[Q] IMEI issue - Galaxy S II Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

I have a Galaxy S2. The IMEI (and the BaseBand as well) lost after loading a custom ROM to it. No, there was no EFS backup.
I have tried:
1. Flashing original stock rom via Odin.
2. HC-kTool
3. http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1264021 - Couldn't completely finish this one as there is no '.nv_data' at step #6
4. GSII_Repair - https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.helroz.GSII_Repair
So I gave up and went to a GSM shop. They could (somehow) write the original IMEI back, but they said loading a new rom "deletes" the IMEI again. They tested it several times. I'm not sure whether this applies for the software update as well. They can't do anything else.
Is there any way to bring my phone back to it's original shape?

Nothing you can do yourself, no. Unless you want to buy the equipment, learn how to use it & try repairing it yourself.
Take it to another repair shop. Anyone who actually knows what they're doing should be able to fix this. Or take to a Samsung service centre. Or change the motherboard (service centre might do this if it really isn't fixable via the 'normal means').

MistahBungle said:
Nothing you can do yourself, no. Unless you want to buy the equipment, learn how to use it & try repairing it yourself.
Take it to another repair shop. Anyone who actually knows what they're doing should be able to fix this. Or take to a Samsung service centre. Or change the motherboard (service centre might do this if it really isn't fixable via the 'normal means').
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I doubt changing the motherboard would worth it. Any idea about the price of the 'normal means' in Samsung service centre?

Not in your country, no idea. When I say the 'normal means' I'm referring to what that shop who tried to repair it did/told you it wasn't possible. This is the first time I've seen anyone on here post saying re-writing the IMEI to the phone was tried (which is normally what a service centre will do; in my country at least) & failed/isn't possible.
So the first thing I'd be doing is taking it to another shop (not Samsung service centre, because a Samsung service centre will often charge you more for a given repair purely because they can.) & have them try it. It should be possible unless there's something wrong hardware-wise which has coincidentally happened at the same time you've had this issue.
If they tell you the same thing, then you either take it to a service centre or perhaps source a 2nd hand board from a donor phone & swap the board yourself or pay a local shop to do it.

MistahBungle said:
...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you. What kind of harware issue could possibly cause something like this?

That's a very good question. Without having the phone to diagnose that would be almost impossible to say. But that assumes it is some kind of hardware issue & not just a case of whomever tried to fix the phone not really knowing what they were doing.

