I dropped my phone and the screen shattered and fell off. I assumed it was dead, but when I replaced the battery and held the power button, it came to life!? I have my wife's old GS5 that I'd like to restore mine to. Anyone have a link or guide that I could follow that doesn't require changing things on the phone which require the screen?
My photos are safe as they were saved on SD, but I'd like to recover settings for apps (contacts, app settings, save games, etc). It wouldn't be the end of the world if I lost that stuff, but I'd rather have it!
bkenobi69 said:
I dropped my phone and the screen shattered and fell off. I assumed it was dead, but when I replaced the battery and held the power button, it came to life!? I have my wife's old GS5 that I'd like to restore mine to. Anyone have a link or guide that I could follow that doesn't require changing things on the phone which require the screen?
My photos are safe as they were saved on SD, but I'd like to recover settings for apps (contacts, app settings, save games, etc). It wouldn't be the end of the world if I lost that stuff, but I'd rather have it!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The following link is what I had used to replace the Daughterboard (Micro-USB Port) on one of my Galaxy S5 devices.
https://www.ifixit.com/Device/Samsung_Galaxy_S5
The process for the Digitizer Display is almost the same...
For the Digitizer Display, the guide (within the above link) is probably the best one you'll be able to locate (that also has very helpful images for each step too).
Take your time and be very careful! There's really no alternative shortcuts to perform this process and (to add) I will agree that Samsung didn't make this device very "repair friendly" for the Digitizer Display either.
I do wish you the best of luck! :thumbup:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
UNLESS asked to do so, PLEASE don't PM me regarding support. Sent using The ClaRetoX Forum App on my Enigma Machine {aenigma = Latin for "Riddle"}.
Are you suggesting that the only way to recover the data is to replace the screen/digitizer? I already have a replacement phone in working condition. I was hoping I could transfer the data over to the new one. I have now confirmed that the phone can connect to the computer in download mode but Kies and Smart Switch both complain that it's not a supported device (neither is the new identical phone). I think if I were able to connect the new phone successfully to a PC software in download mode, I'd be able to use the same approach to connect the old one and recover the files.
I tried Smart Switch but it wouldn't connect to the phone. I updated the drivers from the menu and it connected to the new one. I switched and it updated drivers automatically but is now connected and backing up!
Since I didn't find a ready made solution, I came up with my own.
https://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=78883506&postcount=4
Related
Howdy folks! I broke the touch screen on my totally stock, non-rooted G2 (Sprint). Touch no longer works, so I got a replacement through insurance. I would really like to get the pics off the broken one so I don't lose them. I've never plugged it into my PC (windows 7) before, so don't have any drivers etc installed. Everything about the phone is stock, including recovery. What's the easiest way to get to the pics? I really appreciate your help.
You can try to download the lg pc suite software (can be found on lg's site) and see if it will be able to back up your phone. This will work if your phone still had the lg software selected by default when plugged in. This way will only work if there was no lock on the lock screen.
If not then plug it into a computer and see if it recognizes it as a removable media device. There you can navigate using explorer to find your pics in the "DCIM" folder.
Those are your best two options. You could also try going to your local corporate Sprint store and see if they are of any help if you aren't able to do any of this. They will probably be of no help, but maybe you'll get someone there who knows what they're doing.
It's always a good idea to back up your files. Check Google plus and see if your pictures maybe got uploaded. I know there was a bug going on that would upload pictures to the cloud without some people knowing/understanding why.
I lost all my pictures a couple years back from a defective sd card. Since then I have everything backed up on my laptop, external hard drive, thumb drive, and the cloud. Sometime it's just better to be safe than sorry.
All the best.
Sent from my LG-D801 using XDA Free mobile app
Thanks! I should I have mentioned that I actually already tried all 3 of your suggestions. LG's software doesn't connect successfully to the broken phone, though there is no password for the lock screen. When I plug in the USB, the phone seems to be in "charge only" mode and I can't change that since the screen is broken. And the Sprint store was, as you predicted, not very helpful. I'm actually out of town right now, so I will try my normal Sprint store when I get back home to see if they are more helpful. It also appears that LG's software allows you to connect to the phone via wifi, so when I get home and my phone connects to my home wifi network, maybe that will work.
Thanks!
It only works when you have turned on wifi storage...
