Bionic USB Connection Modes - A Primer

[Opuslife77]

(Note to Admin - Have searched forums for this... calling 'no joy')

Need a Droid Bionic USB Connection Mode Primer (new to smartphones - Motorola / Verizon Droid Bionic User Manuals useless on this topic (and 'Car Mode' operation, as well), so here goes...

Anyone got a link or can describe (in plain English) what the 'modes' do and/or don't do, when the Bionic is connected to a computer via USB Connector? (Link or email contact is fine, I'm just tired of trying to figure this out by endless Googling for it).

When it's connected, the USB Connections Dialog pops up with the following options (and what I'd like to know is what the options do or don't do... charging, connect, file transfer, synching, etc.):

- PC Mode
- Windows Media Sync
- USB Mass Storage
- Charge Only (well, yeah... that one looks to be somewhat self-explanatory)

What I'm looking for is a primer...

- Which ones 'trickle charge ' (which I heard that there's a dramatic difference in the charging rate between USB connection and straight up charger connection - not sure, the User Documentation is so lousy I can't find out)

- What (and why) is PC Mode and what does it do (also what does it do better or worse than the other modes)

- What is Windows Media Sych Mode (and same question as one above) - NOTE: An old guy, I'm currently using ITunes and DoubleTwist app software to get all my old school CD music onto my phone. - is there any benefit related to that effort with the USB Connection Mode 'Windows Media Sych' that I should be aware of? Currently it appears to be getting them in USB Mass Storage Mode and storing them on the micro SD card, or that's what it looks like... thoughts?)

Anyway - if anyone out there can provide a rudder order or two for better info, thanks.

Regards,

Bob
Bristol RI, US

 

[dave2317]

Notes: DROID BIONIC USB Connection Primer
1. There is some issue with proper installation of the USB drivers when changing the USB Connection mode especially when going from Charge only to PC Mode. Suggest that you
a. Connect the USB cable and set the desired mode.
b. Remove the USB cable and cold boot
c. Connect the USB cable (and slide to unlock is desired)
d. Use Windows Explorer to view the status.
2. In some USB connection modes you cannot browse the SD card from within the phone.
3. The ASTRO file manger puts app backups into the internal SDCard file - /mnt/sdcard/backup/app/

How to Cold boot – Clears up many issues, does not remove data
1. Remove/install the battery
2. Hold the volume up and down keys, then hold the power button, all three for about 3 seconds, you will see the power off message, keep holding and the phone will reboot. If not remove the battery and try again.

After you cold boot you will see the OS mount the SD storage and start up the apps

How to Hard Reset – Can remove all data as desired
http://www.droidforums.net/forum/droid-bionic-faq/170155-how-hard-reset-droid-bionic.html


Basic DROID BIONIC USB Connection modes
A. Removable Storage, view via Windows Explorer as ‘DROID BIONIC’. No drive letter, internal SD and external SD Card are merged. The ASTRO file manager app can browse the internal and external SD Cards

B. Multi drive storage, view via windows Explorer as 3 drives. The ASTRO file manager app CAN NOT browse the internal and external SD Cards in this mode. When you remove the USB cable is says ‘preparing internal storage’
CD Drive (F Motorola – shows MotoHelp drivers, if you eject this drive all 3 drives will eject,
MOT (G – this is the internal SD Card,
Removable Disk (I –this is the external SD card.



