Was using CM10 Nightlys, when the infamous RIL Crash plagued my device
Reverted to CM9 Stable, No respite, Flashed Stock now
Tried Various modems DDLPA, XXLPS, XXLQ6, XXKI4
I get network outdoors, but there is no/ very very low network indoors
also even outdoors it randomly drops network (ril crash?), and says not registered on network sometimes
Searched various threads over here no solution seem to have worked, so far
What should I do? please help me save my device from becoming an expensive mp3 player.
Being a bit hysterical aren't we ?
nighh said:
-SNIP-
please help me save my device from becoming an expensive mp3 player.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
nighh said:
Was using CM10 Nightlys, when the infamous RIL Crash plagued my device
Reverted to CM9 Stable, No respite, Flashed Stock now
Tried Various modems DDLPA, XXLPS, XXLQ6, XXKI4
I get network outdoors, but there is no/ very very low network indoors
also even outdoors it randomly drops network (ril crash?), and says not registered on network sometimes
Searched various threads over here no solution seem to have worked, so far
What should I do? please help me save my device from becoming an expensive mp3 player.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Have you only flashed the modem(.bin) file, or the corresponding RIL files too?
Have a look here => http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1881304
If flashing modem and RIL files does not help, check your IMEI (and EFS folder), maybe it is corrupted.
If you have a backup of your EFS folder, try to restore it.
If that does not help either, try to flash the whole ROM again.
Maybe you have to wipe data/do a factory reset in recovery.
Good luck !
MistahBungle said:
Being a bit hysterical aren't we ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have tried everything, been spending whole last week trying different modems, I have tried everything I came across on ril crashes
Last thing to do is Visit the local customer care (which I would like to Avoid till I have no hopes left, they are pathetic)
It_ler said:
Have you only flashed the modem(.bin) file, or the corresponding RIL files too?
Have a look here => http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1881304
If flashing modem and RIL files does not help, check your IMEI (and EFS folder), maybe it is corrupted.
If you have a backup of your EFS folder, try to restore it.
If that does not help either, try to flash the whole ROM again.
Maybe you have to wipe data/do a factory reset in recovery.
Good luck !
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the help
wipe data/do a factory reset is already done
I have flashed the .zip file, I guess it contains the ril too, also checked weather the modem and ril match after flashing by using GetRil
IMEI seems intact, I can see it, Will try to restore it, I have an old efs backup as well
It_ler said:
Have you only flashed the modem(.bin) file, or the corresponding RIL files too?
Have a look here => http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1881304
If flashing modem and RIL files does not help, check your IMEI (and EFS folder), maybe it is corrupted.
If you have a backup of your EFS folder, try to restore it.
If that does not help either, try to flash the whole ROM again.
Maybe you have to wipe data/do a factory reset in recovery.
Good luck !
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Restored EFS too, IMEI was ok and after restore IS ok, still no respite.
Any other solutions i might try?
Im in a very similar situation. Something went terribly wrong with one of the cm10 nightly's and my phone got HW bricked. Since that ive swapped out the motherboard and am know encountering this problem too. My efs is probably not as unadulterated as it could be but my IMEI is correct.
However with the sim in, About phone shows mobile network is disconnected, signal strength is 0, does not even know my own phone number. Cant find any networks when i search for them.
Any advice? OP what methods had you tried?
Gajselva said:
Im in a very similar situation. Something went terribly wrong with one of the cm10 nightly's and my phone got HW bricked. Since that ive swapped out the motherboard and am know encountering this problem too. My efs is probably not as unadulterated as it could be but my IMEI is correct.
However with the sim in, About phone shows mobile network is disconnected, signal strength is 0, does not even know my own phone number. Cant find any networks when i search for them.
Any advice? OP what methods had you tried?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My EFS was clean, never touched it, still restored a backup, nothing happened
Things I have tried are:
go to CM9 Stable (Wipe/Factory Reset from recovery)
Go to Stock
Try Various modems (try which go with your country and firmeare(tough they can be mix matched))
GSII Repair
Check for matching ril and modem using GetRil
fix permissions
I would suggest you to try GetRil first to check weather the modem and ril match
Give some time for modem to get adjusted to your network.
be extra careful with the efs.
Any Solutions Anyone?
Related
My brother's SIII Was on android 4.0.4 i updated it to 4.3 with odin everything was fine, i could see the network bars but when i try calling it says "not registered on Network"! I searched the internet for hours and i realized people who had this issue had a problem with their efs partition and a wrong imei is observed; but when i type the imei code everything is fine i don't get a "0000" or "004". I even tried hundreds of roms countless modem files and still nothing! Please i need your help to fix this issue i cannot have this phone spoiled so soon please!!:crying:
wildechap said:
My brother's SIII Was on android 4.0.4 i updated it to 4.3 with odin everything was fine, i could see the network bars but when i try calling it says "not registered on Network"! I searched the internet for hours and i realized people who had this issue had a problem with their efs partition and a wrong imei is observed; but when i type the imei code everything is fine i don't get a "0000" or "004". I even tried hundreds of roms countless modem files and still nothing! Please i need your help to fix this issue i cannot have this phone spoiled so soon please!!:crying:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just restore your backup efs! (Or let me guess you did not back it up)
Seriously though have you used the patched modem mg4 that is floating about I presume you have?