Only way you can recover pics is that you replace screen on the phone
Give it to me and i'll send your pics once i repair it : )
jkjambo said:
It only works when you have turned on wifi storage...
Only way you can recover pics is that you replace screen on the phone
Give it to me and i'll send your pics once i repair it : )
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'd gladly take you up on that except that the insurance company will charge me $900 for the replacement they sent if I don't send them the broken one within the next few days
Ouch that's bad... Wth they need broken one? It's weird.
What if you ask them to leave it with you, because you have important data on phone?
Don't really know any other way to help you. I'll try to search some info in google , but...
I know how bad it is to lost some important "memories", thats why i always back up them in my pc
---------- Post added at 09:12 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:03 PM ----------
You may try this if you have usb otg cable(costs less then 5$) and if your lcd is not also cracked
http://youtu.be/WbX4Rc5s7VI
Don'tknow its need root or if it works at all, but anyway you must try
Hey guys, I recently broke the LCD on my Note 3 running stock KitKat ( :crying: ) and realized I hadn't done a nandroid backup in quite some time...
I tried the obvious adb pull, but for some reason I couldn't even get into adb shell or see my device in the device list like I had previously.
I'm all out of ideas now...
Could somebody please throw some help my way?
Does your phone even boot up? Do you get sound, vibration, anything to indicate it's still working internally beside blank screen?
Are you going to try to fix it? buy new one? upgrade to Note 4? Me and my wife used to own GS3 and when she broke her screen, I swapped motherboard with mine to copy pictures mostly and some other stuff, but we werent going to fix it, since I decided to get her GS5.
pete4k said:
Does your phone even boot up? Do you get sound, vibration, anything to indicate it's still working internally beside blank screen?
Are you going to try to fix it? buy new one? upgrade to Note 4? Me and my wife used to own GS3 and when she broke her screen, I swapped motherboard with mine to copy pictures mostly and some other stuff, but we werent going to fix it, since I decided to get her GS5.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm getting a replacement through the phone insurance. It does turn on and function perfectly normal, the screen just has a tiny, tiny fracture point with a crack spanning across the screen horizontally, rendering the bottom half unusable. The top half is functioning though.
I cannot unlock my phone or make a backup with the bottom half not working.
Try using a bluetooth mouse or wired mouse with otg cable
Sent from my SM-N9005 using Tapatalk 2
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2786395
Could help, made for exactly your problem. If you manage to get it working download Nandroid Offline backup, which allows you to make a Nandroid backup from Android itself, rather than CWM/TWRP.
EDIT -- Just checked and it works an absolute treat. Providing you had USB Debugging enabled before your phone got broke, it should work fine. It even has the option to swipe to unlock or disable a pattern unlock if you had one enabled.
Pagnell said:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2786395
Could help, made for exactly your problem. If you manage to get it working download Nandroid Offline backup, which allows you to make a Nandroid backup from Android itself, rather than CWM/TWRP.
EDIT -- Just checked and it works an absolute treat. Providing you had USB Debugging enabled before your phone got broke, it should work fine. It even has the option to swipe to unlock or disable a pattern unlock if you had one enabled.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you for the link - it looks like it would be a great solution, but unfortunately I cannot enable USB debugging with the code given :\. I may be out of luck
Well, if nothing else works and data on the phone is that important, then you need to convince the insurance company to send you new Note 3 first and swap the MB as I suggested to retrieve the data, then put everything back to original. I have not done this on Note 3, but GS3 was probably one of easier electronics repairs I've done, just follow one of many youtube videos, to make sure you don't break some wire, before disconnecting. Possibly a shop could do that for you.
Well, freakin sweet deal. After being on the phone with the insurance company and US Cellular for two and a half hours and having them tell me everybody was out of Note 3's and they would only give me $400 bucks for my old phone minus my $175 deductible, I received another call from management at the insurance company apologizing and letting me know that they'd offer me $725.
It just so happens the new Note 4 is $770, so thank the Lord I'm in a good spot!
Last week a friend of mine decided it was time for my Moto X to retire and unwillingly broke its screen by putting a weight on it at the gym. I would now like to retrive the data it contained (especially the photos) but it's not that simple, since my phone was pin-protected and it was completely stock. As of right now neither the touchscreen nor the display are working.
Any advice on how to proceed?
Thanks in advance.
