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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.
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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 an SCH-I500 that is my wife's phone. She's been itching to try something else, so I was going to try and load a JB rom. Mind you, I've done this hundreds of times with the vzw GNEX, htc droid inc, droid x, and a couple times with her Fascinate. Never had a problem, that is, until now...
While I have her fascinate, I activated our spare droid X for her to use. So essentially the fascinate is not tied to any vzw plans, it's merely a droid device with a clear esn, waiting to be activated on a line.
I have to first say, that my over confidence from hundreds of successes past got the best of me. I cut corners and did not do a CWM backup.
I followed the whole odin procedure to atlas2-2.pit, repartition, load the stock VZW GB rom. Then loaded CWM 4.0.1.0, wipe data/factory/cache/dalvik. loaded via odin the ec09, the GB Boot Loaders, a CM7 I think rom, and GAPPS. all good...
Tried loading the hellybean 8/17 allinone, and the hellybean addon pack. all seemed perfect, as I was looking at JellyBean running smoother than hell, and flawless on the fascinate.
So I powered down her droidx loaner, and went to *228, option 1, added the phone number, and then waited. "please wait while I transfer your call".
Oh crap... hang up.
Go online to verizonwireless and try activating it on the web site. it asked for one of the following, imei, esn, meid. I had previously noted the meid hex. so I typed it in. FAIL. please contact cust support.
oh crap, what now. tried again a couple times.
I discovered in a post about dialing *#60# for it to show you I forget, imei, meid or esn.
It didn't match the label on the back.
Jesus am I a schmuck that should know better....
The hellybean site says "In case IMEI is wrong: Either restore the /EFS folder, if you have made a backup of it, from an older version of Android (2.3.x, ICS,CM7), or Flash a stock version of Android for your device: GB 2.3.6 (JVU, or other) that will restore your Imei, and then you can backup the /EFS folder."
So back to the drawing board. Odin. re-everything back to stock. *#60# shows correctly... all good.
This time, back up the freaking phone, ehhh... check.
any tool i've used (sideloaded pocketesn, phonenumberinfo, androidphoneinfo. ) they all match correct info.
So I wanted to be extra sure and backup the /EFS folder. did it manually, and also using EFS PRO v1.9.12...
adb shell shows 0 files in the /efs folder (but has a lost&found folder) and any tar file, or img file I've created only has the /efs folder and the lost&found folder, but no .nv_data files are found anywhere, yet all the tools show that the phone has the right info.
am I missing something here, like hidden files? Or am I officially screwed?
I hated to create the whole "cool story bro" info above, yet I thought explaining it all in detail would be the best way to get my ass outta the sling
THANK YOU for any info!
Problem solved....
I got to a useable gingerbread system via odin CI500_VZW_EH03_GB_CM.tar, then activated the phone back onto verizon... Once there, reboot, and backup the /efs folder with EFS Pro.
Once I had that all handled, the rest was cake. I'm now running CM10/HellyBean 08-17
Jelly, err uhhh, Helly is Hella awesome on the fascinate!
This thread can safely be closed.
Hi there.
Hope someone can guide me on this. I've been reading all the posts related to unknown imei, lost efs folder, etc and tried several things to solve the problem, but anything worked out.
The phone got wet with some raindrops (very few raindrops). Warranty was lost because they told me the motherboard was damaged by water. At first the battery exhausted in no time and it didn't charged properly, but a couple of months later everything seems to be all right except that it tells there's no IMEI, and the SIM card isn't read by the phone. Later on I've brought it to another technical service where they've told me the motherboard wasn't damaged, but the SIM connector. They wanted me to pay a big amount of euros for such a little piece. I picked up the phone and decided to investigate by myself.
The actions done to the phone: I fisically opened it and applied a connector cleaning spray; then I upgraded it to ICS and finally rooted it. Then I tried lots of solutions that are posted in the forum, like the GSII_repair, busybox, backup of the efs folder via android-sdk, efs pro, etc.
The only thing about efs that I can read in the phone are two files: an efs.tar.gz and an efs.img.
The efs.tar.gz seems to contain everything needed to restore EFS folder: nv_data.bin, nv_data.bin.md5, etc.
I have no idea how to tidy all this mess up. I know that it's possible that the phone won't work again because of the rain, but I want to sold all the possibilities out before using it only as an ipod galaxy, and I resist thinking that if it was damaged by water the phone woulnd't work ok like it does.
What do I want? Trying to give it its IMEI number again and seeing whether it catches signal. Any idea on how to do that with the files efs.tar or efs.img.