Related

[Q] no service after samsung s3 firmware update

Hi, I have a stock samsung galaxy s3 phone and i heard google now is an amazing feature so i was tempted to upgrade to jelly bean and i used odin to flash my s3 with jelly bean available on sammobile but it came up without network service.
i then tried to flash it to stock firmware but after repeated attemps i could not get network service. tired and without sleep i finally handed it to samsung service centre. Now, i would like to know why this happened and will it get fixed or have i permanently broken something??
It may be modem related. I think you maybe rushed things sending it back to Samsung.
Did you happen to lose your IMEI in the process? An EFS corruption is another possibility, next time make sure to have a proper backup for it.
Anyway, generally speaking, if the phone is able to boot into download mode (and you made the proper backups) you are not totally screwed.
VulguM said:
It may be modem related. I think you maybe rushed things sending it back to Samsung.
Did you happen to lose your IMEI in the process? An EFS corruption is another possibility, next time make sure to have a proper backup for it.
Anyway, generally speaking, if the phone is able to boot into download mode (and you made the proper backups) you are not totally screwed.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Phew, thank you thank you thank you for your reply. i heard someone say to me it might be an EFS corruption. probably i did rush into sending it to samsung but i was so nervous and stupid and tired...hoping to get back my phone soon. they take ages to fix anything and service is so bad. nobody picks the phone. no timelines...nothing. Oh by the way i did not make any backups. I just want the phone working again and i dont mind installing all things all over. so is it screwed without a backup?
seedheart said:
Phew, thank you thank you thank you for your reply. i heard someone say to me it might be an EFS corruption. probably i did rush into sending it to samsung but i was so nervous and stupid and tired...hoping to get back my phone soon. they take ages to fix anything and service is so bad. nobody picks the phone. no timelines...nothing. Oh by the way i did not make any backups. I just want the phone working again and i dont mind installing all things all over. so is it screwed without a backup?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
they just called that the phone is ready. i will go now and see what they have done with it.
Ops always ask xda users first before you take another step which you think is impossible.
Sent from my GT-I9300
hero000 said:
Ops always ask xda users first before you take another step which you think is impossible.
Sent from my GT-I9300
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, i will do that next time. will post soon what they have done with my phone
seedheart said:
Yes, i will do that next time. will post soon what they have done with my phone
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm just wondering was the phone rooted and did they cover warranty or did you have to pay for the repair? Just wondering exactly where service centers actually stand (not what the book says)
Sent from my GT-I9300 using xda premium
delsus said:
I'm just wondering was the phone rooted and did they cover warranty or did you have to pay for the repair? Just wondering exactly where service centers actually stand (not what the book says)
Sent from my GT-I9300 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I paid $45 for the repair. got the phone back but its not doing voice calls on network. just data. Need to go back to samsung but what do you think has happened?
IMEI blocked
seedheart said:
I paid $45 for the repair. got the phone back but its not doing voice calls on network. just data. Need to go back to samsung but what do you think has happened?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My phone is now blocked by vodafone. IMEI blocked. They wont tell why. Now what do i do?
Check if the imei (dial *#06#) is the same one as on the box or under the battery.
If not and it's not 49.... then the repair shop transplanted a imei from another device which is illegal and can bring both of you in lots of trouble. If it's 49... then the imei is a default one and it's not repaired.
Sent from my GT-I9300 using xda premium
d4fseeker said:
Check if the imei (dial *#06#) is the same one as on the box or under the battery.
If not and it's not 49.... then the repair shop transplanted a imei from another device which is illegal and can bring both of you in lots of trouble. If it's 49... then the imei is a default one and it's not repaired.
Sent from my GT-I9300 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
They said there was a problem with mainboard and they replaced it. Then the GT-I9300 became a GT-I9300 T.
Help!! Anyone...someone...
If it became a i9300T then they have replaced it with an incorrect MB - probably not a biggie as it is the Telstra variant.
I would take it back to them. Tell them they have used the wrong MB AND it isn't working. Handing you back a phone which will not connect requires a pretty good explanation as to why they consider it fixed.
Did you check the IMEI as d4fseeker mentioned? What do you have in there? If Voda have blocked you it is likely they have used an incorrect IMEI when 'fixing' your phone so when you go in act all scared about possible legal problems and if they get sticky tell them you will have to go to the police to let them know because you don't want to get arrested for stealing your own phone.
I'm no expert here, but from what I have read so far I think they have placed you in a very good position - were you to get nasty they'd be in serious trouble, with the law as well as Samsung (if they are an authorised repairer.
Download Lyriquidperfection's EFS Pro and make an EFS backup so you have the evidence, maybe make a nandroid backup as well, then go back, indignation firmly in hand and tell them they didn't fix your phone, and, also, they seem to have used an ilegal IMEI etc.
Of course, if your IMEI is still the same, maybe they've done something else. I'm not sure how they'd do it but maybe if they replaced the MB then somehow put your original IMEI back I'm pretty sure that would show at Voda as being an incorrect IMEI.
Hope that helps...
seedheart said:
Help!! Anyone...someone...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What I'm reading is driving me mad.... this happened to me... I have the S3 GT-i9300 and while updraging I had the very same problem. Im on the 3network and when the install was done after 3 times with no network I got worried all I did to rectifie this was to start from scratch wipe cash and wipe the dalvik cash you will now lose evrything unless you did a backup using TB and backing up your desktops. Start from the begining and donot deviate... I used this how to link put the http: before address.. site wont let me do this yet. //galaxys3root.com/galaxy-s3-roms/how-to-install-custom-rom-on-rooted-galaxy-s3/ and it all came up and with my network too... yeah PHEW!!! was my thoughts... but if yours has now been to shop for so called repairs.. and now blocked.. freekin heck.. not sure what they have done.. is it not just your sim thats blocked?
What have you now got to lose... try it..
Loz.
Loz1 said:
What I'm reading is driving me mad.... this happened to me... I have the S3 GT-i9300 and while updraging I had the very same problem. Im on the 3network and when the install was done after 3 times with no network I got worried all I did to rectifie this was to start from scratch wipe cash and wipe the dalvik cash you will now lose evrything unless you did a backup using TB and backing up your desktops. Start from the begining and donot deviate... I used this how to link put the http: before address.. site wont let me do this yet. //galaxys3root.com/galaxy-s3-roms/how-to-install-custom-rom-on-rooted-galaxy-s3/ and it all came up and with my network too... yeah PHEW!!! was my thoughts... but if yours has now been to shop for so called repairs.. and now blocked.. freekin heck.. not sure what they have done.. is it not just your sim thats blocked?
What have you now got to lose... try it..
Loz.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
In all this process I have successfully gone mad. The IMEI on the box and my phone is different and they told me they replaced the main board for FREE!!. Mainboard costs a lot so i dont understand why would anyone do anything for free. I contacted them and they asked me to talk to the head office. they said its standard process and they cant do anything...Not sure if the police will do anything either. They have lots of other serious issues to handle than a freakin firmware upgrade!! Damn!
seedheart said:
In all this process I have successfully gone mad. The IMEI on the box and my phone is different and they told me they replaced the main board for FREE!!. Mainboard costs a lot so i dont understand why would anyone do anything for free. I contacted them and they asked me to talk to the head office. they said its standard process and they cant do anything...Not sure if the police will do anything either. They have lots of other serious issues to handle than a freakin firmware upgrade!! Damn!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Any chance of sending it back to have the original board put back? Or the fact is if they have changed the board it's there duty to hand it back working or the phone back how they got it with little or no charge for labour. This really sounds like a scam deal you got here.
Loz
The only legit way I can think of to replace a MB free is to do a warranty replacement - in which case you should not have been charged the $45 either.
Police aren't the only option, but they are the most serious. It probably doesn't even matter if the cops action your complaint or not, the threat should get some action, but you should save it up till you have had no response on the other alternatives. And if they try to tell you the cops will not be interested, politely explain the cops might be VERY interested in criminal activity that the perpetrators think is incidental.
After all, even Interpol gets interested in phone scams of this nature. The potential for terrorists to use such altered phones to avoid scrutiny is enough to kick security into high gear, and if your local cops don't think of it you can always say, in a rather timid manner , I'm just worried they may be producing untraceable phones for criminals - I'm betting the cops would be knocking on the service guys door before you got to the front door of the cop shop.
But, before that you can talk to Voda or a Samsung centre and mention you got your IMEI changed and now your service provider has cut you off. I'd imagine they would be most interested in the details of the service people.
And you do't even have to threaten the service guy, just say, when you get no helpful fix, 'I guess I will have to talk to Vodafone or Samsung to get things restored - who should I tell them to talk to here to get things cleared up?'
Another question is whether the service place is where you got the phone. If not, talk to the vendor and explain that the service has done strange things to your phone and charged you extra for a warranty job (if that's the case) - they may want to change who they use for servicing.
I've got almost no experience in the phone side but after 25 years doing Desktop Support for PC's I can tell you that you are in a solid position - one way or another, these guys have done a shoofty and that leaves you holding the cards. Just stay calm and don't make threats, just comment about what you will have to do next.
For example, with the service guy, you could say, 'So I guess the next step is to talk to the cops - whoever got you the MB could be getting them illegally seeing the IMEI doesn't work. Do the police talk to you or do you have someone else who does the ordering?'
Your case Is similar like me but I am getting no service......no calls no texts after flashing UK Rom
Sent from my GT-I9300 using xda premium
Journyman16 said:
The only legit way I can think of to replace a MB free is to do a warranty replacement - in which case you should not have been charged the $45 either.
Police aren't the only option, but they are the most serious. It probably doesn't even matter if the cops action your complaint or not, the threat should get some action, but you should save it up till you have had no response on the other alternatives. And if they try to tell you the cops will not be interested, politely explain the cops might be VERY interested in criminal activity that the perpetrators think is incidental.
After all, even Interpol gets interested in phone scams of this nature. The potential for terrorists to use such altered phones to avoid scrutiny is enough to kick security into high gear, and if your local cops don't think of it you can always say, in a rather timid manner , I'm just worried they may be producing untraceable phones for criminals - I'm betting the cops would be knocking on the service guys door before you got to the front door of the cop shop.
But, before that you can talk to Voda or a Samsung centre and mention you got your IMEI changed and now your service provider has cut you off. I'd imagine they would be most interested in the details of the service people.
And you do't even have to threaten the service guy, just say, when you get no helpful fix, 'I guess I will have to talk to Vodafone or Samsung to get things restored - who should I tell them to talk to here to get things cleared up?'
Another question is whether the service place is where you got the phone. If not, talk to the vendor and explain that the service has done strange things to your phone and charged you extra for a warranty job (if that's the case) - they may want to change who they use for servicing.
I've got almost no experience in the phone side but after 25 years doing Desktop Support for PC's I can tell you that you are in a solid position - one way or another, these guys have done a shoofty and that leaves you holding the cards. Just stay calm and don't make threats, just comment about what you will have to do next.
For example, with the service guy, you could say, 'So I guess the next step is to talk to the cops - whoever got you the MB could be getting them illegally seeing the IMEI doesn't work. Do the police talk to you or do you have someone else who does the ordering?'
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
what does a "/03" at the end of the IMEI number indicate??
Please see the following thread
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1918601

