Android to Windows

In response to what Arlen Holder wrote :

Particularly since I haven't touched SMB since I gave up on it in favor of
WebDAV, which works great - but SMB 'should' work even better given that
it's native on Windows.

UPDATE
o https://i.postimg.cc/SsH7KQsD/mixplorer02.jpg
o https://i.postimg.cc/nLzvY993/mixplorer03.jpg
o https://i.postimg.cc/jjL7JVB9/mixplorer04.jpg

*Happy Easter*!

Thanks to Mick Finnlay over on
alt.comp.freeware, we anonymously installed a free Android SMBv2 client
inside of the freeware Android XDA-developers' MiXplorer softwa
o *Tutorial: How to connect Android to Windows as a drive letter*
*over a Wi-Fi LAN for free simple reliable bidirectional copy*
https://groups.google.com/d/msg/alt.comp.freeware/PkJ3nV4OnCY/_IAIm3xKDwAJ

I point to that SMBv2 thread so others can benefit from the effort
o Where this post is our current status of adding that SMBv2.1 freewa
https://groups.google.com/d/msg/alt.comp.freeware/PkJ3nV4OnCY/UvvWahlyDwAJ
https://i.postimg.cc/SsH7KQsD/mixplorer02.jpg

Since it's decided not intuitive how to install that freeware completely
anonymously (sans any login, which is the beauty of privacy after all),
here's a quick short summary to get you where I am now (prior to testing):
1. Use your web browser to obtain the MiXplorer APK sans any login needed:
https://forum.xda-developers.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=4966993&d=1583692659
2. Use the Aurora Store to anonymously obtain the SMBv2 client plugin:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.mixplorer.addon.smb

Now it's time to test out that MiXplorer freeware with the SMBv2.1 plugin.
o But how?

*What's a good quick test between Android & Windows for WiFi SMB LAN copy?*

Given the cost of freeware is in finding the best and then testing it out,
where if you can help us test it out, that would save me much time
(and any others who are following in our well-documented footsteps).

Given I haven't used SMB in years (since I mount Android as a drive letter
on Windows using WebDAV servers on Android), what would you suggest as a
quick test in using this MiXplorer+SMBv2 Android client to copy a file
bidirectionally on Windows over my Wi-Fi LAN?
--
Every thread on Usenet should increase our overall group tribal knowledge.

In response to what the moron Chris wrote :

This is wonderful so you can now stop cross-posting to useless
newsgroups and instead post everything to alt.comp.freeware where the
real solutions are available.

Hi Chris,

What we need is an actual _adult_ who knows the answer to key questions.

A. Given for years we already easily map the entire Android phone to a
drive letter on Windows for seamless native Windows file manager Wi-Fi
bidirectional copy over WebDAV protocols:
https://i.postimg.cc/vmSszLd2/webdav06.jpg

B. *The question is how to map the entire Android phone as a drive letter*
*on Windows for seamless Wi-Fi bidirectional copy over SMB protocols*.

I posit that not only will the answer require an actual _adult_ Chris...
o But that adult will have to understand both Windows & Android networking.

Does anyone here know how to accomplish with SMB what we already do with
WebDAV, which is map the entire Android phone to a drive letter on Windows?
https://groups.google.com/d/msg/comp.mobile.android/9Lu2_dPsu6o/Y3lBi2aAAAAJ
--
Truly hard questions require team effort to resolve for brilliant solutions

In response to what Chris wrote :

You have told us multiple times that there are no adults on Windows or
Linux newsgroups but you still keep cross posting to Windows 10, Windows
XP and Linux newsgroups.Â* Have you now changed your mind and can you
apologise to everybody on these newsgroups for abusing them and calling
them all sorts of names.

Hi Cris,

Grow up.
o Be an adult.

You clearly resent being proven to own the mind of a small child, Chris.
o But that's _your_ problem - since you repeatedly prove that to be a fact.

I spent a lot of energy _resolving_ the stated technical problem, Chris.
o While you are clearly too stupid to even _comprehend_ the problem, Chris.

Stop proving you're a child, Chris.
o Just stop it.

I get it that you completely lack the ability to add adult value, Chris.
o I get that you have no comprehension of the topic at hand Chris.

But why must you waste everyone's time proving that you utterly lack value?
o Repeatedly. Incessantly. You prove in every post you can't add value.

*Do you have _adult_ technical content about Android to Windows to share?*

If not...

Please stop incessantly proving you own the mind of a small child, Chris.
o Just stop it.

