[SOLVED] Can't restore EFS from backup - Galaxy S III Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

Problem solved!​
**********************
I think my problem happened because a flashed a ROM with MG4 baseband, and then flashed UltimaROM with another baseband which caused my baneband to corrupt.
I tried to flash Stock ROM and install different baseband but non of this worked.
finally I flashed BTU stock ROM (Which comes with MG4) but the problem still here.
Then I installed root, deleted the efs folder and replaced all the files with the files in the backup - restart and everything is working! my IMEI returned to normal.
**********************​
Original question
Hello devs,
I have Siyah kernel which auto backup my EFS, i have backup named "efs_28Aug2013-1852.tar.gz"
I want to restore from this backup because I lost my IMEI when I flashed UltimaROM
I renamed it to "efsbackup.tar.gz" and put it in the root of the sdcard
then I started adb shell & run the code
Code:
su
umount /efs
mke2fs /dev/block/mmcblk0p1
mount -w -t ext4 /dev/block/mmcblk0p1 /efs
busybox tar zxvf /sdcard/ efsbackup.tar.gz -C /
I granted ADB shell root access
then i went to recovery and run the command (because I can't run umount /efs while device's running it gives resource busy message)
However when I run the first command "su" in gives me this message
Code:
/sbin/sh: su: not found
so I skipped to the next command
but I get the message
Code:
umount: can't umount /efs: Invalid argument
Please guys any help appreciated
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

Unzip it with a file manager and use a root explorer to replace manually
Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 4

.
I've backup my efs with adb but how do you have a file on tar format, i've got a file on .img, it's normal ?

There's about nine different ways to backup the efs, .img is fine but a little on the large side at 20mb. A .tar of the same is only 5mb.

rootSU said:
Unzip it with a file manager and use a root explorer to replace manually
Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 4
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you for your reply, I did as you said but this only changed my IMEI from "Unknown" to the generic IMEI "004999..."
Is there something wrong in the method or my backup may be corrupt
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2

Read the imei / efs thread in general.
Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 4

Thank you again, I read the thread in the past but it looks like it has been updated recently.
I think my problem happened because a flashed a ROM with MG4 baseband, and then flashed UltimaROM with another baseband which caused my baneband to corrupt.
I tried to flash Stock ROM and install different baseband but non of this worked.
finally I flashed BTU stock ROM (Which comes with MG4) but the problem still here.
Then I installed root, deleted the efs folder and replaced all the files with the files in the backup - restart and everything is working! my IMEI returned to normal.
Thank you RootSU for your help.

hey bro,
i am stuck
help me out
- my efs(folder) is blank
- i installed stock with pit file but no help!
- right now my cell is in bootloop!
- it goes to recovery, download mode.
i have efs.tar.gz file and a folder named efs in my ext sd
how do i copy that to int memory?
can't even create a cwm flashable zip file of the same?????
help me bro.....

You are posting in a thread that tells you how to restore an efs backup, how much more could you possibly need?
Go to recovery, factory reset.
Get the phone to boot, unpack the .tar file and follow the instructions in the OP.

boomboomer said:
You are posting in a thread that tells you how to restore an efs backup, how much more could you possibly need?
Go to recovery, factory reset.
Get the phone to boot, unpack the .tar file and follow the instructions in the OP.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Dear boomboomer,
i am sorry, but my phone is in "bootloop" how am i suppose to delete the "EFS" ? that s what i am asking!!!!!
i have both efs.tar.gz and extracted folder ready in my ext-sd......
i wonder if somebody can help me with creating a cwm.zip from the .tar file
thanks ....

try to install stock again via odin but this time install a diffrent version (for example if you installed INU this time try INS).. before that factory reset your phone and wipe cache via recovery mode.. don't lose your efs backup it's very important copy it to your PC in case something wrong happens

i already did so
almousawi said:
try to install stock again via odin but this time install a diffrent version (for example if you installed INU this time try INS).. before that factory reset your phone and wipe cache via recovery mode.. don't lose your efs backup it's very important copy it to your PC in case something wrong happens
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
bro, thanks for your help recently i tried cm 10 also but nothing happened.
believe me i tried everything now the only option is left that is
to restore efs backup from efs.tar.gz (which is about 12 MB)
OR
create a cwm flashable zip from the efs folder which is about 22 MB)
OR
take my phone to download mode and try to push whole "efs" folder to the location with help of "ADB"

hello
mikks said:
bro, thanks for your help recently i tried cm 10 also but nothing happened.
believe me i tried everything now the only option is left that is
to restore efs backup from efs.tar.gz (which is about 12 MB)
OR
create a cwm flashable zip from the efs folder which is about 22 MB)
OR
take my phone to download mode and try to push whole "efs" folder to the location with help of "ADB"
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
hello nobody is here to help......??????

