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Solved - Windows 8.1 Cannot detect Phone as mass storage device

Anonymous
2014-01-14T23:06:06+00:00

SOLUTION FOUND - SEE FURTHER DOWN THIS POST

What The Problem Was

I have a samsung galaxy y phone gt-s5360

When I plug it into windows 8.1 via usb the pc can not detect it as a mass storage device - The phone bleeps as though usb connected but only shows it to be charging and no option to connect as mass storage in the status bar

When opening the device managment screen there are no new hardware detected and no unknown device or devices with a yellow triangle

However the pc can detect the phone if I set the phone to download mode (this is used to flash the phone with stock firmware via odin) and it installs the modem drivers

The latest usb drivers from samsung have been installed

Iv also tried installing samsung kies and installing drivers through there

The phone works fine as a mass storage device in windows 7 but windows 8.1 just doesnt see it as a mass storage

I have also downloaded and installed all available windows updates as of 14th jan 2014

Solution

Install the usb drivers for your phone as normal

connect the phone to pc via usb cable (nothing happens other then a few beeps as normal)

now plug in any usb dongle that you have already installed on your pc - like a usb wireless mouse dongle

suddenly windows detects the phone and you can now set your phone to mass storage from the phone status bar

Every time you want to connect your phone in mass storage just plug it in then plug in the other usb dongle after

Its definatly a usb plug and play problem with the samsung phone

problem now solved - a stupid way to force windows 8.1 to detect usb mass storage

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Devices and drivers

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  1. Anonymous
    2014-01-16T12:32:44+00:00

    Take it no one has a solution then

    I assume its a problem with the way windows 8.1 handles usb mass storage and that its different from windows 7

    3 people found this answer helpful.
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  2. Anonymous
    2015-01-28T18:23:54+00:00

    I found this solution after fruitlessly trying various things all day. It works!!! But only with a WIRELESS dongle as far as I have been able to ascertain. Flash Drives and USB mice do not do the trick. The mind boggles!

    2 people found this answer helpful.
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  3. Anonymous
    2014-01-16T21:14:30+00:00

    I have actually now found a solution

    Solution

    Install the usb drivers for your phone as normal

    connect the phone to pc via usb cable (nothing happens other then a few beeps as normal)

    now plug in any usb dongle that you have already installed on your pc - like a usb wireless mouse dongle

    suddenly windows detects the phone and you can now set your phone to mass storage from the phone status bar

    Every time you want to connect your phone in mass storage just plug it in then plug in the other usb dongle after

    Its definatly a usb plug and play problem with the samsung phone

    problem now solved - a stupid way to force windows 8.1 to detect usb mass storage

    2 people found this answer helpful.
    0 comments
  4. Anonymous
    2015-03-05T17:04:03+00:00

    It's probably fortunate that you tried a mouse dongle. I tried various wireless dongles. WiFi dongles definitely do not work. Mouse/keyboard dongles do work, as does a bluetooth earphone (with a USB connection). Neither work every time, and I haven't yet determined when they do or don't - I just keep plugging and unplugging until it works! At least I can unplug the dongle as soon as it has done its thing.

    1 person found this answer helpful.
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  5. Anonymous
    2014-01-15T15:11:18+00:00

    Hi,

    Let’s check if you can access the files from Devices and Printers option. I would suggest you to follow the steps:

    a. Press Windows key + X key to open a task list from the bottom left corner of the screen.

    b. Select Control Panel.

    c. Click Hardware and Soundd. Click Devices and Printers.

    e. Under Multimedia Devices, you should see your phone. If it is listed there, right click on it and you should see the menu browse files.

    Also refer to this: How do I transfer files, using USB Mass Storage mode, from my Samsung Galaxy Note™ to my Windows® PC?

    http://www.samsung.com/us/support/supportOwnersHowToGuidePopup.do?howto\_guide\_seq=7383&prd\_ia\_cd=N0000003&map\_seq=49567

    If you face any further issues, you may reply to this post and we'll be happy to assist you further.

    1 person found this answer helpful.
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