Either add on topic adult value or stop incessantly complaining others do.

Here's a hint for you Chris...
o Why don't you act like an adult, Chris?

*Why not add on-topic technical _value_ to the thread topic?*
o If you are incapable of adding value ... why do you add _negative_ value?

I confess I don't have the social skills to deal with people like you.
o I just don't.

Having gone to the best undergrad & grad schools in this country and having
worked in the Silicon Valley high-tech startup environment for decades, I
don't often run into people like you who are so unfathomably dumb that you
clearly can't comprehend something as simple as a newsgroup list.

Seriously.

*Do you have _adult_ technical content about Android to Windows to share?*
o If not, then why are you incessantly complaining about those who do?

Did you even _look_ at who the original poster is for this thread, Chris?
o Did you even _read_ the explanation for the current list of newsgroups?

And where the heck did you get Linux from for this thread?
o Do you always form belief systems based on exactly _zero_ facts, Chris?

It's sad that people like you exist, Chris.
a. You're so dumb that you can't comprehend a newsgroup list
b. You fabricate cross posts that never happened in this thread
c. You complain about cross posts that I didn't even originate
d. And, you completely whooshed on the explanation of the current crosspost

And yet ... you not only never once in your entire life have ever added any
value to any Usenet thread, Chris, but _every_ post from you _subtracts_
value from this thread.

*Do you have _adult_ technical content about Android to Windows to share?*
o Or not, Chris?

As does every response by me proving that you're an utter worthless piece
of ****, Chris.

The fact you're a worthless piece of ****, Chris, is already a well-known
fact, but why must you incessantly prove it, Chris?

Why not add on-topic technical _value_ to the thread topic?
o HINT: You can't.

All you _can_ do is incessantly complain you don't give a **** about the topic.
o Which only adds _negative_ value which is my point about all your posts.

*Do you have _adult_ technical content about Android to Windows to share?*

Please stop incessantly proving you own the mind of a small child, Chris.
o Just stop it.
--
Those who have never once added adult value already proved that they can't.

we anonymously installed a free Android SMBv2 client
inside of the freeware Android XDA-developers' MiXplorer softwa

I've been using MiXplorer with its SMBv2 addon for a long time but
didn't know that the addon had switched from $ware to freeware. That's
the only reason why I didn't offer it as an SMB recommendation. Glad to
know it's now freeware.

In response to what kelown wrote :

I've been using MiXplorer with its SMBv2 addon for a long time but
didn't know that the addon had switched from $ware to freeware. That's
the only reason why I didn't offer it as an SMB recommendation. Glad to
know it's now freeware.

Hi kelown,

Thanks for being purposefully helpful and for adding value by suggesting
MiXplorer freeware with its freeware SMBv2 client addon on Google Play:
https://i.postimg.cc/nLzvY993/mixplorer03.jpg

In the past, Android freeware clients were stuck on SMBv1, so this new
information enables us to finally have a freeware SMBv2 client on Android:
https://i.postimg.cc/SsH7KQsD/mixplorer02.jpg

Along with another rather very nicely capable file manager (apparently):
https://i.postimg.cc/jjL7JVB9/mixplorer04.jpg

I admit the MiXplorer APK wasn't as easy as most freeware to find online,
at least without ever needing to log into anything (which is a key beauty
and elegance of privacy, IMHO); but I was able to figure it out eventually.
https://i.postimg.cc/4xRtMF7H/mixplorer01.jpg

Luckily, I'm pretty sure anyone can follow my nascent MiXplorer/SMBv2
tutorial to completion where it's always my goal to keep adding value:
https://groups.google.com/d/msg/comp.mobile.android/9Lu2_dPsu6o/-EOWQQt4AAAJ

One question I would like either you or Paul or someone who knows and uses
SMB more than I do to answer is what good is this SMBv2 client anyway?
https://groups.google.com/d/msg/comp.mobile.android/9Lu2_dPsu6o/Y3lBi2aAAAAJ

Maybe I'm not testing SMB bidirectional file transfers with Windows right?
https://groups.google.com/d/msg/comp.mobile.android/9Lu2_dPsu6o/g-8reOTBAAAJ
--
Together we can accomplish far more than any one of us can alone.

Refugee Buddy Project, Hastings Supports Refugees and Hastings Community of Sanctuary On Tue, 07 Apr 2020 16:09:13 +0100, Peter Johnson wrote:

On Mon, 06 Apr 2020 15:32:17 +0100, Optimist
wrote:

Why is it that Windows does not allow pictures to be upload from Android to Windows using a wireless
LAN? And is there a way of uploading text messages apart from emailing each one individually?

