Data transfer from S7 with broken screen

[Android Central Question]

Hello - I have an S7 with a broken screen. I did not have a pin number set on it - just swipe to unlock. I did not have a Samsung account on it, so I cannot use Kies, and since I can't access the phone I can't install SmartSwitch, Sidesync, etc.

I can, however, connect a USB cable to the phone and see the files on it and the card. I went ahead and grabbed all my photos and music, but I also want to get my Contacts, texts, and memo files.

I searched and found some .vcf files - I'm assuming those are my Contacts but I'm not sure yet. I also tried searching for the texts and memo files but did not find them.

Does anyone know what files I need to look for to transfer from my broken phone, to my computer, then onto my new phone (I got an S8) for my Contacts, texts and memos?

 

[mustang7757]

Hi, welcome to Android Forums

I'd like to recommend creating a account so me or other members can assist you, as guest have limitations in replying here and if we need further Information to communicate with you.

I'll provide a link to register, please come back to your post so we can further assist

https://forums.androidcentral.com/showthread.php?t=409154

 

[mustang7757]

Try to get as much information from it while connected, can try smart switch and see if you can back up there while connected to the computer

 

[OnlyDroid]

Okay I created an account.

I tried Smart Switch; it did not work, and it actually set me back...

Prior to installing Smart Switch and Kies, I could plug my S7 into my computer and see all the files - this is how I got my music and videos/pictures. Then, after installing those (or one of them), when I plugged my S7 in, the computer could not see the files. I then tried just uninstalling both of them but it didn't work - one of those programs had installed drivers onto the computer. I did a system restore to two days ago - and now it's back to previous, i.e. I can plug a USB cable into my phone and see all the files.

I just don't know where my texts, contacts, and memo files are in order to copy them off my phone onto my computer...

 

[mustang7757]

Okay I created an account.

I tried Smart Switch; it did not work, and it actually set me back...

Prior to installing Smart Switch and Kies, I could plug my S7 into my computer and see all the files - this is how I got my music and videos/pictures. Then, after installing those (or one of them), when I plugged my S7 in, the computer could not see the files. I then tried just uninstalling both of them but it didn't work - one of those programs had installed drivers onto the computer. I did a system restore to two days ago - and now it's back to previous, i.e. I can plug a USB cable into my phone and see all the files.

I just don't know where my texts, contacts, and memo files are in order to copy them off my phone onto my computer...

Hi, welcome !

Can you see a file that says Android?

 

[OnlyDroid]

Yes - and several folders deep under that, as well.

 

[mustang7757]

Yes - and several folders deep under that, as well.

Good , if you go to data you'll see notes there , I'm sure text are there also but you'll need a program to be able open them .

 

[OnlyDroid]

Unfortunately, no; there is nothing with either "notes" or "memo" in the file name - I even searched using File Explorer for those items. There are 134 folders that all start with "com."

 

[mustang7757]

Unfortunately, no; there is nothing with either "notes" or "memo" in the file name - I even searched using File Explorer for those items. There are 134 folders that all start with "com."

Let me see if @Rukbat available he's good with this , might not be online but once he see the tag will respond

 

[OnlyDroid]

...and I should add that I'm looking in the "data" folder you mentioned...

 

[mustang7757]

...and I should add that I'm looking in the "data" folder you mentioned...

This is my data folder circled notes and contacts

 

[OnlyDroid]

Huh. Do you think that your phone structure is different because it's newer, maybe..?

I did find a folder that is called "com.samsung.android.contacts" and under it is a single folder called "files", but it is completely empty. I searched again and found no folder or file that has "notes" in it.

If you want I can post a list of the folders I'm seeing under "Data".

 

[mustang7757]

Huh. Do you think that your phone structure is different because it's newer, maybe..?

I did find a folder that is called "com.samsung.android.contacts" and under it is a single folder called "files", but it is completely empty. I searched again and found no folder or file that has "notes" in it.

If you want I can post a list of the folders I'm seeing under "Data".

Yes if you can

 

[OnlyDroid]

Well, this is embarrassing...I know generally how to do this but cannot easily do it. If I could just open a command window at the "data" folder I could do a DOS command to dump the list to a .txt file...but I can't set the cmd window to that folder. I'd have to find/install a third-party program to do it, apparently. I remember PowerTools would let you right-click on a folder and select "Command Prompt Here" which was helpful.

If that's the next step in working this problem then I'll do that and get back to you later.

 

[mustang7757]

Well, this is embarrassing...I know generally how to do this but cannot easily do it. If I could just open a command window at the "data" folder I could do a DOS command to dump the list to a .txt file...but I can't set the cmd window to that folder. I'd have to find/install a third-party program to do it, apparently. I remember PowerTools would let you right-click on a folder and select "Command Prompt Here" which was helpful.

If that's the next step in working this problem then I'll do that and get back to you later.

