[Q] Write new IMEI into phone? - Galaxy S II Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

Dear xda-community,
some months ago I dared myself to root my Samsung SHW-M250S (Korean Version of Galaxy S2) and lost my IMEI on that phone. I couldn't find it and forgot to make a backup of my efs partition because of stupidity and not really reading the manuals properly (I used to have a HTC Desire S which didn't have the efs partition so it's a bad habit thing). Today I found out that I luckily registered my phone with the original IMEI in my google Settings and the developer IMEI on my current Galaxy S2.
My question is: Is there any possibility to insert my old IMEI into my rooted Galaxy S2?

IMEI is device specific.....by law.
Sorry mate, but nobody here is going to help you break the law......
Sent from my GT-I9100 using xda app-developers app

Take it to a local mobile repair shop, some have the same equipment as Samsung service centres that can write the IMEI back to the device. Normally isn't very expensive (much cheaper than replacing a motherboard for example).
You could buy this equipment yourself, but it would cost twice as much (or more) as paying someone who knows what they're doing to fix it properly, you'd probably never use it again, and if you mess it up, your phone is probably a bin job.

keithross39 said:
IMEI is device specific.....by law.
Sorry mate, but nobody here is going to help you break the law......
Sent from my GT-I9100 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well... Since I didn't backup my EFS and got the develeoper one, does it mean I am owning an illegal phone?
MistahBungle said:
Take it to a local mobile repair shop, some have the same equipment as Samsung service centres that can write the IMEI back to the device. Normally isn't very expensive (much cheaper than replacing a motherboard for example).
You could buy this equipment yourself, but it would cost twice as much (or more) as paying someone who knows what they're doing to fix it properly, you'd probably never use it again, and if you mess it up, your phone is probably a bin job.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Gonna try that in the next weeks, see if it works

No, the device having the generic IMEI is not illegal, it's just in many countries these phones are essentially useless & have no connectivity (they will work in some countries with providers who use outdated telco equipment, though).
Most good phone repairs shops should be able to fix this for you, if not, service centre definitely will.
Edit to add - However, writing a different IMEI into a device is very much illegal in most countries (the EU in particular) and will result in both your device & the device the IMEI came from being blacklisted (rendered permanently useless). The only way you can legitimately get a different IMEI & use the phone OK is if you swap the motherboard with a 2nd hand board from a 'donor' device. When Samsung service centres replace motherboards to fix a whole host of things, in most countries they write the existing IMEI to the new board.

MistahBungle said:
No, the device having the generic IMEI is not illegal, it's just in many countries these phones are essentially useless & have no connectivity (they will work in some countries with providers who use outdated telco equipment, though).
Most good phone repairs shops should be able to fix this for you, if not, service centre definitely will.
Edit to add - However, writing a different IMEI into a device is very much illegal in most countries (the EU in particular) and will result in both your device & the device the IMEI came from being blacklisted (rendered permanently useless). The only way you can legitimately get a different IMEI & use the phone OK is if you swap the motherboard with a 2nd hand board from a 'donor' device. When Samsung service centres replace motherboards to fix a whole host of things, in most countries they write the existing IMEI to the new board.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
But what if I can prove that the IMEI I wanted to recover is stored e.g. in my google account? Is it still illegal then?

You didn't comprehend what I said to you.
The original IMEI can definitely be written back to the phone by a Samsung service centre & likely many mobile repair shops; this is OK.
You cannot write a different IMEI to a device, this is illegal.
The end.

MistahBungle said:
You didn't comprehend what I said to you.
The original IMEI can definitely be written back to the phone by a Samsung service centre & likely many mobile repair shops; this is OK.
You cannot write a different IMEI to a device, this is illegal.
The end.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok, that's what I wanted to know. Gonna search for a repair center in around me then... Thanks!