I use a Microsoft App that allows me to copy pictures from my Samsung
Android phone to my PC, which it does by WiFi. I think its use is
limited to certain Samsung models at the moment. It also allows me to
read incoming text messages while the phone is sat on its charger and
without me having to get up from the PC.

Thank you everyone for your replies. I stumbled on the feature in Android to connect to Windows and
it has uploaded photos and texts to the PC, without a cable from the phone!. Not sure whether it
went over my LAN or halfway around the world and back but, hey, it works!

In response to what kelown wrote :

The problem isn't how to access Windows from Android using SMB...
o The problem is how to access Android from Windows (using SMB)

I'm not sure that SMB is meant to be served from Windows.

Hi kelown,

Thanks for looking at the problem set, where I think you didn't mean this:
o I'm not sure that SMB is meant to be served from "Windows".

But this, right?
o I'm not sure that SMB is meant to be served from "Android".

Since (over NetBIOS) SMB shares are served from Windows by default.
o Aren't they?
--
Usenet is a public place for purposefully helpful adults to share ideas.

The problem isn't how to access Windows from Android using SMB...
o The problem is how to access Android from Windows (using SMB)

I'm not sure that SMB is meant to be served from Windows.

Hi kelown,

Thanks for looking at the problem set, where I think you didn't mean this:
o I'm not sure that SMB is meant to be served from "Windows".

But this, right?
o I'm not sure that SMB is meant to be served from "Android".

Since (over NetBIOS) SMB shares are served from Windows by default.
o Aren't they?

You're right Arlen. Thanks for the correction. The result is still that
bi-directional file transfer is only through a Windows shared folder.
The only alternatives I can think of for GUI bi-directional transfer are
FTP or Feem/Airdroid apps.

In response to what kelown wrote :

You're right Arlen. Thanks for the correction. The result is still that
bi-directional file transfer is only through a Windows shared folder.
The only alternatives I can think of for GUI bi-directional transfer are
FTP or Feem/Airdroid apps.

Hi kelown,

Thanks for confirming, where, we can summarize in agreement that:
o Windows native CIFS/SMB "server" serves an SMBv2 share (over NETBIOS)
o Android added SMBv2 "client" bidirectionally accesses that Windows share

Advantages of this Android SMBv2 client bidirectional copy solution a
a. It's free (so it's a good candidate for a general purpose solution)
b. It enables bidirectional copy of files over the Wi-Fi LAN from Android
c. It uses a more secure protocol than SMBv1 Android clients did
d. It avoids the Android SMB client port-below-1024 catch-22 rooting issue
e. It will work with all Windows (& Samba Linux) operating systems

The key disadvantage of this Android SMBv2 client solution seems to be:
f. You can't use the Windows file manager GUI for the copying activities

Hence, the "problem" with this solution is the Android file-copy "gui"
isn't as easy to use as compared to the Windows file-copy GUI, in my most
humble of opinions.

That's where key Android 'server' solutions have an advantage over SMB:
o Android WebDAV "server" (enables mounting Android as a Windows drive)
o Android FTP "server" (enables connecting Android as a Windows share)

Bear in mind I tested _every_ viable suggested Wi-Fi solution years ago:
https://groups.google.com/d/msg/comp.mobile.android/3QQ8bAZeXNI/hMMHk7h4BwAJ
1. *CIFS methods* (eg Folder Tag with CIFS plugin & Network Browser)
2. *SMB methods* (eg AndSMB, Astro, ES File Explorer, Total Commander)
3. *FTP methods* (eg PrimitiveFTP & FTP Server & WinSCP & FileZilla)
4. *HTTP methods* (eg Wifi Explorer, WiFi File Transfer, WebDAV)
5. *Sync methods* (eg MyPhoneExplorer, AirDroid)
6. *MTP methods* (e.g., libMTP, adb)
etc.

Unfortunately, without rooting, the Android SMB _server_ solution fails.

However, the good news is there are many other Wi-Fi LAN solutions!
https://groups.google.com/d/msg/comp.mobile.android/9Lu2_dPsu6o/g-8reOTBAAAJ
--
Usenet is a public potluck where adults politely help each other.

In response to what Optimist wrote :

Thank you everyone for your replies. I stumbled on the feature in Android to connect to Windows and
it has uploaded photos and texts to the PC, without a cable from the phone!. Not sure whether it
went over my LAN or halfway around the world and back but, hey, it works!