DROID BIONIC USB Connection mode Error messages
USB not recognized, Windows Explore does not show drive letters or remote storage for the BIONIC, had to cold boot

Error Message – USB Installation failed. See one error message below, the CD Drive (F was missing, had to cold boot the Bionic

USB Connection Modes

1. PC Mode – Removable storage mode, single volume in Windows Explorer ‘ DROID BIONIC’, no drive letter, drag and drop files, Possible Uses: iTuneSync,

2. Windows Media Sync – Removable storage mode, single volume in Windows Explorer ‘ DROID BIONIC’, no drive letter, drag and drop files, Possible uses: transfer files (pictures/music/videos) to the phone using Windows Media player

3. USB Mass Storage – Three drive mode, Windows Explorer, ex drives F:, G: & H:
Droid appears as multiple drives in Windows explorer can drag and drop file,

4. Charge only - Two drive mode, Windows Explorer, ex drives G: & H:, the ‘CD Drive’ is not included.
Droid appears as multiple drives in Windows explorer can drag and drop file,

 

[cindylike24]

Very well written primer on these USB connections Dave. You know, I think this needs to be made a sticky note on this forum so that it will help out the newbies on this forum that may not be aware of what the USB connection modes mean on our Bionics.

I'm just sayin'.

Cindy

 

[Mooncatt]

Isn't the mass storage option also for connecting to something like a photo kiosk that lets the kiosk read the phone like it's nothing more than a thumb drive and prevent the phone from trying to install the manager onto the kiosk?

 

[William Quick]

Notes: DROID BIONIC USB Connection Primer
1. There is some issue with proper installation of the USB drivers when changing the USB Connection mode especially when going from Charge only to PC Mode. Suggest that you
a. Connect the USB cable and set the desired mode.
b. Remove the USB cable and cold boot
c. Connect the USB cable (and slide to unlock is desired)
d. Use Windows Explorer to view the status.
2. In some USB connection modes you cannot browse the SD card from within the phone.
3. The ASTRO file manger puts app backups into the internal SDCard file - /mnt/sdcard/backup/app/

How to Cold boot ? Clears up many issues, does not remove data
1. Remove/install the battery
2. Hold the volume up and down keys, then hold the power button, all three for about 3 seconds, you will see the power off message, keep holding and the phone will reboot. If not remove the battery and try again.

After you cold boot you will see the OS mount the SD storage and start up the apps

How to Hard Reset ? Can remove all data as desired
http://www.droidforums.net/forum/droid-bionic-faq/170155-how-hard-reset-droid-bionic.html


Basic DROID BIONIC USB Connection modes
A. Removable Storage, view via Windows Explorer as ?DROID BIONIC?. No drive letter, internal SD and external SD Card are merged. The ASTRO file manager app can browse the internal and external SD Cards

B. Multi drive storage, view via windows Explorer as 3 drives. The ASTRO file manager app CAN NOT browse the internal and external SD Cards in this mode. When you remove the USB cable is says ?preparing internal storage?
CD Drive (F Motorola ? shows MotoHelp drivers, if you eject this drive all 3 drives will eject,
MOT (G ? this is the internal SD Card,
Removable Disk (I ?this is the external SD card.



DROID BIONIC USB Connection mode Error messages
USB not recognized, Windows Explore does not show drive letters or remote storage for the BIONIC, had to cold boot

Error Message ? USB Installation failed. See one error message below, the CD Drive (F was missing, had to cold boot the Bionic

USB Connection Modes

1. PC Mode ? Removable storage mode, single volume in Windows Explorer ? DROID BIONIC?, no drive letter, drag and drop files, Possible Uses: iTuneSync,

2. Windows Media Sync ? Removable storage mode, single volume in Windows Explorer ? DROID BIONIC?, no drive letter, drag and drop files, Possible uses: transfer files (pictures/music/videos) to the phone using Windows Media player

3. USB Mass Storage ? Three drive mode, Windows Explorer, ex drives F:, G: & H:
Droid appears as multiple drives in Windows explorer can drag and drop file,

4. Charge only - Two drive mode, Windows Explorer, ex drives G: & H:, the ?CD Drive? is not included.
Droid appears as multiple drives in Windows explorer can drag and drop file,

Hello,

I have the Droid Bionic which was jusst upgraded to JB from ICS. I don't have these modes on my Bionic. I only have Mass Storage Device, Media, and Camera. I didn't have thse options when it was ICS either. Is there a way to get them back?

Thank you