moving data from Samsung Tab A to PC

[cbweisbrot]

I have researched online on how to move data from my Windows XP PC to my new Galaxy Tablet A and vice versa.
When I plug tablet into PC, the AutoPlay dialog box does NOT show up, only a box asking to use Windows Media Player to move media.
When I open the drive with the tablet, there are 2 folders - Media and Data.
After much poking and prodding, I found that when I move photos or documents to the Data folder from the PC, they show up on the tablet. I used Windows Media Player to create a playlist and transferred it to the tablet.
But I wondered why AutoPlay window did not appear. I contacted Samsung whose tech took control of both my tablet and PC. He downloaded a program or two, but still not happening.
So my question is - how do I transfer data from the tablet to the PC? It has been suggested to buy an expensive mini SD card, figure out how to put data on it, then manually transfer to PC.
However, it is supposed to be much easier than that, according to Dummies for Androids by Dan Gookin.

 

[jasonandrews25788]

have you tried AirDroid?
https://www.airdroid.com/

 

[cbweisbrot]

what is it and do I have to download to both units?

 

[cbweisbrot]

Thank you for suggestion Jason. I did download app to tablet and program to PC and I am learning to navigate.
Question - even though I downloaded to my Windows XP PC, I cannot connect using desktop shortcut. It asks for my password, then "authenticates". Finally, an error message comes up "failed to connect to the server (-10804)."
It does this whether or not the tablet is connected to PC (I tried both ways).
To use it, I have to go to their webpage, and sign in. Not such a big issue, but annoying.
Do you have any knowledge that may help, because I cannot find a HELP function on AirDroid?

 

[cbweisbrot]

Thanks for your suggestion.
When the Samsung tech took over my tablet and PC, he checked to make sure everything was set up correctly. Then he downloaded SmartSwitch. But it does not work.
We could see device as a drive on my compter, but the original screen with 2 folders (Data and Media) are all that show. When he clicked in DCIM properties it said "files cannot be opened directly from this device. Please copy the files to a local folder and open the copy".
I got the impression that that was NOT supposed to be the case, even though he had installed SmartSwitch. He suggested that I restart computer, but it never worked.

Someone else responding to this thread suggested AirDroid and that is working for now. Minor glitches, but I am still learning it.

 

[cbweisbrot]

Thanks to all who tried to help. For now, I am using AirDroid, even though I have to go to their page to use it.