Thank you so much.
Since you have some kind of an EFS backup, then you can use kTool, in the Google Play Store, to restore that backup.
kTool requires root.
Hi and thank you for the reply.
I've downloaded this hc-ktool and tried to restore EFS from backup via efs.tar.gz and via efs.img but anyone worked out. It still says "unknown IMEI". Any idea about why it didn't work?
lespou said:
Hi and thank you for the reply.
I've downloaded this hc-ktool and tried to restore EFS from backup via efs.tar.gz and via efs.img but anyone worked out. It still says "unknown IMEI". Any idea about why it didn't work?
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Not really, I am still a noob in Android.
Do you have unknown baseband problem? If yes, then try flashing another modem via Odin.
przemcio510 said:
Do you have unknown baseband problem? If yes, then try flashing another modem via Odin.
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In the baseband section it tells UNKNOWN, as well as the telephone number, IMEI, IMEISW and Bluetooth. D'you think changing the modem will change all the other unknown stuff? I'll try it anyway, thanks.
lespou said:
In the baseband section it tells UNKNOWN, as well as the telephone number, IMEI, IMEISW and Bluetooth. D'you think changing the modem will change all the other unknown stuff? I'll try it anyway, thanks.
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Nothing to do with the modem. I changed it and everything's still the same.
Still rounding the problem... I installed root explorer and I saw there is an original efs folder in the root of the memory, not in the internal sdcard of the phone. So, what can the problem be? Is the phone really damaged? Or do someone think is only a software matter (is the efs folder corrupted?). Anyone can help?
http://forum.gsmhosting.com/vbb/f258/galaxy-s6-edge-imei-null-null-1960154/
I'm having the documented problem of no data connection, always on roaming, after flashing to CM 10.1. My prior rom was CleanRom 5.1, and I have several nandroid backups from various roms over the last few months. GS3 (d2vzw) with root and unlocked bootloader.
So the question is... What's the best way to restore IMEI info and get mobile data back?
As far as I can tell from the dev forums, these are the options, but there are a couple of steps I'm not sure of:
Option 1: Flash a nandroid recovery, backup IMEI using terminal emulator, and then crack-flash away
1. If I restore my phone to a previous backup, is the correct IMEI information included?
2. Also having a problem getting the MD5 sum's to match. Should I flash through ADB instead of clockworkmod? Or use Odin to get back to stock and then re-root? If correct IMEI included with flash back to stock?
3. Assuming I restore a nandroid, the plan was to use "reboot nvbackup" in terminal emulator to save IMEI info.
4. Flash back to CM 10.1.
Option 2: Use IMEI Generator and NV Reader/Writer:
1. Based on this thread: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1804117
2. Problem: The link to the generator tool in the OP is broken (404). I can get the converted IMEI number from an alternative program, but don't know how to format the text file correctly to use with NV Reader/Writer. Does anyone have a standard format of a dummy IMEI text file?
If you screwed up your IMEI file, what would you do? Mucho gracias.
Okay, I just fixed this issue after spending the better part of 2 days flashing ROMs, messing up my phone worse, and even calling vzw for support. Nearly tried to cash in on the warranty.
Steps taken (without any guarantees):
1. Flashed to stock ICS using ODIN. Flashed stock kernel as well.
2. Rooted the phone.
3. Downloaded ez-unlock (bootloader) from Google Play. Unlocked bootloader.
4. Along the way, I had a problem with my phone booting into factory mode, so I edited the efs file (labeled "factory" something or other) to say "ON" as opposed to "OFF". It's counter intuitive, but on is off and off is on.
5. Also went through the entire process of using NV reader/writer software. Tip: search for the explanatory video... it's a lifesaver. I ended up writing the correct imei file back to the phone.
6. Probably unnecessary, who knows, but I erased the efs file (after backing it up to Dropbox first). I also backed up the IMEI file.
7. Used Root Manager to get to clockworkmod, factory reset, and turned the phone on again, hoping to recreate the efs file. Efs was recreated, but this didn't fix the problem... Not yet.
8. Re-rooted phone. Re-unlocked boot loader.
9. Used a combo of Astro File Manager and ES File Manager to restore refs and IMEI files to proper place in phone. First downloaded (from Dropbox) to internal SD with Astro, then moved to top level system/root folder with ES.
10. Using ROM Manager, rebooted to clockworkmod and factory reset, clear cache, flashed LiquidSmoothRom and GApps, then cleared dalvik cache. (Note: this rom was pre-rooted but unlocked bootloader again anyway to make sure).
