Photos Missing from Samsung Tablet

Lbreaking bad on 12/03/2015 - 19:19

I'm hoping someone's might be able to help me with a problem with my wife's Samsung Note 10.1 tablet (2014).

A few days ago 500+ photos went missing from the internal storage of her tablet. She's adamant that she didn't delete them and she rarely installs any apps without checking with me first. The photos were located in the DCIM folder. Strangely hundreds of other photos remain in place and are viewable on the device and when the tablet is attached to a PC.

The storage stats on the tablet seem to indicate that the missing photos are still there somewhere as the 16gb storage is still showing about 80% full. But where are they and how can we get them back ?

Ok, I know she should've backed them up but the fact is she didn't and they are Xmas photos that she really wants back.

I've installed 3 different Android recovery programs but can't run any of them because they all require USB mass storage access, which is no longer available in the more recent phones and tablets including my wife's tablet. I chatted online with a customer service rep from Remo Software who admitted their program couldn't do the job. Samsung customer service were equally useless. Their best answer was "Have you tried turning it off and back on again ?" Yeah, thanks.

What's the simplest and safest method of gaining root access to the tablet? Any advice would be greatly appreciated, as would any other alternatives.

Mobile

Comments

  • spychiatrist on 12/03/2015 - 20:33
    +1

    Sorry to hear that. This is why I love Google+ Photos. All my photos are backed up to Google+ Photos whenever I'm connected to wifi. My mobile phone/SDcard can poof right now and I won't care, knowing Google has them. Wait, is that a good thing, Google having all my photos? LOL

    • bluedufflecoat on 13/03/2015 - 09:39

      How do I do this from my phone? I'm using the nexus 4 and it is threatening to die soon… :(

  • Kendrite13 on 12/03/2015 - 20:35
    +2

    A real long shot. Perhaps they've been accidentally moved.

    Plug the tablet into your PC. Navigate to the tablet's root folder using explorer.

    Using Explorer search "*.jpg" (or whatever type of file the tablet saves pictures as).

    Again a long shot but if it's saying the pictures are still taking up space it's worth a try and if the pics are there they will show up.

    Good luck and back them up next time! :)

  • ozhunter on 12/03/2015 - 20:45
    +2

    Try installing quickpic, it might show that they are now in a different location.

    Storage analyser could also show whether or not pictures are on the tablet.

  • breaking bad on 12/03/2015 - 20:49

    Thanks for your suggestions.

  • ufohunter on 12/03/2015 - 21:04

    Also don't store anything new to your card. Google some file recovery software, e.g. Easeus, in case the files really have been deleted by accident.

  • Unorthodox on 12/03/2015 - 21:04

    Check to see if they're "hidden" ie: nomedia file present

  • Davo1111 on 12/03/2015 - 21:17

    I gather you cant use ES explorer to view the photos?

  • breaking bad on 12/03/2015 - 21:25

    When I use ES explorer they aren't there. They had been previously. I just think they're hidden somewhere but I need root access to find them. I 'm just reluctant to go down that path as its my wife's tablet and otherwise its working fine.

    • scrimshaw on 12/03/2015 - 22:26
      +1

      Connect it to your computer and enable "USB debugging mode"

      You can then use ADB (android debug bridge) and then use the pull command to pull data from the device to your machine, using the command as below:

        adb pull /data/media

      Where /data/media is supposedly where your pictures folder is located. Your folder structure will vary.

      To use ADB, you will first need to install ADB and Fastboot tools to your PC — Instructions

      You can try using Samsung Kies and do a complete backup of the tablet. The backup should ideally contain the images that you're looking for — assuming that they are not deleted.

      The other method is to see if the files have been accidentally deleted, by using a file recovery program like EASUS Mobisaver
      http://www.easeus.com/android-data-recovery-software/free-an…

      To root your 2014 edition Note tablet see
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3cMT61ZSASY

      • breaking bad on 12/03/2015 - 22:46

        Thanks for your help. The youtube link had too many negative comments for me to try that particular method. Will give the Samsung Kies backup idea a whirl. Cheers.

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