Cell Phone Photos

[Bird]

I have a Motorola V551 cell phone. I also have the USB cable to connect it to the computer. So what's the simplest, easiest to use, and preferably even cheapest software for Windows Vista Home Premium to transfer photos from the cell phone to the computer?

 

[ray66v]

If you have tried to plug it in to the computer and see if it recognizes it on its own, and that did not work. Then you need drivers for the cable, (if it did not come with a disc), and then windows should take care of the rest. If you know whose cable it is, you could see if they have a web site, and check it for driver downloads. The cheapest way I know if that does work out, is to buy another cable from E-bay and make sure it comes with the driver disc. They probably will sell you one for $10.

 

[Bird]

Thanks, Ray. Long ago, I bought DataPilot for about $50 and installed in on the old XP computer. It included the cable. To buy the new version at Best Buy, it's now $70 and includes a bunch of cables to work with different brands and models of telephones. Instead, since I have this cable, I sent them an e-mail and downloaded the version for Vista (supposedly) and when I tried to use it, I got an error message that no driver was found for this device. Now I think the folks at Susteen (makers of DataPilot) could probably help me get it going, but I dumped DataPilot and cancelled the order because it's quite a lengthy program with a great number of features for which I have no use. In fact, I've only transferred a total of 3 photos from the cell phone to the computer in the past, so whatever I get will be seldom used, but I do want to have that capability.

 

[ray66v]

I have had to do this twice, with 2 different phones, and the cheap E-bay chord worked both times.
I just checked and you can get the cable with the disc for $4

 

[Bird]

I'll have to check with eBay, Ray. I did a little more testing. I took the cable I have and plugged it in. The computer recognized the "new hardware" as being a Motorola V551, but couldn't find a driver for it, so just the driver is all I need (I think) but I'll buy a new cable if that's what it takes to get the driver. I've seen some other discussion forums in which some guys said their cable came without the disk or software and they had a hard time finding a place to download the driver. The only trouble is that none of them said where they finally got the driver.

 

[jdbower]

You can try the drivers here, but they seem to be to turn the phone into a modem or just to charge the phone. You also may be able to get some help from your service provider (AT&T?). If they've got a store nearby I'm guessing they can probably help, especially if it means selling you some software

 

[Bird]

You can try the drivers here, but they seem to be to turn the phone into a modem or just to charge the phone. You also may be able to get some help from your service provider (AT&T?). If they've got a store nearby I'm guessing they can probably help, especially if it means selling you some software

Yep, I tried it, Jeff, and it apparently just turns the phone into a modem. According to AT&T's website they don't support the photo stuff, but sometime next week, I'll stop in the store. I haven't been in there in quite awhile but they were always very helpful.

 

[BillyP]

Bird, this is the software I use for my Motorola phone.

Amazon.com: Motorola Razr V3 Oem Original Usb Data Cable with Motorola Phone Tools 4.0 Software: Cell Phones & Service

 

[ronjhall]

Get a Bluetooth adapter for your computer. It will come with software that will download the photos. Bluetooth is also a good way to use hands free with your phone.

 

[Bird]

BillyP, I've sure wondered about the Motorola Phone Tools since I've seen prices from less than $2 to more than $35. Are some of these people selling bootleg copies? Of course this one says version 4.0 and I've seen others as 4.56a. Does that make a difference if you have Windows XP vs Vista?

Ron, when we got the Bluetooth (whatever that means) capable phone, it was primarily because our youngest daughter had gotten the hands free, hang on your ear, device, liked it, and then, as now, calls her mother every evening to visit while driving home from work. So Margaret thought that little gadget to hang on your ear was a great idea, and we got one. Now I'll have to admit it worked pretty well for me, too, since I could use it without it causing feedback from my hearing aid; i.e., a squeal when you put anything against your ear. However, we use our cell phone seldom enough that the Bluetooth gadget hasn't been used in 2 years. So I don't even know what a Bluetooth adapter for the computer is. But I'll probably go to Best Buy and see if I can learn sometime next week.

But today I've got to run; got to make a 400 mile round trip to a retirement party. Youngest daughter's boyfriend (about to become husband, I think) is retiring after 20 years active duty in the Navy. Yesterday was his last day on duty, and his family is having a surprise retirement party and barbecue 200 miles south of here today.