# Retrieving info from damaged cell phone?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/retrieving-info-from-damaged-cell-phone/333194
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [November 29, 2005, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/retrieving-info-from-damaged-cell-phone/333194 "2005-11-29T13:20:02Z")
**Posts on this page:** 9
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)
#### Post date: [November 29, 2005, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/retrieving-info-from-damaged-cell-phone/333194/1 "2005-11-29T13:20:02Z")
My phone is a Motorola v220. I dropped it at a family gathering and somebody stepped on it. The side with the screen is crushed. It still switches on and access the network but you can’t see anything on the screen or hear anything. It’s screwed. What I want to do is retrieve the phone numbers stored on it. It does have a USB port which I’ve never used and don’t have a cable to fit. Before I run out and buy one, is it possible to hook the thing up to my computer and download the phone book from it? If so, how do I do it?
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### Author:  [@Number](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Number)
#### Post date: [November 29, 2005, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/retrieving-info-from-damaged-cell-phone/333194/2 "2005-11-29T13:41:58Z")
Motorola sells [PhoneTools software](http://direct.motorola.com/ENS/Web_accessories_detail.asp?Country=USA&language=ENS&productid=29309&strPrimaryOption=Acc&lSecondaryOption=16) which sounds like it will do what you want.
> [@](#):
>
> Organization made easy - The intuitive synchronization wizard guides you through the process of updating your calendar and phonebook and provides a back up on your computer. It’s fast and easy to configure the synchronization between your phone and personal information management software. Choose from Microsoft Outlook 97/98/00/02/03, Outlook Express, Lotus Notes or the provided Mobile PhoneTools phone book and calendar client.
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### Author:  [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)
#### Post date: [November 29, 2005, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/retrieving-info-from-damaged-cell-phone/333194/3 "2005-11-29T13:42:28Z")
You need a software application from Motorola called Mobile PhoneTools to access the data from your PC. It is available [here](http://motorola.handango.com/entertainment/PlatformProductDetail.jsp?siteId=522&jid=6C9BE8775X5212B1951ABA6587X3FDC2&carrierId=4&partnerId=47&platformId=6&productType=2&productId=93724§ionId=5409&catalog=50).
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### Author:  [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)
#### Post date: [November 29, 2005, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/retrieving-info-from-damaged-cell-phone/333194/4 "2005-11-29T15:22:17Z")
Cool. It is possible. Anybody know of a free program that will let me do it? I’d prefer not to spend $30 on software for a busted phone, especially since the replacement phone I ordered isn’t a Motorola.
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### Author:  [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)
#### Post date: [November 29, 2005, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/retrieving-info-from-damaged-cell-phone/333194/5 "2005-11-29T15:30:30Z")
My friend had her phone run over by a car. She took it in and after purchasing a new phone, they opened up the old one, removed the memory chip and put it in the new phone. That might be an option for you if you have to get a new phone.
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### Author:  [@spingears](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spingears)
#### Post date: [November 29, 2005, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/retrieving-info-from-damaged-cell-phone/333194/6 "2005-11-29T16:51:56Z")
> [@Joey P](#):
>
> My friend had her phone run over by a car. She took it in and after purchasing a new phone, they opened up the old one, removed the memory chip and put it in the new phone. That might be an option for you if you have to get a new phone.
Unfortunately not all cell phone manufacturers phones employ interchangeable memory cards.
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### Author:  [@Number](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Number)
#### Post date: [November 30, 2005, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/retrieving-info-from-damaged-cell-phone/333194/7 "2005-11-30T00:36:35Z")
Have you checked with your wireless provider? Some provide a service where they will move data to a new phone for a small fee.
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### Author:  [@gazpacho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gazpacho)
#### Post date: [November 30, 2005, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/retrieving-info-from-damaged-cell-phone/333194/8 "2005-11-30T00:42:01Z")
> [@Number](#):
>
> Have you checked with your wireless provider? Some provide a service where they will move data to a new phone for a small fee.
Every time I have upgraded my phone with Verizon they have moved the contact information from one phone to the next as part of the upgrade.
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### Author:  [@Cleophus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cleophus)
#### Post date: [November 30, 2005, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/retrieving-info-from-damaged-cell-phone/333194/9 "2005-11-30T04:03:05Z")
> [@spingears](#):
>
> Unfortunately not all cell phone manufacturers phones employ interchangeable memory cards.
Actually, they do, in a manner of speaking. All GSM cell phones use a SIM card, on which a number of contacts and text messages can be stored. As the OP’s phone is a GSM phone, his contacts may be stored on his SIM card. If that is the case, simply placing the SIM card in another GSM phone will allow access to them.