Cell Phone Experts

[Lost In FL]

I could use some help, please...

I dropped my Galaxy S4 and smashed it up pretty bad.

I had most of my info (pictures, old contact lists) on an SD Card. However ... lot's of more current data, including videos of a family member (who's time is about up), was on the device.

The S4 will not power up. I hooked it up to the PC to try and download the data, but I didn't think that would work. Am I SOL? Any advice will be greatly appreciated. TIA.

 

[LineSkiCat]

Sounds like there is nothing you (the consumer) can really do about it. If the thing won't turn on, and it's not water damage, it's probably busted. If it doesn't turn on then you can't get into the device storage. However, the storage is probably fine, unless you really smashed the thing good. A local computer repair company, that specializes in mobile devices, should be able to access it. I also wonder if Samsung would take it back for repairs or data retrieval.

 

[Lost In FL]

Thx. That's what I'm afraid of...am still hoping ...

 

[jwheat]

Next time don't be a tight *** and put a case on it

 

[Perrin75]

Did you turn on auto backup on your phone? If so, then everything will be in your Google Photos account.

I don't have an S4 so the best suggestion I can offer is to check the forums at Android Central. There are folks there who can probably help you out.

 

[wildcatsboston1984_rivals]

That's why you set up Dropbox, Google Drive, or now Google Photos to automatically backup all your camera pics and videos to the cloud. And if your phone has the SD card slot, you can set up your camera to store the pics and videos directly onto the SD card. Amazes me how few people do simple things like that.

 

[LineSkiCat]

1. Some people don't trust the cloud, and in some respects their fears are warranted.
2. If you are saving stuff on your SD card, you don't ALWAYS remember to move it over right away.

If anything the only thing he should have done differently is maybe get a better case for the phone. Surprising still, because I always opt for the cheap cases due to the smaller size (I will never understand the Otterboxes and the lifecases that turn your phone into a brick) and still have never broken a smart phone, going back to 2008.

 

[Lost In FL]

Thanks again, Line. You nailed both issues on the head. OON, did you know that the s6 does not allow for an SD card?

Perrin, thx to you too.

First time I've had an issue with a smartphone. I think the velocity while being dropped had something to do with it. The worst part is we took family pics while a parent was terminal in the hospital, they're gone now. Oh well ... I've got the memories until I lose my mind.

(TB ... I did have an Otter box actually, but thanks for your input on whether I can retrieve the data or not; it was quite valuable.)

 

[wildcatsboston1984_rivals]

1. Some people don't trust the cloud, and in some respects their fears are warranted.
2. If you are saving stuff on your SD card, you don't ALWAYS remember to move it over right away.

If anything the only thing he should have done differently is maybe get a better case for the phone. Surprising still, because I always opt for the cheap cases due to the smaller size (I will never understand the Otterboxes and the lifecases that turn your phone into a brick) and still have never broken a smart phone, going back to 2008.

Well if you have the camera set up to save the pics automatically to an SD card, you don't have to move it over right away. As long as the SD card didn't get broken, any user would be fine if they broke their phone. I've never seen an Android with an SD card slot that you couldn't set the camera to save directly to SD.