[Q] Big need for help, seriously (See post)! - Galaxy S III Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

As the topic states, I am in a big need for some seriously help with my S3 and that ASAP!
I flashed the InsertCoin ROM for our lovely Galaxy S3 some days ago and the installation / flash procedure went fine, and today, I did an hell of a serious failed mistake..
The thing is that I played around with the application ES Filemanager (ticked ROOT access, ofc) and deleted every folder on internal SD card. And I was so stupid that I also tried to delete the folders above the SD card (where you can find folders like system, etc and the build.prop) and after that - my phone started to act strange and rebooted itself and that gived me some serious panic and my first thought was that the phone was killed for good. Well, it was bootable but the booting was failed when the screen arrived on launcher / home screen and everything was force closed etc etc.
My first solution was to re-flash stock, untouched Samsung firmware and that worked fine like butter. I also accessed stock recovery after this procedure to wipe data/factory reset and wipe cache, that worked fine too. But when booting the phone at last again - I got this weird picture on screen and my signal is killed (only Emergncy Mode-calls is possible), and I am in a panic at the moment because the Galaxy S3 is the only phone I have that supports micro-SIM cards..
Please, can someone help me ASAP - you guys would save my day! :/ see attached picture below for more information on my problem...

this thread any help to you, seems to be similar prob
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2071052

[email protected] said:
this thread any help to you, seems to be similar prob
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2071052
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I didn't find any good solution at all :crying:

for solution I went to efs / factoryapp / factorymode and changed the text inside to ON from OFF)

Do you happen to have an EFS backup, perchance?
If everything in / was getting recursively deleted, then /efs (which would be before etc, alphabetically) would most likely have been hit also, IMO
EDIT: If it is your EFS, the log inside /efs will tell you if it's been regenerated (and if so, check your IMEI as if it's not correct, then it would explain your inability to connect to networks)

Please check your IMEI number. if it is starting from "00" than your IMEI number is screwed and you can fix that only if you have EFS folder backup...

qwerty12 said:
Do you happen to have an EFS backup, perchance?
If everything in / was getting recursively deleted, then /efs (which would be before etc, alphabetically) would most likely have been hit also, IMO
EDIT: If it is your EFS, the log inside /efs will tell you if it's been regenerated (and if so, check your IMEI as if it's not correct, then it would explain your inability to connect to networks)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No EFS backup, damn.. And the IMEI number is starting with 00, see quote below..
Chaitanyapatel8880 said:
Please check your IMEI number. if it is starting from "00" than your IMEI number is screwed and you can fix that only if you have EFS folder backup...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I just checked the IMEI number of my phone and it does start with 00.. Any solution to get everything back to stock or is my phone screwed for good?

If you have no backup, then the only way that I am aware of to get your IMEI back is to send it to Samsung :/
Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 2

I think Samsung will deny me warranty rights because the flash counter on my S3 is over 20 and I don't know how-to reset it.. :/
Sent from my LT18i using xda app-developers app

Destroyedbeauty said:
I think Samsung will deny me warranty rights because the flash counter on my S3 is over 20 and I don't know how-to reset it.. :/
Sent from my LT18i using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Do you not think triangle away will work?

WTVTom said:
Do you not think triangle away will work?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Does that even work on the S3? It's not like it got any triangle thing to remove, haha..
Sent from my LT18i using xda app-developers app

Destroyedbeauty said:
Does that even work on the S3? It's not like it got any triangle thing to remove, haha..
Sent from my LT18i using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The triangle will show in download mode.
Bx2

BenjaminX2 said:
The triangle will show in download mode.
Bx2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So, if I reset the counter to zero and re-flashing stock Samsung FW - I will get full warranty back so I can send it in for recovering my IMEI number and everything, right?
Sent from my LT18i using xda app-developers app

Destroyedbeauty said:
As the topic states, I am in a big need for some seriously help with my S3 and that ASAP!
I flashed the InsertCoin ROM for our lovely Galaxy S3 some days ago and the installation / flash procedure went fine, and today, I did an hell of a serious failed mistake..
The thing is that I played around with the application ES Filemanager (ticked ROOT access, ofc) and deleted every folder on internal SD card. And I was so stupid that I also tried to delete the folders above the SD card (where you can find folders like system, etc and the build.prop) and after that - my phone started to act strange and rebooted itself and that gived me some serious panic and my first thought was that the phone was killed for good. Well, it was bootable but the booting was failed when the screen arrived on launcher / home screen and everything was force closed etc etc.
My first solution was to re-flash stock, untouched Samsung firmware and that worked fine like butter. I also accessed stock recovery after this procedure to wipe data/factory reset and wipe cache, that worked fine too. But when booting the phone at last again - I got this weird picture on screen and my signal is killed (only Emergncy Mode-calls is possible), and I am in a panic at the moment because the Galaxy S3 is the only phone I have that supports micro-SIM cards..
Please, can someone help me ASAP - you guys would save my day! :/ see attached picture below for more information on my problem...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
____________________________________________________________________________
Reflash ROM and Modem via ODIN then flash CWM recovery and Flash your new ROM, Wipe data and cache and Dalvik and then reboot and install Triangle Away and reset counter! Good Luck

bunglebp said:
____________________________________________________________________________
Reflash ROM and Modem via ODIN then flash CWM recovery and Flash your new ROM, Wipe data and cache and Dalvik and then reboot and install Triangle Away and reset counter! Good Luck
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't know how that can make me get my IMEI number and network / cell access back :/ I am kinda stuck with no possibility to send text messages, call someone or anything :/

bunglebp said:
____________________________________________________________________________
Reflash ROM and Modem via ODIN then flash CWM recovery and Flash your new ROM, Wipe data and cache and Dalvik and then reboot and install Triangle Away and reset counter! Good Luck
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Quick update..
It didn't work, so I am stuck right now with no other possibilites than reset flash counter and leave the phone for warranty..

