Troubleshoot your device issues
robbif's profile

Teacher

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13 Messages

Saturday, February 16th, 2013 12:48 AM

Z431 Problems Using USB

I just purchased the Z431. I was told by the ATT store that I could transfer photos to/from the phone and
my Win 7 laptop. There is no information in the user guide (printed or online version) in setting up and using
the USB connection. So I connected the phone to my Win 7 laptop. Basic USB drivers were installed automatically
by Windows.

My Computer saw an E: drive on the phone, 100% used. It was apparently a "virtual CD-ROM"
with an autorun.exe. I ran the autorun on the phone and it installed the "drivers" and I see them in a
Program Files folder. Now when I connect the phone, Windows (My Computer) does not see it. The autorun
installer apparently marked the virtual CD-ROM hidden. So now Windows does not see the phone.

I tried to find out more information. Only after Googling Z431 did I find the mfr, ZTE.
Here is my corrspondence with ZTE:
============================================
I just purchased the Z431. There is almost no information on setting up and using the USB connection
in the Setup or User Guides. I connected the phone to my Win 7 laptop. The basic USB drivers were
installed automatically by windows. Then I rand the Join Me autorun on the phone and it installed
the Join Me drivers. When I connect the phone, Windows does not see it.
There are no user programs or desktop icons to run Join Me (at least that's how I assume it would work.
No Installation disk was in the ATT box.
1. What do I do?
2. Am I supposed to be able to transfer images from phone to computer and computer to phone?
---
On 2/14/2013 9:52 PM, mobile@zte.com.cn wrote:
>
> Dear Valued ZTE Customer,
>
> Thanks for contacting ZTE.
>
> Please insert an SD card in the device and the connect it to the Computer.
Once after it is connected, please us the below steps to transfer data.
>
> 1.Insert a SD card to the phone.
> 2.Plug the usb cable to the PC, a virtual CD-ROM will appear in My Computer.
> 3.Open the virtual CD-ROM and find autorun.exe, double click it.
> 4.A option list which shows install driver and U-disk mode will appear,
Click U-disk mode in the list .
> The U-disk mode will be open.
> Should there be further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact us.
-----------------------
02/15/2013 08:34 AM
To mobile@zte.com.cn
Subject: Using USB Connection

Thank you for the quick response.

1. I do not have a micro SD card. Do you mean I must purchase one before continuing?

2. Since there were no instructions, not knowing I needed an SD card, I already connected the phone to my
computer and saw the virtual CD-ROM as the E: drive. As I said I then ran the autorun.exe. I saw an option
for Install driver but I believe there was no option fir a U-disk mode.

3. Now that the drivers were installed, when I connect the phone now, there is no virtual CD visible on the
phone. Windows My Computer only sees my laptop's C: drive.

-----------------------
Subject: Re: [Bulk] Re: Using USB Connection Date: Sat, 16 Feb 2013 05:07:36 +0530
You need to buy the SD card.Without the SD card you will not be able to perform the task.
================================================
Earlier today I went back to the ATT Store and the salesman said he aways just takes the SD card
out and puts it in an adapter to connect to to the computer.

Before I got the Feb 16 answer from ZTE via email, I called their tech support and tried to
understand a lady with a heavy foreign accent. After asking her to repeat almost everything she said
several times, I finally asked her: Are you saying I must have an SD card installed? and she said Yes.

Then I spent a while with an ATT tech, a nice, certainly American, named "Elvis". After my explanation,
he said every phone he had didn't need an SD card; he just connected it and the computer
saw it. I told him it isn't so wiith my phone. He even called ZTE himself and got the same answer I did: need an SD card.

(Repeating) My biggest complaint: Nowhere in the User Guide does it explain that you need an SD card - or how to use it - to transfer photos back and forth.

 

Question: What works for you?

 

Expert

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12.2K Messages

11 years ago


@robbif wrote:

Good point about how old the model is. I should've rea;lized that when the installer worked correclty on my wife's Vista machine.

 

I realize that the carrier does not provide the drivers, however:

 

1. The ATT store people just said the phone could be connected to a USB cable. (Maybe no surprise here).

 

2. There's nothing in the ATT User's Guide (printed or online) that explains existance of the installer virtual CD ROM on the phone, how to install (what installer option to choose) or use the drivers, and that a USB cable can them be used to connect the phone to a computer.

