrrrrgh!!!

Worst-case scenario, I'm gonna text the pics to a relative or friend and have them shoot 'em back to my laptop with a smart phone... but that's a last resort, I don't wanna impose or be a PITA, lol.

 

[Wingnut]

Well, I've given up on ever pairing my Samsung flip-phone to my Acer Chromebook (laptop), I reckon they are simply incompatible with one another. All material or info on pairing devices mentions Android phones, and ONLY Android phones, pffffffft. And the Samsung 3G flip-phone won't let me email the pics, even though that's an "option" on one screen. Which leaves just two options, or actually three:

1) Text message with pic included... one pic at a time, of course, so something like 49 text messages.

2) Disassemble phone AFTER I buy another phone... then see if I can locate the memory card, which might NOT look like the kind of memory card I'm used to having in other devices.

3) Hit the phone with a sledge hammer (or put a bullet in it for giving me so much trouble), then simply go ride the damned trail again, making sure I have the freakin' Canon cam with me this time.This is starting to sound like my best option, lol.

Boy, I'm burned out on this tech BS, I'll have to ask a relative or friend if they can help me by receiving texted pics, then somehow emailing them to my computer. ARRRRRRRRRRRRRGH!!! No wonder I'm down on Big Tech, I can't keep up with these devices and I find them aggravating in the extreme. At the very least, this phone will soon DIE an ugly death under my sledge hammer, lol... but no worries, I'll wear eye protection!!! CHEERS!!!

P.S. I reckon I'm ready for my first beer of the day... never got around to it while trying to read all the gobbledygook related to these two devices. Sheeeeeee-it, if I weren't already an alkie, this Big Tech BS would certainly drive me to drinkin', and that's no lie. Damned devices are enough to p!$$ off the Pope!!! Well, maybe he has some lackeys to deal with all the tech BS... not an option for Wingnut, I can't afford any high-dollar "computer consultants." All I can afford are these three kittens, and it saddens me greatly to report that they're not very tech-savvy...

The BLASTED FREELOADING VARMINTS & 'COMPUTER CONSULTANT' POSERS!!!

 

[Supervisor42]

Well, you could mention what model Samsung phone you have.
Here is my Verizon Samsung 3G phone with the little tiny door flipped open that has the MicroSD card behind it.
Without it, I would never have been able to get anything off of that phone.

Hint: If there is no card in the slot, the option to transfer photos to it will not appear on your phone's menu.

 

[Haertig]

I hate to ask the obvious, but you do have the phone powered on, right?

 

[Supervisor42]

I hate to ask the obvious, but you do have the phone powered on, right?

That can be important. Mine still would not talk to anything, hence the card.
Here's a little funny... When I got ready to transition to my new phone, the instructions said: "Make sure the old phone is turned off first".
Well, mine hadn't been turned off in 12 years, because why would I?
I got it to put to work, and I did.
I went to turn it off and found out, that it wouldn't turn off!
It always stayed plugged up to the charger and I found out they won't turn off if it is plugged in.
Who woulda thunkit?

 

[Wingnut]

Just saw your posts as I'm watching the intro to 'T3'---yes, my phone was turned on, unlocked, and placed in "discoverable mode." Not that it did any good, lol. Back to my movie... dang, this nude gal looks alright, but she has a bad attitude!