Here is a couple of links to look at >> http://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-s3/help/solved-upgrade-to-4-3-network-fixed-t2547450 << >> http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=43946365&postcount=15 <<
Also there is a efs thread I suggest posting your question in there.
Thank you but i had to downgrade back to 4.0.4 before applying the XEMG4. I also wish to know what causes this and if i am condemned to stay on 4.0.4?
Your efs folder is corrupted or incompatible with later firmwares that require efs v2. Only solution is restore a backup or a competent repair.
Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk
Hi, sorry if this has been answered, but I can't find it.
I recently combined two broken i9300's (one with a bricked motherboard (gets into download mode, product name blank, think it's SDS), the other with a smashed screen) by transferring the motherboard from the smashed one to the other.
It seemed to work fine for a while, but after a week the phone lost signal, showing no service. Rebooting the phone fixed this, however this has now been happening more and more often, and now doesn't have any service even after booting.
Does anyone know what the problem could be, and how to fix it?
Thanks.
EDIT: I managed to restore service again by flashing the stock ROM through Odin (was running stock already), but it lost it again after a few hours.
pnz said:
Hi, sorry if this has been answered, but I can't find it.
I recently combined two broken i9300's (one with a bricked motherboard (gets into download mode, product name blank, think it's SDS), the other with a smashed screen) by transferring the motherboard from the smashed one to the other.
It seemed to work fine for a while, but after a week the phone lost signal, showing no service. Rebooting the phone fixed this, however this has now been happening more and more often, and now doesn't have any service even after booting.
Does anyone know what the problem could be, and how to fix it?
Thanks.
EDIT: I managed to restore service again by flashing the stock ROM through Odin (was running stock already), but it lost it again after a few hours.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Check IMEI and serial if corrupted. If it shows your correct IMEI and serial then it's fine. Otherwise you may have an EFS problem.
Report back please.
Benko111 said:
Check IMEI and serial if corrupted. If it shows your correct IMEI and serial then it's fine. Otherwise you may have an EFS problem.
Report back please.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
IMEI and serial are both fine (non-zero and non-null anyway). IMEI matches the label from the smashed phone. However, it's connected at the moment (just re-flashed the stock ROM again). Will update again the next time it loses service.
EDIT: Just lost service again. Only took about 10 minutes after flashing. IMEI and serial are still fine. I also forgot to mention that the motherboard I'm using is from a New Zealand phone, whereas the casing/screen is from a French phone. Don't know if that makes a difference. I tried flashing a French stock ROM, but that gave me an unknown baseband and null IMEI. Flashing the NZ ROM again fixed that.
EDIT2: And another correction. IMEI and serial showed fine after losing service, but I then rebooted the phone. Still no service, baseband is now unknown, IMEI is null and the serial number is non-zero but different than it was. However, I'm sure if I reflashed the ROM again I'd have service for a few minutes, so it doesn't seem like the EFS is entirely corrupt. I'm scratching my head a bit at this one.
pnz said:
IMEI and serial are both fine (non-zero and non-null anyway). IMEI matches the label from the smashed phone. However, it's connected at the moment (just re-flashed the stock ROM again). Will update again the next time it loses service.
EDIT: Just lost service again. Only took about 10 minutes after flashing. IMEI and serial are still fine. I also forgot to mention that the motherboard I'm using is from a New Zealand phone, whereas the casing/screen is from a French phone. Don't know if that makes a difference. I tried flashing a French stock ROM, but that gave me an unknown baseband and null IMEI. Flashing the NZ ROM again fixed that.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Judging from your last two sentences you actally have got an EFS problem. Just to clarify: you get generic IMEI & serial with every other ROM you flashed besides the original NZ stock?
Otherwise it might just be the modem not fitting the ROM, try another (if possible original 3-part stock firmware), but make a Nandroid backup or save your EFS otherwise in case you need it later.
Benko111 said:
Judging from your last two sentences you actally have got an EFS problem. Just to clarify: you get generic IMEI & serial with every other ROM you flashed besides the original NZ stock?
Otherwise it might just be the modem not fitting the ROM, try another (if possible original 3-part stock firmware), but make a Nandroid backup or save your EFS otherwise in case you need it later.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not generic IMEI but null IMEI. Not sure about generic serial, not sure how to tell the difference. And I'm now seeing the same on the NZ stock firmware after a reboot.