For starters, hopefully the PCB didn't get damaged, also, for the people that know how to work with this phone better than I, what is the model of the phone, was the bootloader locked or unlocked, did you have a custom recovery onboard
mrmidnight said:
For starters, hopefully the PCB didn't get damaged, also, for the people that know how to work with this phone better than I, what is the model of the phone, was the bootloader locked or unlocked, did you have a custom recovery onboard
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, sorry for lacking details. My phone is the XT1052, and I have no custom recovery nor root on my phone. Plus the boot loader is locked.
I wanted to solve this myself, but maybe the guys over at Motorola's assistance could help me?
kGospel said:
Yeah, sorry for lacking details. My phone is the XT1052, and I have no custom recovery nor root on my phone. Plus the boot loader is locked.
I wanted to solve this myself, but maybe the guys over at Motorola's assistance could help me?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
They would tell you to send it in if it's still under warranty and give you a replacement, no data retrieval. There was another thread recently from someone who had a similar issue. I'd read that to see where it went (not that long of a read). Its not entirely clear what happened to the user, though you can pm him/her to see if the feedback given actually worked. Here's the thread http://forum.xda-developers.com/moto-x/moto-x-qa/headless-mobo-data-retrieval-t3125471
Yeah, it is still under warranty, however I believe the one time free replacement policy is only available in the US.
As far as my problem is concerned is there any way to control the input of the phone via an external input? (Maybe connecting it to a computer?)
kGospel said:
Yeah, it is still under warranty, however I believe the one time free replacement policy is only available in the US.
As far as my problem is concerned is there any way to control the input of the phone via an external input? (Maybe connecting it to a computer?)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You could use an OTG cable with mouse/keyboard
With nothing at all on the screen, I would be very concerned the PCB is broken. Do you get any vibrations when attempting to power on and off? How about when you call it, does it ring?
I honestly haven't tried to call myself since my SIM card now lives on another phone. However the phone does vibrate when turning on.
Plus, when I discovered it was broken one small part of the screen (upper right corner) still showed battery percentage and network connectivity. Now even that part doesn't seem to be working.
When you connect the phone to the computer, is it recognized?
As far as I remember, you don't need the screen to work in order to unlock the bootloader via the Motorola website (if you can get your serial elsewhere or already signed in Moto Care). You could do that and use adb pull, granted you know what exact files you want to retrieve.
What do you want to retrieve exactly? If it's totally stock, chances are that things like contacts, calendar and etc were already cloud synced to your google account. (Or even pictures if you activated that)
The Moto X will not illuminate the screen if the AMOLED display layer is cracked. If the phone acts like it's working (vibrates on boot etc) then you probably just have a broken screen. Have you tried to turn it on and plug it in to a computer and just copy the data off? You could also replace the display if you're so inclined with a refurbished display assembly. I've seen them as low as $40 on ebay. Disassembly is not overly difficult if you have an appropriate heat source and a T3 torx screwdriver.
kGospel said:
I honestly haven't tried to call myself since my SIM card now lives on another phone. However the phone does vibrate when turning on.
Plus, when I discovered it was broken one small part of the screen (upper right corner) still showed battery percentage and network connectivity. Now even that part doesn't seem to be working.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I just replaced a shattered screen on the wife's moto x last night. The screen still works but looks like hell. I was about to throw it out but you can have it if you promise to reimburse my shipping costs. I can even give you a few tips based on my experience following the ifixit guide online and I'll even send along the cheap (but good enough) t3 & t5 torx screwdrivers that came with it. Let me know.
Hi guys, I apologize not having been here for a while, but I have been out of town for the last couple days.
alenym said:
When you connect the phone to the computer, is it recognized?
As far as I remember, you don't need the screen to work in order to unlock the bootloader via the Motorola website (if you can get your serial elsewhere or already signed in Moto Care). You could do that and use adb pull, granted you know what exact files you want to retrieve.
What do you want to retrieve exactly? If it's totally stock, chances are that things like contacts, calendar and etc were already cloud synced to your google account. (Or even pictures if you activated that)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
When I connect the phone to the computer it does get recognized in the sense that Windows does recognize it as a periferial and makes its annoying sound, but it then isn't accessible nor it does show up as an external device.
Is this enough to unlock its bootloader via Motorola's website?
