Hello all.
Yesterday i was trying to install the last version of Paranoidandroid but when phone booted, i noticed that it had no data connection.
So i tried to make a call, but when you compose a number and press the phone button i get the error "not registered on the net" (hope the translation is good as i get the message in my language Italian).
Reading here and there i was able to undestand that the problem is the IMEI: my IMEI is changed and it displays a general one.
The big problem is that i pluged in into my PC the Hard disc that i used to backup my data and it doesn't work.... nothing...All the data are lost...
Am i able to recover my original IMEI (i found some guide around the web to get back IMEIs for AT&T and Verizon S3s with no backup, but not International GT-I9300) without a efs backup or do i need to send it back to Samsung (already resetted counters and restored original stock rom)? If i need to send it back, will they fix it in warranty (i'm still warranty covered) or will they ask me for moneys?
thanks in advance.
Hi,
First, you must try to install the latest stock firmware corresponding to your country and do a wipe data/cache. In some cases, the true IMEI will be back.
After that, if it doesn't work and if you haven't an EFS folder backup, there are no solution to fix your problem. As you said, we can get back IMEI for Qualcomm based Galaxy S3 (corresponding to USA Market) but Exynos' Galaxy S3 used EFS folder containing nv_data.bin that packaged the IMEI number and cannot be write without proprietary software.
If you cannot retreive your IMEI with the first method, send your Galaxy S3 to Samsung After Sale Services. Be sure that your custom flash counter is set to 0 and the firmware is a stock one before try a warranty fixing. In some case, it's covered by warranty (if there are no flashing watermark) but they can demand you some money to do that if they think you have flash/root the device.
lelinuxien52 said:
Hi,
First, you must try to install the latest stock firmware corresponding to your country and do a wipe data/cache. In some cases, the true IMEI will be back.
After that, if it doesn't work and if you haven't an EFS folder backup, there are no solution to fix your problem. As you said, we can get back IMEI for Qualcomm based Galaxy S3 (corresponding to USA Market) but Exynos' Galaxy S3 used EFS folder containing nv_data.bin that packaged the IMEI number and cannot be write without proprietary software.
If you cannot retreive your IMEI with the first method, send your Galaxy S3 to Samsung After Sale Services. Be sure that your custom flash counter is set to 0 and the firmware is a stock one before try a warranty fixing. In some case, it's covered by warranty (if there are no flashing watermark) but they can demand you some money to do that if they think you have flash/root the device.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you, i really appreciate your reply.
Already flashed the latest stock rom for my country and operator and resetted all the counters, guess my last resort is Samsung after sales service... let's hope they will not ask for money.
Like @lelinuxien52 said, we can't restore those devices. Next time you should make several backups of your /EFS partition and them put them to an online storage facility, like DropBox, Google Drive or SkyDrive.
Would have loved to help, but you'll have to:
A: Beg that you have an old dusty backup on your PC or SD card somewhere,
B: flash a new Sammy stock ROM (Download here: http://sammobile.com/firmware) and hope that that works,
or
C: Send it to your carrier and hope they can fix it. They'll probably send you a new device, but if you're lucky they have some kind of program which can generate an EFS paritition with the data from the stickers on your phone or box.
Agree with @familyguy59 : DropBox or Google Drive (why not Mega instead of SkyDrive !) is your best friend against EFS folder problem. Do not forget to save it when you receive your new/fix smartphone.
C: Send it to your carrier and hope they can fix it. They'll probably send you a new device, but if you're lucky they have some kind of program which can generate an EFS paritition with the data from the stickers on your phone or box.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It would be nice if the software could be available here (but available only for user with bricked /efs folder, not for thieves !).
familyguy59 said:
Like @lelinuxien52 said, we can't restore those devices. Next time you should make several backups of your /EFS partition and them put them to an online storage facility, like DropBox, Google Drive or SkyDrive.