 

3. Even the ATT supervisor couldn't, or wasn't able, to get an answer.

 

4. There's still a question as to whether an SD card is necessary to install the drivers. ZTE says yes, ATT tech said no.


1. yes the device can be connected - but connected and usable are really two different things - did the question of OS and machine type come up? Not sure the level of technical expertise of a sales person in any retail outlet when it comes to drivers and connectivty to computers.

2. never seen it, so can;t comment on it

 

3. see response one again on Information Technology knowledge of the supervisor

 

4. when in doubt go with the manufacturer's reponse - they built the device, they wrote the software, they support the device

 

One thing might be possible - get the vista drivers, if they are a executable or a MSI install build then run the installer in compatibility mode - make sure to click on the screen shot button in the link for a more detailed picture of how to do it

 

http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/w7itproappcompat/thread/cdd894f8-1ee2-43e5-952b-d04c25779a7f

Teacher

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13 Messages

11 years ago


@wingrider01 wrote:



1. yes the device can be connected - but connected and usable are really two different things - did the question of OS and machine type come up? Not sure the level of technical expertise of a sales person in any retail outlet when it comes to drivers and connectivty to computers.

2. never seen it, so can;t comment on it

 

3. see response one again on Information Technology knowledge of the supervisor

 

4. when in doubt go with the manufacturer's reponse - they built the device, they wrote the software, they support the device

 

One thing might be possible - get the vista drivers, if they are a executable or a MSI install build then run the installer in compatibility mode - make sure to click on the screen shot button in the link for a more detailed picture of how to do it

 

http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/w7itproappcompat/thread/cdd894f8-1ee2-43e5-952b-d04c25779a7f


Thanks for the advice.

 

1. No one, store, ATT tech, or ZTE asked about OS or machine type!
I tried to specify it in all my complaints.

 

2. http://www.att.com/support_static_files/manuals/ATT_Z431.pdf

 

3. I think I explained that I wasn't surprised that the store was little help; and that I was
not please with ATTs initial tech or the supervisor.

 

4. Again, as I explained, I took the mfr's advice but:
a. since I had already run the installer on my phone it had deleted or hidden itself.
b. It did not display the option that was needed for driver install.

 

5. a. There are no downloads available from the mfr.
b. When I copied the installer from my wife's phone and ran the installer on my Win 7 machine,
the needed option was not available.
c. I did try compatibility mode for Vista and XP to no avail. I've done that many times before
for other issues and am familiar with the process.
d. I had Windows search online for a driver to no avail.

Teacher

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13 Messages

11 years ago

Since I still haven't heard from ZTE, I submitted the following complaint to the Better Business Bureau...

 

1. Purchased a new cellphone from ATT store on 2/18/13 for existing plan.
2. Store rep told me phone could be connected to computer via USB cord for transfer photos back and forth.
3. Nothing in the manual about how to install or use that connection.
4. Installed correctly on a Vista computer (without any documentation help from ATT).
5. Cannot install on my 2 Windows 7 computers.
6. Confusion between ATT and ZTE.
7. Neither ATT "Customer care/tech" rep, ATT supervisor, nor ZTE (phone manufacturer) has provided workable
answers or a solution.
8. The ATT supervisor even told me their "resources" on devices are limited, that they deal mostly with
network and account issues.

 

Requested Solution: Provide installer that works correctly for Windows 7

Expert

 • 

12.2K Messages

11 years ago


@robbif wrote:

Since I still haven't heard from ZTE, I submitted the following complaint to the Better Business Bureau...

 

1. Purchased a new cellphone from ATT store on 2/18/13 for existing plan.
2. Store rep told me phone could be connected to computer via USB cord for transfer photos back and forth.
3. Nothing in the manual about how to install or use that connection.
4. Installed correctly on a Vista computer (without any documentation help from ATT).
5. Cannot install on my 2 Windows 7 computers.
6. Confusion between ATT and ZTE.
7. Neither ATT "Customer care/tech" rep, ATT supervisor, nor ZTE (phone manufacturer) has provided workable
answers or a solution.
8. The ATT supervisor even told me their "resources" on devices are limited, that they deal mostly with
network and account issues.

 

Requested Solution: Provide installer that works correctly for Windows 7


thst would have to come from the device manufacturer, the carrier has no responsiblity for it. Not really suer what you evpect to get from the BBB, there is no requirement for a carrier to supply a device driver for anything.

Teacher

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13 Messages

11 years ago

Initial BBB response...