Is a Philz Touch EFS backup sufficient? Anything else I should backup as well?
Well, since EFS is broken already it should be sufficient. To be on the safe site you can additionally save the EFS folder with Root Explorer.
If you have a working EFS you would need to save it with an EFS saving tool like 'Samsung Tool' in this forum somewhere.
Then you got to go through the EFS threads for i9300 and hope to be able to fix this.
Benko111 said:
Well, since EFS is broken already it should be sufficient. To be on the safe site you can additionally save the EFS folder with Root Explorer.
If you have a working EFS you would need to save it with an EFS saving tool like 'Samsung Tool' in this forum somewhere.
Then you got to go through the EFS threads for i9300 and hope to be able to fix this.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've already gone through all the EFS threads I could find. Haven't seen anyone with the same problem (sometimes it works, briefly, then it stops). Everyone else with the baseband unknown, IMEI null/null problem seems to have that all the time. Was hoping someone would be able to tell me what's different with mine.
pnz said:
I've already gone through all the EFS threads I could find. Haven't seen anyone with the same problem (sometimes it works, briefly, then it stops). Everyone else with the baseband unknown, IMEI null/null problem seems to have that all the time. Was hoping someone would be able to tell me what's different with mine.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How should anybody know from the distance? We can just give hints and point you into directions, now you've got to read & google and if you're
persistent enough you will solve your problem - as long as it's not hardware related.
Another great but a bit chaotic resource:
http://forum.gsmhosting.com/vbb/
Benko111 said:
How should anybody know from the distance? We can just give hints and point you into directions, now you've got to read & google and if you're
persistent enough you will solve your problem - as long as it's not hardware related.
Another great but a bit chaotic resource:
http://forum.gsmhosting.com/vbb/
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry, just meant that I thought somebody might have seen this exact problem before.
I think I've solved this. Used the repair NV data option (to fix broken baseband) in EFS Professional, and it seems to be working fine. Will see if it's still working after a few days though.
My best guess is that this was a file permissions error.
pnz said:
I think I've solved this. Used the repair NV data option (to fix broken baseband) in EFS Professional, and it seems to be working fine. Will see if it's still working after a few days though.
My best guess is that this was a file permissions error.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, not fixed. Worked fine for a few days then the problem came back. Just tried a non-stock ROM (Omega) and same thing. Trying a CM-based ROM now (ParanoidAndroid), but not too hopeful.
Still don't understand why it works for hours/days, then suddenly stops. Rebooting it fixes it the first few times, then that stops working as well (and I get baseband unknown at this point). Flashing a new ROM always fixes it, for a few hours/days anyway.
Sounds like a hardware issue, possibly nand memory becoming corrupt hence why it works for a while on a fresh install.
Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk
boomboomer said:
Sounds like a hardware issue, possibly nand memory becoming corrupt hence why it works for a while on a fresh install.
Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Any workarounds you can suggest? Just had the problem happen again on cyanogenmod, so that didn't fix it.
Try reading the freezing thread in general forum, see if the memory test tool will compete after a full wipe and fresh install of a stock firmware.
Other than that only a new motherboard, as the emmc chip is damaged.
Hello all,
My partner bought a Galaxy S3 (GT-i1900) International (I live in the UK) off a friend .
We noticed that the network connection periodically failed. I noticed that the software was some of the earliest on this phone, and so i thought I'd better update it, as it was suggested that sometimes if the phone is running some of it's earliest software it can cause problems with the network connection, and as it works 95% of the time, surely it can't be the antenna? I went to software update and tried to update it there, it's then I realised the phone had been rooted, and even Kies would not update it. I came to the conclusion that perhaps my friend had tried to mess with the phone some how, and may have caused this network problem, or perhaps was trying to cure it? Who knows
I decided to flash the latest stock rom (i9300XXUGMK6_I9300OXAGMK6_I9300XXUGMK6_HOME.tar.md5) I found on Sammobile. Everything went well, the phone booted up perfectly, the only minor worry being that the first screen was in Polish, quickly remedied by changing the language to English UK. All seemed fine, until we tried to make a call. it was then we realised that there was no network connection whatsoever. I tried other sim cards with other networks - still no connection. It only shows the signal bars.
I read the forums for a couple of days and tried:
Going in Network Settings and searching for my network, 3, which it found amongst all others. it said 'Registered on Network' but then immediately flashed up '3 network not connected' or similar. fail.
Installing CWM recovery, then flashing the 2 modem zips (DDEMG2 & XXDME4) all went fine, but the phone still says 'disconnected' under Device settings Mobile network state
Using the Ariza patch. I tried this, but on the last step where it says 'just click patch' mine gets stuck on a downloading state, possibly as I'm using a stock rom I read some kernel has to be changed first? - Beyond me.
