Re: Android to Windows

[Arlen Holder]

In response to what Paul <nos...@needed.invalid> wrote :

>> I use MiXplorer with SMBv2 to transfer all types of files back and forth
>> between my Android and Windows 10 laptop. Windows 10 needs SMBv2 for LAN
>> transfers.
>
> In Windows 10
>
> Programs and Features : Windows Features
>
> there are two tick boxes to install SMBV1.
>
> To get to Control Panels, type "control.exe" or similar in the Run box,
> then Pin to Taskbar, to restore the functionality that was removed
> some time back.
>
> Paul

Hi Paul,

Since you almost always post with purposefully helpful intent, I provide
detailed information below on why I feel SMB (and FTP) pale in comparison
to WebDAV (much to my chagrin, since Samba/CIFs should lead the pack).

I gave up on SMB, but this old thread contains useful version information:
o *Do you know of a free Android SMBv2 (or SMBv3) client?*
<https://groups.google.com/d/msg/comp.mobile.android/tl3Q05QGyAw/yBV1yLArCAAJ>

Where this old thread explains another problem with the SMB solutions:
o *What's the best way to forward SMB TCP port 445 to above 1024 on Windows?*
<https://groups.google.com/d/msg/comp.mobile.android/3QQ8bAZeXNI/p7yqvwHrBQAJ>

And where Frank Slootweg & Fokke Nauta explained the key problem with SMB:
o *Want Windows LAN viewer to open share on Android*
<https://groups.google.com/d/msg/comp.mobile.android/XxuCDi4jkbc/5E5HS_QVBQAJ>

In summary, after years of testing cross-platform copying over Wi-Fi...
1. I gave up on FTP & SMB to copy between Android & Windows over Wi-Fi.

2. I found WebDAV over WiFi more graceful between Windows & Android.
(The entire Android phone is just a standard drive letter on Windows.)
(Everything works on Windows as if the phone is a Windows filesystem.)
(You can't get any more seamless than that, can you?)
(If so, let me know how, as I'm always improving cross-platform copies.)

3. However, for _small_ quick transfers, I've been using KDEConnect lately.
(KDEConnect provides point-&-click bi-directional transfer of files.)

What _would_ be useful is to get past the SMB limitations between Android &
Windows; but until someone figures that out, WebDAV has SMB/FTP beat, IMHO.

BTW, given the most seamless bidirectional transfer between Android &
Windows has always been our goal, a search shows these relevant topics:
o *Tutorial to run any Windows command directly on Android over either USB or Wi-Fi*
<https://groups.google.com/d/msg/comp.mobile.android/JrWLPRYO-TU/2gn6KqccBwAJ>

o *KDE Connect is a keeper for sending & receiving files over your Wi-Fi*
<https://groups.google.com/d/msg/comp.mobile.android/4x1rf1JefW8/7EQp2nr-AAAJ>

o *3 WiFi tests of a network location to a drive letter mapping*
<https://groups.google.com/d/msg/comp.mobile.android/IswZ5yEcpYA/wWuqoICZBgAJ>

o *How to debug flaky Android-to-Windows FTP connection in Windows File Explorer?*
<https://groups.google.com/d/msg/comp.mobile.android/XFtsfaPAqFA/KQzDY3QtAwAJ>

o *What do you use to copy files from Windows XP to Android over WiFi?*
<https://groups.google.com/d/msg/comp.mobile.android/OkDfuDN9fZU/mFAMnIPGFQAJ>

o *Accessing a Windows shared folder from Android using SMB*
<https://groups.google.com/d/msg/comp.mobile.android/Hb5IAnebQmQ/Mc04bs0ZAAAJ>

o *How to get a Windows File Explorer Wi-Fi connection to Android*
<https://groups.google.com/d/msg/comp.mobile.android/ZTg_HVub8ho/2O2X-sAqAgAJ>
etc.
--
Those who have never once posted value already proved that they can't.

[Arlen Holder]

In response to what Arlen Holder <arlen...@anyexample.com> wrote :

> Since you almost always post with purposefully helpful intent, I provide
> detailed information below on why I feel SMB (and FTP) pale in comparison
> to WebDAV (much to my chagrin, since Samba/CIFs should lead the pack).

Paul, and others,

The OP included "uk.telecom.mobile" but, as far as I can tell, this thread
should have gone to "comp.mobile.android" instead of "uk.telecom.mobile".
o Hence, I will set the followup to what it more likely should have been.

I ask that when we add further value to this thread, we all remove u.t.m:
o <http://tinyurl.com/alt-comp-os-windows-10> keep
o <http://tinyurl.com/uk-telecom-mobile> remove
o <http://tinyurl.com/comp-mobile-android> add

Since we all care about seamless cross-platform file copies, here's a
summary based on the half dozen detailed threads in my prior post to Paul.

*SMB/CIFs*
In summary, Android to Windows has so many solutions, IMHO, it's hard to
choose, where we would "think" (and hope!) SMB/CIFs would be the number one
choice, if it weren't for the Android SMB port & Android SMB client issues.

