Recovering data with no screen? - Samsung Galaxy A20 Questions & Answers

Hello.
I've got my mother's Samsung A20. And i need to recover data, but the screen doesn't work.
When power button is pressed, display flashes the lock screen (wallpaper, current time and so on). And then it turns black (backlight stays on for 30 seconds, and then turns off). Pressing the button doesn't guarantee flashing the display, sometimes it goes black immediately. Touch screen gives no input as far as i know (can't hear anything when trying to type pin). Problem still occurs during and after reboots.
I managed to connect a mouse and keyboard with USB OTG, and i was able to unlock. But the phone has no MHL support, so i can't get any image through USB. I'd try pressing the power button repeatedly to get some image and inch my way through the interface, but the lockscreen interferes.
The USB port is set to Charging Only mode, so i can't copy files to my computer. USB Debugging is disabled, bootloader is locked.
Does anybody have a clue, how to get image? Some way to get data? Maybe some keyboard shortcuts, so i can disable lockscreen and make my way easier? And maybe disable 20 alarms in the morning?

damiandbcz said:
I'd try pressing the power button repeatedly to get some image and inch my way through the interface, but the lockscreen interferes.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I like to be helpful so I'll try to give you some suggestions but I hope others pitch in who know far more than I do.
I never use the USB cable anymore to operate my phone from my PC (but my screen isn't broken so your situation will be much harder).
I connect to my phone from Windows over Wi-Fi without USB all the time, and I can unlock my screen from the PC, and I can mount my entire Android device as a drive letter on Windows over Wi-Fi, etc., so "maybe" (just maybe though), you can consider using either a WebDav server on Android to access your files and/or adb to bring up and manipulate activities on Android....
damiandbcz said:
The USB port is set to Charging Only mode, so i can't copy files to my computer. USB Debugging is disabled, bootloader is locked.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
However, I don't know if adb will work for you if you can't turn on USB debugging in the first place... but as of Android 12, adb now works completely over Wi-Fi (see screenshots below) without needing the USB cable to establish the initial connection like it used to be prior to Android 12.
damiandbcz said:
Does anybody have a clue, how to get image? Some way to get data? Maybe some keyboard shortcuts, so i can disable lockscreen and make my way easier? And maybe disable 20 alarms in the morning?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If the screen problem is "just" hardware and not software, and if you can turn on Wireless Debugging, you might be able to display your phone over scrcpy or vysor (both of which use adb over Wi-Fi) as shown in the screenshots below on my phone - which never needs the USB cable connection.
Hope this helps, but you seem to need folks who know more than I do as adb/vysor/scrcpy all work for me because I can set up USB Debugging & Wireless Debugging as shown below.
Note that you might have an FTP server or a WebDav Server on your Android phone, and if you do, you might be able to at least transfer important files since they each can mount your entire Android phone as a drive letter on Windows over Wi-Fi (without needing the USB cable).

GalaxyA325G said:
I like to be helpful so I'll try to give you some suggestions but I hope others pitch in who know far more than I do.
I never use the USB cable anymore to operate my phone from my PC (but my screen isn't broken so your situation will be much harder).
I connect to my phone from Windows over Wi-Fi without USB all the time, and I can unlock my screen from the PC, and I can mount my entire Android device as a drive letter on Windows over Wi-Fi, etc., so "maybe" (just maybe though), you can consider using either a WebDav server on Android to access your files and/or adb to bring up and manipulate activities on Android....
However, I don't know if adb will work for you if you can't turn on USB debugging in the first place... but as of Android 12, adb now works completely over Wi-Fi (see screenshots below) without needing the USB cable to establish the initial connection like it used to be prior to Android 12.
If the screen problem is "just" hardware and not software, and if you can turn on Wireless Debugging, you might be able to display your phone over scrcpy or vysor (both of which use adb over Wi-Fi) as shown in the screenshots below on my phone - which never needs the USB cable connection.
Hope this helps, but you seem to need folks who know more than I do as adb/vysor/scrcpy all work for me because I can set up USB Debugging & Wireless Debugging as shown below.
Note that you might have an FTP server or a WebDav Server on your Android phone, and if you do, you might be able to at least transfer important files since they each can mount your entire Android phone as a drive letter on Windows over Wi-Fi (without needing the USB cable).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
A20 can have only Android 9, 10 or 11, but thanks for ideas anyway.
I didn't even know adb can work over WiFi, I'll look into it. Hopefully this version can do it too.
Now trying blindly to turn on the screen reader…

