[Galaxy S III Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] txheart0711:
Hi, I can see that this has been a problem for many users but darned if I can find anywhere that the question has been answered. The one answer that I did find said to download the Android Messaging app from the Playstore. I immediately went to do just that only to see that the app doesn't handle mms anymore. My phone is not rooted, and I'm really terrified to do that. I don't think I can root it anyway, see issue number 3 below.

I bought this phone Christmas 2012 and went with Verizon. We've recently moved and I changed my provider to Cricket. I went to a general cell phone store and they flashed the phone. Since then I've had a few issues. I'm really afraid to root my phone and would rather not have to go that route. Even though this phone is giving me problems, it's still far better than my previous phone, a Huawei Ascend.

First, I can't send pictures. I can receive them just fine, but when I try to send pictures the whole text fails to send, not just the pics. Also, I have to keep any text messages basically within the little window that you type in. If my message is longer than that (I don't know how many characters) then the receiver only sees what has been described as jibberish. So, even though it drives me batty, I have to send texts like "R U NE were near us? Hw mch longer will U B?" Or, instead of "I wanted to go to Kroger but had to got o Walmart instead" I write "at Wally's, hate it here!" arg.... I'm a word/grammar/English nut, shortening my words like that is really irritating.

I've tried the regular stock messaging app, GoSMS, Chomp, Handcent and something else, I can't remember off the top of my head what it was. Apparently it's not the app that's causing the issue. I've tried turning off wifi and just using the cell data, which didnt work.

Second, I am constantly getting a popup message that basically says Please wait while we prepare this application for it's first use. I can't get out of it while it's doing that, I just have to wait for the error message to appear.

Third, for some reason I can not connect my phone to my laptop so that I can back it up. My phone will charge while it's plugged into the USB port, so I know it's connected, but I can't see the phone on my laptop or the laptop on my phone. I've installed, uninstalled and re-installed the Samsung SIII drivers for Windows. I've tried Kies on my desktop, but it wont connect, neither by USB nor wireless. I can get to Kies Air, but I can't figure out how to do a backup from that angle. I've also tried Helium, which tells me to connect my device. This issue is a little worrisome, because sooner or later, I'm really going to wish I had my backed up!

I also have 2 questions ... since I'm not on Verizon any longer, are there any of the Verizon stock apps that I can safely uninstall, without damaging my phone? And, an sd card. I remember on my Ascend I could take out the sd card (at least, I think that's what it was!!) and put it into an adapter thing I bought, then plug that into my computer and do backups, etc that way. I can't figure out if this phone even has an sd card that I can take out like that. I dont see that any of my apps are available to move to the sd card, and the option to mount the sd card is greyed out, so do I even have one?

In spite of these problems, I really do love this phone. It is so much better than my previous phone, a Huawei Ascend. It sure would be nice if these issues could be fixed though, so here I am. Your help is appreciated, thank you in advance!!!

~Ky