11. By now, I'm no longer getting the factory mode popup annoyance, my imei info is correct in settings > about phone, but still not getting mobile phone or data.
12. Here's the key, I think: Activated a backup phone, and in so doing, deactivated the sg3. Went onto vzw website and activated the Sim for the sg3. Now I have a working phone.
It may have been one crucial step, or maybe a combination of all the steps, maybe even a Christmas miracle. Just happy to have my best friend... err... phone back.
Please note: At one point while using a CM10 ROM, I noticed my imei info was correct, but not the phone number. I actually downloaded an app that lets you edit your phone number. Not sure if that did anything, but want to be thorough. Anyway, noticing that was what led me to focus on trying to reset the Sim. Vzw told me to do a battery pull and take out the Sim for 10 seconds, but that didn't do squat.
FYI, there's no *228 option on sg3. It was news to me. Hope this helps someone.
Sent from my SCH-I535 using xda app-developers app
I flashed a JB ROM to my stock ICS ROM on my international S2 and my imei number keeps coming and going for away, it'll be there one second and if I restart it'll go away then come back randomly. I can't find any solutions anywhere, do you know what could be the problem? Anyone have a solution lol? i cant flash any ROMs, too scared to brick my phone
I'm not really into Samsung devices but maybe this thread will help you:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1261948
well...that's what I call a dynamic IMEI.
Get sii_repair from play store.
Sent from the little guy
Azurael said:
I'm not really into Samsung devices but maybe this thread will help you:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1261948
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Click to collapse
yeh that didnt helo, thanks anyway!
gastonw said:
well...that's what I call a dynamic IMEI.
Get sii_repair from play store.
Sent from the little guy
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Click to collapse
yeh i have that, i went back to me nandroid back up and my imei number was gone, so i used it to restore it, it took a couple of restarts to work but does that mean everytime i restart its gonna go away?
doesnt anyone have the same problem?
rohin26 said:
doesnt anyone have the same problem?
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Click to collapse
So you were restoring nandroid backup and you lost your phone's IMEI? No never happened to me. But you should have made a backup for it dude!
Edit: Okay got it. Install Root Explorer pro and check whether the efs folder is there or not. Set the same permissions from another I9100 and then reboot. Set the same permissions for each file in that folder and the folder itself. If you have made a backup in the form of .tar file then use HC ktool to restore your efs folder. It would automatically set the permissions required!
shahrozeumar said:
So you were restoring nandroid backup and you lost you IMEI afterwards? No never happened to me. But you should have made a backup for it dude!
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no thats not what happened. I rooted my 4.0.4 using Odin and Siyah Kernel v5. Straight after rooting it, i downloaded GSII_repair from the app store and backed up my efs. Then i downloaded Titanium and backed up everything. Then i went to recovery mode and made a back up. I finally flashed the Resurrection ROM v3.1.3, i rebooted, everything was working fine, like imei was there and so was signal, i restarted my phone and my imei number went away, so i used the GSII_repair app to restore, it worked fine. I restarted my phone again, imei was gone yet again. So i decided to go back to my stock ROM back up, imei was gone, i restored, everything working fine now. Just not sure whats happening because i have rooted phones before and that has never happened to me, every time i restart, imei goes away, sometimes it comes back, sometimes it doesnt. What has happened? just reallly confused. i have a back up of my EFS though.
rohin26 said:
no thats not what happened. I rooted my 4.0.4 using Odin and Siyah Kernel v5. Straight after rooting it, i downloaded GSII_repair from the app store and backed up my efs. Then i downloaded Titanium and backed up everything. Then i went to recovery mode and made a back up. I finally flashed the Resurrection ROM v3.1.3, i rebooted, everything was working fine, like imei was there and so was signal, i restarted my phone and my imei number went away, so i used the GSII_repair app to restore, it worked fine. I restarted my phone again, imei was gone yet again. So i decided to go back to my stock ROM back up, imei was gone, i restored, everything working fine now. Just not sure whats happening because i have rooted phones before and that has never happened to me, every time i restart, imei goes away, sometimes it comes back, sometimes it doesnt. What has happened? just reallly confused. i have a back up of my EFS though.
