Today Directory Opus stopped working correctly for my Samsung Galaxy Phone.
For months, almost on a daily basis, I’ve been using Directory Opus (v12.4 x64 build 6288) to copy pictures from the phone’s DCIM Camera into my PC. Out of the blue, today I can’t drill into that directory (or ANY directory for that matter!) I’ve tried rebooting both PC and phone and I made sure I had the phone set to File Transfer.
I didn't see where I could provide print screens here, so I can't show you that I CAN access the phone directories using lowly Windows File Explorer.
Toggling Preferences / Miscellaneous / Advanced: mtp_enable helps with some setups.
(When set to disabled, more of what happens in MTP folders is delegated to the Windows shell than when set to enabled.)
If you still can't see the phone from Opus, it's possible something is blocking Opus from talking to the phone, e.g. antivirus/firewall software.
If things were working but no longer are, it's likely something changed on the PC (e.g. the big Windows 10 update recently, or security software updates that might start blocking things) or on the phone (Android or Samsung updates, etc.).
MTP is not always reliable for everyone, even when the PC can see the phone. (Whether or not Opus is being used.) Many of us prefer to download an FTP or SFTP server app to our phones and access them using that. It is slightly slower than MTP, but a lot more reliable, and works over wifi without having to plug in a USB cable (which is also why it is slower).
Preferences / Miscellaneous / Advanced were already set to "mtp_enabled".
Since reporting the issue, I noticed that I can't drill down successfully via the "Phone" subdirectory under "Samsung-SM-G920V" in the Folder Tree pane.
(It doesn't matter which directory or subdirectory in the Folder Tree pane that I click on. The Detail pane to its right always shows the same thing:
name: phone
size: 23.9 GB
type: generic hierarchical
free space: 10.6 GB
For any other directory in the Folder Tree pane (say C:), Clicking on any directory lists its subdirectories in the Details pane.)
HOWEVER!
I CAN do the drilling down via that "Phone" directory, as long as I do it in the "Details" pane. I can indeed drill all the way down to the end files in any subfolder there. Curious...
Lastly,
Yes, this all started after I installed the latest BIG Windows update.
I am still on Win7 but I too noticed that MTP has been becoming more unreliable lately on several devices. FTP is not perfect either, but it saves you the trouble with the cable and switching the phone to MTP mode.
I've been suffering from bad MTP for a long time, just until I found out that the problem is within crappy cheap eBay USB cables. Next time you buy a cable, I suggest you go for a shielded one and you probably won't have any more problems. They are priced double than those cheap ones, and yet - they are still cheap enough, but this time those will save you from hassle.
Hmmm, This Forum thing doesn't seem to be doing the trick in terms of solving technical problems... Reminds me of Microsoft or Google Support forums. Can't say I'm impressed so far.
It sounds like this problem has been caused by the Windows 10 Creator's Update, so one easy solution would be to uninstall that. If you're expecting us to solve all issues immediately they are reported (remembering you actually reported this less than 48 hours ago) then you may need to temper your expectations somewhat.
Nice to hear from you again Jonathan. Not having gotten a response from you on the email I sent directly to you, I assumed this problem was consigned strictly to the forum. As such, I deleted the email with the print screens detailing the problem. Had I known you were working the case, I would indeed have waited to see what you had come up with by way of solutions.
I am not a fan of using a forum for tech support - especially one that doesn't provide the option to attach photos/print screens etc.
However, since I have a work around for the newly minted issue, I can certainly until a solution is forthcoming from Directory Opus.
Sorry for the "me too" post, but this issue does look to be caused by the Win10 Creators Update. I have a different brand of phone, but I also can't navigate the folder structure of the phone using the folder tree (the tree does show the folder structure, but clicking a folder does not then show the folder's files in the details pane). Like the OP mentioned, navigating using the details pane works fine. Hopefully you will be able to come up with a workaround for whatever MS has screwed up with the Creators Update.
We will be investigating this, as we want MTP to work as well as possible within the limitations of the operating systems at both ends of the cable. But even once we (or Microsoft) have fixed whatever the Win10 Creators Update appears to have broken, I'd still recommend switching to FTP or SFTP for transferring to/from Android phones and tablets.
Installing & configuring an FTP or SFTP server in Android takes seconds and then just works. The MTP stacks in both Windows and Android have been terrible for years (even in Explorer, with some phones, and often depending on the firmware version in a handset as vendors change things). FTP / SFTP works much better and is rarely, if ever, broken by OS updates to the phone or computer. You can also transfer over wifi without having to physically tether the phone to the computer.
So if you want a super fast fix, that's the way to go, and you'll probably find it works better even once the Win10 Creators Update issue has been investigated and solved.
Okay, I installed FTP server on my phone. In Windows File Explorer, my phone shows up under This PC. I can click on it and drill into my phones files to my hearts content. Some additional setup work was required by Opus and I figured it out and ultimately FTP works in Opus too.
So, is there a savings of time or effort to use FTP vs connecting my USB cable? Unless there's something that I'm missing (and there very likely is), I have to enter FTP host info every time I want to access the phone in Opus. This is not the case in Windows File Explorer. What do I not know?
I have since done some experimenting with file transfers (FTP) between my phone and the PC. FTP loses compared to the direct USB connection in terms of upload or download speed (copying files from phone to PB).
You can use the FTP Address Book in Opus to store credentials and other connection details, and there is an option in the Folder Tree preferences to show the address book FTP sites in the folder tree.
Wifi is usually slightly slower than a USB cable, so for large files MTP may still win on speed (assuming MTP doesn't randomly stop half-way through the transfer, as MTP sometimes does in my experience, even when using Explorer). For things that only take a moment to transfer either way, FTP wins by working wirelessly, which is usually less hassle.
It may work wirelessly, but it's been problematic, at least for me. A little while ago, I moved some photos on my phone (on the phone) from Gallery to Photo Archive. I'd exited Opus to do some other work and I came back here to the forum to look at your latest suggestion. That caused me to reopen Opus and the FTP access to the phone. To my surprise, the DCIM/Camera directory of the phone (as displayed in Opus) still listed those same photo files. They showed up in the Windows Explorer too. So, there seems to be some issue with FTP seeing things that aren't there. On my phone, these photos are no longer in the "Camera" Section under Gallery. Of course, they do show up in the Photo Archive, where I expected them to be.
I think that, for the few times I transfer phone photos to my PC, I'll stick with what I know works - USB connection and Windows Explorer to do find and copy the files. As you note above, I have the benefit of slightly faster transfer speeds as well.
This is a "me too" message.
Same problem with Xiaomi Redme 3 phone in "Directory Opus" after the Win 10 update.
It still works using windows explorer and beyond compare.
I am interested in using it in MTP, not FTP.
Could you please fix it - It is already 6 month, not 48 Hours per Jon's comment above.
The problem with some Samsung phones that started after a Windows 10 update was caused, (not surprisingly!) by the Windows 10 update. A later Windows update corrected it:
kb40167543 MTP driver update causes USB connected phone or portable device issue
(Doesn't fix all MTP problems in Windows/Opus, but should fix the ones introduced by the Win 10 update.)
As I say often, a lot of MTP problems are due to Windows and Android, neither of which have very good implementations of the protocol. We are at the mercy of the MTP stacks at both ends of the cable. If you want something more robust (and wireless), I recommend FTP or SFTP which is easy to set up and usually just works.
