Database Users

Cant see fils from sd card on pc

hi,
i just pulled the sd card from my i9000 into my pc and i cant see any file from it...
then i put it back into the phone and navigated with astro filebrowser on it, there are all know android dir on it and one called sd...
I put something into it and only things in this folder i can see on my pc why? I would like to copy photos or music directly to the sd card...
can anyone help me?

If you try to access your SD card from the External drive folder called "SD" it won't work.
There are 2 drives actually for this phone when you plug it with USB, one is the External sdcard (the 6gb partition that comes with the phone) and the other is the microSD card. Both are in My Computer.

Archius said:
If you try to access your SD card from the External drive folder called "SD" it won't work.
There are 2 drives actually for this phone when you plug it with USB, one is the External sdcard (the 6gb partition that comes with the phone) and the other is the microSD card. Both are in My Computer.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Im not using a USB Cable to acces the sd card, I put the card out of the phone into a cardreader and then I cant see any files on the card only the files in the folder called "sd" on the card but in the phone I see there more folders on the root of the sd card.
On the phone I see following folders in root of the sd card:
albumthumbs
Android
bluetooth
DCIM
....
and one folder called "sd"
Everything in this folder "sd" I can see on my pc but not the folders on the root of the sd card?
why?

audino said:
Im not using a USB Cable to acces the sd card, I put the card out of the phone into a cardreader and then I cant see any files on the card only the files in the folder called "sd" on the card but in the phone I see there more folders on the root of the sd card.
On the phone I see following folders in root of the sd card:
albumthumbs
Android
bluetooth
DCIM
....
and one folder called "sd"
Everything in this folder "sd" I can see on my pc but not the folders on the root of the sd card?
why?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's because those files and folders you only see on your phone are in fact part of the internal memory and NOT from the microsd card.
The microsd card is in fact the folder named SD.
Your best bet and it is the one I personally use is to leave the card in the phone and attach your phone to the PC via USB.
Once you have 'mounted' the phone you will then see 2 (two) directories.
One directory will be the internal memory (roughly 5.6GB) and the other the microsd card.
On mine it shows as drives E & F.

Beards said:
That's because those files and folders you only see on your phone are in fact part of the internal memory and NOT from the microsd card.
The microsd card is in fact the folder named SD.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry on my phone it isnt that way.
On the root of my phone there is folder called "sdcard" in this one I can find this folders:
albumthumbs
Android
bluetooth
DCIM
....
and one folder called "sd"
only things in the folder "sd" are visible on my pc. for ex. if i take a pic and store it by the cam app to the sd card its saved into the sdcard\dcim\ and it is on the sd card. when I put the card into the pc Im not seeing anything... if I go with astro and copy the pic from sdcard\dcim\ to sdcard\sd\PIC and put the sd card into my pc Im seeing on the sd card ONE FOLDER called PIC?!?!
Ive just checked it with the usb cable and its the same thing, if you plug it in you get two drives one with the folders
Android
bluetooth
DCIM
....
and another...
BUT BOTH ARE THE SD CARD, try to connect the phoen without a installed sd card to a pc you will see nothing...
And this point I would like to change.

audino said:
Sorry on my phone it isnt that way.
On the root of my phone there is folder called "sdcard" in this one I can find this folders:
albumthumbs
Android
bluetooth
DCIM
....
and one folder called "sd"
only things in the folder "sd" are visible on my pc. for ex. if i take a pic and store it by the cam app to the sd card its saved into the sdcard\dcim\ and it is on the sd card. when I put the card into the pc Im not seeing anything... if I go with astro and copy the pic from sdcard\dcim\ to sdcard\sd\PIC and put the sd card into my pc Im seeing on the sd card ONE FOLDER called PIC?!?!
Ive just checked it with the usb cable and its the same thing, if you plug it in you get two drives one with the folders
Android
bluetooth
DCIM
....
and another...
BUT BOTH ARE THE SD CARD, try to connect the phoen without a installed sd card to a pc you will see nothing...
And this point I would like to change.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You are misunderstanding what I am saying.
The folder sdcard is the internal memory
Whilst the folder sd is the MicroSD card.
If yours is different then I don't know what is going on with your Galaxy S

Beards said:
You are misunderstanding what I am saying.
The folder sdcard is the internal memory
Whilst the folder sd is the MicroSD card.
If yours is different then I don't know what is going on with your Galaxy S
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oh Im sorry my mistake...