this is straight from a pageplus chat
nothing special just standard procedure for activating an "unknown device" that...well read below.
4G LTE devices (with MEIDs starting with 256 or 99000) are not compatible with our system.
They are able to be activated by dropping the last digit of the IMEI (99000)
they are not able to be programmed with OTA (*22890 or *228) and unable to be manually programmed.
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Click to collapse
i might have chopped it i cant remember but i always keep the good parts
so are you saying a verizon network is breaking the law because it is their policy that dictates pageplus and straight talk in this procedure heck even verizon prepaid
dropping the last digit like they are telling me to do is what?
i dont think its illegal like you say.
no way they would tell 1000's of people to do it
i just tried to ota *22890 my note 3 after they gave me those directions along with my mdn/min/sid and "normally" i get voice/text/mms and data at this point
i just tried without successsfully changing mine and it wont OTA
the step in the directions above is REQUIRED i believe

Changing imei talk is not done on xda. :thumbdown: We all know what can be done with this but we can't talk about it here. Illegal or not info is out there, software is out there. but like I said on xda we don't talk about changing imei or modding it.

andrewwright said:
Changing imei talk is not done on xda. :thumbdown: We all know what can be done with this but we can't talk about it here. Illegal or not info is out there, software is out there. but like I said on xda we don't talk about changing imei or modding it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
agreed

BTW at op. Don't go to a service Centre mate. If I go to a local shop they would only charge me £20 in the UK. Have a look as its much cheaper than ss.

Related

Easy method to restore imei number.