It was then I decided to scrutinize every difference between my working S3, exactly same phone on same network, and my partners.
The IMEI number was correct, something I see people have problems with. The signal strength reading are the same, suggesting the antenna at least is fine.
The serial number - Now this is the ONLY thing I can see that seems to have been changed, from the correct format, to one starting with 4df1 ...... Is this the problem, that has made the phone not register with network? In the UK phones are not locked into a specific phone number /contract and so I don't see how the network would decline a differing serial number?
Anyway that's where I'm at a phone that has no network connection, with a differing serial number.
Any help would be GREATLY appreciated.
extra[/ATTACH]
Screenshots of the device status in case that helps . SCREENSHOTS REMOVED DUE TO PRIVATE INFO
I've noticed after Googling the baseband version, it says 'New modem DDEMG2 (16/07/13) India,Sri Lanka,Bangladesh'
I live in the UK and have a network free unlocked unbranded International S3!
Surely the steps I followed to flash the modems as stated above are incorrect?!
Do I need to flash the UK one?
Anyone know which one for 4.3?
How do I do it and where would I find it?
Any help greatly appreciated!
ricrea said:
extra[/ATTACH]
Screenshots of the device status in case that helps .
I've noticed after Googling the baseband version, it says 'New modem DDEMG2 (16/07/13) India,Sri Lanka,Bangladesh'
I live in the UK and have a network free unlocked unbranded International S3!
Surely the steps I followed to flash the modems as stated above are incorrect?!
Do I need to flash the UK one?
Anyone know which one for 4.3?
How do I do it and where would I find it?
Any help greatly appreciated!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Go to Samsungmobile and download 4.3 BTU ( it's for Uk,simfree phones.) Flash via Odin,maybe that will help
Sent from my GT-I9300 using XDA Free mobile app
thanks so much for the response!
Im sure that romwas the btu one? Does it not seem correct? I will check again.
ricrea said:
thanks so much for the response!
Im sure that romwas the btu one? Does it not seem correct? I will check again.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't think so since setup started in Polish
Sent from my GT-I9300 using XDA Free mobile app
Attached is the screenshot the latest 4.3 btu. It wants me to download. Ive just looked on the phone, and it is the same
name exactly, and this is where I got it from. What could have gone wrong?
many thanks
ricrea said:
Attached is the screenshot the latest 4.3 btu. It wants me to download. Ive just looked on the phone, and it is the same
name exactly, and this is where I got it from. What could have gone wrong?
many thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You mean Pda,Csc and Modem are the same? Or md5 is the same?
Sent from my GT-I9300 using XDA Free mobile app
YOU ARE CORRRECT. Im downloading and the file name is different. No idea what i did.
Thanks for your help.
ricrea said:
YOU ARE CORRRECT. Im downloading and the file name is different. No idea what i did.
Thanks for your help.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Report back if you get your network back:thumbup:
Sent from my GT-I9300 using XDA Free mobile app
ricrea said:
YOU ARE CORRRECT. Im downloading and the file name is different. No idea what i did.
Thanks for your help.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi couple of things first you have posted screen shots with your mobile no and Imei no on I would delete them
I am pretty sure flashing another rom won't fix your issue you can easily use roms from a different region and still have full network connection but you can give it a try as suggested above.
First thing first because you have upgraded your phone your efs as changed from efs v1 to efs v2 (which you probably already know) flashing the (DDEMG2 & XXDME4) modems would not work because you need a modem later than mg4 for 4.3 roms.
What you need to try is flash a patched mk6 modem and kernel from here >> https://drive.google.com/folderview...sharing&tid=0B6MIUd7HJudAbU5YaGkzOUowMG8#list << flash then reboot if you get stuck in a bootloop factory reset and wipe cache in recovery.You could also try this >> http://forum.xda-developers.com/gal...ii-network-problem-update-sn-t1918601/page199 << look at post 1984 this is basically the same thing with a rom included and as had some success.
If the patched modems do not work and you don't have a efs backup then I would suggest you need to send for repair.
tallman43 said:
Hi couple of things first you have posted screen shots with your mobile no and Imei no on I would delete them
I am pretty sure flashing another rom won't fix your issue you can easily use roms from a different region and still have full network connection but you can give it a try as suggested above.
First thing first because you have upgraded your phone your efs as changed from efs v1 to efs v2 (which you probably already know) flashing the (DDEMG2 & XXDME4) modems would not work because you need a modem later than mg4 for 4.3 roms.
What you need to try is flash a patched mk6 modem and kernel from here >> https://drive.google.com/folderview...sharing&tid=0B6MIUd7HJudAbU5YaGkzOUowMG8#list << flash then reboot if you get stuck in a bootloop factory reset and wipe cache in recovery.You could also try this >> http://forum.xda-developers.com/gal...ii-network-problem-update-sn-t1918601/page199 << look at post 1984 this is basically the same thing with a rom included and as had some success.
