GiantsFan
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Posts: 8,704
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Jun 27, 2014 14:44:56 GMT
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Post by GiantsFan on Nov 1, 2014 4:29:26 GMT
Ok, let me just say that I'm very diligent about backing up my laptop to a backup drive and an portable EHD. And one is kept at my parents house, the other at in my office at work. I know how important backups are.
But today I accidentally dropped my phone and when I checked it the photos were gone. Like not showing up in the image gallery, not in the files - just gone. The last backup I did on my phone was May 14, 2014. Yes, five months ago. Which means a 12 day cruise, a two week roadtrip, a weekend trip to Phoenix, whales and dolphin in the bay (really close to shore!), my cutie patootie great niece, a scrappy weekend and misc other shots. Ugggh. I don't IG, FB, or have my photos automatically backed up to a "cloud".
So, since I was at work I didn't do anything, just removed the SD card. I've recovered photos from a damaged SD card before and I know it can be done. But you have to leave the card alone. Don't take anymore photos or download anything to it. When I got home I immediately downloaded Recuva from Piriform and THANKFULLY it was able to recover about 80% of the photos perfectly. Some of the remaining 20% photos it "recovered" were weird like they were double exposed, a few were half one photo and half another, but most were partial photo and the rest greyed out. But they are now (the good and bad) on my laptop and backup up. (interestingly, the thumbnails are fine on ALL photos but when I open them is when I see the problems)
So if you've read this far my PSA is don't forget to transfer or back up your phone photos! It only takes a few minutes and it will save a lot of frustration and disappointment.
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Post by holly on Nov 1, 2014 4:45:39 GMT
Thanks for the reminder I need to download my photos, like tomorrow!
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Anita
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,891 
Location: Kansas City -ish
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Post by Anita on Nov 1, 2014 4:53:11 GMT
My phone automatically sends my pics to dropbox. Glad you recovered most of yours!
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marimoose
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,282
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Post by marimoose on Nov 1, 2014 5:08:30 GMT
I preach this to my kids constantly, like i think they will listen. They use their phones as their cameras and my daughter recently lost a chunk of pictorial past when her phone crashed. I warned her before the phone was wonky, amped up warnings when it got wooly and could only console her when the worst happened. Thank you for the reminder. Very glad that you were able to recover a large chunk of yours.
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Aug 18, 2025 21:44:15 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Nov 1, 2014 5:17:09 GMT
I'm fairly new to the smartphone/android thing. How do I transfer my pics to my laptop? I can't email them because I'm on a plan (Ting) that is extremely inexpensive, but you pay for internet time, so that could cost me a bundle! Help! I have a Samsung Galaxy S3.
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Post by gale w on Nov 1, 2014 5:28:19 GMT
connect it with a cable and transfer them that way. Or email them while on wifi (if your home internet is unlimited).
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michellegb
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,919
Location: New England and loving it!
Jun 26, 2014 0:04:59 GMT
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Post by michellegb on Nov 1, 2014 11:02:18 GMT
I'm fairly new to the smartphone/android thing. How do I transfer my pics to my laptop? I can't email them because I'm on a plan (Ting) that is extremely inexpensive, but you pay for internet time, so that could cost me a bundle! Help! I have a Samsung Galaxy S3. If your computer has bluetooth capability you can send them that way. I choose my pictures on my phone and then choose the share option and pick "bluetooth". I link up the computer and the phone and they transfer wirelessly. You can also make sure all your photos are on the mini-SD card. "Unseat" the card (I can tell you how to do that if you want to use this option), turn off the phone, remove it and use a USB card reader and mini-SD adapter to transfer them to your computer. Or set up a DropBox account on your computer, download the app to your phone (it's free) and upload your photos to DropBox. Then you can download them from DropBox to your computer. Hope those options help! |
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Post by SnoopyFan on Nov 1, 2014 11:11:54 GMT
I'm fairly new to the smartphone/android thing. How do I transfer my pics to my laptop? I can't email them because I'm on a plan (Ting) that is extremely inexpensive, but you pay for internet time, so that could cost me a bundle! Help! I have a Samsung Galaxy S3. I plug my phone into my laptop via USB and transfer the photos. |
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Aug 18, 2025 21:44:15 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Nov 1, 2014 11:13:42 GMT
I have a Dropbox account mostly so my phone photos get auto uploaded. Then are accessible to me from any device or computer. And I like it far better than any cloud.
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Post by kkooch on Nov 1, 2014 11:46:54 GMT
I definitely need to figure out how to do this also.
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Post by anxiousmom on Nov 1, 2014 11:48:47 GMT
This just happened to my mom. She had not ever downloaded any of her photos, but something happened to her phone last week and she lost at least two years of photos. Gone. She even made a special trip over to the Apple store, but it was a no go.
She is absolutely heart broken. Fortunately, we are the velcro family so most of the important events there would have been other family around taking pictures so we replace a good bit for her, but it still sucks for her.
She is now calling a computer person to come to her house, and teach her how to back up things. We offered to do it, but she said that she would rather have someone who isn't related to distract her. LOL
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gloryjoy
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,332
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Post by gloryjoy on Nov 1, 2014 13:11:28 GMT
I usually do download my photos to my laptop because I have pics of my grandson I want to share and get developed.
But this is a good reminder to go thru my phone today (while sitting in the hairdresser chair) and see what I still need to transfer.
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Post by anonrefugee on Nov 1, 2014 13:39:01 GMT
Thank you, I'm behind and your story is a kick to get moving!
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TankTop
Pearl Clutcher
Refupea #1,871
Posts: 4,876
Location: On the couch...