Related

HELP - I can't wipe my SGS II

I have a weird problem now...
It doesn't matter which ROM I flash, my device won't get wiped.
I tried several kernels, ROMs and bootloaders.
I tried it via Recovery and via the Android settings. And I've got all these old folders and files which don't get deleted when you uninstall an app. I'd really like to have a clean phone.
It is very annoying.
So, could anyone please point me to some direction?
Thanks in Advance!
Cheers, Pedro.
Wipe Cache+ Factory Reset should work.
Anyway, try this in keypad,
*2767*3855#
Regards.
ithehappy said:
Wipe Cache+ Factory Reset should work.
Anyway, try this in keypad,
*2767*3855#
Regards.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I tryed this, but doens't work too.
I don't know what i do....for example...if I del a folder, doc or video and after then turn off SGS II and turn on....they are there....intact again....heheheh
Mass storage mode format phone .
Boot recovery mounts and storage format data system and sd card .
Factory reset phone and it should be empty as its ever going to be .
jje
JJEgan said:
Mass storage mode format phone .
Boot recovery mounts and storage format data system and sd card .
Factory reset phone and it should be empty as its ever going to be .
jje
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you, but it doesn't work too....Whyyyy? I don't know....
more than strange...
what if you use CWM and format the according partitions?
pedroalmat said:
I have a weird problem now...
It doesn't matter which ROM I flash, my device won't get wiped.
I tried several kernels, ROMs and bootloaders.
I tried it via Recovery and via the Android settings. And I've got all these old folders and files which don't get deleted when you uninstall an app. I'd really like to have a clean phone.
It is very annoying.
So, could anyone please point me to some direction?
Thanks in Advance!
Cheers, Pedro.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have the exact same problem as u
At last ur problem solved? I have no idea what to do now
I tried to root it but it didn't work
if u have clockworkmod / cwm
format all partitions depends on what ver you have but will be like....
1: boot
2: system
3:cache
4: other forgot name.
it should be fixed now
u need to use odin afterthat and flash a official rom
There was a thread about a similar issue many months ago. For that user it turned out to be a hardware (motherboard) issue.
Sent from my GT-I9100T
sxi200 said:
There was a thread about a similar issue many months ago. For that user it turned out to be a hardware (motherboard) issue.
Sent from my GT-I9100T
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
it meant my s2 problem cant be solved but must be sent to service center?
Try to mount data and then wipe
Sent from my sgs2 running cm9 using xda app
whbong said:
it meant my s2 problem cant be solved but must be sent to service center?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
atleast try what i said before sending
atifsh said:
atleast try what i said before sending
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
CWM only work for rooted device, and my problem is even i try to flash a ROM
the problem exist and the device can't be root
whbong said:
CWM only work for rooted device, and my problem is even i try to flash a ROM
the problem exist and the device can't be root
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
assuming you still can manage download mode.
1: flash this using odin http://goo.gl/oOxs1 [avoid boot into OS after this]
2: remove battery
3: try recovery mode
if succeded do as i already stated before. [format all partitions including system / boot]
hope this fixes your issue