Me again, you are absolutly right, but the people at samsung are really strange...
If you recive a mail with attachment and save the things its says saved on sdcard but it saves it into the internal mem...

audino said:
Me again, you are absolutly right, but the people at samsung are really strange...
If you recive a mail with attachment and save the things its says saved on sdcard but it saves it into the internal mem...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, I agree... it is confusing.
On a Windows Mobile device the SDCard relates to the external SDCard.
With the Galaxy S, because it has an 8GB storage card (of which you only get to use around 5.6GB) it treats this as the SDCard and of course anything saved does indeed go to this storage.
Looks like we will have to wait for Froyo to arrive on the Galaxy S before we can download direct to the MicroSD card (which as we know is indeed buried inside SDCard/SD.

What happens when you insert an SD card?

I have realized that the note II internal storage is not treated as an external card and hence gets wiped if flashing certain roms or choosing to factory reset. So, the following barrage of questions relates to "what-if" scenarios when plugging in an SD card into the Note 2.
If I choose to insert an SD card, would the phone automatically start saving content there instead or would I have to tell it to do that? What about all the folders that the phone already created like S Note Export, paper artist and photos from the camera - would they get migrated automatically or would I have to move them manually? Would subsequent photos and files be saved to the SD?
Finally, what about app storage? S Note saves notes to the internal drive but would it save it to the external storage instead if I insert an SD card? How about Spotify with its offline tracks? Would those tracks be stored on the SD rather than the internal storage if a card is detected?
Okay, one more to really complicate things: What if I insert an SD card, do a titanium backup of several applications with their corresponding data on internal storage, save those backups on the SD card, factory reset/format the phone, and then restore the backups from the SD card? Would the associated data go on the SD card or internal storage?

sz1a said:
I have realized that the note II internal storage is not treated as an external card and hence gets wiped if flashing certain roms or choosing to factory reset. So, the following barrage of questions relates to "what-if" scenarios when plugging in an SD card into the Note 2.
If I choose to insert an SD card, would the phone automatically start saving content there instead or would I have to tell it to do that? What about all the folders that the phone already created like S Note Export, paper artist and photos from the camera - would they get migrated automatically or would I have to move them manually? Would subsequent photos and files be saved to the SD?
Finally, what about app storage? S Note saves notes to the internal drive but would it save it to the external storage instead if I insert an SD card? How about Spotify with its offline tracks? Would those tracks be stored on the SD rather than the internal storage if a card is detected?
Okay, one more to really complicate things: What if I insert an SD card, do a titanium backup of several applications with their corresponding data on internal storage, save those backups on the SD card, factory reset/format the phone, and then restore the backups from the SD card? Would the associated data go on the SD card or internal storage?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
When you insert an sd card the camera app asks if you want to start saving photos there.
Downloads automatically go to external.
But aside from that I havent noticed any other moving. Screenshots still all go to internal as does s note and most other apps.
Still looking for a way to make them shift.
Anything already on internal storage had to be moved manually. Took a whike too lol.
Sorry but mot sure about your other questions. Hopefully someone else can answer
Sent from my GT-N7100 using xda premium

For me , nothing happend.

[Q] How do I transfer External SD card App data to new Card?

HI guys,
Trying to find a successful way to transfer my app data (Installed apps which were moved to sd card) from my old micro sd card to my new larger one. Simple copy and paste within windows did not work.
After some searching I found this thread tomsguide.com/forum/id-1607981/moving-data-microsd-card-android-smartphone
It seemed to be the only possible solution with only 2 people acknowledging it worked.
I also have a videos folder which I would want to be ignored when doing the transfer (to save time- there are many vids in the folder).
Any help and input is greatly appreciated.
Samsung Galaxy S4 M919 T-mobile. Android 4.3 - Rooted with stock ROM.
Thanks.