I'm confident the brains on the Windows newsgroup _can_ overcome those SMB
problems, but, to date, I haven't been apprised of a viable solution.

*FTP/sFTP*
In summary, FTP is a second time-honored venerable choice, where FTP
payware "can" appear to be a drive letter on Windows, but FTP freeware
inherently has problems outside of a pure file copy, due to its inherent
design (where "mounting" isn't as seamless in FTP as it is in WebDav,
unfortunately).

If the brains on this ng have a freeware solution to the FTP drive letter
mounting issue, then that would be a great solution to be apprised of.

*WebDAV*
Shockingly, beyond what we'd intuit if we hadn't actually tested this,
surprisingly, WebDav does a key thing absolutely beautifully that the other
solutions don't appear to do, which is _mount_ (literally) the Android
phone as a drive letter on Windows.

Much to my surprise, there's nothing more to do, as, literally...
o "It just works".

*Other Solutions*
For the record, this thread has suggested "other solutions", such as:
o KDEConnect (which works between Android & _any_ Desktop OS!)
o Samba & Google Sync (Andy Burns)
o AirDroid (actodesco)
o Google Cloud & Google Drive (Good Guy)
o Total Commander SMB/Samba add-on (AnthonyL)
o Samsung Wi-fi Transfer (Peter Johnson)
o MiXplorer with SMBv2 (kelown)

While _many_ solutions were purposefully helpfully provided, it's beginning
to become disconcerting that the OP ranted (completely incorrectly), and
yet, has not responded to _any_ of the adults who purposefully aided him.

If anyone complains they can't copy anything from anywhere to anywhere
else, just send them to this purposefully helpful group listed above! :)
--
fup set to [alt.comp.os.windows-10,comp.mobile.android] with removal of
[uk.telecom.mobile], as the OP doesn't pertain to UK telecoms, per se.

[kelown]

> *SMB/CIFs*
> In summary, Android to Windows has so many solutions, IMHO, it's hard to
> choose, where we would "think" (and hope!) SMB/CIFs would be the number one
> choice, if it weren't for the Android SMB port & Android SMB client issues.
>
> I'm confident the brains on the Windows newsgroup _can_ overcome those SMB
> problems, but, to date, I haven't been apprised of a viable solution.

I don't see where you've explained an issue with SMB. My experience
shows SMBv2 works flawlessly between Android<->PC. Of course you should
know that Windows 10 no longer supports SMBv1. Maybe that's what you
were trying to use.

[Arlen Holder]

In response to what kelown <kel...@privacy.invalid> wrote :

> I don't see where you've explained an issue with SMB. My experience
> shows SMBv2 works flawlessly between Android<->PC. Of course you should
> know that Windows 10 no longer supports SMBv1. Maybe that's what you
> were trying to use.

Hi kelown,

Yours is a good question, a very good question, where I'm not really the
right technical person to answer your questions in an up-to-date way.

Plus, I create only general-purpose solutions, where, as I noted, the FTP
freeware and SMB freeware differ from the payware; so all my comments are
about the freeware since I strive to form solutions that work for everyone.

I gave up on SMB/CIFs/Samba freeware as a solution when WebDAV worked
better for me, but we can always re-visit the SMB technical solutions,
because, as I said earlier, SMB solutions _should_ work best because...
a. Windows is native SMB
b. Linux handles Samba fantastically well

However, since you asked & since I strive to always be purposefully helpful
(except when unilaterally attacked by worthless pieces of shit), here's my
summary of the problems I personally encountered when I last tested SMB
(servers & clients) on Android with Windows 10 Pro (which has a native SMB
server, AFAIK) years ago when those reference SMB threads were authored.

The caveat with my explanation is that folks like Paul know the Windows
side far better than I do, and folks like Frank Slootweg know the Android
side much better than I do.
o So if they respond to your query, defer to their knowledge; not to mine.

However, since you asked, here's a summary as I understood it years ago:

*Freeware Android SMB servers*:
On non-rooted Android, there seems to be a catch-22 of:
o Windows will only accept SMB TCP connections on port 445
o Android won't allow SMB servers to use ports lower than 1024
REFERENCE:

o *What's the best way to forward SMB TCP port 445 to above 1024 on Windows?*
<https://groups.google.com/d/msg/comp.mobile.android/3QQ8bAZeXNI/p7yqvwHrBQAJ>

*Freeware Android SMB clients*:
Again, the catch-22 seems to be the mismatch with Windows, in that, the SMB
freeware clients weren't (apparently) keeping up with security.
o Last we checked (Jan 2019), SMB client freeware wasn't at SMBv2 or SMBv3.
o Windows can enable SMBv1; but we know SMBv1 is fatally compromised.
REFERENCE:

o *Do you know of a free Android SMBv2 (or SMBv3) client?*
<https://groups.google.com/d/msg/comp.mobile.android/tl3Q05QGyAw/yBV1yLArCAAJ>

Note that this is all a matter of the public record which wasn't disputed
at the time it was last posted (to my knowledge) to this ng:
<https://groups.google.com/d/msg/comp.mobile.android/3QQ8bAZeXNI/T-0FV7spCAAJ>

But perhaps things changed (improved?) on the Android freeware SMB clients?
o If so, I'm all ears as I _love_ solutions to technical problems!