[Q] Galaxy S2 Won't factory reset

Hi,
I am having some issues with my SGS2 and wondered if anyone had any suggestions before i send it back for repair. It is a stock sim free UK model, not rooted. There is no SD card installed just the internal 16gbyte flash.
I was noticing more force closes on apps than normal so i decided to reboot the phone. I then noticed that my recent text messages had disappeared back to the 19th Jan. So after sending some more i rebooted the phone again and they had gone..I then deleted all the text messages and sent some more, rebooted the phone and the old ones were back and the new ones had gone back to the same date.
I thought i would then just factory reset the phone and start over again. However it won't factory reset. It goes through the motions and sends me to the bootloader screen where i wipe data and clear cache. However still it refuses to delete the stuff on the phone or factory reset it!
Things i have tried..
-Factory reset both with security menu and keypad sequence
-Reset by going to bootloader from cold boot and wiping data and cache
-Mouting it as a usb flash drive in use developer mode and formatting the drive through windows (even this doesn't get rid of the photos on the flash drive)
-reflashing the default firmware with odin
Basically i cannot do anything to the phone to make it reset or delete any of the things on it. I can go into the gallery and delete all the photos but as soon as you reboot they are all back!
I don't want to root the phone to try and solve the problem as it may need to go back but as an engineer it is frustrating being beaten by a phone, so i wanted to see if i could get any advice from here.
Thanks in advance.
First factory reset/data wipe does not delete anything on your internal sd card (12gb storage). It only clears the internal storage. So all your apps and settings are gone. With a reboot after the wipe the cache of the apps well be rebuilt.
So your photos well not be deleted. Try connecting the phone to your pc again and just open the sd card folder and go to DCIM and delete your photos.
the thing with your SMS is weird. Try to disable the back up option in the settings which backs up your settings on the Samsung servers.and then do some factory tests again.
Sent from my GT-I9100 using XDA App
Thanks for the feedback.
I have deleted the DCIM folder and others on the sdcard when connected to a PC. The photos disappear on the phone, but as soon as i reboot the phone they are all back.
I have even formatted (full not quick) with windows and minitool partition wizard..which "appears" as if the drive is blank however rebooting the phone everything comes back to how it was. I simply cannot delete anything off the phone.
I disabled the backup and the same issue with the text messages is still there. In fact when the phone was rebooted the tick box to set the backup had been reticked. I have tried this twice now.
I can install applications and use them no problem but as soon as i reboot they disappear as if they were never installed.
The phone is just stuck on the 19th Jan 2012 and nothing i do seems to convince it otherwise!
Hey mate,
the "factory reset" is not the same like u want to have.
That for u have to go in CWM (recovery) and then to "mount and storage":
here u can format all u want (system, data, cache, sd card, ext sd...)
BUT CAREFULLY!!! If u have done it's away!
This also means no Rom flashing from sd card because u delete it, too...
... so u must flash VIA ODIN a new firmware or Rom.
Hope this helps.
CHEERS
Thanks for the reply.
Correct me if i am wrong, but i would need to root to install CWM? I don't want to root at the moment as i may have to send it back to Samsung.
I can't think of the failure mode where by a factory reset wouldn't clear all the applications/settings and return the phone to factory default unless it couldn't write to the internal flash memory.
When i ask it to factory reset i tell it i want the USB formatted too..it doesn't do either of the things.
It is as if the entire phones internal memory as write protected on the 19th Jan and it cannot write to its own flash memory.
Taking a picture for example shows in the gallery after taking it, but then rebooting the phone make it disappear.
I don't know enough about android/linux to say if it is a software or hardware fault at the moment.
trickyf1 said:
Thanks for the reply.
Correct me if i am wrong, but i would need to root to install CWM? I don't want to root at the moment as i may have to send it back to Samsung.
I can't think of the failure mode where by a factory reset wouldn't clear all the applications/settings and return the phone to factory default unless it couldn't write to the internal flash memory.
When i ask it to factory reset i tell it i want the USB formatted too..it doesn't do either of the things.
It is as if the entire phones internal memory as write protected on the 19th Jan and it cannot write to its own flash memory.
Taking a picture for example shows in the gallery after taking it, but then rebooting the phone make it disappear.
I don't know enough about android/linux to say if it is a software or hardware fault at the moment.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oh OK sorry.. Yeah u had to do root for CWM.
Hmm listen a bit strange...
So if u want wo delete all I can, then:
1) Delete all folders I can from phone
2) After this the factory reset via secret code (Google it by urself pls... Can't do it atm)
It's something like *#number#* which u just type in phone.
Hope this helps.
If not much success anyway!
CHEERS ;-)
Sent from my Galaxy S2 - I9100 with SensatioN Rom!
This sounds a lot like the eMMC corruption you can get on an S-OFF HTC phone if you carelessly take the battery out.. I've had one of those and it behaved just like that, can't flash or delete anything from it, installing market apps work but they're gone after a reboot, etc).
Doesn't sound good, I'd get it replaced while it's still unrooted if I was you
Same Problem
Hi there,
I have the same exact problem. I cannot delete, flash or reset. I am a real pain. I have rooted the phone and still cannot do anything with it.
I have tried eveything. Can anyone please help? I am willing to try anything.
Thanks in advance
A recovery mode yes no
B download mode yes no
C usb jig for download mode yes no.
jje
Phone does not wipe
JJEgan said:
A recovery mode yes no
B download mode yes no
C usb jig for download mode yes no.
jje
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have done:
1. Recovery Mode
2. Download mode
not the USB jig..
My details: Samsung Galaxy S2 GT-I9100
I have used odbin and reflashed, all completed successfully without issues. I have superuser installed. I have installed ROM manager, but nothing in there works e.g I tried using the backup current rom option and the phone rebooted into recovery mode (stock) and when phone rebooted, all settings and data reverted back. All new apps i installed disappeared..
Let me know if you need additoinal info.
Thanks
zorg2004 said:
I have done:
1. Recovery Mode
2. Download mode
not the USB jig..
My details: Samsung Galaxy S2 GT-I9100
I have used odbin and reflashed, all completed successfully without issues. I have superuser installed. I have installed ROM manager, but nothing in there works e.g I tried using the backup current rom option and the phone rebooted into recovery mode (stock) and when phone rebooted, all settings and data reverted back. All new apps i installed disappeared..
Let me know if you need additoinal info.
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not sure what you are doing with Rom Manager .
Remove it