 

Complaint ID#: xxxxxxxxxx
Business Name: AT&T Mobility - Northeast

 

Thank you for contacting BBB. Your complaint was received by BBB on
March 4, 2013 and has been assigned case# xxxxx in our files. Please
make a note of this number and use it in all future correspondence.

 

Your complaint has been applied to the following business:

AT&T Mobility - Northeast
Office of the President 17000 Cantrell Rd
Little Rock, AR 72223

 

Your complaint will be forwarded to the company for a response. Upon
receipt of their reply, we will send you a copy. If we do not receive a
response from the business, we will contact you to see if you have heard
from the company. Because most businesses care about addressing their
customers, complaints generally are closed as resolved. However, if the
business does not respond to the Better Business Bureau or its customer,
the complaint is closed as unanswered. BBB Reviews reflect a company's
complaints whether closed as resolved, unresolved or unanswered. This
information remains on file for three years.

 

To check the status of your complaint, we encourage you to use our
ONLINE COMPLAINT system. To view the details of your case please go to
the following website address: https://atlanta.app.bbb.org/complaint/view/xxxxxxxxxxxx

Teacher

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13 Messages

11 years ago

Initial ATT Response to BBB complaint....

 

Date: Tue, 5 Mar 2013 21:49:46 +0000
From: ATT OOP RESPONSE
To: xxxxxxx

 

We are in receipt of your recent correspondence and have created case number xxxxxx.
This has been assigned to a specialist in the Office of the President who will be your
point of contact going forward. Over the next few days, xxxxxx will attempt to reach
you to discuss this matter. Additionally, The specialist can be reached directly
at 228-xxx-xxxx if you prefer to reach out to them.

 

Best regards,

Office of the President

Teacher

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13 Messages

11 years ago

The specialist from the ATT president's office called me today.

 

Bottom line: ATT is not responsible for "third party hardware" or the documentation. I wasn't surprised, but expressed my disappointment that at least they would try to get me help, since I've been a wireless customer for many years.

 

The specialist said she would to contact ZTE. She did say the ZTE431 came out only in Oct 2012. If that's so, it's relatively new as I'd initially guessed.

 

So I'll wait and see if ZTE ever responds to my multiple queries.

 

Meanwhile it's:

 

1. Take off the back

2. Take out the battery

3. Take out the micro SD card

4. Put the micro card on a full-HD card adapter

5. Put the adapter in the SD-to-USB adapter

6. Plug the USB adapter into the computer

 

and, of course, the reverse to get the phone everything back together.

Tutor

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8 Messages

11 years ago

I was very upset when I found out I couldn't use Windows 7 with my phone but I know for a fact Vista does work with the Z431.

I found specs and saying its OS is Android 2.3 (Gingerbread) but for being a relatively "newer model"  I can't use the Google play store for Android apps. Also I have tried Zedge net to download wallpapers and zedge doesn't even list it! I really enjoyed zedge net when we had Samsung phones.

Contributor

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1 Message

11 years ago

Follow ZTE's instructions:

 

>
> Dear Valued ZTE Customer,
>
> Thanks for contacting ZTE.
>
> Please insert an SD card in the device and the connect it to the Computer.
Once after it is connected, please us the below steps to transfer data.
>
> 1.Insert a SD card to the phone.
> 2.Plug the usb cable to the PC, a virtual CD-ROM will appear in My Computer.
> 3.Open the virtual CD-ROM and find autorun.exe, double click it.
> 4.A option list which shows install driver and U-disk mode will appear,
Click U-disk mode in the list .
> The U-disk mode will be open.

 

 

These instruction will work but not on 64 bit OS - Vista or Win 7

 

You must have the micro SD card installed.

 

After your initial set up, you still have to run the usbsetup.exe each time once the virtual CD-ROM appears.

 

It works well once set up.

 

You can also transfer pictures via mms to an email address by typing the email address in place of a phone #

 

 

 

 

 

Contributor

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5 Messages

11 years ago

This is kind of late, and I don't know if it helps, but . . .

 

I just bought a z431, which I am fairly happy with, about a month ago.

 

I connected it to my home computer via USB, and it came up with the U-disk/Driver menu.  I selected U-disk, and I could view my files on Windows 7 (Premium Home edition).  

 

Just recently, I connected my Z431 to my office computer, which runs Windows 7 Pro edition, and the menu came up, I chose the U-Disk option, the computer paused to install a driver, and I could view my files.

 

Perhaps, the developer has replaced the driver since February, when you picked up your phone.

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