How can I recover the data on a locked Samsung Epic 46?

[Android Central Question]

My friend has an ancient Epic 46 (SPH-D700) that has received too many failed pattern attempts, and she is unable to login with her Google account as well. She has data stored on the device's internal memory that she would like to recover, but I'm running into a bit of a wall. When I connect the device to my Windows 10 PC, it will not detect the device... well, sort of. I see "SAMSUNG SPH-D700 Card USB Device" in Device Manager, but nothing shows under the "This PC" section. I downloaded a free third-party recovery tool, and it will not detect the device either.

Do I have any other options to recover this data without being able to connect it to my PC? Thanks in advance for any help!

 

[B. Diddy]

Welcome to Android Central! The phone's screen has to be unlocked in order for the PC to see the storage. Tell your friend to try recovering her Google account: https://www.google.com/accounts/recovery/

 

[KMoZero]

I'm the OP, had to create an account to reply... and obviously I meant Epic 4G*, not 46.

She's been through the Google account recovery process, but it didn't get her anywhere. I'll check with her again on how that process went down in case there was something she was missing.

In the event that doesn't work... is there a way to use an SD card to flash an update without the phone being rooted?

 

[B. Diddy]

I'm afraid I don't know of any other way to get access to the phone. Since it's an older phone, it sounds like it offered the alternative of entering the Google account/password after failing enough unlock attempts (which newer phones never do). Now that your friend failed both methods, I don't think there's a third.