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.
--
Usenet is where purposefully helpful adults publicly help each other.

[Arlen Holder]

In response to what Arlen Holder <arlen...@anyexample.com> 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 <Mick.F...@yopmail.com> over on
alt.comp.freeware, we anonymously installed a free Android SMBv2 client
inside of the freeware Android XDA-developers' MiXplorer software:
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 freeware:
<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.

[Chris]

On 12/04/2020 22:22, Arlen Holder wrote:
>
>
> Thanks to Mick Finnlay <Mick.F...@yopmail.com> over on
> alt.comp.freeware,

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.

[Arlen Holder]

In response to what the moron Chris <us...@news.isp.invalid> 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

[Chris]

On 13/04/2020 00:33, Arlen Holder wrote:
>
>
> What we need is an actual _adult_ who knows the answer to key questions.
>

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.  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.

[Arlen Holder]

In response to what Chris <us...@news.isp.invalid> 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.  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 shit, Chris.

The fact you're a worthless piece of shit, 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 shit 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.

[kelown]

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

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.

[Arlen Holder]

In response to what kelown <kel...@privacy.invalid> 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.

[kelown]

> 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>

I'm not sure what problems you're having with MiXplorer LAN setup that
don't allow you to communicate between your Android and PC.

As long as your Android and PC are on the same network, MiXplorer can
automatically connect with your PC's even if you aren't sharing any
folders on Windows. You'll be able to see all your Windows drives but
won't be able to browse any of them. Setting up a Windows share folder
or drive allows you to browse those Windows drives. Once connected, you
just copy and paste files/folders between the two devices.

[Arlen Holder]

In response to what kelown <kel...@privacy.invalid> wrote :

>> 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>
>
> I'm not sure what problems you're having with MiXplorer LAN setup that
> don't allow you to communicate between your Android and PC.

Hi kelown,

Thanks for posting back as you seem to understand the SMB solution best.
o I'm sure others also know SMB far better than I do - so I need your help.

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

Bear in mind we already have a solution that works - but it uses WebDAV:
<https://i.postimg.cc/vmSszLd2/webdav06.jpg>

We simply want a similar solution - but using SMB instead of using WebDAV.
<http://s1.bild.me/bilder/110417/9648761dir.jpg>

*That key goal requires "mounting" the Android filesystem on Windows*
o Either as a drive letter <https://i.postimg.cc/Vk5qs1fg/webdav04.jpg>
o Or as a share <http://s1.bild.me/bilder/110417/8605173dir05.jpg>
This allows bidirectional copy using native Windows file managers.

That already works well (to varying degrees) for FTP & WebDAV for example.
<http://s1.bild.me/bilder/110417/3994244dir020.jpg>

And even for some proprietary freeware solutions
<http://s1.bild.me/bilder/110417/1383190dir014.jpg>

Mounting Android on Windows using proprietary tools also works partially:
<http://s1.bild.me/bilder/110417/1853998dir02.jpg>

It even works for Linux, which understands Windows networking well:
<http://s1.bild.me/bilder/110417/6181360dir01.jpg>

The question is how to mount Android on Windows over WiFi using SMB?

> As long as your Android and PC are on the same network, MiXplorer can
> automatically connect with your PC's even if you aren't sharing any
> folders on Windows. You'll be able to see all your Windows drives but
> won't be able to browse any of them. Setting up a Windows share folder
> or drive allows you to browse those Windows drives. Once connected, you
> just copy and paste files/folders between the two devices.

To be clear, I have no problems copying to/from Windows shares from the
Android phone while using the MiXplorer/SMBv2 suggestion you proposed.

The problem is that I want Android to host the SMB share; not Windows.
o I want all the bidirectional copies to be done from the Windows desktop.

This works fine (to varying degrees) for FTP & WebDAV, but not SMB - yet.
o The question is how to access all of Android from Windows over WiFi?

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

That's why we need the help of people who know SMB better than I do.
--
Hard to solve technical problems sometimes require help from many others.

[kelown]

> 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.

[Arlen Holder]

In response to what kelown <kel...@privacy.invalid> 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.

[kelown]

>>> 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.

[Arlen Holder]

In response to what kelown <kel...@privacy.invalid> 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 are:
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.

[Arlen Holder]

In response to what Optimist <curmu...@mailinator.com> wrote :

>>Refugee Buddy Project, Hastings Supports Refugees and Hastings Community of Sanctuary On Tue, 07 Apr 2020 16:09:13 +0100, Peter Johnson <pe...@parksidewood.nospam> wrote:
>
>>On Mon, 06 Apr 2020 15:32:17 +0100, Optimist
>><curmu...@mailinator.com> 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!

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>
o <http://tinyurl.com/alt-comp-freeware>
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.

[Arlen Holder]

> 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 are:
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.

[Arlen Holder]

In response to what Arlen Holder <arlen...@anyexample.com> 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 freeware:

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 are:
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.