Would have loved to help, but you'll have to:
A: Beg that you have an old dusty backup on your PC or SD card somewhere,
B: flash a new Sammy stock ROM (Download here: http://sammobile.com/firmware) and hope that that works,
or
C: Send it to your carrier and hope they can fix it. They'll probably send you a new device, but if you're lucky they have some kind of program which can generate an EFS paritition with the data from the stickers on your phone or box.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
To be honests the only lesson i learned here is: Keep that device as stock and stop messing around with it lol
It'a already wonderfull as stock, i had really no need to flash custom ROMs... it's just that i'm a flash-addicted user since my first android phone (Acer Liquid) but well... i deserved it i think ^^
Thanks anyone for the replies
ash1684 said:
To be honests the only lesson i learned here is: Keep that device as stock and stop messing around with it lol
It'a already wonderfull as stock, i had really no need to flash custom ROMs... it's just that i'm a flash-addicted user since my first android phone (Acer Liquid) but well... i deserved it i think ^^
Thanks anyone for the replies
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well then you missed something... You can and should mess around with it. Just be more careful.
(Check my description) I have created a universal Android tool kit which, in the next update, hopefully, will be able to back up the GS III's /EFS partition. Check it out, some time.
familyguy59 said:
Well then you missed something... You can and should mess around with it. Just be more careful.
(Check my description) I have created a universal Android tool kit which, in the next update, hopefully, will be able to back up the GS III's /EFS partition. Check it out, some time.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ok, thank you ^^
ash1684 said:
ok, thank you ^^
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
click the button to thank him
Glebun said:
click the button to thank him
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Click the button and say it
Related
Moved to Q-A
GrainOsand said:
I accidentally flashed odin with phone efs clear checked....now I have no 3G and a little triangle in the nitification bar.....Can anyone help? ADRYN?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'll go ahead and get a couple things out of the way that other people will probably tell you about with varying levels of aggravation (don't shoot the messenger, I couldn't care less):
This is a question. It goes in Q & A. The development forum is for development.
Odin is a dangerous tool, and you have to be careful with it.
If your MEID number is still valid in Settings -> About Phone -> Status -> MEID, then you are probably ok.
You may be able to *228, option 1. If that doesn't do it, try *22899.
If that doesn't work, activate an old phone on your account, then after a few minutes, reactivate your Samsung Fascinate. This will hopefully restore any of the EFS data that wasn't getting pushed by the *228 activation.
If your MEID in the Settings menu doesn't match the one printed on your phone under the battery, then the EFS data was corrupted and unable to rebuild after you cleared it. The only realistic option at that point is having it sent to Samsung.
thanks gizmo
question were u able to fix it i haven't done it i am always intrigued by stupid mistakes lol jk
BlackHoleSlam said:
question were u able to fix it i haven't done it i am always intrigued by stupid mistakes lol jk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
its no big deal.
http://forum.androidcentral.com/ver...t-happens-when-you-use-phone-button-odin.html
gunnermike said:
its no big deal.
http://forum.androidcentral.com/ver...t-happens-when-you-use-phone-button-odin.html
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, he deleted the OP that made it a little clearer... He actually cleared the EFS.
The phone section in ODIN is just a specialized field for flashing a radio file (PDA is like an all purpose). At least, this is what I gather from other's experiences. (Fully admitting that I have a bad memory).
But the "Phone EFS Clear" checkmark is for clearing the efs partition so that it will rebuild the files that contain your MEID number. It also clears the information that is pushed to your phone during activation.
Given that everything was set up properly, he should be ok after activating again... but that's not always the case. If you clear the EFS data and the files that repopulate the data with your MEID are corrupted, then there is no way to regenerate that info without shipping your phone to Samsung.
Given that no one much talks about the EFS partition on the Fascinate, I've only learned this info from the other Galaxy S variants, where backing up the EFS is a major first step before changing anything.
