I recently had a replacement of my Nexus4 and I'm trying to copy files/settings/etc from one device to the other.
I backed up Apex Launcher Settings. When I plugged in the original Nexus 4 to my laptop, it will not display the folder Apex saved the backup file. (Android/data/apexlauncher/ - the apexlauncher folder does not appear in Windows Explorer) So I have no way to copy the backups to my computer to later transfer to the replacement phone.
It seems with MTP you are limited to the type of file you can transfer to and from the phone.
Is there a way to bypass this limitation, and enable a mass storage setting?
I rather not use any wifi/ftp apps, as I don't like downloading a bunch of apps... (I maintain a pretty stock/google only device)
Related
Howdy all,
I'm planning on testing out some of the newer ROM's and updates since my last adventure, and I'm backing up my tablet accordingly. Normally, when I connect it to my computer I see all the files on my tablet and I'm able to drag/drop them to back them up, primarily the TitaniumBackup files and my CWM nandroid backups.
Recently, however, when I plug in my tablet it shows almost all the folders as empty. All the files are visible on the tablet, and I'm going through the painstakingly slow process of backing some of the important ones on my tablet to my MicroSD card atm, but I want to get back to the way I used to do things.
Can anyone guide me through this, so I can get back to the normal way?
I have a TF300T, rooted, unlocked, CWM for recovery, and running CM9 (Stable) atm. I haven't made any changes since CM9 was released, that was the last change I made.
Any help is appreciated
-O
try this:
- plug the tablet to your computer,
- create a new folder, name it whatever you want (like "temp" for temporary,...)
- unplug the tablet
- use a file manager on your tablet, all backups files you want to copy to your computer - copy them to the "temp" folder you just created
- plug it in to your computer, go to the "temp" folder and i think you should see all of your files, so you can back up them.
nooktablet said:
try this:
- plug the tablet to your computer,
- create a new folder, name it whatever you want (like "temp" for temporary,...)
- unplug the tablet
- use a file manager on your tablet, all backups files you want to copy to your computer - copy them to the "temp" folder you just created
- plug it in to your computer, go to the "temp" folder and i think you should see all of your files, so you can back up them.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yea I basically did that and with a combination of AirDroid got the majority of my important files copied over. I don't care about much else but I got my nandroid backups copied which took quite some time.
Hi, I downloaded a big iso file (say file x) on my nexus 4. weird thing is I can't see the file from my pc when I connect my phone to my pc. I can see the folders on my phone but can't see the folder (say folder f1) that contains the file..
Even more weird thing is when I moved some file in the f1 to a folder (say f2) using Astro file manager that can be seen from my pc. I can see the file in f2 on my phone, but it's not on my pc.
Then I renamed a file (file y) in f2 in Astro. Both fy and f2 can be seen on my pc. But on my pc I can't see the name of y changed.
In short what kind of changes I made to my files on my phone, nothing happens on my pc. I have unplugged the cable and repluggd it but the situation is still the same.
Also, I can create folder/file from pc and they can be seen from my phone.
bump
thotwielder said:
Hi, I downloaded a big iso file (say file x) on my nexus 4. weird thing is I can't see the file from my pc when I connect my phone to my pc. I can see the folders on my phone but can't see the folder (say folder f1) that contains the file..
Even more weird thing is when I moved some file in the f1 to a folder (say f2) using Astro file manager that can be seen from my pc. I can see the file in f2 on my phone, but it's not on my pc.
Then I renamed a file (file y) in f2 in Astro. Both fy and f2 can be seen on my pc. But on my pc I can't see the name of y changed.
In short what kind of changes I made to my files on my phone, nothing happens on my pc. I have unplugged the cable and repluggd it but the situation is still the same.
Also, I can create folder/file from pc and they can be seen from my phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
All right, it's suddenly just fine. No idea why.
Was going to say it could be due to the horrible MTP that Android now uses instead of Mass Storage.
MTP Limits large files from being transferred to and from the device.
(and only shows some folders, usually the basic Music, Downloads, Pictures, etc - and folders that were created on the device via the computer)
But since it just showed up, I have no clue...
I have no problems with MTP, all my folders and files show up on my pc. Can also transfer large video files without a problem. The size limitation by the way is 4GB.
http://www.androidcentral.com/ics-feature-mtp-what-it-why-use-it-and-how-set-it
Sometimes you may have to reboot the phone to be able to see the files. Works for me. After download some files I can't see them immediately, have to reboot phone then plug in and files will be there.