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Click to collapse
Oh man that is really heart wrenching. Atleast you made a backup before messing with your phone. Okay now can you restore your efs? If yes then restore it and download HC ktool and make another backup for it. Then restart your phone and if you lose it again then restore it using HC ktool. You can try EFS Pro from your PC as well.
shahrozeumar said:
Oh man that is really heart wrenching. Atleast you made a backup before messing with your phone. Okay now can you restore your efs? If yes then restore it and download HC ktool and make another backup for it. Then restart your phone and if you lose it again then restore it using HC ktool. You can try EFS Pro from your PC as well.
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okay i'll try that, sorry for the noob question but whats the difference between HC ktool and GSII_repair?
rohin26 said:
okay i'll try that, sorry for the noob question but whats the difference between HC ktool and GSII_repair?
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They are two different tools I guess for efs backup and restore. HC ktool can also make backup for your kernel that your are currently on!
shahrozeumar said:
They are two different tools I guess for efs backup and restore. HC ktool can also make backup for your kernel that your are currently on!
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Click to collapse
just restarted my phone and checked, the imei number is showing. i didnt have to restore or anything. Is it safe to flash a ROM now? or any risk of brick? thanks for your help btw
I also lost my IMEI no after a flashing a rom, as far as I was aware I had never made a backup of my efs folder, I attempted many different methods to resolve this, then I checked my external SD storage and saw an EFS_BACKUP folder with numerous compressed EFS files, I simply selected one of the early ones copied to my desktop and extracted contents and used them to replace my current efs folder on root of the phone, then reboot and you should have your original IMEI and phone working again, hope this helps goodluck
strictly.mobile said:
I also lost my IMEI no after a flashing a rom, as far as I was aware I had never made a backup of my efs folder, I attempted many different methods to resolve this, then I checked my external SD storage and saw an EFS_BACKUP folder with numerous compressed EFS files, I simply selected one of the early ones copied to my desktop and extracted contents and used them to replace my current efs folder on root of the phone, then reboot and you should have your original IMEI and phone working again, hope this helps goodluck
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yeh i know, but see thats not the problem. There is a million posts on that and i wouldnt have made another thread. The imei number will be there, and everything will be working, i'll restart my phone, it'll go away, i'll restore using GSII_repair, it'll come back sometimes, sometimes it wont, i just restart my phone untill it does but as soon as i restart it again, it'll say unknown. its a weird problem i know but im hoping someone has the answer to it
rohin26 said:
just restarted my phone and checked, the imei number is showing. i didnt have to restore or anything. Is it safe to flash a ROM now? or any risk of brick? thanks for your help btw
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes you can go ahead with flashing stuff
rohin26 said:
yeh i know, but see thats not the problem. There is a million posts on that and i wouldnt have made another thread. The imei number will be there, and everything will be working, i'll restart my phone, it'll go away, i'll restore using GSII_repair, it'll come back sometimes, sometimes it wont, i just restart my phone untill it does but as soon as i restart it again, it'll say unknown. its a weird problem i know but im hoping someone has the answer to it
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I get your point but with your IMEI coming and going, it would point too corrupt efs files on the root of your phone, given you have tried various methods already, I would take a copy of the suspected corrupt efs folder save it onto your pc, then go back to the root folder and delete it, replacing it with one from your EFS_backup folder on your external SD, no need to edit any of the internal files or use any other software, simply reboot
strictly.mobile said:
I get your point but with your IMEI coming and going, it would point too corrupt efs files on the root of your phone, given you have tried various methods already, I would take a copy of the suspected corrupt efs folder save it onto your pc, then go back to the root folder and delete it, replacing it with one from your EFS_backup folder on your external SD, no need to edit any of the internal files or use any other software, simply reboot
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But do note down the permissions of the folder. You will need to set the same after pasting. Use Root Explorer for replacement purpose.
Sent from my GT-I9100 using xda premium
shahrozeumar said:
But do note down the permissions of the folder. You will need to set the same after pasting. Use Root Explorer for replacement purpose.
Sent from my GT-I9100 using xda premium
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Good call, yes you will need root explorer and after pasting my permissions were already set but its best to make a note too be sure
Just backup your phone using galaxy toolbox and restore it
It can restore your IMEI
Hope it can help
Sent from my GT-S5360 using Xparent Skyblue Tapatalk 2
strictly.mobile said:
I get your point but with your IMEI coming and going, it would point too corrupt efs files on the root of your phone, given you have tried various methods already, I would take a copy of the suspected corrupt efs folder save it onto your pc, then go back to the root folder and delete it, replacing it with one from your EFS_backup folder on your external SD, no need to edit any of the internal files or use any other software, simply reboot
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i have root access and everything but it wont let me delete the efs folder, keeps saying its only readable...