mikks said:
hello nobody is here to help......??????
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Correct this is not a paid for service .
Suggest you take it to a service centre .

know that i did that already....
JJEgan said:
Correct this is not a paid for service .
Suggest you take it to a service centre .
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
thanks for the reply, respect to your reply and interest no disrespect ...
i took that to the center but they failed and by the way they come to me in some cases... so they give me free service...
my phone is in boot loop, i have efs.tar.... can i use phills recovery ????? or can i use someone elses backup... just to boot up my device ...then i'll be good .... i just need to get my device booted up.....

Related

How are we supposed to restore efs.img?

I have included a script in a initd script segment to create a file called efs.autobackup.img
The forum is filled withon how to creating the .img file but i couldnt find about how to restore.Ktool doesnt work on this.
I am asking this in behalf of a fellow xda member.He got a factory efs files in some old Indian firmware, flashed it by using clear phone efs in odin and now he has some generic IMEI.How to extract the files inside the .img file atleast??
Atleast he can use the files to change his IMEI using nv_data.bin and nv_data.bin.md5
If it's a raw .img (20MB in size) kTool should work fine.
Just rename the file to "efs.img" and put it to /sdcard (root of the internal storage when mounted to the PC).
Then run a restore via kTool (be sure to use latest version).
HellcatDroid said:
If it's a raw .img (20MB in size) kTool should work fine.
Just rename the file to "efs.img" and put it to /sdcard (root of the internal storage when mounted to the PC).
Then run a restore via kTool (be sure to use latest version).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes its 20MB size!!Ohk hellcat.Am PMing him.he is a new user and he his too terified
Thank god he had flashed my ROM,The wickedrom v1.1 which had auto efs script.
I will ask him to report here.
One thing he has fake IMEI now.This should work right?
Doing a search uncovers a ton of threads/posts about restoring efs
chetan_mohanty said:
I have included a script in a initd script segment to create a file called efs.autobackup.img
The forum is filled withon how to creating the .img file but i couldnt find about how to restore.Ktool doesnt work on this.
I am asking this in behalf of a fellow xda member.He got a factory efs files in some old Indian firmware, flashed it by using clear phone efs in odin and now he has some generic IMEI.How to extract the files inside the .img file atleast??
Atleast he can use the files to change his IMEI using nv_data.bin and nv_data.bin.md5
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
MistahBungle said:
Doing a search uncovers a ton of threads/posts about restoring efs
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have been trying to help him with zillions of links from xda.Nothing has worked.I am not a noob man
I do the homework before posting
chetan_mohanty said:
I have been trying to help him with zillions of links from xda.Nothing has worked.I am not a noob man
I do the homework before posting
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If the .img is OK and not already of a broken EFS, or the image itself is corrupted (all these things can happen, sadly) then it can surely be restored.
HellcatDroid said:
If the .img is OK and not already of a broken EFS, or the image itself is corrupted (all these things can happen, sadly) then it can surely be restored.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
He is saying that restoring with efs.img makes his phone go to unknown baseband and IMEI.
I have asked him again to post it in this thread
Is there any way to extract that .img file???
chetan_mohanty said:
Is there any way to extract that .img file???
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
In a shell, type:
Code:
su
mkdir /sdcard/mnt
mount -t ext4 /sdcard/efs.img /sdcard/mnt
Then use your fav. filemanager to go to "mnt" on the internal storage.
If the mount command gives you an error, it's likely the .img is corrupted.