Also, the phone regularly powers on and vibrates while booting on. I guess this should be a good sign.
cntryby429 said:
I just replaced a shattered screen on the wife's moto x last night. The screen still works but looks like hell. I was about to throw it out but you can have it if you promise to reimburse my shipping costs. I can even give you a few tips based on my experience following the ifixit guide online and I'll even send along the cheap (but good enough) t3 & t5 torx screwdrivers that came with it. Let me know.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You guys are amazing, I really appreciate your offer, but I honestly cannot accept it.
kGospel said:
When I connect the phone to the computer it does get recognized in the sense that Windows does recognize it as a periferial and makes its annoying sound, but it then isn't accessible nor it does show up as an external device.
Is this enough to unlock its bootloader via Motorola's website?
Also, the phone regularly powers on and vibrates while booting on. I guess this should be a good sign.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I guess it is! However I genuiely don't know if the X is supposed to be detected by default or if you need to install the Motorola Drive. I guess you should give it a try! Try installing the Motorola Device Manager (available directly from the Moto website, just google it and it should be the first result), it comes with drivers for the Moto X. Plus you'll need it to unlock the bootloader.
The bootloader unlock is also quite easy. To be honest it was my first contact with the Android SDK (the Moto X being my first cellphone ) and I had no real problem apart setting the drivers and stuff (there is a very detailed step-by-step guide in the Moto X General section btw, very useful! The one provided by Motorola isn't bad neither).
You didn't say what exactly you wanted to get back by the way!
PS: I'd put the links if I could, but I can't atm because I didn't reach 10 messages yet. I think this is my tenth, so I'll try editing the post afterwards and see if it works.
Edit: it works!
Moto Device Manager: https://motorola-global-portal.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/88481
Moto Unlock Bootloader: https://motorola-global-portal.custhelp.com/app/standalone/bootloader/unlock-your-device-a
Step by step guides to pretty much everything Moto X related: http://forum.xda-developers.com/moto-x/general/ref-complete-moto-x-guides-information-t2603358
alenym said:
I guess it is! However I genuiely don't know if the X is supposed to be detected by default or if you need to install the Motorola Drive. I guess you should give it a try! Try installing the Motorola Device Manager (available directly from the Moto website, just google it and it should be the first result), it comes with drivers for the Moto X. Plus you'll need it to unlock the bootloader.
The bootloader unlock is also quite easy. To be honest it was my first contact with the Android SDK (the Moto X being my first cellphone ) and I had no real problem apart setting the drivers and stuff (there is a very detailed step-by-step guide in the Moto X General section btw, very useful! The one provided by Motorola isn't bad neither).
You didn't say what exactly you wanted to get back by the way!
PS: I'd put the links if I could, but I can't atm because I didn't reach 10 messages yet. I think this is my tenth, so I'll try editing the post afterwards and see if it works.
Edit: it works!
Moto Device Manager: https://motorola-global-portal.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/88481
Moto Unlock Bootloader: https://motorola-global-portal.custhelp.com/app/standalone/bootloader/unlock-your-device-a
Step by step guides to pretty much everything Moto X related: http://forum.xda-developers.com/moto-x/general/ref-complete-moto-x-guides-information-t2603358
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you once more! However, as of right now, I'm not sure whether my phone is functinal or not. Here's what I can tell you:
After I hold the power button down for a while the phone vibrates as if it was turning on. Then after about a minute or so it does vibrate again but with lower intensity, as if there where unread notifications on the phone (which could be possible).
However, neither my MacBook nor my Windows PC seem to recognize the phone. Any idea?
In order for the Macbook to recognize it you need to download an app called Android File Transfer. It is not in the App Store, however Google is the author. I use it pretty regularly and it is awesome!
kGospel said:
However, neither my MacBook nor my Windows PC seem to recognize the phone. Any idea?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Have you installed the Motorola device drivers? You said your phone was pin-protected. I tried connecting my phone to the PC and my phone would not enable the media device connection to the PC until I entered the pin. I don't know if the touchscreen remains functional even if the display underneath is broken, but you could try it.
---------- Post added at 12:55 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:47 PM ----------
Another option you could try is to unlock your bootloader, flash TWRP recovery, and boot into TWRP. I believe TWRP will present an adb interface and that should allow you to pull your files.
I just tried it out. I didn't even need to use adb, TWRP showed up as a portable device and I was able to simply drag and drop files off the device.