Hello everyone,
My name is Samrina, my brother has broken my S3 it does not work any-more. He told network that he lost his phone, but he only lost his sim, and (PAY as you go) and they asked for imei number and he gave them the imei number for my S3. HE is so stupid so now my phone does not work, and he called them back and they will not take the imei off the block list, and also Samsung will not fix this because it is rooted and warranty is void. Now, the only other option is to send the phone to another country and they said it will work their and that they can also unlock it, they want £150 to unlock it by fixing the Imei number.
I don't know much about mobile phones but I already paid £500 when I bought the phone, now it is useless. Can anyone help? or is the only option to make sale in another country? stupid! they will not take off black list my imei number for a mistake. so unfair.
Samrina said:
Hello everyone,
My name is Samrina, my brother has broken my S3 it does not work any-more. He told network that he lost his phone, but he only lost his sim, and (PAY as you go) and they asked for imei number and he gave them the imei number for my S3. HE is so stupid so now my phone does not work, and he called them back and they will not take the imei off the block list, and also Samsung will not fix this because it is rooted and warranty is void. Now, the only other option is to send the phone to another country and they said it will work their and that they can also unlock it, they want £150 to unlock it by fixing the Imei number.
I don't know much about mobile phones but I already paid £500 when I bought the phone, now it is useless. Can anyone help? or is the only option to make sale in another country? stupid! they will not take off black list my imei number for a mistake. so unfair.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
need to go to Samsung service centre with proof of purchase, id, etc and they may just do it, you can't change the imei as it is illegal
slaphead20 said:
need to go to Samsung service centre with proof of purchase, id, etc and they may just do it, you can't change the imei as it is illegal
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have done this, they will not change it. They said they want written letter from mobile company that blocked it, but the mobile company are so lame, they said they can't do anything about it, and will not answer further correspondence. And that I need to contact GSM imei blocking some nonsense. It is not illegal to fix your own imei number, also I will fix it in another country where it will be legal.
Just tell me one, thing if it is possible or not to fix the imei number with current tools? or is this impossible?
Samrina said:
I have done this, they will not change it. They said they want written letter from mobile company that blocked it, but the mobile company are so lame, they said they can't do anything about it, and will not answer further correspondence. And that I need to contact GSM imei blocking some nonsense. It is not illegal to fix your own imei number, also I will fix it in another country where it will be legal.
Just tell me one, thing if it is possible or not to fix the imei number with current tools? or is this impossible?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What number would you be changing your imei to? Once you change the imei to anything other than what is on your phone's sticker is illegal. Since your brother reported the phone missing it's better he goes and solves the issue. This isn't something you can do on the phone he needs to do it in person.
No one on xda will help anyone with changing their imei.
Sent from my GT-I9300 using xda app-developers app
kofiaa said:
What number would you be changing your imei to? Once you change the imei to anything other than what is on your phone's sticker is illegal. Since your brother reported the phone missing it's better he goes and solves the issue. This isn't something you can do on the phone he needs to do it in person.
No one on xda will help anyone with changing their imei.
Sent from my GT-I9300 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Can you just tell me is this possible or not, I am not asking it be done for me how show me how to do it, all I am asking is, is it possible, because a mobile phone repair guy wants £150 to change it for me. He is from Pakistan, over there it is legal for them to change imei numbers. But I don't know if this person is trust-able.
Samrina said:
Can you just tell me is this possible or not, I am not asking it be done for me how show me how to do it, all I am asking is, is it possible, because a mobile phone repair guy wants £150 to change it for me. He is from Pakistan, over there it is legal for them to change imei numbers. But I don't know if this person is trust-able.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No it's not legal anywhere what you can do is, go to consumer court and file in a complain and send a copy of it to both your service provider and samsung. It will be solved as soon as possible or if you are lucky you can get a renumeration too
Nikhil'Da Devil said:
No it's not legal anywhere what you can do is, go to customer court and file in a complain and send a copy of it to both your service provider and samsung. It will be solved as soon as possible or if you are lucky you can get a renumeration too
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
how to do this? last time I went to court, the squerity guard touched me inappropriately they are perverts.
Why does this thread just seem completely wrong in everyway, maybe I'm hearing alarm bells, or maybe I'm just wrong!!
Sent from my GT-I9300 using xda app-developers app
Whatever the reason. What you are asking to do is illegal. The network has black listed the phone because it was lost/stolen.
Suck up and get your 'brother' to call the network and unblock it. But is suspect this story is rubbish
Sent from my GT-I9300 using xda premium
This thread might be of interest you.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1815368
Sent from my GT-I9300 using xda premium
Samrina said:
Can you just tell me is this possible or not, I am not asking it be done for me how show me how to do it, all I am asking is, is it possible, because a mobile phone repair guy wants £150 to change it for me. He is from Pakistan, over there it is legal for them to change imei numbers. But I don't know if this person is trust-able.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I would imagine it is possible to change an IMEI but if someone over here finds out you have had it changed it looks to anyone like you have stolen the phone, the police will check the sticker IMEI and see that phone has been reported lost, they will then check the IMEI the software is reporting and see that it is different.
Open and closed case you have a phone reported lost or stolen, with a falsified IMEI you look guilty and you will get arrested and have to prove it is your phone (contract doesn't count because that is tied to the sim)
Discussion of illegal IMEI cloning is banned on XDA OP please close this post .
jje
"Assuming" the story is legit its your brothers fcukup so give him your old phone and make him buy you a replacement. If he refuses kick his ass!!!! If you decide to let him off out of brotherly love put it down to experience.
Lol. Op is such a liar. Burn in hell you thieving prick.
Sent from my GT-N8010 using Tapatalk 2
Fact it is illegal to change imei numbers on your phone. It has to be the one on the sticker, if your story is true then all you have to do is go to the police station along with your proof of recipt and tell them you found your phone. They will make a call and unblock your phone in a matter of minutes.
I remember my sister left her handbag in nandos once here in the uk she had a Samsung d900i at the time. Me and my sister just the left the store and she remembered she left her handbag and went in to get it it was gone. cleaning lady said she didn't see it. So we went and reported it o the police. She had her contract phone credit cards bank cards cash. and sentimental stuff in it.
Anyway we reported the imei number to them and they blocked the imei on the phone. Next day we get a call that the cleaner lady had my sisters bag we went to pick up her bag and all was good the lady got the sack. We came home and the phone was blocked so i rang the company they couldn't do **** for me. So we took the recipt and the phone to the police station including the box and said a couple of days ago my sisters phone was stolen we got it back here is my proof. They made a call and instantly it was unblocked. That was 6 years ago. Maybe it is still the same.
If your story is legit this should work.
Samrina said:
Can you just tell me is this possible or not, I am not asking it be done for me how show me how to do it, all I am asking is, is it possible, because a mobile phone repair guy wants £150 to change it for me. He is from Pakistan, over there it is legal for them to change imei numbers. But I don't know if this person is trust-able.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
NO, it isn't legal!!!!!!!!!!! What is wrong with you?
And that 'guard touching me inappropriately' sounds like a load of bollocks. I'm sorry but you're definitely lying. No one will help you.
Thread closed