Use CWM backup and recovery via a rooted CWM kernel is what most use Plus Titanium backup pro for apps .
Root + CWM .
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1103399
jje
Still the same
JJEgan said:
Not sure what you are doing with Rom Manager .
Remove it
Use CWM backup and recovery via a rooted CWM kernel is what most use Plus Titanium backup pro for apps .
Root + CWM .
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1103399
jje
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have done as you described. I used odbins to upload the kernal:
Display on phone:
=============
2.6.35.7-I9100XWKJ1-CL647431
[email protected] #2
This is the file I downloaded from the thread and used with odbins:
CF-Root-SGS2_XW_LUX_KJ1-v5.0-CWM5.zip
Everything ran fine as per my attached images.
I then went through the phone and did a Factory Restore: Settings > Privacy > Factory Data reset
When the phone rebooted, I did see something different for the first time. The yellow triangle. I simply restart the phone again and no triangle this time. The phone booted back up as normal and all data and settings back again.
My objectivse are simple:
1. I want to completly wipe the phone and start from scratch.
Eveytime time my phone reboots and loose all new apps and new data e.g. text messages, emails. phone number. It seems to be stuck on a version and eveytime phone reboots it goes back to that point in time. It's a real pain.
2. I want to upgrade to ICS
Thanks,
zorg2004 said:
I have done as you described. I used odbins to upload the kernal:
Display on phone:
=============
2.6.35.7-I9100XWKJ1-CL647431
[email protected] #2
This is the file I downloaded from the thread and used with odbins:
CF-Root-SGS2_XW_LUX_KJ1-v5.0-CWM5.zip
Everything ran fine as per my attached images.
I then went through the phone and did a Factory Restore: Settings > Privacy > Factory Data reset
When the phone rebooted, I did see something different for the first time. The yellow triangle. I simply restart the phone again and no triangle this time. The phone booted back up as normal and all data and settings back again.
My objectivse are simple:
1. I want to completly wipe the phone and start from scratch.
....................................
Clean Slate for those that balls up the firmware .Or need to return to service or decide if its hardware/firmware problem .
Backup data first if phone is working .
Boot CWM recovery
Mounts and Storage
Format cache data system sd card .
Phone is now empty no OS no apps nothing .
Remove battery
Boot to download mode
Open Odin
Install correct stock firmware .
Eveytime time my phone reboots and loose all new apps and new data e.g. text messages, emails. phone number. It seems to be stuck on a version and eveytime phone reboots it goes back to that point in time. It's a real pain.
Then that's a problem and is probably the internal sd card /memory at fault .
2. I want to upgrade to ICS
Plenty of ICS roms posted .
jje
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
JJEgan said:
zorg2004 said:
I have done as you described. I used odbins to upload the kernal:
Display on phone:
=============
2.6.35.7-I9100XWKJ1-CL647431
[email protected] #2
This is the file I downloaded from the thread and used with odbins:
CF-Root-SGS2_XW_LUX_KJ1-v5.0-CWM5.zip
Everything ran fine as per my attached images.
I then went through the phone and did a Factory Restore: Settings > Privacy > Factory Data reset
When the phone rebooted, I did see something different for the first time. The yellow triangle. I simply restart the phone again and no triangle this time. The phone booted back up as normal and all data and settings back again.
My objectivse are simple:
1. I want to completly wipe the phone and start from scratch.
....................................
Clean Slate for those that balls up the firmware .Or need to return to service or decide if its hardware/firmware problem .
Backup data first if phone is working .
Boot CWM recovery
Mounts and Storage
Format cache data system sd card .
Phone is now empty no OS no apps nothing .
Remove battery
Boot to download mode
Open Odin
Install correct stock firmware .
Eveytime time my phone reboots and loose all new apps and new data e.g. text messages, emails. phone number. It seems to be stuck on a version and eveytime phone reboots it goes back to that point in time. It's a real pain.
Then that's a problem and is probably the internal sd card /memory at fault .
2. I want to upgrade to ICS
Plenty of ICS roms posted .
jje
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I cannot boot to CWM recovery. I only have the stock recovery screen. The only option I have there are:
1. reboot system now
2. apply update from SD card
3. wipe data/factory reset
4. wipe cache partition
I have tries doing option 2 & 3, but nether worked and same problem again.
I don't care about sending it back to service provider so I do care about warranty, that is why I am willing to try anything.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
zorg2004 said:
JJEgan said:
I cannot boot to CWM recovery. I only have the stock recovery screen. The only option I have there are:
1. reboot system now
2. apply update from SD card
3. wipe data/factory reset
4. wipe cache partition
I have tries doing option 2 & 3, but nether worked and same problem again.
I don't care about sending it back to service provider so I do care about warranty, that is why I am willing to try anything.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You have no CWM and root .
Root + CWM .
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1103399
I don't care about sending it back to service provider so I do care about warranty,
Root custom roms or custom rom counter above zero will void warranty .
jje
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Kernal Install
JJEgan said:
zorg2004 said:
You have no CWM and root .
Root + CWM .
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1103399
I don't care about sending it back to service provider so I do care about warranty,
Root custom roms or custom rom counter above zero will void warranty .
jje
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have already done this step and it did not work. I attached screenshots of the process in previous message. I have superuser on the phone and I think it is rooted.
What more can I do?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Anything else ?
zorg2004 said:
JJEgan said:
I have already done this step and it did not work. I attached screenshots of the process in previous message. I have superuser on the phone and I think it is rooted.
What more can I do?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Is there anything else I can try. I am at a total loss now!
Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I had the exact same issue with my s2. Did you manage to fix it? Mind sharing if you did?
S2 will not reset to factory defaults
Mazirb said:
I had the exact same issue with my s2. Did you manage to fix it? Mind sharing if you did?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi there,
I never managed to fix it. I still have it sitting on my desk. In the end I had to buy a cheap phone untill I get some time to sort out my issue with the S2.
if you get anywhere with it, please let me know.
I was reading the Titanium Backup General KB about Nand Lock and what caught me is this statement:
"Sometimes you get the illusion that you can write to /system, but in any case all changes will disappear after a reboot"
I'm no expert but that does sounds like the symptom you (we) are having with the s2. I'm going into that direction to unlock the bootloader.
We'll see how it goes.