If the patched modems do not work and you don't have a efs backup then I would suggest you need to send for repair.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks. I have absolutely no idea what EFS is or how to back up. I would never have usually played with a phone like this it's just my partner was getting fed up of the connection disapearing every now and again, forcing her to reset. I have about 12 hours worth of knowledge on root access, flashing and modifying phones. I am worried I'm going to completely brick the phone. Is there anyway I can make a back of the phone as it is so that if I mess things up I can some how reset it, as at the moment I have Nothing as such. I am going to read up on EFS, I suspect due to the fact the phone was already rooted when I bought it, yet still stuck on the original software and and not updated in anyway, with a pre-exsisting network connection issue, that the phone was already un fixable. I hope not.
I will try all the steps suggested and post results.
Thanks a lot people
ps i hardly have any experience of using forums so sorry if i'm making a mess of this
ricrea said:
Thanks. I have absolutely no idea what EFS is or how to back up. I would never have usually played with a phone like this it's just my partner was getting fed up of the connection disapearing every now and again, forcing her to reset. I have about 12 hours worth of knowledge on root access, flashing and modifying phones. I am worried I'm going to completely brick the phone. Is there anyway I can make a back of the phone as it is so that if I mess things up I can some how reset it, as at the moment I have Nothing as such. I am going to read up on EFS, I suspect due to the fact the phone was already rooted when I bought it, yet still stuck on the original software and and not updated in anyway, with a pre-exsisting network connection issue, that the phone was already un fixable. I hope not.
I will try all the steps suggested and post results.
Thanks a lot people
ps i hardly have any experience of using forums so sorry if i'm making a mess of this
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Don't worry just take your time and read all the guides if you install a custom recovery you can do a nandroid backup which is basically a full backup of everything on your phone and will restore your phone to how it was before (if you do it right) I recommend using PhilZ recovery and flash it with Odin.
tallman43 said:
Don't worry just take your time and read all the guides if you install a custom recovery you can do a nandroid backup which is basically a full backup of everything on your phone and will restore your phone to how it was before (if you do it right) I recommend using PhilZ recovery and flash it with Odin.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have cwm recovery will this suffice?
I'm using Samsungtool as we speak to back up the EFS folder.
ricrea said:
I have cwm recovery will this suffice?
I'm using Samsungtool as we speak to back up the EFS folder.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yep that will do fine although you are backing up a partially corrupt efs that's the reason you are not getting a signal because the efs v2 can't read the modern correctly that's why you may need a patched modem & kernel to help read it.But back it up anyway in case the efs gets any worse and gets totally corrupt.
tallman43 said:
Yep that will do fine although you are backing up a partially corrupt efs that's the reason you are not getting a signal because the efs v2 can't read the modern correctly that's why you may need a patched modem & kernel to help read it.But back it up anyway in case the efs gets any worse and gets totally corrupt.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That was my thinking, the IMEI isn't corrupt yet so I thought best to back up what I have. Ive also backed up using CWM.
Im now trying to flash the proper version of 4.3 for my unlocked uK S3, so im at least using the correct os.
Im flashin zip from cwm, but when i select it on my sd card, it says the following:
Finding update package...
Opening update package...
Installing update...
Installation aborted.
Any ideas why it won't install? Iv'e been Googling it
for 2 hours.
cheers
update - I spent ten hours downloading the proper rom 4.3 btu uk unlocked one, finally flashed it using mobile odin.....
started in Polish again - with no network. I think that this is standard.
Next, I am going to try to flash the patched modem.
tallman43 - do you think my strange serial number needs to be corrected? Is this possible or necessary?
Many thanks - one very tired migraine creating finger-nail biter.
Update:
I finally got the phone to work by following the instructions on the page below;
http://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-s3/help/guide-fixing-gt-i9300-network-4-3-stock-t2609635
The patched kernel didn't work on it's own, but the kernel I installed from this thread, along with the other two files, seemed to work, and though the phone is now registered using a much better Android 4.3, it still disconnects every now and again forcing a restart. I really wish I could work out why it does this, I'm starting to believe it may be a hardware issue now.
Is there a program that I could use to test the part of the phone that malfunctions and loses signal completely, to try and work out what is happening when the phone suddenly loses all signal and shows only a circle with a line on it (no sign)
Many thanks to all the people who helped me with this I really appreciate it.
I want to close this thread now as what I require now is off topic from the original post so many thanks for your help people.
I have a I9300 that is not getting any network, the IMEI is 0049... and the serial number is a string of zeros. It was previously running stock 4.1.2 but I wanted to upgrade to at least the latest official ROM - 4.3 and thats how I ended up in this situation.