HEEEELP! Phone wont recognize Sim - No IMEI - EFS

My s3 stopped recognizing the Sim yesterday, so i searched for a solution. i read in xda that its the EFS partition. I got no IMEI and no Baseband. Somehow i found 2 files on the internal SD Card: "efsbackup.tar" and "efsdev-mmcblk0p3.img".
I read this thread, but it didnt help me.
Any idea how i could fix it?
Btw, Android Revolution HD 11.0 with stock kernel
I'm guessing your Rom auto backs up the efs, so best to ask on their thread about reinstalling it
Restore your EFS backup .
jje
im going to install now arhd 11.3 and then do the restore of the efs backup.
i noticed that the backup was built yesterday evening, when the problem already was. well it seems like i got no backup, when it was working
I followed in this thread this post:
Process:
1. make a copy of your EFS folder using root explorer and store it somewhere safe (on your SD card and external SD card should do it).
2. delete the EFS folder from the root of your phone using root explorer.
3. reboot the phone
4. open root explorer and go to the EFS folder (yes, it is still there! The Android OS has generated a new one for us) and delete the following files:
nv_data.bin
nv_data.bin.md5
nv.log
.nv_data.bak
.nv_data.bak.md5
nv_data.bin.bak
and the entire IMEI folder.
5.Now go to your backed up EFS folder on your sd card and copy the IMEI folder and the " .nv_data" file (note the dot) to your new EFS folder.
6.Make another copy of the ".nv_data" file in your new EFS folder. Rename one of them to "nv_data.bin" and the other one to "nv_data.bin.bak".
7. Connect your phone to your PC and start up EFS PRO. After your phone has been detected, press the "Repair nv data" button to correct the ownership and permissions.
8. Reboot your phone into recovery mode using the three botton combo and flash the original modem firmware (the modem.bin file that you extracted earlier) to your phone using Odin (use the "phone" button for the upload) or Heimdall (use the "radio" partition for the modem.bin file upload).
9. Reboot the phone normally and your IMEI number will be restored and you will be able to connect to your mobile network again
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
and now i got an IMEI, but its still not mine: 004999010640000 / 01
If you have an efs.tar file why dont you put it in PDA in Odin?.
wont work.
deleted
Ok....then I dont understand why it backs up as a tar file then
yesterday i flashed siyah kernel, siyah probably made a efs backup. but that backup was already after that problem happened.
well i got now the 0049 imei
So you dont have a back up of you original IMEI is that what your saying?.Flashing ROMs normally is what makes a backup not flashing a kernel so Id say the backup is original.
Read this
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=30682712
i read this but i dont know what to do with it. i understand that this are options to backup the efs partitions but not how to restore it how to restore it if already lost
x Schieby said:
i read this but i dont know what to do with it. i understand that this are options to backup the efs partitions but not how to restore it how to restore it if already lost
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
you need to read better then
You'll need to perform an "IMEI injection" which is a kludgy last-resort restore method that manually writes the IMEI to NVRAM; the link I provided in Part C of "Backup" will tell you how to do it.
x Schieby said:
My s3 stopped recognizing the Sim yesterday, so i searched for a solution. i read in xda that its the EFS partition. I got no IMEI and no Baseband. Somehow i found 2 files on the internal SD Card: "efsbackup.tar" and "efsdev-mmcblk0p3.img".
I read this thread, but it didnt help me.
Any idea how i could fix it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's what the efs backup is for xD
Calm down, or you'll make things worse. Unzip the efs.tar to /efs and reboot your phone (DON'T PULL THE BATTERY)
Everything should work like a charm again
Hope I could help!
LG familyguy59/Beatsleigher
slaphead20 said:
you need to read better then
You'll need to perform an "IMEI injection" which is a kludgy last-resort restore method that manually writes the IMEI to NVRAM; the link I provided in Part C of "Backup" will tell you how to do it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
sorry, but i still dont get it with the qpst. thats the part c you are thinking of right?
familyguy59 said:
That's what the efs backup is for xD
Calm down, or you'll make things worse. Unzip the efs.tar to /efs and reboot your phone (DON'T PULL THE BATTERY)
Everything should work like a charm again
Hope I could help!
LG familyguy59/Beatsleigher
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
going to try this now
familyguy59 said:
That's what the efs backup is for xD
Calm down, or you'll make things worse. Unzip the efs.tar to /efs and reboot your phone (DON'T PULL THE BATTERY)
Everything should work like a charm again
Hope I could help!
LG familyguy59/Beatsleigher
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
well, thats how my phone ended. i did that yesterday and my phone finally didnt even booted.
then i went to my carriers shop and told them it wont boot, and today i got a brand new phone
anyway thanks to all help!

