Database Users

[Q] USB Mass Storage mode only for reading ?

I'm the only one having problems with usb mass storage? With all builds from all chef and all kernels it happens the same. I can read from the pc what is on the SD, but if I copy a file Android dont see it , the file size is 0. And new files created in android can't be readed by windows either (I can only read the files that were written on the SD before the last android boot)
I missing something? I tryied dismounting the SD from android with same results
Are you using it in the same way USB MASS STORAGE in WM6.5 ???

I use USB storage all the time and in every andrioid build I've used(about 20) I've never had any problems. There are many people like me that also have no problems, but there are also many like you that have plenty of problems. I'm not sure that anyone really knows why.

RobertsDF said:
I use USB storage all the time and in every andrioid build I've used(about 20) I've never had any problems. There are many people like me that also have no problems, but there are also many like you that have plenty of problems. I'm not sure that anyone really knows why.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for answering. Do you have 2 partitions on the sd ?

Just want to check a few things:
1: you plug in via usb and select "disk drive"
2: you are not still connected via usb when trying to read the items on the sd card?
3: When you disconnect the usb, you use the usual method (right click the icon in the taskbar and select "safely remove hardware") then wait for the SD card to be prepared by android before accessing it?
Also, how are you accessing the files in Android?

Reno_79 said:
Just want to check a few things:
1: you plug in via usb and select "disk drive"
2: you are not still connected via usb when trying to read the items on the sd card?
3: When you disconnect the usb, you use the usual method (right click the icon in the taskbar and select "safely remove hardware") then wait for the SD card to be prepared by android before accessing it?
Also, how are you accessing the files in Android?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1 & 2: Yes. Windows assing the drive letter and can read it fine.
3: I connect Android to pc, choose USB MASS STORAGE, in windows access the new drive letter, rename a file , choose "safele remove hardware", disconnect the cable, wait for Android to "prepare the sd" , go to the file and it has the old name!!! the weird thing is that if I connect to the pc again, I see in the pc the new name!
Is like Android is working with his own FAT32 table IN MEMORY and not refreshing it.
I tried Ghost Commander/ES file manager/Root Explorer, all with the same results.
PD: I found something else... If I DISMOUNT the SD from Android Im still able to access it with ES File Manager,etc. So its not really dismounting it Why can this be happening with all builds/roms?

I have the same problem. Strange thing is it worked fine fore the first couple of days. Anybody have a solution?

Try using "Rescan Media" app after you copy your files to the SD

Still nothing. I have to boot back into winMo to transfer files to my SD card! This is really annoying,

Plenty of other tools provide media scan as well, like Optimize toolbox, Switch pro widget and more. they all worked for me.
[edit] sorry, optimize toolbox doesn't offer it, it just clears the cache :/
power control plus however has this function as well.

Unable to Mount SD card

Hey all,
I have downloaded the Windows 7 64 bit drivers for my Fascinate. Installed them...but when i go to mount my SD card I can see it in Windows Explorer but it says CD drive F: Verizon Mobile. I cannot see anything on my SD card at all. How can I get this mounted. I am rooted and I have USB debugging on. Any other ideas on how to get this to work.

Pull down the notification bar at the top of the phone. Press mount sd card. Your problem mabe deeper than this but I just thought best to start simple. If u still can't get it we need more info like is it DI01,DJ05, or DL09
Sent from my SCH-I500 using XDA App

No, I cannot mount that way. I am on dl09. Very frustrating.
Sent from my SCH-I500 using XDA App

I had the same issue. I flashed Adrynalyne's latest voodoo kernel 01/21 low voltage and it seemed fixed it for me. I'm running DL09 supah clean 04 also.
See here and go to Test 4 this maybe your issue.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=915709&highlight=cd-rom

This is the official response from Samsung:
"There is no SD card mount issue on Windows OS. After user connects USB cable, Windows OS will recognize the device as CD-Rom, and the ToolLauncher_Bootstrap.exe will be running by autorun function. (WinXP only, Win 7 user should run ToolLauncher_Bootstrap.exe by himself ). At this point either user can ignore the installation of TL and use mass storage directly, or wait 30 secs timeout and the device will be changed to mass storage.
Another option is that user can change the settings -> USB setting to 'Ask on connection' from mass storage(default). It will allow user to go to mass storage directly by selecting mass storage.
But The mass storage is not working on MAC OS from previous version, and We have a fix for that in FROYO release."
Hope this helps.