damiandbcz said:
A20 can have only Android 9, 10 or 11, but thanks for ideas anyway.
I didn't even know adb can work over WiFi, I'll look into it. Hopefully this version can do it too.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ooops. My bad. I apologize. You'll need the USB cable in Android 11 for a moment to establish the connection first. Then you can switch over to Wi-Fi after that (or you can stay on USB).
damiandbcz said:
Now trying blindly to turn on the screen reader…
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I feel for you. I really do. It hurts me when people can't access their phone remotely to get their data back. I am searching all over the XDA site for a solution for you, where I just moments ago opened this thread to help (I'm still searching for you though).
What is the best XDA solution to control Android on the PC & recover data over Wi-Fi when the user suddenly has an unresponsive broken screen?

Related

Problems connecting

I have a tmobile MDA Vartio2 and I have numerous problems with it and need to upgrade soon but this one I cant sort.
I can't connect via usb to sync with my laptop. If I set up a new connection it will sync but as soon as I reattach to sync it wont recognise the device so I can't keep everything up to date. it isn't the cables - power is fine and they work for other things.
I am runing it as I bought it 17 months ago - no upgrades or cooked roms or changes of any kind.
Can anyone help.
I want to upgrade to something else but I always sell my old ones so I want to sort the issue first obviously even if I sell it.
mobilecat said:
I can't connect via usb to sync with my laptop. If I set up a new connection it will sync but as soon as I reattach to sync it wont recognise the device so I can't keep everything up to date. it isn't the cables - power is fine and they work for other things.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Try turning off the 'advanced network functionality':
Start -> Settings -> Connections tab -> USB to PC
That's what I had to do to get that hack called activestin...^WActiveSync to work reliably via USB.
Really, I've not noticed any difference between having it on and off as far as functionality goes, so really, I have no idea what the RNDIS mode stuff is even good for.
I have just tried your suggestion but now it isn't recognising the device at all. It is seeing it as far as power goes - its charging over USB but activesync isn't seeing it.
mobilecat said:
I have just tried your suggestion but now it isn't recognising the device at all. It is seeing it as far as power goes - its charging over USB but activesync isn't seeing it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Check activesync itself:
File -> Connection Settings
Make sure "Allow USB connections" is checked.
If that still doesn't work, I'd try the uninstall, reboot, reinstall activesync dance and see if that helps any, provided that you are using activesync under XP.
I'd also be suspecting the sync cable. Recharging a device and getting a data connection are two different things. I have a blue angel that wouls charge via the USB sync cable, but would not sync, XP kept complaining about an unknown device. Turned out it was a broken wire in the cable.
Done all of these already I'm afraid - I have 4 or 5 cables and none of them work for this - and I know they are all absolutely fine.
OK, let's take stock of things. I'm assuming that you are using XP.
Hermes with the advanced network functionality turned off doesn't show up at all when you plug it into USB. So, we have a lower level driver issue going on.
Provided that you have not turned off all sounds in your current sound scheme, does the computer make any noises when you plug the phone in? If the data side of the connector on the phone is in order, the computer will make some kind of beep noise when you plug in a USB device.
Also, have you looked at device manager when the phone is plugged in? With advanced network functions turned on, a network adapter should appear. With out the network bits, it should show up as an HTC USB Sync device.
To eliminate something on the phone software-side (I know, you said that you have not touched anything, but try it anyway, this is windows, the environment that gave rise to the term bit-rot), put the phone into boot loader and plug it in to see if the computer sees it. It should appear as a HTC USB Sync.
If it still doesn't show up, I'd be popping over to another computer and checking to see if the phone will be recognized by that system.
For the past few weeks when I plug in I get references to acquiring network addresses (like a wifi network) but then it does nothing. Now I get nothing at all when I connect apart form power.
I have already tried re-installing active sync (just done it again in case I did something wring too)
I refuse to beleive its my cables at this point because I have 3 in front of me that all worked perfectly before everthing suddenly went wrong. Unless someone had cut all of them at the same time - this couldn't have happenned.
I am going to try and plug into the pc and see what happens (as apposed to the laptop which should have the connection.
I think this is good news (on the part of my laptop) because its the same story on the pc.
mobilecat said:
I think this is good news (on the part of my laptop) because its the same story on the pc.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Double edged sword there...
So we have potentially eliminated the computers (good), this leaves the phone itself (non-good).
Hard reset?
Otherwise, I'd start to suspect the USB connection on the phone itself.
I would say that my chances of rescuing this phone rather than getting a new one are getting slimmer
I think it is probably the port itself and I can't do anything about that one
Anyone want to buy one with non usb syncing functionality ?

