File transfer between your 1 android and 2 PC or USB drive using USB cable or USB OTG

Being on-the-go often means that access to files on a desktop or even your laptop may not be immediate, continuous or last for extended periods. However, android phones are a modern-day 'solution', especially if you use these tips. If you plan on traveling, this post will guide you through our options; the first is for moving files between your PC and android or the second is for having a USB thumb drive (aka flash drive) with the full library of files from which you can import to your android. Needless to say, this second option also gives you external storage space for files you might receive on your phone while traveling. This might be necessary for freeing space on your android. However, there are many other benefits. Just imagine, you can even create basic text files on your phone, to then digitally print, physically print and share them during your travels. 

 

What you need

You can easily transfer files to and from your android using USB technologies. The transfers can be done with your PC or even a thumb drive if you do not have a PC. In the latter case, your USB cable connection needs a female port called a USB on-the-go or OTG to house the thumb drive. The applicable OTG size is referred to as 'type C' for androids, version 6 onwards.

• android - thumb drive connection
• USB on-the-go or OTG, type C  (to connect the android to one thumb drive)    OR    
• Type C hub adapter that features female USB ports / sockets that therefore offer the OTG facility  (to connect the android to multiple thumb drives and other peripherals at once)
• android - PC connection
• A 'USB-C' cable, ie with one male USB end and a male type C phone end. Get this cable by unplugging it from your box charging device.

Steps to make the android - PC connection for USB file transfer

For android versions after version 10, using a USB connection alone will not work because, although File Explorer on your PC will recognize that the phone is plugged in by showing a folder for your phone (named something like moto e20 within the 'This PC' folder), you will see a note saying 'this folder is empty', when you go into your android's folder. Naturally, this is confusing because the folder is not truly empty. In order to access files on your phone from this folder on your PC, you must change the android's automatic settings. By default, it uses the USB port for charging only, even automatically switching to this default when you disconnect the cable after having used the file transfer setting. Consequently, you must always manually change this USB setting to allow the phone to do file transfers. However, once there is open access, you can easily transfer files either way, ie to and from either device. 

• Use the USB-C (mentioned above) to physically connect android PC.
• Your PC
• Ensure your PC is turned on and awake. 
• Your android
• Turn on and unlock your android phone. 
• Select as follows: 
• 'Android charging this device via USB' in the android's automatic notifications      -- OR --
• Settings > Connected devices > USB
• Select 'Media device (MTP) file transfer'
• Your PC
• Open File Explorer, search for and click on your phone's folder (usually inside the 'This PC' folder)
• Click through the various folders into which your files go by default. Example(s)
• 'Downloads' folder for emails you downloaded from email accounts as PDFs / 'printed files'; PDFs you downloaded from within emails, etc
• 'DCIM' for JPG images 
• 'DCIM' > 'Camera' for MP4 videos or JPG images you shot with your android's camera

Steps to make the android - USB thumb drive for USB file transfer

• Use the USB-OTG (mentioned above) to physically connect the android and thumb drive. 
• Your android
• Turn on and unlock your android phone. (Your android will automatically allow the 'media device (MTP) file transfer' protocol.)
• Select the following notification related to your USB thumb drive. 
• 'USB drive', 'Kingston USB drive', 'Mass storage' and so on. (The customized name you give individual drives like 'John', 'Office' or 'Home' will not appear.)
• Select how to view the files. Androids usually offer options like 'Files by Google' or 'Files'.

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Your android's 'Download' folder

The following section explains how to access any type of externally-generated, non-android file (like Gmail emails, Excel file from your PC and so on) that are not immediately or easily available on your phone. These steps mainly involve sending non-android files to your android's 'downloads' folder. (BTW, other easily accessible folders include 'pictures', among others). 

NB. If you do not immediately see the file in the destination ('downloads') folder, disconnect the devices and reconnect. The files should then become visible.

To review the Android's 'download' from the android (ie without the PC connection);

• Option
• Click the 'File' app (by Google. This app is available as a default part of factory settings)
• (You should see folders like camera, screenshots, 'DCIM' for 'images', etc. Further down, you will also see downloads and so on)
• Option
• Click the 'Files' app by Google
• (You should see folders like downloads, images, audio and so on)

Preparing emails (for transfer as PDF)

You need to convert emails, whether sent, received or even draft from their original (Gmail) platform into PDFs on your android phone.

• Access an email from your Android phone
• Print (from the top right menu marked by 3 dots)
• Click the 'save' icon or 'save as' (on the dropdown menu or an on-screen button)
• (The new PDF form of the email should appear in your 'Download' folder.) 

Preparing text files (for transfer)

It is useful to make notes on the go. These can be random ideas you capture as basic text files (like 'ColorNote' files) on your android phone while on the road so you can develop them later. These files are stored in more complex and harder-to-find folders (like this 'com.socialmobile.dictapps,notepad.color.note') which may require you to download additional apps. If the format you use for transferring the data is unimportant, use the following workaround, otherwise, use other app-specific options (which can not be comprehensively covered here).

• Follow the steps (above) for making the PC - android connection
• Method 1: Work-around (that even works offline): 
• Copy (from the app) and paste into a draft email
• Save it as a PDF (using the method above), which automatically sends the file to your android's 'downloads' folder.
• Method 2: Conventional. 
• Once in 'File Explorer' and the folder for your phone, select as follows.
• Android > data
• Search for the folder that has integrated the name of the app (like 'ColorNote') you used (like this 'com.socialmobile.dictapps,notepad.color.note')
• (You may need to proceed in app-specific ways from this point. This might involve downloading additional apps.)