need help making a flashable efs for odin

I have i9300 , and while i tried to restore my efs, i used ktool app
but i wrongly pressed "format efs"........seems like now my /efs is empty....
this make me cant even boot up my phone.....i cant connect via adb to restore efs now.....
if i enter stock recovery, i saw "unable to mount /efs(invalid argument)"
seems like my /efs has already.....
now i need to flash /efs via odin ,any expert can help me make this efs for odin file?
luckily i used siyah kernel......and siyah backup efs for me....
and here is the backup
need help plz:crying::crying::crying::crying::crying:
You flash a tar via Odin .
You have posted a tarflash it
and its now available for anyone to steal .
jje
JJEgan said:
You flash a tar via Odin .
You have posted a tarflash it
and its now available for anyone to steal .
jje
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
but its just a zip file with .tar......there is nothing pointed that is a efs file for odin....odin cant reconize it
i dont care someoone steal it or not, i just want my softbrick phone back
no my s3 stop at boot logo, according to:my/efs is formatted,is not even able to be mounted!
ynlinchen said:
but its just a zip file with .tar......there is nothing pointed that is a efs file for odin....odin cant reconize it
Because it needs to be renamed as xxxx.tar
i dont care someoone steal it or not, i just want my softbrick phone back
Well you would care if the IMEI is stolen cloned to another phone and will no longer work for you as its already in use .
jje
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
any one know how to help me copy these files into /efs?
my phone bricks, cant boot,adb is impossible..........
but how about make a cwm script to copy these??possible??
i entered cwm and see mount/efs failed........looks like cwm cant mount my /efs..........maybe a script format /efs first? and copy files in it??
my phone cant boot badly since i used ktool to format /efs with wrong
Have a look at the instructions in this link.
http://widefide.com/mobile/galaxy-s3-boot-problem-solution
i have the same problem.
i have my backup of 20mb efs.img file and a efs.tar.gz file
found a srcip to install from zip here (http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2331853) but its for note 8
any help is much appreciated
xtorm80 said:
i have the same problem.
i have my backup of 20mb efs.img file and a efs.tar.gz file
found a srcip to install from zip here (http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2331853) but its for note 8
any help is much appreciated
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's a CWM flashable zip. EFS is also mmcblk0p3 on the s3 so the script will also work for you.
Whaha sometimes there are very stupid people around here.
He doesn't even know what he is doing by posting his EFS here.
Never saw something stupid......
Verzonden vanuit Nederland naar de rest van de wereld met de xda premium app.
rootSU said:
That's a CWM flashable zip. EFS is also mmcblk0p3 on the s3 so the script will also work for you.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
sigh...didnt work, still stuck at samsung logo....
ill try this now and see how it goes
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2225891
ok i download 4.04 and it work!!! able to turn on my phone, thank god and thank to that TS that tried everyting.

S III efs missing not booting

Dear Friends,
Need help please. I have installed another custom rom that was not meant for I9300 and now the EFS is corrupted. I tried installing orignal rom using ODIN but geting boot loop and the phone is not booting. On going into recovery i can see an error efs/ corupted or something like that. I have the backup of my EFS folder in tar.gz format however dont know how to install the same and recover my phone as not able to boot to android.
Please help me if someone can work it out. My phone has just 3 days of warranty left and it does not shows rooted anywhere except the count of installation is about 32 and rom says official and kernel says custom.
Please if someone can help me restore my phone back in working condition i shall always remain thankfull.
Regards,
Mush
mush2004 said:
Dear Friends,
Need help please. I have installed another custom rom that was not meant for I9300 and now the EFS is corrupted. I tried installing orignal rom using ODIN but geting boot loop and the phone is not booting. On going into recovery i can see an error efs/ corupted or something like that. I have the backup of my EFS folder in tar.gz format however dont know how to install the same and recover my phone as not able to boot to android.
Please help me if someone can work it out. My phone has just 3 days of warranty left and it does not shows rooted anywhere except the count of installation is about 32 and rom says official and kernel says custom.
Please if someone can help me restore my phone back in working condition i shall always remain thankfull.
Regards,
Mush
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It is essential that you have a backup of the EFS partition and a way to place it back - the first two ways that I would think about are:
a) use a good recovery - like Philz recovery, that has commands to restore EFS
b) if the format of the backup is not exactly right you might be able to boot in recovery and use ADB commands.
xclub_101 said:
It is essential that you have a backup of the EFS partition and a way to place it back - the first two ways that I would think about are:
a) use a good recovery - like Philz recovery, that has commands to restore EFS
b) if the format of the backup is not exactly right you might be able to boot in recovery and use ADB commands.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Code:
su
umount /efs
dd if=/sdcard/efs.img of=/dev/block/mmcblk0p1 bs=4096
reboot
Ver3go said:
Code:
su
umount /efs
dd if=/sdcard/efs.img of=/dev/block/mmcblk0p1 bs=4096
reboot
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am new to adb commands. Will phylz recovery help me enter the commands? if yes then i shall be replying with the sd card efs tar file name. Will then you be able to guide me with the commands based on the tar file?
Thanks all of you in advance.
Mush
mush2004 said:
I am new to adb commands. Will phylz recovery help me enter the commands? if yes then i shall be replying with the sd card efs tar file name. Will then you be able to guide me with the commands based on the tar file?
Thanks all of you in advance.
Mush
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No for ADB you boot into recovery, connect your computer via USB and run the ADB commands from either Linux Terminal or Windows Command Prompt.
The tool here:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1703488
May help if you're new to adb.
Otherwise it's a case of downloading and installing the drivers for your phone and the Android SDK http://developer.android.com/sdk/index.html
Thanks for all your replies.
Just wanted to confirm if i have the efs backup in sd card as under folder backup_efs and there are two files in tar.gz format will i be able to use the phylz recovery to use this replace my efs folder? if yes then can you guide me the steps please.
Regards,
Mush
mush2004 said:
Thanks for all your replies.
Just wanted to confirm if i have the efs backup in sd card as under folder backup_efs and there are two files in tar.gz format will i be able to use the phylz recovery to use this replace my efs folder? if yes then can you guide me the steps please.
Regards,
Mush
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I do not remember right now what creates an backup_efs folder but it really does not matter that much - the tar.gz is a "file archive" and .img is usually a partition image. Each could have minor advantages - the .img also contains the entire filesystem of the partition (and will work easier if the filesystem is bonked) but a tar.gz backup is more versatile when you have bad sectors or a changed partition.
Under an advanced recovery like Philz you would just navigate some menus and try to restore the EFS - see the info in those specific threads.
Under ADB you need to have stuff (drivers and some programs) installed in your PC, you connect the phone on USB and you run ADB commands from the command line.