Spazite said:
HI guys,
Trying to find a successful way to transfer my app data (Installed apps which were moved to sd card) from my old micro sd card to my new larger one. Simple copy and paste within windows did not work.
After some searching I found this thread tomsguide.com/forum/id-1607981/moving-data-microsd-card-android-smartphone
It seemed to be the only possible solution with only 2 people acknowledging it worked.
I also have a videos folder which I would want to be ignored when doing the transfer (to save time- there are many vids in the folder).
Any help and input is greatly appreciated.
Samsung Galaxy S4 M919 T-mobile. Android 4.3 - Rooted with stock ROM.
Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I cant imagine Im the only one who has run across this issue...

Copy paste worked fine for me in the past.
Why don't you move your apps to the internal storage until you got the new sd card, then move them back?

GDReaper said:
Copy paste worked fine for me in the past.
Why don't you move your apps to the internal storage until you got the new sd card, then move them back?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Internal storage is just about full and the apps are many.
Is Windows capable of successfully reading the android files and copying them? The card is formatted exFAT..Should it be formatted NTFS instead?

I haven't formatted anything. Besides, formatting will wipe the sd card.
I simply copied all the contents from the sd card to the pc and then to the new sd card. Had no problems so far.
Widows is just a temporary storage, it doesn't need any rights over them.
Aren't there any sd card clone programs? Like the ones used for cloning HDD partitions and transfering their contents to another HDD?

GDReaper said:
I haven't formatted anything. Besides, formatting will wipe the sd card.
I simply copied all the contents from the sd card to the pc and then to the new sd card. Had no problems so far.
Widows is just a temporary storage, it doesn't need any rights over them.
Aren't there any sd card clone programs? Like the ones used for cloning HDD partitions and transferring their contents to another HDD?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for following up on this frustrating issue.
The only android items which show in my old external card are the android folder which contains the obb folder. The other android based folder is a "data" folder which is empty.
Both of these were copied to the new external card with no luck.
Is there something I should be copying from the phones storage onto the new external card? I don't know why this is such an issue :/
What items show on your external card that you were able to successfully copy to your new one? I even tried navigating using ES Explorer and the only item that shows, which Windows cannot see, is a hidden android folder with nothing in it. ..If the original external sd has the same items as the new exteral card, this would lead me to believe that the android OS is simply linking something to the external card to link the external card apps to the OS.
I have never heard of any such programs for cloning from an android based system...

I selected everything (CTRL + A) and then copied it to the new card. Even if there were hidden folders, they were copied.
Game data is generally stored in the obb folder on the internal storage.
How exactly did you move your apps to the sd card?

GDReaper said:
I selected everything (CTRL + A) and then copied it to the new card. Even if there were hidden folders, they were copied.
Game data is generally stored in the obb folder on the internal storage.
How exactly did you move your apps to the sd card?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I just copied and pasted to the new card. Nothing was missing.
All the shortcuts are still in the OS but they are all blank and show as 0kb in size. If I try to go into google store it doesn't show any of the updates for the external card, only the ones for the internal storage are listed.
As for the OBB files, those I never keep on my cards, as there is never enough storage. this is not an issue with my internal storage either, as all them apps still show as being installed regardless of whether or not any obb files are there.
This makes no sense. There has to be something that links the external programs to the OS which is not getting copied to the new card...

Do you know Titanium Backup? Just make a backup from everything (all apps and datas) and store it f.e. in the dropbox, change SD Card and restore the backup from the dropbox via Titanium to your phone.