[Q] Mounting Nexus 4 with cracked screen on OSX

I've ran a backup in recovery mode and am trying to get the backup onto my laptop, in order to restore it to another phone.
The problem I'm having is that the phone is set to connect as a camera when connected via the USB cable, so iPhoto opens when I connect the phone. I actually need a file system browser to open, however the screen on the phone is cracked and it's no longer possible to navigate menu items using the screen, and so I can't change how the phone connects when plugged in via USB.
suggestions?
Cheers
J
Jacoaks said:
I've ran a backup in recovery mode and am trying to get the backup onto my laptop, in order to restore it to another phone.
The problem I'm having is that the phone is set to connect as a camera when connected via the USB cable, so iPhoto opens when I connect the phone. I actually need a file system browser to open, however the screen on the phone is cracked and it's no longer possible to navigate menu items using the screen, and so I can't change how the phone connects when plugged in via USB.
suggestions?
Cheers
J
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This isn't going to help much (sorry )
but when I was trying to open the file explorer on my PC it wouldn't do it unless Debugging was turned off. And when it was turned on only the camera photo sharing option would work. So for me to get on my phones storage via PC, I had to turn debugging off. Idk if you have it on, but if that is the problem... hate to say it, but you're kinda ****ed. Hope someone will give u a useful answer :/
at least this comment will be a bump
I could be completely wrong though...

Nook Glowlight Plus USB OTG Keyboard

I managed to get into developer mode on my new NGP, there's no more "build number" as I've seen in several blog posts with the latest update you click on the Nook icon on the About page it takes you to Developer mode. I've been able to install a few apps, but here's what I'd like to do.
I'd like to plug in a USB keyboard and use it to SSH into another machine through my WiFi hotspot to do some HTML/JS/CSS text editing while I'm outdoors (at the pool, the park, etc) as my other laptops/tablets aren't visible at all outdoors with glare. This would be a nice portable solution if I could get it to work, even editing locally on the device through some editor and sending via SFTP would be just fine.
However, I can get my USB OTG cable and USB keyboard to work on my Samsung J3 phone just fine, but not on my NGP it does nothing when plugged in, keyboard caps lock doesn't activate. Is there a way to get it to work, and does it require rooting the NGP? I haven't rooted the device yet.
JohnnyFriendly said:
However, I can get my USB OTG cable and USB keyboard to work on my Samsung J3 phone just fine, but not on my NGP it does nothing when plugged in, keyboard caps lock doesn't activate. Is there a way to get it to work, and does it require rooting the NGP? I haven't rooted the device yet.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As a workaround I put a VNC client on it so I can access my other devices and do the typing from there, that way I can use my RPI3 as the system with a keyboard on battery power and do some Python (Django)/NodeJS/ReactJS from the NGP using it as a monitor outdoors, but if I issue the following commands via adb to rotate into landscape mode I lose input on the NGP and have to reboot:
adb shell settings put system accelerometer_rotation 0
adb shell settings put system user_rotation 1
Any ideas?
I believe I looked at this once.
At least one of the problems is that the ID pin on the micro USB connector is not connected through to the processor.
B&N has never shown any interest in putting Bluetooth in a Nook.
We'll have to see if the latest "Nook Glowlight 3" will have either OTG or BT.

Enable USB Debugging on S7 Edge (SM-G935F)??