There is a small possibility that these principles don't apply to the SF, but I'm thinking that until someone proves otherwise, it's better safe then sorry.
OP el-solve-ed his problem. Thread closed.
Me and My girlfriend both have the SGS2, mine black, hers white.
Instead of all the settings/installations I thought maybe to backup my phone with CWM and restore it on her phone.
Is it possible?
Will it work...?
Won't it ruin anything important with the phone, such as imei issues or anything?
The reason for thinking about it is that she has some unsolved issues and I dont have too much time to spend doing all the checking and installing things..I just know mine works well and it seems the easiest way
It will work as long as the back up does not have EFS in it.
EFS contains information about imei.
The backup is consisted of a several .img files.
How can I tell if it contains EFS or not, and if it does, how can I 'tell' CWM not to backup this information?
list the files in back up and we will tell which ones are safe to transfer.
Sorry, The following are the backup files:
.android_secure, boot, cache,data, nandroid.md5,system.
As far as i am aware backup does not contain EFS but i am not 100% sure .
jje
I'm also interested in this as I would like to port my existing phone backup to another SGS2, but I have doubts re MAC address and also IMEI.
EFS info stated previously does not give much insight, but what I have as a regular CWM backup is: nandroid.md5 *giving proper checksum for other 4 files), boot.img, cache.ext4.tar, system.ext4.tar and data.ext4.tar files, totaling ~ 1.20GB. No EFS dedi files. I fear my second SGS2 might receive wrong info through backup flash, thus resulting conflicting one with another. As both phones will be used in the same household (my son would receive my old SGS2), and also IMEI is worrying me as I wouldn't want ending with both of them having the same one and resulting illegitimate while both SGS2 are legit!
I searched with google, but haven't found SGS2 related topics.
Anyone with more insight or willing to help?
TIA.
Cheers!
Edit: if none replies, I might give it a try as I already have CWM backup on both phones mounting the very same ROM.
Yeah it can be done. CWM doesn't back up efs so won't need to worry about that. It will put an exact duplicate on her phone though. All settings, contacts, messages, accounts etc will be copied across.
Sent from my GT-I9100
Fevves said:
I'm also interested in this as I would like to port my existing phone backup to another SGS2, but I have doubts re MAC address and also IMEI.
EFS info stated previously does not give much insight, but what I have as a regular CWM backup is: nandroid.md5 *giving proper checksum for other 4 files), boot.img, cache.ext4.tar, system.ext4.tar and data.ext4.tar files, totaling ~ 1.20GB. No EFS dedi files. I fear my second SGS2 might receive wrong info through backup flash, thus resulting conflicting one with another. As both phones will be used in the same household (my son would receive my old SGS2), and also IMEI is worrying me as I wouldn't want ending with both of them having the same one and resulting illegitimate while both SGS2 are legit!
I searched with google, but haven't found SGS2 related topics.
Anyone with more insight or willing to help?
TIA.
Cheers!
Edit: if none replies, I might give it a try as I already have CWM backup on both phones mounting the very same ROM.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
dude at any point of time u cant change the IMEI no its no ware related to ur rom hence dont worry
but ensure that u put the bkp file under cwm/backup folder other wise u cannot install the bkp from recovery
Thanks for the info guys. That is all I wanted to "hear" (read) and it seems not so complicated after all (thank god, not like on some other Android devices and nandroid backup). Will clone my phone to other one as soon as I have some spare time and will report back.
Edit: Just cloned my older SGS2 to a newer one, did complete restore of internal memory on newer SGS2 and everything works as a charm, just enabled it on my home wifi network and that's it. Older SGS2 just got dalvik etc wipe so it can be clean for my kid
So it is really a piece of cake and is doable.
Thanks for advices and hints whoever posted here.
Cheers.
I have a Samsung Galaxy S II with lost IMEI & unknown baseband, ( the source of such a problem usually is the corruptness of the efs folder or missing ), My question is if the efs folder is missing would it be possible to use another backup from another backup of the efs folder from different S2 and edit in the details needed?