Jun 28, 2014 1:52:46 GMT
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Post by TankTop on Nov 1, 2014 13:42:39 GMT
Thank you for the kick in the pants!
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Post by Miss Ang on Nov 1, 2014 13:55:41 GMT
Thanks for the PSA and reminder. I just plugged my phone in and I am shocked to see how long it's been since I backed up my photos. It was May!!!!  |
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Aug 18, 2025 21:44:15 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Nov 1, 2014 14:25:20 GMT
Thank you all so much! I'm going to try some of these options today.
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Post by Outspoken on Nov 1, 2014 14:41:19 GMT
My phone automatically sends my pics to dropbox. Glad you recovered most of yours! Does it only send NEW photos? If I download Dropbox NOW, will it automatically send my old photos as well? |
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Post by BeckyTech on Nov 1, 2014 14:57:54 GMT
Does it only send NEW photos? If I download Dropbox NOW, will it automatically send my old photos as well? It will send all photos that are not already on DropBox. |
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Post by freecharlie on Nov 1, 2014 15:07:51 GMT
Just did it.
Now, if I could figure out how not to move the crap that is installed on my phone with my pictures...
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GiantsFan
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Posts: 8,704
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Jun 27, 2014 14:44:56 GMT
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Post by GiantsFan on Nov 1, 2014 15:46:03 GMT
Thanks for the dropbox tip. I may check it out. My issue with having photos somewhere other than my laptop and backups is that a photo of me (not a compromising one LOL) that I thought was private was linked to me and my home address on a completely different site. That was back in the early days of having photos in "the cloud". And maybe my privacy settings were not correct. But it made me think about where my photos actually go and who is in charge of them. KWIM?
After looking through them again this morning I think only 10 or so photos of our recent National Parks road trip are unusable. The photos that I had moved to specific folders were OK. Like the ones of my niece - she has her own folder. The other ruined photos are no big deal.
freecharlie - I'm not sure what kind of phone you have but I have a SG4. To not move the other stuff I just Unmounted the SD card and popped it into my laptop and only transferred the photos. The crap stayed. But then I formatted the SD card to start fresh.
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tracylynn
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Posts: 4,905
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Post by tracylynn on Nov 1, 2014 16:35:52 GMT
My phone auto uploads all new pictures to Drop Box as well - Google Drive will do the same thing. It's AWESOME. Then I back up to an external drive every once in awhile too, but at least I know all my pictures are backed up immediately.
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Post by cyndijane on Nov 1, 2014 16:57:17 GMT
I've filled my Dropbox account. I have just over 3600 pics, and now I have to decide if I want to pay the $9.99/mo to store them there, or, if I'm going to pay. look at another option?
Decisions, decisions.
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Post by molove on Nov 1, 2014 17:04:00 GMT
I just shudder when I read things like this. I think the reminder is very good for those who don't do this.
I'm so sorry this happened to you. Something I will never experience because the thought of it.....well I already said.
Some folks don't take a lot of phone pics so no big deal. That's not the case with me. I would have a hard time getting over it if that happened so I avoid that drama.
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Post by giatocj on Nov 1, 2014 17:40:14 GMT
Glad you were able to recover the majority of your pictures!! I can only imagine your horror when you saw them gone!
Mine go directly to Dropbox and then I remove them to my computer and ultimately back them up to EHDs. I am a fanatic about getting them off my phone after losing a camera card myself a couple of years ago.
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knotlazy
Full Member
Posts: 275
Jun 26, 2014 18:00:51 GMT
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Post by knotlazy on Nov 1, 2014 18:39:17 GMT
I've filled my Dropbox account. I have just over 3600 pics, and now I have to decide if I want to pay the $9.99/mo to store them there, or, if I'm going to pay. look at another option? Decisions, decisions. I'm in the same situation, cyndijane. |
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sweetpeasmom
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Post by sweetpeasmom on Nov 1, 2014 18:45:01 GMT
This is why I don't rely on my phone for my important photos. I take photos on it and it's great to have in a pinch but reasons like this is why I prefer a camera. Mishaps can happen with those too. But less likely, IMO.
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Post by candygurl on Nov 1, 2014 19:25:10 GMT
I also periodically upload mine to Flickr. That way if something happens they will always be online in my account.
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GiantsFan
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Jun 27, 2014 14:44:56 GMT
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Post by GiantsFan on Nov 1, 2014 19:26:03 GMT
This is why I don't rely on my phone for my important photos. I take photos on it and it's great to have in a pinch but reasons like this is why I prefer a camera. Mishaps can happen with those too. But less likely, IMO. I agree! I have a P&S that takes great photos and fits perfectly in my pocket . I usually use it. But in the case of this road trip, my camera battery died and we were dry camping (no electricity). I had no way to charge it so from then on I had to use my phone. |
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tracylynn
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Post by tracylynn on Nov 1, 2014 19:46:47 GMT
I've filled my Dropbox account. I have just over 3600 pics, and now I have to decide if I want to pay the $9.99/mo to store them there, or, if I'm going to pay. look at another option? Decisions, decisions. Do you have a Gmail account? If so, you get 15GB of free space. Google Drive works exactly like Drop Box so you could switch to that. You can also buy extra space for CHEAP. For 1.99 a month you get 100GB of space or you can actually do a terabyte of space (more than you'd ever need probably) for the 9.99 a month fee you'd be paying for Drop Box. |
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Post by cyndijane on Nov 1, 2014 21:38:12 GMT
tracylynn, I do have Gmail. I'll have to look into how to set that up so they upload there instead. Thanks!!
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