Cheeky Freddy said:
Do you know Titanium Backup? Just make a backup from everything (all apps and datas) and store it f.e. in the dropbox, change SD Card and restore the backup from the dropbox via Titanium to your phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you for this suggestion. I have the full version and was not aware they integrated db.
I set up drop box on my TBP but I cant get the apps to save into drop box...Every time i try to backup anything it keeps saving onto internal card...I'm trying to backup the external cards app to db as a single batch. Do you know what setting to change for this to work?

Spazite said:
Thank you for this suggestion. I have the full version and was not aware they integrated db.
I set up drop box on my TBP but I cant get the apps to save into drop box...Every time i try to backup anything it keeps saving onto internal card...I'm trying to backup the external cards app to db as a single batch. Do you know what setting to change for this to work?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
try to get your hands on an OTG cable and connect a USB flash drive to your phone, and use a file explorer like ES to transfer the entire SD card to the USB Flash drive, then fire up the new SD card and copy the items you put on the USB flash drive back to the SD card using ES. This should definitely work and you wouldnt require a pc also.

Spazite said:
Thank you for this suggestion. I have the full version and was not aware they integrated db.
I set up drop box on my TBP but I cant get the apps to save into drop box...Every time i try to backup anything it keeps saving onto internal card...I'm trying to backup the external cards app to db as a single batch. Do you know what setting to change for this to work?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If the backup from your SD card is stored onto your internal card everything is fine. Just plug your new SD Card in your phone and restore your backup and everything will be back on your new sd card.

TheAwesomeBit said:
try to get your hands on an OTG cable and connect a USB flash drive to your phone, and use a file explorer like ES to transfer the entire SD card to the USB Flash drive, then fire up the new SD card and copy the items you put on the USB flash drive back to the SD card using ES. This should definitely work and you wouldnt require a pc also.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Looking at the card via Es, I see nothing in there that has not already been transferred. What folders do I need to transfer over...the "data" android" and hidden "android secured" are for the most part empty.

Spazite said:
Looking at the card via Es, I see nothing in there that has not already been transferred. What folders do I need to transfer over...the "data" android" and hidden "android secured" are for the most part empty.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
have you enabled show hidden folders on ES?

TheAwesomeBit said:
have you enabled show hidden folders on ES?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes. Only 1 hidden android folder which is empty.

Looks like I was able to see the contents of the .android_secured folder using an OTG cable. It contains what look like to be the files required for the apps to be recognized by the OS. Also what i believe to be the files for Google Play to also recognize the apps for updates.
I tried copying the folder but it wont work. However, I was able to copy all the contained files onto the new sd card.
Looks like I'll have to mount it again and just use the titanium backup method.

Backed up all the external data using TB onto the new card...I'm now having trouble restoring the backup to the new card...cant seem to find the option to do so.
I have the backup stored on the new external card.

Changing SD Card

Within the last week I moved to my 7 Edge from my Note7. I have all of my apps installed and I did not move any to the SD card when I installed them. As I set my phone up, Android created 3 folders on my SD card: they are "Android" "Knox" and "Lost". The Android folder has a lot of stuff under a sub folder named "Data." I just received my new 256GB data card in the mail and I might change over to it. Will this create issues with my apps since they created all of this data on my SD card? "Lost" and "Knox" appear empty so that doesn't seem to pose a problem. Just worried about that "Android" folder.

Hi,
Most apps doesn't create data on sdcard unless you tell them to do it, for example Spotify music is usually stored on internal storage, but you can change the storage location to the sdcard. So, if you didn't tell any app to create its data on sdcard you won't have any problem.
You can use an app like FX File Explorer to check how much space that folder is using, not only that, but if you really are worried about some app breaking because of the data in sdcard, just copy the current sdcard content to the new one, shouldn't take much from your 256GB card
All the best,
~Lord
Sent from my Galaxy S7 Edge (SM-935F) using Tapatalk Beta

I've swapped SD cards multiple times just by copying everything from the old on onto the new one, using a PC. Never had any problems at all.

Replacing/upgrading SD card

Whats he best/easiest way to replace my sd card. At the moment it is a 64 gb and I'm upgrading to a faster Samsung 128GB. The current card is formatted as internal memory. I can easily move/ delete/backup some files to a pc. I'm wondering about app files and data that might be n the sd card if I just reformat it as a media card as someone suggested
Thanks.