EFS corruption? Baseband and IMEI Unknown

Currently on Checkrom XWLA4 2.3.6 with Speedmod kernal.
Last night I performed a Titanium backup and a Nandroid backup in preparation for an upgrade. I had previously performed an EFS backup sometime back. I didn't perform the upgrade, just completed some backups. Anyways over night something seems to have gone wrong with my phone. I wake up to find that it's showing there's no SIM card detected and then when I checked baseband version and IMEI both are showing unknown as well as a bunch of other fields.
I've tried a number of ways to restore the EFS folder. I've tried GSII_Repair, EFS Pro 1.9, kTool, and a couple of manual methods. All of which give the same result.
Some strange things that I noticed, I have an EFS folder inside of an EFS folder. The /efs folder seems to have less files then the /efs/efs folder. Also /efs/efs folder was the fold that had the .nv_data.bak and .nv_data.bak.md5. Not sure if its suppose to be that way.
Wondering what the best way to try to get my phone up and running would be.
Thanks,
Lu.
Veeko said:
Currently on Checkrom XWLA4 2.3.6 with Speedmod kernal.
Last night I performed a Titanium backup and a Nandroid backup in preparation for an upgrade. I had previously performed an EFS backup sometime back. I didn't perform the upgrade, just completed some backups. Anyways over night something seems to have gone wrong with my phone. I wake up to find that it's showing there's no SIM card detected and then when I checked baseband version and IMEI both are showing unknown as well as a bunch of other fields.
I've tried a number of ways to restore the EFS folder. I've tried GSII_Repair, EFS Pro 1.9, kTool, and a couple of manual methods. All of which give the same result.
Some strange things that I noticed, I have an EFS folder inside of an EFS folder. The /efs folder seems to have less files then the /efs/efs folder. Also /efs/efs folder was the fold that had the .nv_data.bak and .nv_data.bak.md5. Not sure if its suppose to be that way.
Wondering what the best way to try to get my phone up and running would be.
Thanks,
Lu.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
have u tried the link below
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1264021
Sun90 said:
have u tried the link below
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1264021
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
just tried that as well and no dice :S
Veeko said:
Currently on Checkrom XWLA4 2.3.6 with Speedmod kernal.
Last night I performed a Titanium backup and a Nandroid backup in preparation for an upgrade. I had previously performed an EFS backup sometime back. I didn't perform the upgrade, just completed some backups. Anyways over night something seems to have gone wrong with my phone. I wake up to find that it's showing there's no SIM card detected and then when I checked baseband version and IMEI both are showing unknown as well as a bunch of other fields.
I've tried a number of ways to restore the EFS folder. I've tried GSII_Repair, EFS Pro 1.9, kTool, and a couple of manual methods. All of which give the same result.
Some strange things that I noticed, I have an EFS folder inside of an EFS folder. The /efs folder seems to have less files then the /efs/efs folder. Also /efs/efs folder was the fold that had the .nv_data.bak and .nv_data.bak.md5. Not sure if its suppose to be that way.
Wondering what the best way to try to get my phone up and running would be.
Thanks,
Lu.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The problem:
(a) You performed nandroid backup in CWM recovery while your phone was connected to the charger. This is a known bug of almost all versions of CWM recovery.
(b) Baseband missing means that your Modem was wiped off which happened as a result of the bug in (a.)
Further Explanation
a. this has nothing to do with your /efs folder
b. If baseband is missing then the phone can never read your IMEI, hence no network
Possible Solution
a. Download Modem (CWM zip format) of your choice. If you already have a modem then, skip to next step
b. Disconnect your phone from the charger
c. Boot to CWM recovery
d. Flash modem.zip you downloaded
e. Reboot phone
check your phone info after reboot (give your phone about 5 minutes to settle down), your IMEI, network etc should be back now
good luck
Jokesy said:
The problem:
(a) You performed nandroid backup in CWM recovery while your phone was connected to the charger. This is a known bug of almost all versions of CWM recovery.
(b) Baseband missing means that your Modem was wiped off which happened as a result of the bug in (a.)
Further Explanation
a. this has nothing to do with your /efs folder
b. If baseband is missing then the phone can never read your IMEI, hence no network
Possible Solution
a. Download Modem (CWM zip format) of your choice. If you already have a modem then, skip to next step
b. Disconnect your phone from the charger
c. Boot to CWM recovery
d. Flash modem.zip you downloaded
e. Reboot phone
check your phone info after reboot (give your phone about 5 minutes to settle down), your IMEI, network etc should be back now
good luck
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
it was definitely plugged into my usb port charging at the time. just tried what you recommended and still the same issue. i wouldn't be surprised if everything that i tried today with the efs folder made it worse.
any recommendations? would it help if i tried a fresh install of xwla4 (2.3.6) or something newer like xwlpg (4.0.3)?
really need to get this fixed. any info or step-by-steps are greatly appreciated.
thanks.
Veeko said:
it was definitely plugged into my usb port charging at the time. just tried what you recommended and still the same issue. i wouldn't be surprised if everything that i tried today with the efs folder made it worse.
any recommendations? would it help if i tried a fresh install of xwla4 (2.3.6) or something newer like xwlpg (4.0.3)?
really need to get this fixed. any info or step-by-steps are greatly appreciated.
thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You shouldn't have messed with your efs partition after the issue came up. it's suppose to be the last solution and not the first one.
ok.
try this:
-Remove your SIM.
-Reboot to CWM recovery
-Flash modem
-wipe cache partition
-wipe dalvik cache
-reboot phone
-Allow phone to stay for 5 mins.