[Q] Provider refusing to repair or replace new phone

I had upgraded my old contract with 3 mobile (carrier) and got myself the Samsung Galaxy S3. It had just been about 4 months since I got the phone and I was happy with it. It was working perfectly with no issues or problems. On the 2nd of Feb 2013, I woke up in the morning to find that my phone had only 1% battery remaining. After making myself a cup of coffee, I got back to charge the phone but I found it had turned off due to low battery. I immediately plugged it in and after a few minutes I tried switching it on, but for some reason the phone wouldn't turn on. It would just go till the black and white screen showing the Samsung logo and then that was it. Thinking that it might have been drained of battery I decided to charge it till it showed 100% battery. After it got fully charged, I tried turning it on again, but the result was still the same. It wouldn’t move from the black and white screen showing the logo. At this point I realized that the problem was not something i could handle; I took it to the 3 mobile stores where I had originally purchased the phone from. The lady, whom I spoke to at the shop, did inspect my phone and tried to do a factory reset, but all that was of no use. After about 20 minutes I was told that I could drop it in for repairs by either posting it myself after getting into touch with the customer care team or I was told I could bring it back to the shop on Tuesday when they usually do pickups for repairs and send it from the shop. I chose to take it to the shop on Tuesday and have them send my phone to the repair centre. I was given the battery and back case for me to keep it with me and filled up a form for repairs and got told that they would get back to me in a weeks’ time.
Now here is where the problem starts...
Roughly after a week I got a letter sent to me by 3 mobile customer services. The content in the letter was...
"We are sorry to say there is evidence of unauthorized repair activity on your Samsung Galaxy S3. This suggests that the phone has been handled by a non- approved third party prior to receipt by our repair centre. As this invalidates your manufacturer's warranty we are unfortunately unable to progress with the repair."
I immediately phoned up customer services to let them know that I was not happy with these falls claims of a 3rd party trying to fix my phone. And they insisted that they cannot go against the decision of their engineer. And that they would not send such a letter through without thoroughly examining the phone. They person whom I was speaking to said that he had forwarded this to the complaints department and they will contact me within 48hrs.
The first thing I did when my phoned died was take it to the 3 store, knowing that I had 2 years warranty. I don’t see why I would want to pay a third person to fix my phone, when I can get it fixed for free by the 3 mobile.
The next day I got a call from this guy from 3 mobile who said he was a supervisor in the complaint handling department. I got told that their repair team believe that when they got my phone it was not in economic condition. And therefore they would not be able to carry on with repair. I kept on insisting that my phone has never been looked at by any unauthorized person. And I asked them to show me what proof they have to say that it was tampered with, to which they replied it could be anything, but they will not go against the decision of the engineer. I was told that they would return my phone to me so that I could give it somewhere else for repair and that they wouldn't replace my phone under any circumstances. I have told them to send me their statements in writing. As soon as I finished the call I went straight to the 3 store that I got my phone from. I spoke to the same guy, whom I had spoken to while handing my phone in for repairs and he said to me there is not much they can do at the store and the best thing I could do was to phone up customer care again and ask what proof they had to suggest that my phone got handled by a 3rd party.
I will be heading to citizens advice, hoping that they could help me in this matter. The fault that I had with my S3 seemed to be a common one , as I had read quite a few blogs and articles on it in the internet.
I just found out about this forum through a friend today. I hope there is someone here who can help me or give me suggestions on what to do.
Thnx
Search for "sds" you will find loads of info, precedence already set by Samsung, and nail those people with the CAB, they are your best bet, oh and ask the phone shop for an address to which you can send documentation as you wish to start legal proceedings...in short....You are in the right, you have faulty goods, they haven't provided you with any evidence to back up their claim you tampered with it....and point out that without dated photographic evidence they haven't got a leg to stand on.......basically harass the crap out of them and don't be afraid to go into that store and make enough noise to give them bad publicity, also tell them you are contacting local press!
They sold you the phone, they should replace it under the consumer act.simple.
Warranty from the store is not 2 years its standard twelve months .
Your claim is against the store not Samsung .
Separate limited Samsung warranty is two years .
The standard reply to this topic is that you need an engineers report yourself to disprove the sellers report .
If it is SDS then phone is repaired usually first case i have heard of rejected for the reasons you post .