Ok no problem

 

[OnlyDroid]

Okay, it was too much hassle to get a list of folders from the phone, so I just copied them onto my computer and now I can work with them. Here are the folders under the "data" folder we were discussing:

com.sec.android.app.clipvideo
com.sec.android.app.DataCreate
com.sec.android.app.dictionary
com.sec.android.app.easylauncher
com.sec.android.app.launcher
com.sec.android.app.magnifier
com.sec.android.app.ringtoneBR
com.sec.android.app.samsungapps
com.sec.android.app.shealth
com.sec.android.app.sns3
com.sec.android.app.snsimagecache
com.sec.android.app.soundalive
com.sec.android.app.vepreload
com.sec.android.cover.ledcover
com.sec.android.daemonapp
com.sec.android.easyMover
com.sec.android.easyMover.Agent
com.sec.android.easyonehand
com.sec.android.gallery3d
com.sec.android.gallery3d.panorama360view
com.sec.android.mimage.photoretouching
com.sec.android.ofviewer
com.sec.android.providers.tasks
com.sec.android.widgetapp.easymodecontactswidget
com.sec.android.widgetapp.samsungapps
com.sec.app.samsungprintservice
com.sec.app.TransmitPowerService
com.sec.enterprise.mdm.vpn
com.sec.hearingadjust
com.sec.smartcard.manager
com.sec.spen.flashannotate
com.sec.svoice.lang.en_US
com.sec.svoice.lang.es_US
com.sec.vsim.ericssonnsds.webapp
com.silverdollarcity.parkguide
com.symantec.familysafety
com.tmobile.pr.adapt
com.tmobile.pr.mytmobile
com.tmobile.simlock
com.tmobile.vvm.application
com.whitepages.nameid.tmobile
com.wsomacp
com.yum.pizzahut
flipboard.boxer.app
intertechmedia.kzrg.com
net.winrx.stonesrx
org.ab.x48
org.simalliance.openmobileapi.service
us.yapp.android

Under each of these folders are other folders and files, etc.

 

[mustang7757]

Okay, it was too much hassle to get a list of folders from the phone, so I just copied them onto my computer and now I can work with them. Here are the folders under the "data" folder we were discussing:

com.sec.android.app.clipvideo
com.sec.android.app.DataCreate
com.sec.android.app.dictionary
com.sec.android.app.easylauncher
com.sec.android.app.launcher
com.sec.android.app.magnifier
com.sec.android.app.ringtoneBR
com.sec.android.app.samsungapps
com.sec.android.app.shealth
com.sec.android.app.sns3
com.sec.android.app.snsimagecache
com.sec.android.app.soundalive
com.sec.android.app.vepreload
com.sec.android.cover.ledcover
com.sec.android.daemonapp
com.sec.android.easyMover
com.sec.android.easyMover.Agent
com.sec.android.easyonehand
com.sec.android.gallery3d
com.sec.android.gallery3d.panorama360view
com.sec.android.mimage.photoretouching
com.sec.android.ofviewer
com.sec.android.providers.tasks
com.sec.android.widgetapp.easymodecontactswidget
com.sec.android.widgetapp.samsungapps
com.sec.app.samsungprintservice
com.sec.app.TransmitPowerService
com.sec.enterprise.mdm.vpn
com.sec.hearingadjust
com.sec.smartcard.manager
com.sec.spen.flashannotate
com.sec.svoice.lang.en_US
com.sec.svoice.lang.es_US
com.sec.vsim.ericssonnsds.webapp
com.silverdollarcity.parkguide
com.symantec.familysafety
com.tmobile.pr.adapt
com.tmobile.pr.mytmobile
com.tmobile.simlock
com.tmobile.vvm.application
com.whitepages.nameid.tmobile
com.wsomacp
com.yum.pizzahut
flipboard.boxer.app
intertechmedia.kzrg.com
net.winrx.stonesrx
org.ab.x48
org.simalliance.openmobileapi.service
us.yapp.android

Under each of these folders are other folders and files, etc.

I dont see anything there unless it's in other folders in it, but lets sed if @Rukbat will be available today he might know something little easier .

 

[OnlyDroid]

Thanks; this whole process shouldn't be this difficult. I can access the phone and the data on it, but since I did not PREVIOUSLY have some other software installed (to use Samsung Account/Kies/Smart Switch/SideSync/etc.), I cannot get my contacts, memos, texts, etc. off the phone. If they would store them in an easily-identified manner I could just copy them out and over...

 

[mustang7757]

Thanks; this whole process shouldn't be this difficult. I can access the phone and the data on it, but since I did not PREVIOUSLY have some other software installed (to use Samsung Account/Kies/Smart Switch/SideSync/etc.), I cannot get my contacts, memos, texts, etc. off the phone. If they would store them in an easily-identified manner I could just copy them out and over...

Yeah I understand , but that's why they have backup tools,cloud ect to save from this kind of hassle

 

[OnlyDroid]

Yes, you are correct...it's a painful lesson I'm learning.