[Q] s3 blocked

hi people of xda.....
iv got a chance to buy a galaxy s3 that has been blocked through the network t-mobile is it possible for it to unblocked using odin or some other software??
I heard that it's possible using an app called voodoo.
Though i'm not so sure.
But it might be possible.
Search the forums
IF the phone is blocked by provider (not SIM-locked) - that usually means that it was claimed as stolen.
I have no idea how'r you, but I'd never bought the item marked as stolen...
doesnt unblocking involve change of imei and that is very illegal which will attract the police
just try a different network and them sell the phone abroad untill its fully locked
The word blocked means someone has reported it lost or stolen the IMEI has had a block on and it will not work on any network.
Changing your IMEI is illegal and we cannot discuss it on XDA.
However if you mean locked it can be unlocked from t-mobile to work on any network, that is a SIM lock.
Sent from my GT-I9300 using xda premium
i do mean blocked but i dnt wanna do owt illegal i.e change imei i dnt know how you do that anyway... reason asking is a friend of mine was cleaning his loft out and his fone died and he cudnt remember were he left it so he rang t-mobile who i presume blocked it through insurance and he got another one.... a few days later he found his fone... so thats the reason for asking bout unblocking etc.....
You ask the network to unblock it and return the new phone if asked to .
The IMEI is blocked by the network and XDA cannot help in any illegal practice as trying to change an IMEI .
Do not buy it as you are buying a stolen phone that belongs to the insurance company .
jje
So, in other words: you and your friend made a deal:
HE will claim it as missing/stolen, HE will take money from insurance, YOU will pay him some % of the price, right?
Well, I can assure you that this is illegal as well.
spamtrash said:
So, in other words: you and your friend made a deal:
HE will claim it as missing/stolen, HE will take money from insurance, YOU will pay him some % of the price, right?
Well, I can assure you that this is illegal as well.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
no the phone was advertised on a facebook buy and sell site am not into illegal crap i just wanted to know if it was possible for it to be done
You need a court order for that. The block is not in the hardware or firmware, but in the network, and since you have no control of the network, there is nothing you can do.
If you want to play fair, your only choice now is to return the phone to your friend so he can give it to the real owners now: the insurance company. Only they can request the carrier to unblock the phone.
You may keep the USB cable, power supply and headphones!
---- side note:
BTW, your friend is a dimwit, isn't him? Not being able to find a phone - that features SamsungDive - is a very dumb argument.
And, since it is a S III it does have SamsungDive, so both the carrier and insurance company can easily find out where the phone is. Since the phone has been reported as stolen, don't be surprised if the cops knock on your door in a few hours.
galaxygaz said:
no the phone was advertised on a facebook buy and sell site am not into illegal crap i just wanted to know if it was possible for it to be done
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That conflicts with your story about the friends, doesn't it?