Hi Optimist,

Thank you for reporting back, as we were worried about your success.

It's great you found a working solution, since there are many to choose
from to bidirectionally copy files between Android & Windows over Wi-Fi.
https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/comp.mobile.android/xwX8S7XW-p0

We expended a lot of work on this project so we thank you for reporting
back your successful results based on one of the replies to your thread.

The beauty of the public Usenet potluck is that everyone can benefit from
the precise details of all solutions involved, which are stored to be found
by others in the future in the web searchable permanent Usenet archives:
o http://tinyurl.com/uk-telecom-mobile
o http://tinyurl.com/comp-mobile-android
o http://alt.comp.os.windows-10.narkive.com
etc.

For others accessing this thread now, and in the future, see also:
o *Tutorial: How to connect Android to Windows as a drive letter*
*over a Wi-Fi LAN for free simple reliable bidirectional copy*
https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/comp.mobile.android/9Lu2_dPsu6o
--
Usenet allows purposefully helpful sharing of solutions for common benefit.

It's great the OP found a working solution, since there are many to choose
from to bidirectionally copy files between Android & Windows over Wi-Fi.
https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/comp.mobile.android/xwX8S7XW-p0

UPDATE:

Additionally, while helping out "The Real Bev" in this thread yesterday...
o * NEW PHONE! *, by The Real Bev
https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/comp.mobile.android/d0Y8CqDTaog

I installed & tested a couple of SMS/MMS backup/restore solutions last
night which seem to solve the OP's second question asking how to back up
(and restore) SMS/MMS messages to (and from) Windows over the Wi-Fi LAN.

Here is a screenshot of my test SMS/MMS XML backup from Android to Windows:
https://i.postimg.cc/L5WsCrNq/xml01.jpg

Those two free apps that I tested for SMS/MMS backup/restore a
o *SMS Backup & Restore*, by SyncTech Pty Ltd
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.riteshsahu.SMSBackupRestore
"SMS Backup & Restore is a simple Android app that backs up and
restores your phone's SMS and MMS messages and call logs."
"Backup SMS (text) messages, MMS and call logs in XML format."
o *Super Backup & Restore*, by MobileIdea Studio
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.idea.backup.smscontacts
"READ YOUR TEXT MESSAGES (SMS OR MMS)/EDIT YOUR TEXT MESSAGES
(SMS OR MMS)

Where I simply copied the results from Android to Windows over Wi-Fi.
https://groups.google.com/d/msg/comp.mobile.android/ZUEJUrPrEog/YZo2Sx3jAgAJ

As always, please improve this process so everyone always benefits.
--
Together we can accomplish far more than any one of us can alone.

In response to what Arlen Holder wrote :

As always, please improve this process so everyone always benefits.

SOLVED!
https://i.postimg.cc/wj0n4P9D/xml06.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/kXLV3qx9/xml05.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/26LJtdmC/xml04.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/MpdL7JLk/xml03.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/dtDwkn3V/xml02.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/L5WsCrNq/xml01.jpg

As a test of the solution to the OP's second question, how to back up
SMS/MMS texts (including photos) to Windows, I decided to restore the XML
backup of my SMS/MMS texts, but to use a _different_ SMS app to restore it
to so I could see if the pictures were also restored.

The restore procedure is interestingly unexpected:
1. On Android, I pressed the RESTORE button in "SMS Backup & Restore"
2. It asked to be set to the default SMS app temporarily.
3. It gave the option to "Restore pictures, media, & group messages (MMS)".
4. Once it finished, it said to choose the "real" SMS app as the default.
5. I installed a different (new) SMS app to make the default SMS app.
6. Once I set that to the default SMS app, the photos showed up inside it.
Voila!

Unless someone suggests a better SMS backup & restore program, my current
recommendation, moving forward, is to back up SMS/MMS using this freewa
o *SMS Backup & Restore*, by SyncTech Pty Ltd

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.riteshsahu.SMSBackupRestore
"backs up and restores your phone's SMS and MMS messages and call logs."

Essentially, the steps a
A. On Android, back up your SMS/MMS & call logs to two XML files.
B. Copy those two XML files to a safe place (e.g., to Windows).
C. On the new Android phone, restore those SMS/MMS messages & call logs.
https://i.postimg.cc/wj0n4P9D/xml06.jpg
--
The beauty of helping others on Usenet is we all learn more together.