I've been a Linux user forever and I've owned and flashed a few Android phones in the past but this is my first Samsung Android handset and so the first time I've been bitten by efs. I did lots of reading before attempting the upgrade so I knew to backup the efs partition before doing any flashing. I did this with ktool but restoring my efs backup to various ROMs hasn't restored my network connectivity.
I'm on the 3 network in the UK so when I've been using Odin to restore stock ROMs (I've tried restoring both 4.3 and 4.1.2) I've been using the BTU versions ie
I9300XXUGMK6_I9300OXAGMK6_BTU
I9300XXEMG4_I9300OXAEMG4_BTU
I have now spent four full days reading and trying various solutions suggested in an array of threads on this forum, I've read all the stickies in http://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-s3/general/samsung-galaxy-s3-sticky-roll-thread-t2344125 plus many more threads and now I've just about given up. I've tried flashing various unofficial ROMs too like CM 10.2, 11 and RevolutionS5 but they all have no network.
My phone is not in factory mode and I've tried zuluman's patched kernel/modem with 4.3 without any luck. I've tried factory resets, deleting /efs, changing the permissions of and editing nv_data.bin with a hex editor amongst other tricks. No go.
So it seems my only remaining option is to take / send my phone to be repaired or fork out for one of these hardware devices that claim to be able to repair IMEI issues. Problem is then I'm back to square one, I've not learned what I wanted to about my phone (how to safely reflash/upgrade it) and I'll be stuck on whatever the repair shop leave me with.
I'd much, much rather fix this myself as then that opens the doors to experimentation, it will prolong the (so far all too brief) life of my phone and be much more satisfying. Until now I thought the SGS3 was (is?) a class phone and I think its much better than the Nexus 4 I had previously, despite inferior specs in many respects.
I'm sure its possible to recover from this without buying dedicated hardware or at least it should be..
I bought my phone 2nd hand less than three months ago but its no longer under any warranty. Another thing that could be an issue is that I was sold it without a box and there is no IMEI printed under or on the battery.
Thanks for your help!
It would seem from my experimentation that reflashing stock ROMs with Odin on the I9300 doesn't affect the efs partition, or at least the stock ROMs I've been flashing don't repair/recreate efs.
I'd be perfectly happy using the Samsung generic IMEI if it will let me connect to my phone network. If anyone knows how might enable that, please speak up!
Same problem encountered before until now...
This are when the problem starts.
My GS3 International had CynagenMod stable build.
1. I've noticed one morning that my GS3 is stuck in a bootloop.
2. Tried reflashing the stable CM ROM, but still stuck n the bootloop.
3. Tried flashing my stock rooted firmware from my TWRP backup.
- after this, I've noticed that only emergency calls and not registered on network always appears.
- my IMEI becomes now generic with 0049...00 but with serial number.
4. Tried sending it for repair in our local cellphone repair shop. Network signal is fixed now but it always ask for permission for the radio. So battery drain is massive.
5. I didn't send it back. Tried to fix it myself. Installed the stock firmware 4.3 using jellybean. To my surprise, the IMEI and serial number comes back. But still no network signal (emergency calls only).
Lastly, still looking for a fix. If anyone had a fix for this one this will be a great help. Also tried restoring/updating through Kies. All the process I took had failed.
Not sure if the problem was the EFS/IMEI or the modem or radio install from the firmware I just installed.
For now, I'm using the stock 4.3 firmware. The only problem now is the network signal. Any suggestions or fix is a great help. TIA!
I have read of people fixing the no network by flashing a known good efs image but I suppose it would have to contain a working generic IMEI. Please PM me if you have such an image for a i9300. I'll have to find such a thread again and get PM'ing.
I've been disappointed by a few things in trying to upgrade my SGS3.
* There is no well documented fix for this EFS/IMEI/no network issue
* This issue seems to be very common for SGS3 owners who have attempted an upgrade to 4.3 or flashing alternate ROMs yet there is no mention of any of this on
http://wiki.cyanogenmod.org/w/Known_Issues_page_for_i9300
and
http://wiki.cyanogenmod.org/w/SGS3FAQ
There needs to be.
* It doesn't seem Heimdall is able to flash a tar.md5 in one hit like Odin can which is a shame for us Linux and OSX users
Great phone but not for hackers and tweakers it seems.
Sounds like the efs was already corrupt before you tried the upgrade, probably a previous botched repair which only worked on 4.1
Take it to a repair centre and pay for them to recode it for you, there is no other fix. Make sure it connects on 4.3 before you pay.
