Greetings SaeedR_706,
That is a good question, however I would suggest rather then using the USB cable, to transfer files over your WiFi network to a shared folder on your Windows 7 Laptop.
This browser is no longer supported.
Upgrade to Microsoft Edge to take advantage of the latest features, security updates, and technical support.
I have a Toshiba Thrive running Android. I can connect it to my PC with a USB cable and access files on my Thrive on the PC. The PC treats the Thrive as a hard drive. Can I connect my Surface in the same way? I have tried and the PC does not appear to see the Surface.
This is a pain, one of the reasons I bought the Surface was to be able to do this type of hard connection and not have to use "iTunes" or the Cloud.
Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.
Greetings SaeedR_706,
That is a good question, however I would suggest rather then using the USB cable, to transfer files over your WiFi network to a shared folder on your Windows 7 Laptop.
Hello Rrccw,
No, you cannot connect the Surface to the PC via USB. However, you can setup Shared folderson your PC. Once you have that, have the Surface connect to the same network via WiFi and then go into Network from the Desktop app, select your PC and then see the Shared Folders. From there, the Surface should have Read/Write access if you gave the permissions on the PC.
I think there may be a USB to ethernet adapter for the Surface. Then you'd just have to connect it to your router, or get a crossover cable to connect the Surface directly to your computer.
You don't need to use Skydrive or a flash drive - you can just copy the pictures directly from your Surface to your PC. All you need to do is share the PC's folder on the network/Homegroup, and the Surface can see it and access it as readily as any other folder.
I've copied videos, pictures, documents to/from my Surface in seconds or minutes this way. The longest any transfer took was when I loaded up my Surface with a bunch of movies for my cousin's New Year's party. That took something like half an hour.
I've always found it inconvenient to have to connect my Android tablets using USB, like oversized flash drives. I have to dig up the right cable or remove it from my usual charging area, and I can't actually use the tablet while the stuff is copying. IMO it's much more convenient to set the Surface doing the copy across the network, and then let the transfer run in the background.
It does not "disrespect users needs". I'm just flabbergasted that you're trying to turn a GIGANTIC positive about Surface-the fact that it can actually function in many ways as a full PC into a negative.
Ethernet doesn't change anything. Either way this can be part of a Windows network. Other tablets can't. This can be connected to most any type of external storage. Other tablets can't.
You transfer files EXACTLY like you can from any PC...which you CAN'T do on any other tablet.
I bought a Surface for a relative, and literally dropped it in where the notebook (and before that desktop) it was replacing sat, and RT worked with ALL the hardware that the previous PC was hooked to. It works flawlessly with an external monitor, and with no intervention installed specific drivers for a printer, scanner, mouse and keyboard. There is NO other tablet that can do that. It's utterly awesome, and you want it crippled so that all it can do is function as a 'dumb' accessory for a PC? What you're describing might be useful, but that's not how USB works, and Surface can do soooo much more than Android or iOS...