Any file (transfer ~ from PC to android)

• Connecting the PC and android's storage
• Establish the origin and destination locations
• Copy and paste accordingly between these locations

CONTENT RELATED TO FILE TRANSFERS BETWEEN A PC AND ANDROID USING A USB CABLE

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Internal links: 

• Connecting the PC and android's storage 
• Accessing the android's 'downloads' folder from the PC
• emails 
• OTG

Notes:

USB On-The-Go (OTG) functionality. allows you to connect an android to computer peripherals like a thumb drive, keyboard, mouse, or hub.

Non-Technical Guide to Buying a Computer for Very Small Business

Without getting too heavy, this post discusses a few must-know specifications to learn and discuss when shopping for a new computer for your small business. I will make the foIlowing 2 assumptions. 

1. The extent to which you interact with a computer is limited to tasks like exchanging emails; ocassional video calls; preparing invoices on spreadsheets or accounting software; an accounting program; basic video editing software for production demonstration videos; the ability to use social media like YouTube and instagram; and a few basic graphic software programs (for product label designs). 
2. You have already used a computer, at the very least, in some other aspect of your life. The reason for this is that a relatively easy way of getting a new or replacement computer is to analyze how a previous computer met your needs in very specific ways (speed, etc) and then, using that earlier situation as a yardstick, find a new computer whose performance is comparable, better or less in each of these areas.

Specification: Hard Disc Drive / HDD

The hard disc drive is a traditional storage device. In other words, this is where all your product photos and MS Excel files are stored. When deciding how much storage you currently use, consult the storage status of your current computer. In this case, only 127 of 1,000 GB (aka 1 terrabyte) storage capacity has been used. Rather than select a new computer with 128 GB of storage, ie only 1 GB over this current usage, another computer with at least 100 GB over your expected usage, like one with 256 GB of storage would be the better option. Naturally, if you are likely to use considerably more storage than you do currently, a terrabyte is an even better option. NB A solid state drive / SSD is an alternative to a standard HDD. An SSD is newer, faster, lighter, more durable but stores less data and costs more.

Example(s) of expression: 1 terrabyte HDD (ie 1,000 GB); 256 GB drive

Find this specification in the 'Storage' Registry of a Windows computer as follows. 

• Right click Windows icon (in bottom left corner of screen)
• System
• Storage

Specification: Processor aka Central Processing Unit / CPU

The processor is the 'brain' of a computer. Specifically, it provides and executes commands for the computer's functioning like opening a new window, rendering an image, saving a document and so on. This specification is all about speed and efficiency. More and more recent is better, especially with multitasking. So more recent versions complete tasks faster like how nutrients help brain function. The speed in seconds is expressed in GHz. 

Example(s) of expression: Intel i3 / Intel Core i3-6100U CPU @ 2.330 GHz

Where to find this spec on a computer: Stickers are normally placed on the surface of the computer. 

 

However, if the stickers are missing the detail or the sticker is missing, find this specification in the 'About' Registry of a Windows computer as follows. 

• Right click the Windows icon (in bottom left corner of screen) 
• System 
• About (scroll down to the bottom of the screen)

Specification: RAM / Random Access Memory aka Temporary Storage

The RAM is much like the human nervous system in terms of how it relays data. Consequently, the higher the amount of GB used for this process, the faster and more efficicent a computer functions. 

Special consideration: Do not consider this specification in isolation. For instance, if your old computer had a specification of 6 GB but a prospect has 4 GB. The prospect is not necessarily inferior. Also consider its hard drive. For instance, if the hard drive is SDD (which, as discussed above is faster than the older HDD), the prospect may still be a viable option.

Example(s) of expression: 6 GB RAM

Find this specification in the 'About' Registry of a Windows computer as follows.

• Right click the Windows icon (in bottom left corner of screen) 
• System 
• About (scroll down to the bottom of the screen)

Other noteworthy specifications: weight, materials and screen size in inches: 

For instance, I find a 14-inch screen and plastic outer body ideal because although I rarely move my laptop from its place on my desk, I can not bear the weight and bulkiness of a larger and heavier computer for too long in the few ocasions when I must be on the go with the laptop. I once used a light weight laptop with metal covering when I needed to travel frequently.

DOs

• Send a message to the vendor saying that your current compuater with specifications "Intel i9, 4GB RAM, 250 sdd" no longer meet your needs regarding its ability to ______. My most demanding tasks re [RAM] are ____ and ___. What can (s)he provide?
• Alternatively, if you are unable to provide this information from within your system but still have access to the physical machine, take and send a photo of the sticker at the bottom of your machine. The sticker is usually black and contains the brandname, model name and number, serial number and so on. The vendor should be able to find the specifications of your computer from the details on this sticker.
• As soon as possible, test the new computer's ability to perform the most demanding tasks. For instance, if you need to perform many Zoom calls, ask the vendor to set up a mock Zoom call using the video and audio while you are still in the store.
  
  
  

CONTENT RELATED TO HOW TO SELECT A COMPUTER FOR A SMALL BUSINESS.

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