Hi,
My brothers phone screen is basically unusable.
When I connect the phone to the PC it recognises it in Windows but the phone contains no folders. At first I assumed it was because his screen was locked so I connected a OTG and keyboard and using commands managed to get his phone "unlocked" to the home screen.
However this didnt fix the issue.
Reading around it seems I may need USB Debugging enabled (if he hasn't already) but due to not being able to use the screen how would I do that?
Do I need a MICRO USB to HDMI & USB adapter to use a mouse and TV output?
Or is there a way I can fix this through windows using ADB?
At this point we are willing to try anything as all we are looking for is some family photos off of it then binning the phone and I don't want to put £100-200 into the screen replacement just to attempt this data recovery.
All help is greatly appreciated,
Cheers
ADB is the door to any Android device. As long as ADB has not been activated on the device - and the related RSA keys got created - you have no chance to pull out data from device, IMO.
Ok,
Well see the fact when I connect it to windows it shows the phone but not the folders inside, and I can only assume there will be a popup on the screen mentioning to ALLOW/DECLINE transfer etc..
If I use the OTG adapter I can plug my keyboard in and use the sequence SPACE, SPACE, BKSPACE, BKSPACE, then my PIN and ENTER and it unlocks to the home screen.
But because I would need the phone connected by both PC and KEYBOARD at the same time is it possible to get a splitter on the OTG adapter and this would hopefully let me press RIGHT and ENTER to accept the message?
If not then can the phone be connected via HDMI to see if any message is infact popping up??
Rowan88 said:
Hi,
My brothers phone screen is basically unusable.
When I connect the phone to the PC it recognises it in Windows but the phone contains no folders. At first I assumed it was because his screen was locked so I connected a OTG and keyboard and using commands managed to get his phone "unlocked" to the home screen.
However this didnt fix the issue.
Reading around it seems I may need USB Debugging enabled (if he hasn't already) but due to not being able to use the screen how would I do that?
Do I need a MICRO USB to HDMI & USB adapter to use a mouse and TV output?
Or is there a way I can fix this through windows using ADB?
At this point we are willing to try anything as all we are looking for is some family photos off of it then binning the phone and I don't want to put £100-200 into the screen replacement just to attempt this data recovery.
All help is greatly appreciated,
Cheers
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
OK, new to this. To get usb debugging on, click system. About phone, Software information, build number. Click that several times. (AT least 10). You will see a message that you are in developer mode. Go back to home screen. Click settings icon. Scroll to bottom you should now see { } Developers optiions. Click that. Find the section for ADB, enable ADB. Once ADB is up and running you should be able to pull the files. The screen for an android is the desktop, mouse, and keyboard. (PC analogy). You need something to see your icons, something to click, and a keyboard. If OTG acts as a mouse, and you can see the basic display, and have an external keyboard. I think you can do this. I am not sure what OTG is .
wdtr2002 said:
OK, new to this. To get usb debugging on, click system. About phone, Software information, build number. Click that several times. (AT least 10). You will see a message that you are in developer mode. Go back to home screen. Click settings icon. Scroll to bottom you should now see { } Developers optiions. Click that. Find the section for ADB, enable ADB. Once ADB is up and running you should be able to pull the files. The screen for an android is the desktop, mouse, and keyboard. (PC analogy). You need something to see your icons, something to click, and a keyboard. If OTG acts as a mouse, and you can see the basic display, and have an external keyboard. I think you can do this. I am not sure what OTG is .
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1. I cant follow that process as the screen is completely destroyed (no display/no touch), thats why I have been blindly using a keyboard to try and find the setting
2. OTG is ON THE GO , its a small adapter that lets you connect USB devices to your phone.
Sorry about that. I think you are stuck. without some visual clues I think you can not put the phone in developer mode. Did you try just a plugin (via usb) into windows and seeing if there is a pictures folder?
It find the phone in Windows, but wont display the folders.
The OTG splitter I purchased to be able to connect it to the PC and KEYBOARD at same time didnt work as it doesnt supply power (should have checked reviews).
Any other solutions? Or is this a new screen for £200 just to get data?
I purchased another OTG splitter that has a OTG/CHARGE switch so this should let me connect it to the PC and KEYBOARD.
Can anyone give me shortcut keys or step by step on how many times I need to press certain buttons to get down to the USB DEBUGGING section please?