-check your phone info, check IMEI
if both are back fine, just reinsert your sim and continue normal life.
let me know what happens
Jokesy said:
You shouldn't have messed with your efs partition after the issue came up. it's suppose to be the last solution and not the first one.
ok.
try this:
-Remove your SIM.
-Reboot to CWM recovery
-Flash modem
-wipe cache partition
-wipe dalvik cache
-reboot phone
-Allow phone to stay for 5 mins.
-check your phone info, check IMEI
if both are back fine, just reinsert your sim and continue normal life.
let me know what happens
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
my bad man, i went on what i found in the search results.
i've done exactly as you specified above and still the same issue.
Veeko said:
my bad man, i went on what i found in the search results.
i've done exactly as you specified above and still the same issue.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No problem. We learn everyday.
please provide answers to the ff questions:
1. Is your baseband showing now?
2. Is your IMEI back?
3. Goto Settings > About, in your phone and post everything you see there.
Jokesy said:
No problem. We learn everyday.
please provide answers to the ff questions:
1. Is your baseband showing now?
2. Is your IMEI back?
3. Goto Settings > About, in your phone and post everything you see there.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not sure what happened or how this happened but while I was retrieving the information from the About Phone screen the baseband was showing unknown and then once I glanced back down to get some more info, it just appeared and within another few seconds I got my IMEI and cellular services started working!
Thank you very much kind sir! Greatly appreciated!
Veeko said:
Not sure what happened or how this happened but while I was retrieving the information from the About Phone screen the baseband was showing unknown and then once I glanced back down to get some more info, it just appeared and within another few seconds I got my IMEI and cellular services started working!
Thank you very much kind sir! Greatly appreciated!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Glad it's solved. You are always welcome!
Thanks for this I had same problem I've managed to get the network going again by deleting everything in efs and rebooting then I replaced nv_data&nv_data.bin.md5 & imei folder and rebooted all works for about a day but it keeps losing imei for generic one. I have a stored setting which I restore with galaxy unlock but it's still kind of there if u know what I mean???? Any help me on this?
Mash able jb stable siyah 4.1.2+
shopsdesire said:
Thanks for this I had same problem I've managed to get the network going again by deleting everything in efs and rebooting then I replaced nv_data&nv_data.bin.md5 & imei folder and rebooted all works for about a day but it keeps losing imei for generic one. I have a stored setting which I restore with galaxy unlock but it's still kind of there if u know what I mean???? Any help me on this?
Mash able jb stable siyah 4.1.2+
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
When you have this kind of problem, messing with /efs should always be the last solution and not the first one.
Swyped from my Samsung Galaxy SII
Thanks for the advice But what other solutions were there? I thought back to Sammy was the last resort? Is there any constructive feedback? Or just dissing?
Sent from my GT-I9100 using xda premium
shopsdesire said:
Thanks for the advice But what other solutions were there? I thought back to Sammy was the last resort? Is there any constructive feedback? Or just dissing?
Sent from my GT-I9100 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
in your own case, where baseband and imei was missing, changing anything in the efs comes last because, if it's other thing related, flashing modem , firmware and things like that should fix the problem.
Then the last thing is messing with /efs partition.
Why, because, efs partition is not touched during flashing of ROM/firmware. It contains sensitive files, and should only be modified as last resort.
Swyped from my Samsung Galaxy SII
I did a back up on sd and pc. Before. I had only flashed from rr 2.6.1 rom to a jb rr rom after a few days of not changing any thing it came up network locked enter code etc. Whilst out driving so nothing I changed iko. Now it still changes imei but I have a stored working backup so I jus restore that and reboot. Would a modem and rom have to be compatible? I've never changed my modem do I need too and is it flashable? thanks
I only have these problems cos standard isn't different..
shopsdesire said:
I did a back up on sd and pc. Before. I had only flashed from rr 2.6.1 rom to a jb rr rom after a few days of not changing any thing it came up network locked enter code etc. Whilst out driving so nothing I changed iko. Now it still changes imei but I have a stored working backup so I jus restore that and reboot. Would a modem and rom have to be compatible? I've never changed my modem do I need too and is it flashable? thanks
I only have these problems cos standard isn't different..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
in your own case, No!
Swyped from my Samsung Galaxy SII
Dats what I thought so what shud I be looking into?
Sent from my GT-I9100 using xda premium
shopsdesire said:
Dats what I thought so what shud I be looking into?
Sent from my GT-I9100 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
GII_repair (app), you must backup your efs first,
Or manually repair your efs folder by following the tutorial here: forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1264021
Swyped from my Samsung Galaxy SII
Ok so I went through the steps again with unlock etc and it been around 5hours of constant use and no signal drop... I'm sure I did this before though although I didn't make two nvdata copies n renamed them. I jus copied them both separate cheers guys
Sent from my GT-I9100 using xda premium
shopsdesire said:
Ok so I went through the steps again with unlock etc and it been around 5hours of constant use and no signal drop... I'm sure I did this before though although I didn't make two nvdata copies n renamed them. I jus copied them both separate cheers guys
Sent from my GT-I9100 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nice to hear that