I have the same issue when using certain kernels not sure if it is in the kernel or not. the only way i am able to mount the sd or use pda net is to plug the phone into the comp and reboot the phone after the phone reboots the comp recognizes it. I know this is not a fix but it does work everytime and the phone is recognized until the next time i reboot my phone without it being plugged into comp. This is a temp fix until you can find a better fix.

[Q] Sideloading/accessing folders in SD

I have built an SD bootable CM7 card as described by verygreen, but when I try to create folders on that drive from my PC (filled with APK files) I can't see them on the Nook. I have no problem doing this on my rooted emmc Nook, but when I boot to an SD card (that I am setting up for my daughter's Nook) I can't access any other folders/files.
What am I doing wrong? (The box is checked allowing Unknown Sources and I am currently running 177).

Are you connecting the nook via USB or putting the SD card in your computer directly?
Sent from my NookColor using Tapatalk

The card is placed in a usb card reader (or a usd card reader), either one sees the files on the PC, but it will not find it on the nook. Even when I create a folder on the nook and move the disk over and copy a file into the new folder I can't see it on the nook.

You need to connect through the nook
Sent from my LG Optimus V using Tapatalk

Littlewhat said:
The card is placed in a usb card reader (or a usd card reader), either one sees the files on the PC, but it will not find it on the nook. Even when I create a folder on the nook and move the disk over and copy a file into the new folder I can't see it on the nook.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is because the partition the computer sees is the boot partition... to access it in the nook... either in terminal or adb shell:
1. mkdir /sdcard/boot
2. mount /dev/block/mmcblk1p1 /sdcard/boot/
the items on the boot partition of the SD (including the folders and apks you put there) will be visible as /sdcard/boot
Pretty sure you'd have found it in the VG SASD thread and a few others... since I have posted this several times.

Thanks for the response. I'm not real familiar with ADB so I tried it with terminal and was able to create a directory but mounting gave me a 'permission denied' message.
(Sorry if this is old info, I've spent the morning combing the SASD thread and haven't found it yet, just too much info, thanks for taking the time to help some of us who are slower learners!)
Edit: learning slowly, used su to get into superuser (#) and made directory, but when I try to mount it says not found.

Littlewhat said:
I have built an SD bootable CM7 card as described by verygreen, but when I try to create folders on that drive from my PC (filled with APK files) I can't see them on the Nook. I have no problem doing this on my rooted emmc Nook, but when I boot to an SD card (that I am setting up for my daughter's Nook) I can't access any other folders/files.
What am I doing wrong? (The box is checked allowing Unknown Sources and I am currently running 177).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you asked this question 2 weeks ago, I might able to give you the exact answer but since I wiped out the uSD CM7, I can't remember correctly what would happen.
However, based on my experience (+/- my memory loss), what you describe is all correct and that's what it is. Odd? Maybe, but don't panic.
Let's go slowly
when I try to create folders on that drive from my PC
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
you meant you created a folder in the "boot" partition on the uSD card?
a. if so, it's not recommended. Using the left over FAT32 partition instead
b. if so, try to use Root Folder app (it's a paid app) to access root folder (boot partition) directly on the NOOK. If you see the folder you created earlier, move it to the eMMC storage.
c. if not, pls tell us more

Yes, the SD card was accessed on my PC thru a USB adapter and a folder called 'APKs' was created in the boot sector. (I have also tried just adding the files into one of the other folders, but anything I add is invisible to the Nook).
So if I need to create a folder in other than the boot sector, I would need to use something like Easeus Partition Master to make that sector active and then create the folder and add appropriate files? (When I rooted my Nook directly to emmc it sure seemed a lot easier to access folders created by my PC.)
(Thanks again for all your help.)