Suggestion: flash a firmware older than MG4 and let it update OTA or by KIES. Generating the efs-v2-data may solve.
the battle rages on...
rp158:
That sounded like a good suggestion to me so I used Odin to install I9300XXELL4_I9300OXAELL4_BTU, which predates MG4. Because the aim was to try an OTA update, I did not root or flash a custom recovery as I know they don't like that.
Like all the ROMs I've tried since my prob, it installed fine but I get no network. After connecting to wifi I first tried OTA via Settings -> About Device -> Software update -> Update but it just says "Failed to update firmware due to network or server problem". I can browse the internet fine so could this be a problem with Three (my telco)? I've heard of some providers blocking OTA.
So next I tried Kies (not Kies 3) under Windows 8. I went to Tools -> Firmware Upgrade and Initialisation but I just get the error 'GT-I9300 does not support initialising'. Fail, fail and fail!
I've yet to run 'Triangle away' and so I have several flash count points listed on the download screen. Could this stop OTA from working? Is there a limit to the number of flashes you can perform before something nasty happens? I presume its just something retailers check before they refund or repair phones.
Something else I noticed while fighting my phone today was that recovery says the CSC code is now KOR. Could that stop OTA working?
Likes me a good idea to run 'Triangle away': I think there is no max. count for flashes, but perhaps counter>0 and status=custom block the update-procedure. So try after unroot both methods again. (CSC-code I down't know.)
Whilst still running I9300XXELL4_I9300OXAELL4_BTU, I rooted it then successfully ran Triangle Away to clear the flash counter before running csc changer to change my CSC to BTU (from KOR). I would've changed it to XEU but that wasn't an option. I checked that worked fine, which it did, and running CSC changer also (conveniently, in my case) un-roots your phone.
After that I tried updating via both Kies and 'About Device' software update but both just gave me the same errors as before so scratch another idea off my very long list then.
Then go to #5
rp158 said:
Then go to #5
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
?
Do you mean Odin flash I9300XXEMB5, which I think is the last release before MG4?
pfmdan said:
?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry, too short. Post 5 = repair by Samsung.
So, if I choose to get my phone fixed, has this proven that I will be unable to flash any alternate ROMs on it without losing my network/IMEI/serial again?
Maybe I should've backed up my EFS with philz recovery or dd insteal of ktool, then I might not have ended up in this situation?
Maybe the US/Qualcomm models of the S3 are safe to flash with alternate ROMS whilst the Exynos-based models aren't?
Can anyone recommend a good repair service in the UK if my local repair shops can't help?
Thanks for your suggestions rp158!
pfmdan said:
So, if I choose to get my phone fixed, has this proven that I will be unable to flash any alternate ROMs on it without losing my network/IMEI/serial again?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, that's unnormal. But read before flashing, what users say (some beta's or nightlies are buggy).
Maybe I should've backed up my EFS with philz recovery or dd insteal of ktool, then I might not have ended up in this situation?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Probably. I suggest Philz, TWRP or by TerminalEmulator.
Can anyone recommend a good repair service in the UK if my local repair shops can't help?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Official Samsung repair-service.
I thought Philz was the only recovery that gave you the option of backing up EFS? I didn't think TWR supported EFS backup/restore? CWM doesn't.
TWRP can, of course.
A corrupted efs can also effect the stability and use of wifi as mac address etc is also stored there.
Check if there is a backup of your efs. Some roms make a backup of it also - neatrom for example. Try flashing xxemg4 or later baseband to see if it fixes it because after having the later bb you also have efs v2
FIXED
Thanks to everyone who made suggestions in trying to get my phones connection back. Its working again now. My 0049 IMEI has gone, my real IMEI come back and my serial number has returned so I can make and receive calls again!
The thing that was preventing my connection and leaving me to suffer the dreaded 'Emergency Calls Only' and 'Not registered on network' errors was nothing to do with EFS but because I had an incorrect CSC. I had flashed stock BTU roms instead of H3G, which is what I should've used being on Three. As soon as I flashed a rom with the correct CSC, my IMEI and serial numbers both returned and this allowed the zuluman patched modem / kernel combo to work. I'm now happily running 4.3 whereas I was previously on a rooted stock 4.1.2.
There are literally 100's of threads on the S3 forums here with S3 owners ending up with a generic IMEI and no serial after attempting a 4.3 upgrade and the standard response is nearly always 'your EFS is probably corrupt' or 'your EFS in the wrong format'. That will be the case sometimes but I'd bet that more often than not the EFS is fine (if updated) and users have flashed a CSC for the wrong region for their telephone network.
Key tools in getting this prob fixed that hardly get any mention are the csc changer app (downloadable via Play but requires root and also factory resets/unroots when run) and A.S_id's rescue firmware
http://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-s3/general/odinfirmware-sgsiii-i9300-prerooted-t1825272/
I'd recommend I9300 users flash A.S._id's ROM if they can't find a firmware with the correct CSC for their network and/or csc changer doesn't restore their IMEI and serial.