Sorry if I hadn't been detailed enough: in my previous attempts I already had the Motorola drivers installed, and I also tried with the Android File Transfer App but nothing has worked so far.
tormin said:
Have you installed the Motorola device drivers? You said your phone was pin-protected. I tried connecting my phone to the PC and my phone would not enable the media device connection to the PC until I entered the pin. I don't know if the touchscreen remains functional even if the display underneath is broken, but you could try it.
---------- Post added at 12:55 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:47 PM ----------
Another option you could try is to unlock your bootloader, flash TWRP recovery, and boot into TWRP. I believe TWRP will present an adb interface and that should allow you to pull your files.
I just tried it out. I didn't even need to use adb, TWRP showed up as a portable device and I was able to simply drag and drop files off the device.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I guess unlocking the bootloader seems like my best option as of right now, however I thought unlocking the boot loader erased all the data from the phone which would mean I'd lose the photos I'm trying to recover if I did.
I guess unlocking the bootloader seems like my best option as of right now, however I thought unlocking the boot loader erased all the data from the phone which would mean I'd lose the photos I'm trying to recover if I did.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That... is true. You don't want to unlock the bootloader.
Final offer on shipping you my busted but functional screen I just replaced. I kinda like the idea of paying it forward to the xda community which has been so helpful to me in the past. No strings, just reimburse my shipping once you get it.
kGospel, I would take his offer. He is offering to send you the screen and then have you pay for it.
That may be your only option to save you files outside of paying out the yingyang for a new screen
Not sure if I'm posting in the right place ( if not please direct me where I should ) I have a damaged Galaxy S7 Edge from ATT that I'd like to pull some photos off the device that was took the night before the screen decided to go out on me. Is there any programs or tools that will allow me to pull from certain folders even though the USB file sharing option can not be put on due to the screen being off?
Any help would be GREATLY appreciated as the phone was used to shoot a whole birthday party before it went out.
I would suggest you connect to smart switch and make a back up of the operating system.
then you can get the pictures from the back up as smart switch saves them in different folders.
Does Smart Switch run out of the box without interaction on the phone?
I guess that's a hard one. If you've enabled USB debugging and permanently authorized your desktop you can access the files through adb.
Depending on the source of your problem you can give your phone to a shop for repair who won't touch the filesystem.
Cosmic Blue said:
I would suggest you connect to smart switch and make a back up of the operating system.
then you can get the pictures from the back up as smart switch saves them in different folders.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Smart switch needs me to put the phone in a mode where it can read off it which I don't have access to unfortunately.
andiling said:
Does Smart Switch run out of the box without interaction on the phone?
I guess that's a hard one. If you've enabled USB debugging and permanently authorized your desktop you can access the files through adb.
Depending on the source of your problem you can give your phone to a shop for repair who won't touch the filesystem.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have another device already so I wasn't trying to spend the $200+ to get the screen fixed on a phone I was no longer using if I didn't HAVE to
Point taken... however, you should be able to sell it for more than 200$ afterwards, isn't it.
Otherwise you can open it and solder wires on the memory chip and connect directly (just as a rough path given).
As previously mentioned above, using smart switch is not a bad idea.
I however didn't do that. My wife had the s6 and right before the s7 edge came out she dropped it and screen broke. Was not able to view anything on the screen but still powered on. What i did, was turned it on, connected the phone to my pc and device appeared in the Computer section of my pc as the external storage or whatever. I was able to save and remove all picture/files i wanted from that non working s6. Just a thought. Back then, i didn't like to back up my stuff now i do but just in case the back ups don't work try this. The possibilities are endles...
ssgunner20 said:
As previously mentioned above, using smart switch is not a bad idea.
I however didn't do that. My wife had the s6 and right before the s7 edge came out she dropped it and screen broke. Was not able to view anything on the screen but still powered on. What i did, was turned it on, connected the phone to my pc and device appeared in the Computer section of my pc as the external storage or whatever. I was able to save and remove all picture/files i wanted from that non working s6. Just a thought. Back then, i didn't like to back up my stuff now i do but just in case the back ups don't work try this. The possibilities are endles...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
When I connect the device the computer only sees it as charging only because I don't have the ability to change it to fileshare. Thanks for all the suggestions everyone !