That's much clearer, m8
Now, I think it's easier to get straighten.
1. From PC, using SD slot or usb-sd adapter, move (remove) the "APKs" folder off your NC to your PC, save it there, then eject the uSD off PC.
2. Insert the uSD into the NC and turn it on, make sure it boots into CM7 properly.
3. Wait until it completely load. Now using usb cable to connect the NC and the PC.
4. Watch the notification status bar on the NC, tap on it then turn on usb mass storage.
5. PC should recognize the NC and ready for use.
6. Move your "APKs" folder from PC into your uSD (it would probably named as CM7SDCARD)
Update: on item 6, I prefer to move the folder to the eMMC storage. I'm not 110% sure if the NC see "it" (it means the left-over FAT32 partition on the uSD card) or not, but I do believe, 99% it will.

Deleted folder on SD card (from PC) and verified reboot ok.
Connected USB cable to PC then to Nook, no notification bar comes up, but battery icon shows charging as well as the lighted n on the cable.
Tried to use Nook Tweaks to begin USB connection (both boxes checked).
Still no recognition from the PC that anything is connected.
Edit: I am using my rooted Nook to build this SD card for my daughter's new unrooted Nook and when I plug the rooted Nook into the PC I don't get any verification from the PC on it either. No change on the Nook either, just the charging light and icon indicator.

Tried to use Nook Tweaks to begin USB connection (both boxes checked).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't have the NC with me now so I don't know what "both boxes" are and need to be checked or not.

The USB Settings from Nook Tweaks has a "USB Host Mode" (to enable host mode to connect peripherals) and an "External VBus" (to allow charging and hosting).
Both boxes were checked.
I've read that some of these issues can be caused by a faulty cable. If so, are there other alternatives to connecting thru the cable to open this up.
I have also tried the MiniTool partition program but I have not been successful in getting the active partition to 'stick' . (It immediately reverts back to the root being active after I apply the changes.)

You definitely have to UNCHECK the "USB Host Mode".
I'm not so sure with the "External VBus" status but suggest leave it by default.

With nothing checked in the Nook Tweaks section, USB cable connected to the Nook and then the PC, there is no recognition or acknowledgment that the Nook is there from the PC. (This is true whether I use my rooted version or try after booting to the sd card.)
If it is a cable problem, I will need to replace that, but aren't there other ways to make the sd card usable?
I've tried making the 4th partition action using Minitool and also Easeus but it didn't work. (Minitool just reverts back to boot partition active immediately after I apply the changes.)

Slow down, MiniTool and partitioning have nothing to do with this. Don't make more mess.
a. when plugging NC to PC, do you see any indication on the NC's status bar? like usb debugging?
b. when plugging NC to PC, do you see any indication on the PC (running Windows)? like removable drive?

There is no indication on the PC of any new connection.
The only indication on the Nook is the lighted n at the end of the cable and the recharging icon in the status bar.
Edit: the reason I was providing info on the MiniTools experience I was having is because my original question was how to access a folder (and files) created on my sd-bootable disk on my PC but the Nook can't see it. One way to accomplish this is to write the folder/apks directly to the Nook thru the USB cable. Other alternatives are to use windows to access it on my PC but I need to be able to access the 4th partition (if my reading of the various posts is correct). MiniTools and Easeus are two options that allow you to activate the 4th partition but it has not worked for my yet.
The USB cable connection problem appears to be there whether I boot to emmc or to sd.
Edit: I was able to find a non-nook cable (for my Blackberry) and using it my Nook recognizes when I connect to the PC and executes the USB Mass Storage Utility which allows me to turn USB storage on/off. Unfortunately the PC doesn't add any new logical drives in My Computer. The device manager shows 2 B&N Ereader Disk USB devices but with the yellow ! by them.

The 4th partition you mentioned about should be taken care during the installation, using verygreen's instructions, if you do correctly. There is ABSOLUTELY no need to mess around with MiniTool or the a-like.
Another question, have you turn on the USB Debugging feature? (I don't remember where, NC not with me now). If it not, check it box, try to plug in PC using usb cable again. I expect at least the usb debugging indicator will lit up.