[Q] Samsung GT-I9300 BRICKED for no reason :(

I was running CyanogenMod 10.1 ROM with SiyahKernel v-1.9.1. My phone ran out of battery, so I went to charge it, I turned it on and it became stuck at the ''SAMSUNG S3 GT-I9300'' logo. I left it there for 30 min. nothing happened, I took the battery out and the same thing. So I decided to flash again the Stock Firmware with ODIN (obiously ), It flashed it with no problems, but it is the same. I tried so many things and searched in so many posts and nothing helped me. Sorry for writing long and for bothering! Thx!
Plenty of reasons why your phone won't boot, running the battery until shut down increases the risk of corrupting files or even partition. If the stock rom flashed via odin successfully then there should be nothing wrong, you did factory reset and clear caches before you booted, right?
factory reset from recovery
boomboomer said:
Plenty of reasons why your phone won't boot, running the battery until shut down increases the risk of corrupting files or even partition. If the stock rom flashed via odin successfully then there should be nothing wrong, you did factory reset and clear caches before you booted, right?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah I did it nothing happened... But when I put it into Recovery its says E:failed to mount /efs (Invalid argument) it has something to do with it?
yes. restore your backed up EFS folder.
Or if you didn't back it up, then send it to service. Use search for loads of similar posts.
Glebun said:
yes. restore your backed up EFS folder.
Or if you didn't back it up, then send it to service. Use search for loads of similar posts.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oh god so there is no way I can fix it? Here the Samsung service is soooo expensive :crying:
If you didn't read the instructions that said you should back up the folder before doing anything, then no
Glebun said:
If you didn't read the instructions that said you should back up the folder before doing anything, then no
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I just got an EFS file that I got from my father's phone, is there a way to take out the file that contains his IMEI and recover mine with other things? It is possible?
juanca530 said:
I just got an EFS file that I got from my father's phone, is there a way to take out the file that contains his IMEI and recover mine with other things? It is possible?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
NO
jje
juanca530 said:
I just got an EFS file that I got from my father's phone, is there a way to take out the file that contains his IMEI and recover mine with other things? It is possible?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
maybe, but you won't get any support on xda about that, because it can be used for illegal purposes
Glebun said:
maybe, but you won't get any support on xda about that, because it can be used for illegal purposes
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thx for the help guys! I'll keep investigating.

S3 Soft bricked. Am i wasting my time?