[Q] Empty /EFS folder and no IMEI = Useless phone

Hi guys, a friend of mine bough a brand new Samsung Galaxy SII from Amazon. It was unlocked and came with no warranty. For one month the phone work flawlessly, but then one day the phone's battery went discharged so my friend plug it to a wall charger and turn it on... that was the last day the phone worked fine. She didn't rooted, she didn't upgrade it, she didn't flash it, she didn't temper with it in ANY way.
When the phone turn on it did it in flight mode, no IMEI. She pass me the phone, and for the last 3 hours I've been reading about this problem with /EFS folder.
Now my concrete question is:
Is there some way to fix this???.
PLEASE, BEFORE YOU ANSWER READ THIS:
NO, the phone can't be sended to Samsung because it's and international phone with no warranty.
2. NO, the phone can't be sended back to original seller because it was bough 4 months ago.
3. NO, there is no backup of /EFS folder, because she didn't know about this /EFS folder corruption thing, but mostly because she didn't temper with the phone in any way, so PLEASE don't embarrass yourself suggesting to restore /EFS folder.
4. NO there is no .nv_data file, .nv_data.bak, nor nv_data.bak.md5, so NO I can't rename them to nv_data.bin or nv_data.bin.md5, so once again PLEASE don't embarrass yourself suggesting this...
5. NO, GSII_Repair doesn't work.
6. NO, turning off phone, removing SIM, turning on phone, wait until phone fully boots, turning off phone, re-insert SIM, and turning on phone DID NOT WORK.
7. NO, flashing a stock rom didn't work.
8. NO, flashing a new kernel didn't work.
9. NO, there is no backup of /EFS folder in SD Card...
10. NO, she/I can't turn phone back to carrier because it's an unlocked phone.
11. YES, I did try the SIM card in another phone, worked ok, so it's NOT a SIM card issue.
12. YES. I try with 3 more working SIM cards, none work with this phone, so YES it's a phone issue.
13. YES, I search the forum, actually I read the first 10 result pages, every post. No stright answer to solve this problem.
14. YES, I know Odia could (or could not...) fix this, but I want to leave it as a very last resource.
So far, the only 2 things that could work are this and this, but both will give me a generic IMEI, and that will bring troubles with the law when my friend try to sell this phone.
Any other suggestions?
Throw it in the bin. Yes, I'm serious given all the caveats you've put in your OP. What miracles are you expecting ? There aren't any.
The only ways this phone is getting fixed is by a Samsung authorised repairer, or by replacing the motherboard with a 2nd hand one (Which will mean the phone now has the IMEI of the phone the board came from).
Wow! U really wrapped up this case!
I do hope u have rooted the phone before u checked the contents of the EFS folder. I have seen some members report seeing an empty EFS folder when they haven't rooted.
Am asking just to be sure.
"To err is human, to forgive is divine"
Sent from my SGS II
I am gonna suggest something that I have read here (which I personally find it ridiculous but since you're desperate...) some people have written posts regarding copying or backuping your current efs folder and then performing a delete operation to the original efs folder, also several others have said it's working for them, so you find these kind of posts and try their method since you got nothing to lose..
Sent from my GT-I9100 using xda app-developers app
king_below_my_lord said:
I am gonna suggest something that I have read here (which I personally find it ridiculous but since you're desperate...) some people have written posts regarding copying or backuping your current efs folder and then performing a delete operation to the original efs folder, also several others have said it's working for them, so you find these kind of posts and try their method since you got nothing to lose..
Sent from my GT-I9100 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That only works when you have the .nv_data file. After you delete the /EFS folder and reboot phone, you need to rename .nv_data file to nv_data.bin... But as I did say before: I don't have the .nv_data file nor the nv_data.bak file sooooo, it wil NOT work.
skyx26 said:
That only works when you have the .nv_data file. After you delete the /EFS folder and reboot phone, you need to rename .nv_data file to nv_data.bin... But as I did say before: I don't have the .nv_data file nor the nv_data.bak file sooooo, it wil NOT work.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hmm is that so? I never read those posts fully though since I recently read a guide where the OP was insisting that a stock rom flash and efs deletion worked for him(he had no backups) and he didn't do anything else like editing nv_data file, but as bungle was saying you have few options left, before converting it to a expensive media player.
Sent from my GT-I9100 using xda app-developers app
have the same problem did you fixed??
need hel got the exactly same problem but i do have the mine shows the imei but no signal with a circle
Did you followed these steps? http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1264021
If you are willing to pay, this guy seems to be able to do it: http://forum.samdroid.net/f70/repair-imei-s2-5729/
You are better off going to a repair shop and buying a motherboard tho.
Hello,
Got the same problem, no imei.
My phone was dead after a trip. I live in china and usually its pretty cheap to fix hardware here. So did I. For 100 Yuan they got my phone start again but from this point no imei any more... I complained returned it, but they couldnt do anything and i didnt want to give them more money to try more.
So i got a sgs2 totally useless...
My question is, i have a 2nd sgs2, i would like to know if there is a way to backup 100% a phone to replicate it to an other. (does the EFS can be transposed to an other phone or they are to be unique and fit exactly to one phone ?)
I tryed all kind of tutorial to restore it i never could.
Thank you all !
You can't transfer IMEI's from one device to another, an IMEI is a unique number which identifies a particular piece of hardware, and doing so is illegal in most countries (and not allowed to be discussed on XDA due to same). If you attempt to do it, you'll end up with two permanently blacklisted/unusable devices.
Basically you have two options:-
1) A Samsung service centre will be able to 're-write' the IMEI to the device, in most cases/countries you'll keep your existing IMEI. Like most repairs by Samsung service centres in most countries, this could be somewhat expensive. Many local mobile repair shops have similar equipment, and will possibly be able to do this more cheaply than a Samsung service centre.
2) You could replace the motherboard with a 2nd hand one sourced from a 'donor' phone, which you'd either replace yourself, or pay a local mobile repair shop to do it. In this case your IMEI will change to that of the phone which the board came from.
Another 'possible' option might be to purchase the equipment (that Samsung authorised repairers/others) used to re-write the IMEI. However, if you don't know what you're doing you can easily bork the phone to the point of requiring a motherboard replacement, plus you'll be left with an expensive piece of equipment you'll probably never use again.
If I were in your situation, I'd be going to a local mobile repair shop to have the IMEI re-written to the device, and if that wasn't possible for whatever reason, I'd be going option 2.
MistahBungle said:
You can't transfer IMEI's from one device to another, an IMEI is a unique number which identifies a particular piece of hardware, and doing so is illegal in most countries (and not allowed to be discussed on XDA due to same). If you attempt to do it, you'll end up with two permanently blacklisted/unusable devices.
Basically you have two options:-
1) A Samsung service centre will be able to 're-write' the IMEI to the device, in most cases/countries you'll keep your existing IMEI. Like most repairs by Samsung service centres in most countries, this could be somewhat expensive. Many local mobile repair shops have similar equipment, and will possibly be able to do this more cheaply than a Samsung service centre.
2) You could replace the motherboard with a 2nd hand one sourced from a 'donor' phone, which you'd either replace yourself, or pay a local mobile repair shop to do it. In this case your IMEI will change to that of the phone which the board came from.
Another 'possible' option might be to purchase the equipment (that Samsung authorised repairers/others) used to re-write the IMEI. However, if you don't know what you're doing you can easily bork the phone to the point of requiring a motherboard replacement, plus you'll be left with an expensive piece of equipment you'll probably never use again.