I checked the debug feature (part of settings/applications/development/) and it was not checked. I checked it and now I get the robot icon (USB debugging conntected) and the USB icon to toggle storage on/off. Still nothing in My Computer and the drives shown in device manager are still yellow ! .
The device manager says "This device cannot start. (Code 10)"

I know it would be too early to say but I gonna to say anyway "congratulation".
When you see those icons on the NC status bar, it's 99% that it would work.
Now, back to the reality.
1. Connect usb cable between NC and PC running Windows
2. As you can see those icons, tap on the status bar to bring up then tap on "USB Mass Storage" (or something like "connect to computer for file/folder transfer, NOT the debugging). Read the warning then tap to enable USB connection
3. Now, pay attention on the PC, if it goes smoothly as expect, by now, you now can access both storages (eMMC and left-over of the uSD card) from PC. If so, move your "APKs" folder over.
I wish you luck

1- cable connected, icons on nook show up
2- tapping on status bar gives access to USB Mass Storage utility and option to turn on/off USB storage - with USB storage set to 'on' there is no recognition on the PC
Device manager shows two entries under disk drives for B&N Ebook Disk USB device but both are tagged with yellow ! (which a right click shows "This device cannot start. Code 10")
Is there something I need to do to download a usable driver for this?
(OBTW thank you for your help and patience)
Edit: within device manager I uninstalled the two drives (while the nook was still connected and USB active) and then had it search for new hardware. This time it loaded the drivers and NO yellow ! . At that point the PC recognized the drives and I have been able to create a folder that is accessible by the Nook and the PC. Thank you for help in this.
I have also contacted B&N and have a replacement cable on the way (which seemed to be a large part of my problems). Thanks Votinh for sticking with me while I got this resolved.

Problem connecting to Defy's Memory card

Dear all,
I've been using Defy for 6 months, been alright, but for the last 2 wks, I have stopped being able to connect to my Defy's Memory card via USB cable anymore. I think perhaps I did uninstall some moto drivers or something, so I decided to reinstall it, but that wont help.
All it notify me on my Win 7 when I connect my defy is "Android ADB Device connected"
How am I supposed to solve this problem?
Thanks so much in advance,

You shouldn't need any drivers to connect to the memory card. When you plug the cable into the Defy, pull down the notification bar and select the USB Mass Storage option, then tap OK. (Also, go into your settings and make sure USB Debugging is not enabled.) The Defy will act like a USB thumb drive.

thanks a bunch, i forgot to turn it off, never thought bout that before.

i just updated to Wajkiui 1.12.16 today, n it just happened again. Can't connect to my sdcard even thou i turned usb debugging off already.
I tried going to recovery, and mount SD card through recovery menu, but nothing show up in my computer.
My external HDD can connect pretty well w the same usb port ... what on earth might be happening w my fone n pc?

I have same problem with Defy+
I have installed ICS.
In system menu I have "USB Debugging" OFF and if I select "Share SD Card",
USB debugging is still on and I cannot connect to SD card.

[Q]Transferring files on cm9/10?

I have been trying to search the forum but having no luck. I switched from cm7 to cm10 recently and I am looking for a way app/utility whatever to have my sd card mount on my pc when I plug in usb so I can transfer files to my storage partition. I was using USB Mass Storage Watcher app(I think it was called) before, but it doesn't like cm10 very much. If there is no way to see usb connection from android to pc, what would be the next best option?

Hedgerow said:
I have been trying to search the forum but having no luck. I switched from cm7 to cm10 recently and I am looking for a way app/utility whatever to have my sd card mount on my pc when I plug in usb so I can transfer files to my storage partition. I was using USB Mass Storage Watcher app(I think it was called) before, but it doesn't like cm10 very much. If there is no way to see usb connection from android to pc, what would be the next best option?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That setting is built into CM10. Go to storage, then hit menu and USB configuration pops up. Select that. Select mass storage and back out. Now when you connect to PC both emmc and sdcard should show up as disk drives. The only app that I might use with that is my modified NookColorUMS app that I modified to work on CM9. It also works on CM10. Get it on my tips thread linked in my signature. And read about it in the second post in that thread. It allows you to mount any partition you want with UMS.

You might also look into using one of the transfer-over-wifi apps to get your data files onto Nook, I use WifiFileExplorer to this effect and never hassle with USB cords/connexions. Quick and sees everything.

Anniraff said:
You might also look into using one of the transfer-over-wifi apps to get your data files onto Nook, I use WifiFileExplorer to this effect and never hassle with USB cords/connexions. Quick and sees everything.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Love Wifi File Explorer Pro. I haven't taken an sd card out of my devices in months.

Thanks
Beautiful, I didn't think to hit menu after I was in the storage settings. I'll check out the wifi explorer too. Thank you guys!