Onn 7" SURF Model 100071481 GEN. 3 -Go Edition

I made the mistake of buying this tablet, so -thanks- Walmart for the unexpected, unwelcome headaches.
I got it for reading ebooks, because of the slightly larger screen compared to my phone. I saw it was limited when I got it home and turned it on, but I was still able to install a couple of book-reader apps so I thought it would be OK for my purposes. But when I plug it into my Windows 11 laptop with the USB cable the tablet doesn't show up on the computer. I have books on the laptop to transfer over.
Is there any way I can force the USB to be a data transfer connection instead of only a battery charger? There is no "use USB for" option when it's plugged in, like there is on my phone. Is there maybe a third party app I could install that will enable this -usually- normal function? Thanks, any advice and help is appreciated!
Hi @Lookstwice
Enable MTP:
Settings > Connected devices > USB > File transfer
Enable ADB:
Settings > About Tablet > Build number (7 x tap)
Settings > System > Advanced > USB debugging
Some people like Calibre on their desktop for organizing books. I believe that understands MTP.
Me, I use my adbsync.exe (in my sig) to synchronize directories. It uses ADB (duh).
Also check out this thread on the 8" which has some info that may be applicable:
https://forum.xda-developers.com/t/new-generation-3-onn-tablets-are-now-available.4464147/
Hello Renate and thanks for the advice!
I did find the developer mode and turned on USB debugging. Also, I selected File Transfer under Default USB Configuration.
Under Settings > Connected devices there is no USB on my tablet, only +Pair New Device and Connection preferences, Bluetooth.
The tablet still doesn't show up at all, when I connect via USB to my laptop.
Is there anything else I should try? Under System > Developer options maybe? How about OEM Unlocking? Disable adb authorization timeout? Thanks!
Are you sure that you have a data cable? Cheesy ones only supply power.
If you're connected to Windows enabling/disabling USB debugging should make it "bong".
To check out if I am using an inferior cable, I switched to my cellphone cable. It works fine on my cell, but no luck with this tablet. I know it makes no sense!
Thanks for your help anyway. I'm open to any ideas.
Lookstwice said:
I'm open to any ideas.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry, I missed your response.
These devices come up in the MTK preloader whenever they reboot.
You don't actually need to load a loader or do anything.
Connect the USB. I presume you're using Windows? Does it "bong"?
Use the regular Android reboot option on the power menu.
Does it do a bunch of bong-ing and Windows flashes popups complaining about devices?
You may have a hardware problem and you need to return the device.
Wow, Renate, you've got some serious skills. Pretty impressive to turn such a low-end device into a custom machine...
I'm having trouble pulling the boot.img from this device... If anyone was willing to share the stock boot.img for the 100071481 that would be SUPER appreciated...
otherwise I'm just going to keep trying to get this MTK client thing to work although nothing seems to get the device to be visible...
Joined the forum to post this message though I hope to contribute in the future! Thanks!
@oneiromon Yes, try the (Python) MTK client
I've had problems getting that to run under Windows. I finally used a Raspberry Pi with Linux.
I was working on writing a native Windows MTK client but I haven't got that working yet.
After successfully writing a native Windows EDL (Qualcomm) client it was a bit disheartening to dive into the MediaTek gobble-dee-gook.
FWIW: I've not had luck with fastboot boot whatever.img
It works fine with fastboot flash boot whatever.img, then fastboot reset
@Renate - THANKS! for all your help with this onn tablet . Sorry I've not been keeping current on responses. I use the tablet to read books on while getting medical treatments and I was able to upload the files to my Google drive and then download to the tablet.
I'm on a Windows 11 laptop and it doesn't "bong" when I attach the tablet. I'll try the reboot option and let y'all know .
@oneiromon - I totally agree with this statement: "Wow, Renate, you've got some serious skills."
@Lookstwice I haven't got up to Windows 11, so maybe it's hiding some stuff from you.
It could also be that the 7" has some differences to the 8"
The USB/VID of my 8" is 0e8d/201c (MediaTek)
Try using UsbView.exe
See if anything appears/disappears as you plug in. For sanity, check against a known working device.
Oh, and if you're thinking reading, you really ought to consider Eink devices.
Yeah, a lot of them are annoying and underpowered, but see if you like the concept first.
I like the Onyx Poke3, but buttons/no buttons is contentious and personal.
I use no buttons but a tiny Bluetooth clicker. I love it!

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