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda premium
kzoodroid said:
I have no problems with MTP, all my folders and files show up on my pc. Can also transfer large video files without a problem. The size limitation by the way is 4GB.
http://www.androidcentral.com/ics-feature-mtp-what-it-why-use-it-and-how-set-it
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've had trouble with MTP, unable to write certain files... So I have to Zip them, copy them over, then unzip them from within Android. And I made some Backups of my Apex Settings and such, before uninstalling the app, when I plugged the N4 into my computer the location where Apex saved the file did not show.. Once I finally just saved them to my Google Drive from the phone, I was unable to copy them back over to the N4 (hence the reason for needing to ZIP them) - Also I recreated the Apex settings folder myself via Windows Explorer in the Android Folder of the n4 but Apex was unable to find it. When I clicked Backup within Apex, it normally will inform you of an overwrite if backup files already exist, but this did not happen.
I have the basic folders appear in Windows Explorer (Alarms, Android, DCIM, Downloads, Movies, Music, Notifications, Pictures, Podcast, and Ringtones) ... The Android Folder (where Apex saves its backups) would only display a few select folders (those related to media) so the Apex Backup folder is not visible in Windows Explorer...
Anyhow, I'm certainly not a fan of MTP... but will read the article you posted and maybe it will help/change my view
I'm aware of hidden folders remaining that way when enacting the usb transfer protocol mtp, but I'm not sure why hidden folders which were accessible on my older HTC device are not visible within a file explorer (such as es file explorer) on the phone.
This sorta cripples legacy applications reinstalled to the new device as they are unable to access the previously created data allocated to these areas.
Does anyone have any idea how to make these folders visible on the device [galaxy s4] without resorting to mounting the card directly to a windows os environment?
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As this has slipped into obscurity, I'm going to add some more information in hopes of generating more viewership.
Hidden folders are usually folders with a (.) at the beginning. These folders were once accessible on my former device and can be viewed on any other device than my GS4. Once I mount to the phone and open up any file explorer they are no longer visible.
Does anyone know why this is and if there is a way to reverse this?
EDIT: SOLVED.
I've determined that the only way to access hidden folders on the device is to check "show hidden files" in ES file explorer settings.
I'm bring this thread back to ask the question, how do I view the hidden files and folders on my Windows 7 computer when I plug the phone in via usb? I had no problems viewing them hidden folders on my S2 but now n my S4 those folders are completely hidden on the S4 when I plug the phone in. What's different now?
Android dropped support for USB Mass Storage mode to mount the phone on a computer. That is the mode that let's a computer see everything. It also let's the computer access things it wants to. The MTP that became standard for Android 4+ (some versions of skins put the mass storage support back in) keeps the phone in primary control of the files. This is supposed to prevent file corruption and conflicts with the phone and computer changing the same files at the same time.
You can move the content on the phone to a non hidden folder to see it on a computer.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337
For some reason I cannot copy large files from my Nexus 4 to my PC (Nandroids mainly) either via windows or ADB. The process starts, but soon ends and the files are not copied although no error is displayed. If I try and copy a Nandroid, the smaller files are copied, MD5s, recovery, boot etc. but NOT the biggie, the DATA file. any ideas?
This is an old thread but I can't see a solution. I too have had this problem surface, I've made titanium backups which in the past I've been able to just copy the entire folder onto desktop but that's not working now. What is wrong?
I can describe how I did it recently, as I wanted to do the same.
First I tried with copy command and had same problem.
Then I tried with move command and it worked.
Another way is wireless with an application like Wi-Fi transfer Pro.
You run the application at mobile and it gives you a site link to open at a browser at pc. It's similar to Airdroid, but no need for registration or Qr codes.
Then from pc you find the files or folder that you want to copy and you just press download.
This is how I copied 3.7gb nandroid backup.
Unleashed by my Nexus 4
That's an interesting idea, I will give that a go later but it is only a workaround. We need a fix as it wasn't an issue previously.
I love the nexus 4 but the fact that my mac can't see it is really annoting. I could easily connect my GS2 like a pendrive and transfer files and also rearrange stuff. Now, I've searched around the web and found the 'Android File Transfer' app that allows me to copy files back and forth from my mac. I would be totally fine with this if only it allowed me to move files from on folder to another with my nexus. This is a ridiculously basic feature that is missing. i.e. say I copy a bunch of songs to the wrong folder on my phone, AFT doesn't allow me to just drag those files over to another folder on my phone. I now need to delete all those files and recopy them onto the correct folder. This is unacceptable so I'd like to know if theres a good alternative to AFT or am I missing something?
FYI: Im on 4.3 and not rooted
BUMP!
Some info I've found online suggests that running gvfs and Nautilus from MacPorts works well with MTP. I've had success with Nautilus in Linux but have not used Mac OS.
If your only issue is not being able to move the files to a different folder after they've been transferred, have you considered just using an Android file manager app to move the files once they're on your device?