Dennelly said:
When I connect the device the computer only sees it as charging only because I don't have the ability to change it to fileshare. Thanks for all the suggestions everyone !
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It sounds like your computer is not recognizing the phone because the samsung drivers are not working properly. Download and install them to your computer and then try smart aswitch. You should not need to put into file share mode to make a back up to your computer.
Once the back up is on your computer, you should be able to access the back up and get most of the information you require.
Cosmic Blue said:
It sounds like your computer is not recognizing the phone because the samsung drivers are not working properly.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, it's a security measure. You indeed need to confirm on the phone first to get access to the files.
I need to backup apps and data from one Sprint SPH-L720T with a destroyed screen and digitizer to another SPH-L720T of exactly the same specifications, same Android version, all current OTA updates.
Both have USB debugging enabled but the broken one was never used for anything requiring it so permission for this PC wasn't saved.
Any backup that requires user interaction with the screen won't work. So far the only backup I've found that *doesn't* require the user to touch the screen is Kies, and that won't restore apps to a different phone.
Kies proves it's possible to do a full backup of apps and everything without the user having to touch the phone, so why won't anyone else make a backup program that can AND will restore to a different phone, or at least another phone of the same model?
Is it possible to *temporarily* fool Kies into seeing the replacement phone as the one it made the backup from?
I was looking at doing an ADB backup with the Android SDK, but it requires the user to touch a spot on the screen, and may have issues if the user does NOT enter a password. Both actions generally impossible when the screen is trashed.
Galane said:
I need to backup apps and data from one Sprint SPH-L720T with a destroyed screen and digitizer to another SPH-L720T of exactly the same specifications, same Android version, all current OTA updates.
Both have USB debugging enabled but the broken one was never used for anything requiring it so permission for this PC wasn't saved.
Any backup that requires user interaction with the screen won't work. So far the only backup I've found that *doesn't* require the user to touch the screen is Kies, and that won't restore apps to a different phone.
Kies proves it's possible to do a full backup of apps and everything without the user having to touch the phone, so why won't anyone else make a backup program that can AND will restore to a different phone, or at least another phone of the same model?
Is it possible to *temporarily* fool Kies into seeing the replacement phone as the one it made the backup from?
I was looking at doing an ADB backup with the Android SDK, but it requires the user to touch a spot on the screen, and may have issues if the user does NOT enter a password. Both actions generally impossible when the screen is trashed.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Is swapping the motherboards an option for you ?
Also maybe something like this would increase your options if you don't find a software solution . Further down in the thread an S4 user chimes in that he also did it . Complete with video .
https://forums.androidcentral.com/t...201559-screen-cracked-need-retrieve-data.html
I tried taking the damaged one apart, following a video. I have the tools and have taken other phones and tablets apart. The S4 would not budge, I only ended up damaging the display worse.
So I went and got the MetroPCS 4 phones for $100 a month deal with Galaxy J7 Prime phones. Samsung Smart Switch will copy apps but still doesn't get ALL their data.
Hi Galane, I know you got a new phone but you may want to try something I did and worked like a charm to save some of your data. My screen went black after it was cracked and nothing on the screen would display, dead blk screen. Using a similar, Samsung4 but diff model#:
> remove the grey backing-frame with 9 screws to get access to your screen/digitizer's Flex cable/plug @ top right corner, ( do to both phones, no need to remove/dismantle screens)
> unplug both the old S4, (phn#1) screen and unplug other/2nd S4, (phn#2) screen, (repeat, do not remove screens)
> arrange both phns side by side and plug cable of phn#2 into old phn#1, ( be gentle as these plugs are fragile, easily bent)
> phn#1 faces down & phn#2 faces up to see the display
> insert battery into phn#1, SD card, & sim if needed, then power up phn#1, (forgot- phn#2 can be off with no battery)
> display will light up on phn#2 and now you have full access to your data on the old, broken screen phn#1
> I was able to sync my contacts, and save my pics to the sd card,( or simply save everthing to sd card)
> if you remove the screen lock pin you can later access data via pc/laptop usb connection
> side note - if you slide old phn#1 an inch off the tables edge, you can touch & use menu & back buttons, if still working...(these won't work on the screen from phn#2)
I hope this works for you as well as it did for me. I'm just stuck now trying to unlock the new S4-sprint phone. Rt now using Iphn5, suks!
Good luck!! Snapi2