If I were in your situation, I'd be going to a local mobile repair shop to have the IMEI re-written to the device, and if that wasn't possible for whatever reason, I'd be going option 2.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you soooo much for taking your time to answer completly to this question. It seems that i should try again and go to an other shop see if they can do something. At least i wont lose my time anymore trying to fix that myself.
I was thinking also of selling it to those kind of shop. Last time the guy who said he couldnt fix it was trying to buy it at 500 Yuan (60euro) I guess they will use the parts of my phone to fix others (or relaly fix the IMEI and sell it haha).
No problem. Yeah, many local mobile repair shops would have the equipment to re-write the IMEI to the device, so see if the original shop can do this. Yes, selling it to them for parts is another option I guess, but as you say, they might just as easily end up repairing it & selling it for a fair bit more than they paid you for it.
Guys please help me same problem but my phone have orignal imei number only one problem my phone dont yave any network it shows no network i already did restored my efs backup but no success plz help
Sent from my GT-I9100 using xda premium
No IMEI S2
Merry Xmas dudes...
I bought my missus an S2 for xmas.... the phone had no network or IMEI so i thought i could fix it easily !!! Which i did !!!!! i put a tesco sim in and I used s2 repair and s2 unlock which worked first time.....
BUT like the noob i am i decided to do an update via kies ( the phone is gingerbread .XWKI4 GT-I9100, 2.3.4 and rooted)
Yes this was a very bad mistake.... this put it back to the way it was NO IMEI number, etc . I tried the repair again last night and it did not work anyway i wrapped it and gave it the missus this morning and the tesco payas you go worked ??? It also showed IMEI number ????even though it was not there last night ???
I then put my missus pay as you go stesco sim in and it went back to NO IMEI number and that is where i am at now ????
I did not know about backup of the EFS but then again i bought it like this ???
CAN ANYONE PLEASE HELP ME ???
it also has BASEBAND VERSION = Unknown
Using the box
MistahBungle said:
Throw it in the bin. Yes, I'm serious given all the caveats you've put in your OP. What miracles are you expecting ? There aren't any.
The only ways this phone is getting fixed is by a Samsung authorized repairer, or by replacing the motherboard with a 2nd hand one (Which will mean the phone now has the IMEI of the phone the board came from).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Or you can just get yourself one of those special boxes like the octopus box or the Z3x box and a UART cable which can help you write an IMEI. Yes, I know that writing an IMEI is illegal but then again what the hell! Illegal is awesome and its fun. Break the ****ing rules and rise against the authorities! that's what we, the lovers of linux,android and the open source community should do!
So you trust someone who didn't have the presence of mind to do an EFS backup when they rooted their phone (I.E a n00b) to use an Octopus box without completely stuffing it up, do you ? I don't, which is why the advice is always to take it to someone who already has one/knows how to use it & pay them $30-$50 to fix it guaranteed.
no imei on custom rom.
hi guys
this is what happend to me.i flashed a custom rom on my s duos and it was nt getting any network.at first i thought baseband.but then i checked the imei (*#06#).guess wat nothing pops up.screwed i thought.
desperado i restored it to my nandroid backup.hurray! got my imei back identical to the one on the back of the battery.no network trouble call,sms,data all fine.but when i checked efs folder it appears to be empty.so as i am a noob and my friend who without second thought gave me his efs folder of s duos.i tried to use it.damn it says "the same file name
exists do u want to overwrite it " this is wat i get when i try to copy the efs contents of the similar device to my phones empty efs folder.
so do i have my efs in my phone nw otherwise sims wouldnt work?
any chance efs is hidden??
ps.i was nt able to copy the efs of the other device som emmc restricted acces.rooted s duos.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/general/rooting-roms/imei-000-044999-repair-t2806129