UPDATE EDIT: I have had some progress since my original post. Could you please read my latest posts, maybe you could help me out
Samsung S3 GT-I9300 purchased in the UK.
Its my sisters mobile and i think its soft bricked. She told me it just happened and she done nothing. I received the phone in stock condition.
The phone was orignally stuck solid on the first startup title screen and would not go any further. This is what i have done so far:
1. booted the phone into recovery mode which shows E:failed to mount /efs (invalid argument)
2. wiped cache partition
3. wiped data/factory reset
4. Installed Odin3-v3.04 and downloaded I9300XXDLIB_I9300OXFDLI1_I9300XXDLIB_HOME.tar
5. Connected phone to Odin and flashed the above .tar file which completed sucessfully.
The phone rebooted and it still got stuck on the first startup title screen.
I then looked for a different version and downloaded I9300XXEMF1_I9300EVREMF1_I9300BVEMF1_HOME.tar
this version also installed sucessfully onto the phone after repeating what i had previously done.
The phone reboots and now gets past the first title screen to the animated samsung logo but then keeps looping the animation.
The blue led in top left corner is on and is pulsing from dim to bright constantly while it loops.
Getting a little progress with the 2nd version i kept this on and patched CF-Auto-Root-m0-m0xx-gti9300.tar ontop of it.
Still the same looping when it gets to animated samsung logo
I dont know if this would of helped but i then tryed downloading the NV Generator to make a new IMEI file but cant get
the phone to respond to NV reader writer program.
Iv downloaded Adb and tryed to push the IMEI file onto the phone but it fails with error E: Signature Verification Failed
Im a beginner and this is the first time iv tryed to fix a phone and iv hit a brick wall and not sure now if im wasting my time.
can anyone help me get to the next stage?
Restore your backed up EFS would be the first step .
Do you actually have an I9300 as the NV tool is for a different phone
jje
Does your phone have a cwm or twrp now that u cf rooted it? If u do..then just flash a new rom over it after a clean wipe..(not stock) hopefully your phne should reboot to the new rom..otherwise ill think of another way..put the files into the extmem card using a card reader..or take a tar file of the new rom and flash it after clean wipe..works for me everytime i f up
JJEgan said:
Restore your backed up EFS would be the first step .
Do you actually have an I9300 as the NV tool is for a different phone
jje
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't have a backed up EFS. its my sisters phone. with no backed up EFS is the phone unfixable then?
ardensedvirens said:
no backed up EFS is the phone unfixable then?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Correct, needs Service centre repair
Kalyan_121 said:
Does your phone have a cwm or twrp now that u cf rooted it? If u do..then just flash a new rom over it after a clean wipe..(not stock) hopefully your phne should reboot to the new rom..otherwise ill think of another way..put the files into the extmem card using a card reader..or take a tar file of the new rom and flash it after clean wipe..works for me everytime i f up
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
is cwm and twrp options in the recovery menu? where do I look to see?
the recovery menu only shows:
Android system recovery <3e>
reboot system now
apply update from ADB
apply update from external storage
wipe data/factory reset
wipe cache partition
apply update from cache
sorry if this is not what you meant. im not sure what cwm and twrp is short for.
rootSU said:
Correct, needs Service centre repair
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
really? dam. how much would it cost to fix this problem?
JJEgan said:
Do you actually have an I9300 as the NV tool is for a different phone
jje
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes I have I9300. I tried this after watching a video on youtube of a guy doing it for a Samsung s3. I cant post video link yet until I have 10 posts. sorry.
ardensedvirens said:
Yes I have I9300. I tried this after watching a video on youtube of a guy doing it for a Samsung s3. I cant post video link yet until I have 10 posts. sorry.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Samsung S3 can be like a dozen different phones, i9300 is one of them.
Glebun said:
Samsung S3 can be like a dozen different phones, i9300 is one of them.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ahh yes I get you now. sorry lol.
what if I get a backup /efs from another phone. would I be able to mount it via sd card, then edit the efs to suit my phone so its not a clone of the phone iv got it from?
iv just flashed ODIN_CheckROM_V4_XXBLG8
it gives alot more options to fiddle around with. I think I could fix this phone to be honest if I keep looking into it.
OMG!! after installing the rom I just posted the phone has booted up and im in
I don't know what to do now.
is the efs fixed? should I make a backup?
how did this fix the phone?
ardensedvirens said:
Ahh yes I get you now. sorry lol.
what if I get a backup /efs from another phone. would I be able to mount it via sd card, then edit the efs to suit my phone so its not a clone of the phone iv got it from?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
you won't be getting any help with that here since it can be used for illegal activities
---------- Post added at 11:20 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:19 PM ----------
ardensedvirens said:
is the efs fixed?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
you tell us - is the IMEI back?
make ioudedi
Glebun said:
you won't be getting any help with that here since it can be used for illegal activities
---------- Post added at 11:20 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:19 PM ----------
you tell us - is the IMEI back?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok sorry I didn't know, I just thought it was just a missing folder that could be copyed.
the phone has now booted up
[Resurrection Edition] CheckROM EvoHD™ V4 [ODIN ROM]
this is what I flashed and it seems to have fixed it?
can anyone explain what has happened, I would like to understand what this rom was able to do that the others I flashed before couldn't.
if it booted it doesn't mean that EFS is okay
Glebun said:
if it booted it doesn't mean that EFS is okay
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
do you know what I could do from here to fix the efs?
should I try and pull anything from the phone onto my computer now that its booted?
when I goto status it says IMEI unknown
I know my imei number is behind the battery, how do I register it?
the fact that it booted changes nothing.
you can't repair the EFS if you don't have a backup
what is EFS? is it a folder? a file?
can anyone else explain a little more?
it is a folder.
to explain a little more - you need a new motherboard because every EFS folder is device-specific
I cant get the phone to connect to my wifi. Kies is not picking up the phone either.
is there a way I can download apps to my pc and load them onto the phone? I would like to try and get root explorer installed to see if there is an efs folder.
i tried EFS PRO. it has generated an efs.img file, is it useful?
this is what i done to get it, im not sure if its correct. can anyone tell me?
i went into Backup and selected Device Filter: International Variants
i ticked the block device box and clicked the backup button.
the operation was successful and it created the zip file with the efs.img inside it.
i have pulled this zip from the phone using QtADB_0.8.1_
does anybody know if this file can be used to fix the problem? or has it made a backup of a corrupt efs folder?

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