You must first change the card to external, the phone will move all the system files for you. If you don't have enough room on the internal to do this you will just have to temporarily move pictures video and music to a pc/cloud/usb etc.
Once you have it set to external just swap them over, do not take the SD out while set as internal.

I thought as much. Thanks kudos1uk for confirmation.

kudos1uk said:
You must first change the card to external, the phone will move all the system files for you. If you don't have enough room on the internal to do this you will just have to temporarily move pictures video and music to a pc/cloud/usb etc.
Once you have it set to external just swap them over, do not take the SD out while set as internal.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi All,
I am having same issue now. I want to replace my 32GB with 64GB card. Firstly, HOW do you change the card to external? There is no option doing anything like this. I can only see option to format the card as internal, which means all data will be lost.
For some reasons, i can copy the files from the 32GB out via USB to PC, but if took out the 32GB and put in the 64GB and format as internal, i have no way to access it or put the files back into the card.
Does it have something to do with formatting? Initially i format my 64GB to exFAT, but after putting into the phone, i formatted it again as required by the phone which i assume it will be formatted to whatever that is compatible by the phone.
All i want to do is to migrate the stuff on my old sdcard to my new sdcard and use the phone as usual.
Please help!
Thanks

I now have a 128 gb card in my A1
As far as I can remember you can copy your docs/media etc files on to your pc but not any app files which you will need to reinstall on your new card. The system files should stay on the internal card.
I changed my card before the phone updated to pie and now es file manager only sees the new card.
Update.
I just checked in settings /storage/apps and there is an option to move them to internal though with limited space only a few could be moved.
I'm not impressed with the A1. Sometimes it hangs or crashes. My redmi 6 is more reliable.

slammy O said:
I now have a 128 gb card in my A1
As far as I can remember you can copy your docs/media etc files on to your pc but not any app files which you will need to reinstall on your new card. The system files should stay on the internal card.
I changed my card before the phone updated to pie and now es file manager only sees the new card.
Update.
I just checked in settings /storage/apps and there is an option to move them to internal though with limited space only a few could be moved.
I'm not impressed with the A1. Sometimes it hangs or crashes. My redmi 6 is more reliable.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hmm...i am not sure whats the phone OS version now, not sure if it's Orea or Pie. Maybe i can check later. The internal storage has about 23GB user/32GB. The old 32GB micro SD card has about 10GB used/ 32GB. Even if i took out the whatsapp media and DCIM folder media, there is still a couple of GB of files in the microSD card. So far i can only see i can move the apps back to internal, which i have only 1 (which i uninstalled anyway). So there is still 10GB of files in my 32GB microSD.
How do i move the DCIM folders back to internal? Another problem, in the Camera app, i can't find anywhere to point the camera storage settings at all!
Thanks for your feedback.

Matrixlyn said:
Hmm...i am not sure whats the phone OS version now, not sure if it's Orea or Pie. Maybe i can check later. The internal storage has about 23GB user/32GB. The old 32GB micro SD card has about 10GB used/ 32GB. Even if i took out the whatsapp media and DCIM folder media, there is still a couple of GB of files in the microSD card. So far i can only see i can move the apps back to internal, which i have only 1 (which i uninstalled anyway). So there is still 10GB of files in my 32GB microSD.
How do i move the DCIM folders back to internal? Another problem, in the Camera app, i can't find anywhere to point the camera storage settings at all!
Thanks for your feedback.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Never mind. I have solved the problem.
I keep looking for the options in the 3 dots in my SDCARD menu. Instead i should select the INTERNAL STORAGE. Clicked the 3 dots, there is a MIGRATE option. :silly: This will copy back the files from the SDCARD to the internal memory (provided enough storage...i have to uninstall some games first). Then i can swap out the card and put in new card.
Thanks anyway, hope this will help other people in the future!