How to make a efs restore flashable zip?

I have my EFS backup as a .tar.gz. After I extracted it shows me several files. I think, I should copy/push all these files to /efs folder. But the problem is I have no idea about the zip file contain updater-script.
How to I make a updater-script?
Thanks!
android addicts said:
I have my EFS backup as a .tar.gz. After I extracted it shows me several files. I think, I should copy/push all these files to /efs folder. But the problem is I have no idea about the zip file contain updater-script.
How to I make a updater-script?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1) the search will give this answers
2) .tar files can be flashed with Odin as "PDA"
3) The normal method is here
If you Have a Backup and you want to restore it, this is one method
1) Download Root Explorer, or Xplore, or any root browser from Play Store and use it to
2) Search you internal SD card for sdcard/backup/efs or any other backup you have for your efs
3) Copy nv_data.bin, nv_data.bin.md5 paste them (means overwrite existing files) into /efs in your Internal Phone memory
4) Fix permissions by Click on efs folder and keep it pressed to open the menu and click on permissions and set them to rw_r_r_ ( Owner = read & write - Group = read only and Others = Read only), after this Save using menu and exit using menu
5) Power down phone and reboot into recovery and wipe cache before rebooting phone to get back your original IMEI
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Check this out! Links to useful Guides and " Banned " Documentaries ​
xsenman said:
1) the search will give this answers
2) .tar files can be flashed with Odin as "PDA"
3) The normal method is here
Check this out! Links to useful Guides and " Banned " Documentaries ​
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks xsenman. Looks like my CWM zip not working. I added a sample test file inside the efs folder, but after flash the zip, it still remain in there. My update-script file has delete("/efs/"); command.
android addicts said:
Thanks xsenman. Looks like my CWM zip not working. I added a sample test file inside the efs folder, but after flash the zip, it still remain in there. My update-script file has delete("/efs/"); command.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
sorry man, I do not want to mess with this command or file, as it can cause serious problems for you. . Since this deals with IMEI, it would also be illegal in this server (XDA) but not others.( MOD's would be inclined to close it where editing or deleting of IMEI is discussed) Like I already mentioned earlier the root explorer method would be the safest way to overwrite existing IMEI. and Odin3 has a phone EFS clear function.
Check this out! Links to useful Guides and " Banned " Documentaries ​
Ops i guess you misunderstands. I don't want edit my SGS3 IMEI. Because I already have my i9300 working efs backup. I want to make CWM flashable EFS restore zip file (my phone efs).
Yesterday after I reseted flash counter my efs wiped. Then I can't even boot ( can boot into cwm)
After that I had to flash Samsung firmware and restore my old efs backup using root file app (like you mentioned this thread, yes its easier).
Normally I use aosp (CM) ROM. Specially cm. In future if it again wipeout my efs folder, I want to flash my backup efs using cwm (without flashing stock firmware with Odin). Its faster.
In my previous post I mention added a sample file mean, I added a text file to that zip. Not a edited or hacked nv_data.bin and nv_data.bin.md5 files .
I guess this is not an illegal.
Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk
very informative, im glad i was turned on this topic. i learned alot.. thanks..

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