I had the same problem with my s4. My computer could not read the data on my phone because of the login PIN, which I could not enter because of the cracked screen.
I successfully used the method described by @Stewsa (watch that video!) and @Joe D2. However, I want to add some things to their instructions which are very important. I don't know if it's different with an s3 (because I never had one) but with my s4, after removing 9 tiny screws, I still had to figure out how to pry the back off. It was not easy at all. Radio Shack sells a mobile phone tool kit, which includes the right sized screwdriver, as well as several different plastic pry tools. This video shows how to use the pry tool to remove the back:
Mine did not come off as easily as the one in the video. And I had to do it TWICE -- to remove the back from broken phone and to remove it from the new phone. My fingers are still sore.
Once I had both backs off, it was easy to snap the ribbon from the new screen to the connector of the phone with the broken screen. And then presto! I could see everything on my phone, enter the PIN code, and access all my data to save it. And actually, all I really needed to do was move everything to my micro SD card and then put that card in my new phone to transfer the files. I moved all my apps to the SD card as well, so that when I reinstalled them on the new phone, the data would all be there. I don't know if there is an easier way to reinstall everything, but it has worked fine for me.
Oh, one other tip. Remove your data card and your SIM card BEFORE putting the back back on your phone. I made the mistake of leaving the data card in and put the back on over it so that I couldn't get the data card out. I had to go through that damned screen removal process (9 screws and pry, pry, pry) a THIRD time to get my data card out.
I successfully used the method described by @Stewsa (watch that video!) and @Joe D2. However, I want to add some things to their instructions which are very important. I don't know if it's different with an s3 (because I never had one) but with my s4, after removing 9 tiny screws, I still had to figure out how to pry the back off. It was not easy at all. Radio Shack sells a mobile phone tool kit, which includes the right sized screwdriver, as well as several different plastic pry tools. This video shows how to use the pry tool to remove the back:
Mine did not come off as easily as the one in the video. And I had to do it TWICE -- to remove the back from broken phone and to remove it from the new phone. My fingers are still sore.
Once I had both backs off, it was easy to snap the ribbon from the new screen to the connector of the phone with the broken screen. And then presto! I could see everything on my phone, enter the PIN code, and access all my data to save it. And actually, all I really needed to do was move everything to my micro SD card and then put that card in my new phone to transfer the files. I moved all my apps to the SD card as well, so that when I reinstalled them on the new phone, the data would all be there. I don't know if there is an easier way to reinstall everything, but it has worked fine for me.
Oh, one other tip. Remove your data card and your SIM card BEFORE putting the back back on your phone. I made the mistake of leaving the data card in and put the back on over it so that I couldn't get the data card out. I had to go through that damned screen removal process (9 screws and pry, pry, pry) a THIRD time to get my data card out.
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