You can restore from your backed up EFS folder .
Or search XDA >>> EFS will find a number of posts and some fixes .
jje
Hi mate, I don't have a backup of the folder so can't restore
no, you can not use a efs from another phone as the imei is unique to each phone. you would end up bricking it.
You need to send it in for reflashing with specialized tools which will rebuilds your efs folder.
I have the same problem here.. any idea how to rebuild the efs folder?
DMLING said:
I have the same problem here.. any idea how to rebuild the efs folder?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
SEARCH would be where i would start sorry but i am to lazy to do it for you .
Search >> EFS and IMEI
jje
without a backup its gonna be hard but check out this thread.May or may not help.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1377105
Theres also a Dev called Odia that can restore lost EFS/IMEI folders.Costs i think but its worth it if you cant get it done yourself.Send him a PM.
Solution
I managed a solution to get your phone back, not perfect but works.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1659366
Send me a PM for the EFS partion backup link.
Cant understand why people do not make a backup of the EFS. If they all took the time to read the stickies, they would know how important this is. Learn to walk before you start to run.
Sent from my GT-I9100 using Tapatalk 2
bored_stupid said:
Cant understand why people do not make a backup of the EFS. If they all took the time to read the stickies, they would know how important this is. Learn to walk before you start to run.
Sent from my GT-I9100 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's assuming they indeed read the stickies, of course.
Reading
Read Stickies is important, but sometimes there are procedures that don't work well, or as expected, so problems like this will appear and they must have a solution.
restore with a backup folder!
You may not of personally made a backup but a lot of roms and kernels do it for you automatically, so you may have one or more backups and not even know it.
Check if you have one in /data/.siyah if you have used said kernel.
Check your sdcard for any made by roms they usually make a folder named something like efs_backup
Last I looked in addition to the backup I made 5 minutes after buying the phone I have 20+ made from each rom upgrade.
Hi, I'm new to rooting etc. Is it too late to backup an efs folder after I rooted the phone but have done nothing else?
Cool
coolshades said:
Hi, I'm new to rooting etc. Is it too late to backup an efs folder after I rooted the phone but have done nothing else?
Cool
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As long as your EMS folder is intact and IMEI is correct, its not too late. There are a number of apps and programs to backup your imei. Ktool is one of the best and simplest to use. Also try EFS pro.
Sent from my GT-I9100 using Xparent ICS Blue Tapatalk 2
bored_stupid said:
Cant understand why people do not make a backup of the EFS. If they all took the time to read the stickies, they would know how important this is. Learn to walk before you start to run.
Sent from my GT-I9100 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Mate when people buy a phone, they don't expect that their phone's EFS will get meshed up. In my case I have Galaxy S and my wife has Galaxy S2. She has been using her phone for year and half, no major problem. Last week it suddenly lost the network connection. I tried different SIM but still no good and started searching to resolve the issue and I found how to access IMEI. It was empty. She didn't do anything, no new apps installed. Mobile service provider can't help..
samsung galaxy note 2 lte 4g N7105
Hi everybody i'm new here i have a problem with my phone,my phone is rooted, 1 month ago i had this problem that my phone would not boot stay on samsung logo,i rebooted in recovery and say EFS failed,so i connected my phone to odin flashed a couple of roms but nothing worked, i saw that there was an option EFS clear so i did that but did not work either so i reflashed a rom and this time it worked but when it booted it didn't even ask me to enter PIN for sim and i noticed in about device there was no baseband and no network signal please help guys i would appreciate thanks.
