# How to connect my phone to my computer?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-connect-my-phone-to-my-computer/439726
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [March 1, 2008, 7:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-connect-my-phone-to-my-computer/439726 "2008-03-01T07:41:27Z")
**Posts on this page:** 8
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Weirddave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Weirddave)
#### Post date: [March 1, 2008, 7:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-connect-my-phone-to-my-computer/439726/1 "2008-03-01T07:41:27Z")
I have a Razr V3 phone. It has a camera, and I have taken several pictures that I would like to transfer to my computer. I hooked the phone up to the USB port, the computer went through the steps of recognizing the phone and then saying “your new hardware is installed and ready to use”, but I can’t find the phone! Usually stuff connected VIA USB is available as an option on the My Computer page, but the phone isn’t there. Does anyone know where it is or how I can find it?
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### Author:  [@Nametag](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nametag)
#### Post date: [March 1, 2008, 8:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-connect-my-phone-to-my-computer/439726/2 "2008-03-01T08:01:07Z")
[QUOTE=Weirddave]
I have a Razr V3 phone. It has a camera, and I have taken several pictures that I would like to transfer to my computer. I hooked the phone up to the USB port, the computer went through the steps of recognizing the phone and then saying “your new hardware is installed and ready to use”, but I can’t find the phone! Usually stuff connected VIA USB is available as an option on the My Computer page, but the phone isn’t there. Does anyone know where it is or how I can find it?
[/QUOTE]
Do you have sync software installed? If neither the phone nor the cable came with a CD, you’re probably SOL. If your computer has bluetooth, that’s much more likely to work:
[http://www.askdavetaylor.com/sync\_motorola\_razr\_v3c\_with\_windows\_xp\_via\_bluetooth.html](http://www.askdavetaylor.com/sync_motorola_razr_v3c_with_windows_xp_via_bluetooth.html)
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### Author:  [@Fugazi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fugazi)
#### Post date: [March 1, 2008, 8:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-connect-my-phone-to-my-computer/439726/3 "2008-03-01T08:17:42Z")
I have a Razr V3t and it worked no problem. Shows up under explorer as a drive letter. In the case of my work computer, it is “Removable disk E:”
BTW, worked using XP. It also connects right up at home on Linux.
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### Author:  [@Declan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Declan)
#### Post date: [March 1, 2008, 8:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-connect-my-phone-to-my-computer/439726/4 "2008-03-01T08:18:36Z")
[QUOTE=Weirddave]
I have a Razr V3 phone. It has a camera, and I have taken several pictures that I would like to transfer to my computer. I hooked the phone up to the USB port, the computer went through the steps of recognizing the phone and then saying “your new hardware is installed and ready to use”, but I can’t find the phone! Usually stuff connected VIA USB is available as an option on the My Computer page, but the phone isn’t there. Does anyone know where it is or how I can find it?
[/QUOTE]
You either need Motorola phone tools which may or may not have been included in your purchase,or you can pick it up for a fee at most cell phone vendors.
As has been mentioned , if you have either bluetooth or a bluetooth dongle , you can open up my bluetooth places and bond the phone and it only has three directories.
When you hook up the phone without the proper drivers , it will show up as a usb modem, rather than a storage medium.
Declan
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### Author:  [@Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patty_O_Furniture)
#### Post date: [March 1, 2008, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-connect-my-phone-to-my-computer/439726/5 "2008-03-01T14:42:30Z")
> [@](#):
>
> You either need Motorola phone tools which may or may not have been included in your purchase,or you can pick it up for a fee at most cell phone vendors.
Warning: I picked up the sync software from Motorola after I purchased my Razrs. Then discovered it still doesn’t allow me to transfer images from the phone to PC (or do a few other things I wanted to do). I called Motorola and was told that the version of the software they provide is not as full featured as the same software purchased from Verizon.
The whole reason I went to Motorola rather than VZ was because they provided the software at a lowert cost. Now I know why.
I believe you can sign up for something called a PIC Place account where you can send your images from the phone to a VZW web site, but the pic stays pretty small if I recall correctly. It was a while ago and I’ve repressed a lot of these memories in order to maintain my own mental health.
From their [FAQ](http://support.vzw.com/faqs/Picture%20Messaging/faq_pixmessaging.html#item15):
> [@](#):
>
> **Can I send pictures/videos to an e-mail address?**
>
> Yes. All you have to do is type the email address on the addressing screen of your picture/video messaging phone. Please note that picture/video messages addressed to [vtext.com](http://vtext.com) email addresses (e.g., [MTN@vtext.com](mailto:MTN@vtext.com)) will display as standard text messages. The 160-character limit will apply and photos, sounds, other graphics or videos will not display. VERIZON WIRELESS DOES NOT RECOMMEND SENDING PICTURE/VIDEO MESSAGES TO VTEXT ADDRESSES.
You should also read some of the other questions about cost per message, unless it’s already included in your plan.
OK it looks like Motorola is now allowed to provide the full version of the software:
[Motorola Store](http://www.store.motorola.com/mot/en/US/adirect/motorola?cmd=catProductDetail). It’s a $35 download:
> [@](#):
>
> **Motorola Phone Tools Version 4.0**
>
> Personalize with Ringtones, Images and Videos\*: Transfer and store pictures taken with your cell phone camera to your computer. Never have to worry about filling up your cell phone memory again! Take as many pictures as you please and store them all on your computer. Personalize your phone by creating your own ringtones and adding personal pictures or videos to your phone.
As I posted above, this wasn’t the case two years ago when I bought my Razr. Grrr…
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### Author:  [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)
#### Post date: [March 1, 2008, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-connect-my-phone-to-my-computer/439726/6 "2008-03-01T15:20:53Z")
[QUOTE=Patty O’Furniture]
Warning: I picked up the sync software from Motorola after I purchased my Razrs. Then discovered it still doesn’t allow me to transfer images from the phone to PC (or do a few other things I wanted to do). I called Motorola and was told that the version of the software they provide is not as full featured as the same software purchased from Verizon.
[/QUOTE]
This conflicts with my understanding but my info may not be up-to-the-minute.
Verizon has required its phone vendors to disable the ability of its phones from performing multimedia data transfers between the phone and a PC. This is believed to be so that Verizon can charge customers for services like PicPlace. I have a version of Motorola Phone Tools that is older than the 4.0 version you cite. When you just hook up your phone to the PC, Phone Tools does not show any multimedia transfer functions. This is because it detects that the phone does not support it. However, I modified my phone to configure it to allow multimedia transfer. This modification is not supported by Verizon or Motorola and generally voids the warranty. Then when I run Phone Tools, it does show multimedia transfer and I can move ring tones, photos, video, etc.
> [@Fugazi](#):
>
> I have a Razr V3t and it worked no problem. Shows up under explorer as a drive letter. In the case of my work computer, it is "Removable disk E:"
If you can connect a Motorola phone out of the box and see it as a disk then this may be a change in Verizon policy that came after I bought my KRAZR.
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### Author:  [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)
#### Post date: [March 1, 2008, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-connect-my-phone-to-my-computer/439726/7 "2008-03-01T15:44:09Z")
BitPim may be for you: [http://www.bitpim.org/](http://www.bitpim.org/)
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### Author:  [@Declan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Declan)
#### Post date: [March 1, 2008, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-connect-my-phone-to-my-computer/439726/8 "2008-03-01T23:48:51Z")
[QUOTE=CookingWithGas]
If you can connect a Motorola phone out of the box and see it as a disk then this may be a change in Verizon policy that came after I bought my KRAZR.
[/QUOTE]
That may have more to do with the T model having an MMC card, but I could be wrong.
Declan