Lets fix these forums by getting this info into the FAQs in both the general and QA stickies because I know it to be missing hence the endless invalid IMEI / no network postings.
I'll be back shortly wth more details and suggested additions to the S3 FAQs / stickies.
Thanks all!
I've ended up running A.S._id's 4.3 deodexed 'stock' ROM w/ Boeffla 5.3 kernel and zuluman's patched XXUGMK6 modem.
When I used zuluman's patched XXUGMK6 kernel, I would experience small but frequent glitches in 3G streamed audio. I don't have this problem with Boeffla 5.3.
I'd also highly recommend stock TW users turn off smart screen to massively increase your battery life very easily.
Hi guys,
I recently bought an s3 that the previous owner had messed up (stuck at samsung logo), so I thought okay this is just gonna be a simple reflash. It's a i9300, I have no idea what carrier it comes from. - I live in South Africa and its most likely vodacom/vodaphone.
Anyway, I install the ultimaROM (cwm was still working) and I couldn't connect to anything when it booted - wifi, bluetooth, and cellular network. So I checked and I had no IMEI number and my baseband version was unknown, and from there I tried to backup and the restore the corrupted efs folder, which didn't work. (At this point I thought this was a stolen phone.)
After this I found the stock rom on sammobile and flashed it, and this enabled the cellular network which is working perfectly, but the wifi and bluetooth still doesn't work - tried on various kernels and roms. Currently I'm back at ultimaROM, it has a really nice feel.
I should explain that when i move the wifi switch to on (in settings) it stays there for a second or two then goes back to the left - it doesn't switch on.
I'd appreciate any guidance, if possible. My S5 was recently stolen and unfortunately I had no insurance on the phone:crying:
Do a full wipe, preload and internal sd card then reflash the latest stock firmware. Factory reset after in recovery.
If still the same then check if Mac address is valid, efs problems can corrupt it.
After that is it probably hardware.
boomboomer / OP:
Please read my postings on how an incorrect CSC can also cause an invalid IMEI. This is likely more often the cause over a corrupt EFS.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-s3/help/suggestions-s3-faq-t2902962
pfmdan said:
boomboomer / OP:
Please read my postings on how an incorrect CSC can also cause an invalid IMEI. This is likely more often the cause over a corrupt EFS.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-s3/help/suggestions-s3-faq-t2902962
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's more likely that the csc change app happened to fix your nv.data file as it edited it -as the csc is mostly irrelevant to the phone's normal operation.
Your instance is the only one to try linking csc to efs problems, so no it isn't the most likely cause.
I'm glad you fixed your phone, but I think it was pure luck it coincided with the csc change. Besides, this op fixed his imei by flashing stock, probably due to efs v2 being unreadable to an earlier firmware.
Hi Boomboomer
I'm not trying link the CSC to EFS probs. From my experience it seems that if you have an incorrect CSC for your SIM/telco, you can end up with an invalid IMEI/serial and hence unable to access your network.
The standard response on here whenever someone has a 0049* IMEI or zeroed serial is "It's an EFS prob" and they never mention it coud be an incorrect CSC, as it was in my case. Sometimes it will be an EFS prob, I appreciate that.
I didn't fix my phone by using the CSC changer app so I'm not actually sure that would work but it should because I fixed my phone by flashing a ROM with a different CSC. That was the only difference between it and the same ROM with a different CSC that gave me an incorrect IMEI and serial.
As well as the S3 FAQ, this guide should be updated to note that an incorrect CSC can cause incorrect IMEI/serial and hence no network.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-s3/general/ref-imei-efs-stuff-i9300-including-t2393289
I have added a comment to that thread with my suggestions but I've not had any reply yet.
boomboomer said:
Do a full wipe, preload and internal sd card then reflash the latest stock firmware. Factory reset after in recovery.
If still the same then check if Mac address is valid, efs problems can corrupt it.
After that is it probably hardware.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Okay, I've done all of that and my Mac address is valid. My cellular network still works perfectly fine, but the wifi/bluetooth problem still remains. I think I'm going to work with the fact that its a hardware problem and take the phone apart.
I'll check for any damage especially near the wifi/bluetooth module and antenna and work from there. The LCD has some hectic "streaks" causing me to presume its generic so maybe it's a dodgy install.
pfmdan said:
boomboomer / OP:
Please read my postings on how an incorrect CSC can also cause an invalid IMEI. This is likely more often the cause over a corrupt EFS.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-s3/help/suggestions-s3-faq-t2902962
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I checked my CSC - it's right for my location(South Africa - XFA), so that seems to be in order. Thanks for the help though :highfive:
I wasn't suggesting changing CSC would fix any wifi or BT issues but it could've fixed your cellular connection if its not a hardware issue.