Hi guys,
I have searched high and low for this issue. I have found a lot of forums on how to fix the problem but none of them pertain to my circumstances. I installed Omega ICS ROM v 13.1 a week or two ago. I then decided to install Omega JB v18. I then upgraded to Omega JB v21 as well. In preparation for the official Samsung JB ROM, I went back to ICS. I started by downgrading to Omega v13.1 ICS followed by stock Samsung ICS ROM I9300XXALE8. A couple of days after doing this, all of a sudden, whilst on a call, I lost signal and then the stop sign icon appeared in the top toolbar. I have no radio, no wifi, no bluetooth and no lock screen & power menu. After all of the reading I have done, I have managed to discover that my EFS has disappeared. I have rooted the phone and installed ES File explorer and have looked inside the EFS folder only to find that it is blank. I did have a Nandbackup but managed to delete it in my attempts to recover my phone (yes I know im stupid but I didnt realise the significance of the backup until I realised what was missing!!). So, no EFS backup. Seemingly nothing in the EFS folder on the phones root. Any help would be greatly appreciated. One thing I did notice, which I am sure is significant in some way, is that when I put Omega JB on it, my sdcard mounted as "sdcard0" or something along those lines. Again, because I am fairly new to the custom ROM world, I didnt realise the significance of this until I had down graded back to ICS.
Please help!!!!
Thanks again.
EFS
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1308546
No fix then its a paid for repair .
jje
Have you tried to flash back to stock
JJEgan said:
EFS
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1308546
No fix then its a paid for repair .
jje
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
this description:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1264021
should be tried before repair as well...
marcedli said:
this description:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1264021
should be tried before repair as well...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks guys...I have tried this one. Didnt work. Just wondering if anyone knows how or if I might be able to restore from sdcard0, if it still exists. I assume not, but I guess it might be something. Does anyone know why Omega JB did that in the first place ?
Please use the Q&A Forum for questions &
Read the Forum Rules Ref Posting
Thanks ✟
Moving to Q&A
rosshwalker said:
Thanks guys...I have tried this one. Didnt work. Just wondering if anyone knows how or if I might be able to restore from sdcard0, if it still exists. I assume not, but I guess it might be something. Does anyone know why Omega JB did that in the first place ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you do not have backup of efs folder. You have no chance of getting imei back.
You can go to service centre for rebuilding efs folder.
rosshwalker said:
Thanks guys...I have tried this one. Didnt work. Just wondering if anyone knows how or if I might be able to restore from sdcard0, if it still exists. I assume not, but I guess it might be something. Does anyone know why Omega JB did that in the first place ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Flashing any roms can destroy the EFS thats why its always rule one to backup EFS folder . Multiple flashing up down up down increases the risk .
Did not Omega backup your EFS .
You say
have no radio, no wifi, no bluetooth and no lock screen & power menu
Thats not the signs of IMEI corruption as it plays no part in power menu or lockscreen .
jje
JJEgan said:
Flashing any roms can destroy the EFS thats why its always rule one to backup EFS folder . Multiple flashing up down up down increases the risk .
Did not Omega backup your EFS .
You say
have no radio, no wifi, no bluetooth and no lock screen & power menu
Thats not the signs of IMEI corruption as it plays no part in power menu or lockscreen .
jje
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think that S3 has some problem in securing it's EFS folder.
I flashed my S2 with hundred's of roms and never faced this issue.
Secondly in my experience lock screen and power menu is efs folder issue.
muhammad.ali123 said:
I think that S3 has some problem in securing it's EFS folder.
I flashed my S2 with hundred's of roms and never faced this issue.
Secondly in my experience lock screen and power menu is efs folder issue.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Read all the SGS2 and one help IMEI /EFS posts i suggest .
lock screen and power menu is efs folder issue >>> If it was a continual factor in the posts regarding EFS/IMEI then i would have agreed .
jje
A reminder about 2 things:
1) swapping/changing/etc IMEI's is illegal
2) giving someone else your EFS folder wont work, your phone will just default to the generic IMEI which is normally no better.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/...GwsMSwxLDEsImNvbS5oZWxyb3ouR1NJSV9SZXBhaXIiXQ..
try this out mate might b it'll help yu...cuz once i rescue cuz of diz app,,,
I wouldn't do that : in gs3 efs is not in the same block as gs2. It'll be worse than before.