[Q] Provider unlock code not working. Any idea why?

Dear XDA fellows,
i requested a provider unlock code for my simlocked samsung s2
Unfortunately the code does not work at all.
Now i wonder why,
i have rooted the phone with the old ICS and used the galaxy s unlock app on it to use other providers cards.
A few months later (now) i updated Android to 4.12 and tried to use the provider unlock code on it but it did not work.
Rooted the phone again and tried various unlock apps, but none of them work.
Now i wonder why the phone has become so defiant to my attempts to unlock it, after all i treated it good for all the time that i used it.
Maybe someone has any suggestions on how to unlock the phone after all?
IMEI blocked
Hello Everyone,
I don't know if this is the right place to post my issue. Briefly.... After having a Samsung Galaxy s II, GT-I9100, with a contract in Italy (VODAFONE), having paid the phone in full, suddenly after two years, I decide to close contract,
The Vodafone bastards tell me that I must pay 380.00 € (threehundredeigthy) because of some invoices. This obviously according to them. I always paid everything. I refuse to pay this sum and open a controversy with them demonstrating with facts and papers at hand that it is not right I pay this amount. Anyway, after a week, they block my IMEI.
I think this is absurd. I PAID THE PHONE IN FULL!!! They want 380.00 € of telephone calls related to the SIM card. I don't want to pay this money. The phone is no brand.
I went to a lawyer, and he told me it's not worth the hassle to go to court for such sum.
What I want to know is:
Why should I have a phone that doesn't work after I have paid for it?
You need to contact a guy called "gaston" on here.
He works for vodafone italy in the customer service dept.
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maybe your an iphone expert
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If they IMEI block the phone, you're boned. Nothing anyone here can do to help. If they block it, the phone is blocked at the carriers end & in many countries on all networks in that country.
And further talk about changing the IMEI will likely see the thread closed, given this is illegal in most countries & talk of same is against XDA rules. Go see a local mobile repair shop, some might be able to 'help'.
Re:
arsy82 said:
Why should I have a phone that doesn't work after I have paid for it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Why should we care ?
MistahBungle said:
If they IMEI block the phone, you're boned. Nothing anyone here can do to help. If they block it, the phone is blocked at the carriers end & in many countries on all networks in that country.
And further talk about changing the IMEI will likely see the thread closed, given this is illegal in most countries & talk of same is against XDA rules. Go see a local mobile repair shop, some might be able to 'help'.
Re:
Why should we care ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've asked for help..If you come up with "What should we care", then I guess you shouldn't care of anything and not be on the site. I think this site other than an educational point of view, can also offer expertise and technical assistence as it is a really important internet forum. I really don't understand your rude answer..honestly it has no sense or help to me.
Why should he care.....hes not getting paid.You are involved in a civil dispute with vodafone or whoever,so this isnt the carriers complaints dept.
Then you start talking about an illegal method to help you out which is against xda rules.
So dont pay then,sell the phone and use the money towards buying another phone.Make sure it isnt a vodafone one......lol
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maybe your an iphone expert
------------------------------------------
bahmonkeys said:
Go on Ebay and look for faulty phones. Basically ones with broken screens. Stay away from water damaged ones and ones with the same problem you are having. Once you get it, you could swap out the motherboards and sell yours on Ebay. Sell yours outside of the country as it might work. This would be the easy way. It might cost you about 50 bucks but you could sell your motherboard and make it back.
Remember Google is your friend for changing IMEI. I would choose the option above.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I just have 1 technical question: if i get a ****ty alcatel phone i have home and get my imei blocked samsung galaxy s2. CAN I TAKE THE ALCATELS IMEI E SHOVE IT IN THE SAMSUNG GALAXY S2?
I DON'T THINK IT IS ILLEGAL TO TRY TO HAVE A PHONE I PAID FOR WORK.,
I JUST WANT TO KNOW IF IT IS POSSIBLE.
And which part of changing an IMEI is both illegal, and more importantly, discussion of same is against XDA rules aren't you clever enough to understand ? I've reported this thread, hopefully your posts are removed (because the OP had legitimate queries about unlocking it until you hijacked it).
MistahBungle said:
And which part of changing an IMEI is both illegal, and more importantly, discussion of same is against XDA rules aren't you clever enough to understand ? I've reported this thread, hopefully your posts are removed (because the OP had legitimate queries about unlocking it until you hijacked it).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm really sorry if I caused any sort of trouble to any member of the forum. Honestly it was the last of my intents. I will obviously put a stop to my curiosity, thoughts & problems regarding the IMEI related issue to avoid any sort of problems. Sorry once again.
Regardless of the circumstances changing the IMEI, discussing how to change the IMEI, and I believe in the UK even possessing tools capable of doing so, is all illegal and can get the site in trouble. This is an issue you would need to take up with your local representative or vodaphone and should not be discussed in anyway here.
This is non-negotiable.
Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

[Q] Motherboard replacement - will IMEI be lost?

Hi
I have an S2 which is hard bricked, it is not stolen or barred.
I have bought a replacement motherboard and a shop will fit it for me as I lack the technical skill.
My question is will my IMEI be lost?
If so how do I recover it, assuming the phone is then working?
Many thanks in advance
Mark
Generally speaking, if it's a new MB by a Samsung service centre you'll get the same IMEI (but not in all countries). If you/someone else puts a 2nd hand board in, yes, the IMEI will change. Either way it makes no difference to you as a user, your phone will still have a unique IMEI & work as it should with either scenario.
You messing around with the IMEI in order to try to 'recover' your old one should it change will lead to a busted phone (again). Don't attempt this because it just isn't necessary.
MistahBungle said:
Generally speaking, if it's a new MB by a Samsung service centre you'll get the same IMEI (but not in all countries). If you/someone else puts a 2nd hand board in, yes, the IMEI will change. Either way it makes no difference to you as a user, your phone will still have a unique IMEI & work as it should with either scenario.
You messing around with the IMEI in order to try to 'recover' your old one should it change will lead to a busted phone (again). Don't attempt this because it just isn't necessary.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Many thanks for the reply, great information.
I will leave it as it is.
Thanks

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