Send me your efs partition backup using efs backup pro. I'll tell you if something can be done or not to restore your data.
Sent from my GT-I9300 using xda app-developers app
I had the same issue with my SGS1, the solution was flashing a stock rom with odin.
spocky12 said:
I wouldn't do that : in gs3 efs is not in the same block as gs2. It'll be worse than before.
Send me your efs partition backup using efs backup pro. I'll tell you if something can be done or not to restore your data.
Sent from my GT-I9300 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hey. This is one of the things I had read about and tried and it came back with nothing. I don't recall the error message but I think it said it couldn't find the partition or folder or something. I am certain that it has to do with Omega Jb and the fact that it installed and mounted sdcard as sdcard0 and somehow, when going back to omega ics, this has occurred. Another thing I have just now remembered is that I had also setup a swap partition on my ext sdcard and had it mounted. This was all working fine for a few days though so I don't see how that caused it. Was really odd. Anyways, thanks for all the help, but I am going to pay for it to be repaired.
veyka said:
A reminder about 2 things:
1) swapping/changing/etc IMEI's is illegal
2) giving someone else your EFS folder wont work, your phone will just default to the generic IMEI which is normally no better.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
hmmmm what if he has the IMEI number written somewhere? (phones box or license purchase note), can't he copy the EFS folder from someone else and just edit the IMEI??? >.>
Cruzaders said:
hmmmm what if he has the IMEI number written somewhere? (phones box or license purchase note), can't he copy the EFS folder from someone else and just edit the IMEI??? >.>
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
thats a working solution, he just need someone who shares his efs....
Kies
Have you tried the Kies Restore????? i't worked for me!
marcedli said:
thats a working solution, he just need someone who shares his efs....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
if it is so easy to edit, it won't have an "e" in the name, would it?
Imei NULL/NULL - EFS Folder Lost.
Hi, I have a i9300 which lost efs folder, already tried restoring it through the box octopus, but at the time of writing the imei, it reports the error. (Write imei fail). Anyone have any idea what I can do?
So i was on XLSJ 4.1.1 leaked and i got a sim lock.
Note: I was on a NON BRICK BUG KERNEL
So as always i tried restoring from a CLEAN WORKING EFS backup.
I already tried to restore efs with EFS Pro without any luck.
And i kept getting this error like 2389204 times. - E: failed to mount /efs (Invalid argument)
So i formatted my EFS and after that bam.
-Phone wont charge
-Wont power on
-No recovery or download
-Jig doesn't work
-Heats up when charging near camera area
So, im thinking JTAG. Will it work ?
There's a shop in Mumbai called "Aman Mobile" that does the repair. $50 is a fair deal i'd say.
My question: Will it work or is it a waste of money?
-Samsung says new Mobo for $200 x_x
And im certain i was on a kernel without the brick bug.
first of all you do not format the efs, it contains the essential information for the phone to operate.
You wipe and reset the phone, it will not effect the EFS but trying to make changes to directly to the EFS will cause problems with your phone.
you will need the services of the JTAG to restore the phone. If the Jtag does not work, you will need a new motherboard.
Cosmic Blue said:
first of all you do not format the efs, it contains the essential information for the phone to operate.
You wipe and reset the phone, it will not effect the EFS but trying to make changes to directly to the EFS will cause problems with your phone.
you will need the services of the JTAG to restore the phone. If the Jtag does not work, you will need a new motherboard.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That line Sir, made my day.
Sent the phone to Mumbai. Will post details tomorrow
Thank you
Cosmic Blue said:
first of all you do not format the efs
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Amén.
Made the biggest noob mistake ever ~_~
Dip**** EFS.
Look it on the bright side, you will never format the efs folder again