TS may give you more advice but the basic is your word against the engineers diagnostics .
Do not as many have done with phone contracts and repairs stop paying the contract as al that happens is you still owe and get your credit record messed up .The phone is not part of the contract but an inducement to take out the contract .
jje
When i Phoned up 3 tech support to have my phone sent back to me.. the person whom I spoke to was able to give me a bit more details about what had actually happened. They claim that my phones software had been rooted and as a result their engineers( who were also trained by Samsung) could not access my phone . They said that it might have happened due to something malicious being installed on the phone or it might have happened when the phone had been plugged into the computer and a third party app being installed.
I don't really know much about phone software and routing. As far as I am aware, I haven't installed any malicious content on my phone , neither have I installed any 3rd party apps. All the additional apps on my phone had been downloaded from play store.
The guy from 3 tech support, told me that if 3 were to fix the issue, it would go over £200 and that my options were to either a) claim insurance ( which i don't have). b) have it send to Samsung, to check if they might have an different approach to the issue.
I ended up sending my phone to Samsung twice and here is what happened......
Over the past 1 month, I send my phone for repairs to Samsung twice and both times it got send back to me without being repaired.
The first time I send it for repairs; I got it back in 2 days. I was surprised that Samsung didn't fix my phone. They send be a letter along with my phone saying “That my phone had been tested with an RF test, which resulted in a pass, indicating that RF section of phone was not at fault. However, testing my handset with a live operator network failed as the network did not allow my handset to connect. They tried telling me that my phone had been blacklisted and network blocked by the provider. I was told to contact my provider for further details regarding this matter. It took 3 mobile a week to confirm that my phone had not been blocked or blacklisted at all.
I then contacted Samsung for a second time and told them that my network provider had confirmed with me that my phone was not blacklisted. My phone got send back to Samsung for the second time. I phoned them up on receiving a conformation text about my phone being delivered to Samsung. I did specifically tell them to keep me posted and to let me know before they send it back to me. Two days later I got a text saying that my phone will be delivered to me by 5pm that day. I quickly phoned up Samsung, hoping to hear that they had finally managed to fix my phone. But instead, I got transferred to the repair centre, who informed me that the phone had been sent back to me, but unfortunately could not be repaired as there was interference in the software. They told me that my phone was beyond economical repair and that I had to contact Samsung directly in order to get it fixed. I phoned up Samsung and made the aware that I was clearly unhappy with what was going on. Apparently the repair center that the phone was sent to does not deal with software related problems. So now they will send it to a different repair center (one that deals with software issues). But they also told me that it might have happened if the phone had been rooted and I clearly told them that I had done nothing to the phone. They went on to say that if the phone had been rooted, then there was nothing they could do, but if it hasn't been rooted, then it will be replaced. Personally I don't know how to root my phone. I have openly said that I'm not the best when it comes to such things as I have very little knowledge regarding such things. So even if Samsung were to tell me that they have found my phone to be rooted( which it clearly hasn't), I wouldn't know what to say to that.
I am waiting on Samsung to collect my phone from me now for the third time... Tbh I have lost all hope...
Would be nice to hear about what you guys think I should do nw. Thnx
Root is not a virus or trojan if its rooted its been flashed .
Root does not prevent access but it does void warranty .
interference in the software. >> really does not make sense as a service centre with software problems on a unit would just factory reset the phone ..
This saga smell like a second user phone that has been rooted and possible firmware changed . You have ended up with it from the store .
Presume you have no details of the firmware that was on the phone at point of sale .Nor your IMEI .
jje
I feel a bit embarrassed to admit that I don't really know that much about phone's software and firmware or any other stuff related to them.. But I think I may have the IMEI no. wid me. Are you suggesting that I may have been sold a second hand phone ?
If only i knew what exactly i needed to tell Samsung :crying:
Akhil John said:
I feel a bit embarrassed to admit that I don't really know that much about phone's software and firmware or any other stuff related to them.. But I think I may have the IMEI no. wid me. Are you suggesting that I may have been sold a second hand phone ?
If only i knew what exactly i needed to tell Samsung :crying:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
just suggesting its as a bit odd if its stock untouched and you have not rooted or modified the phone .
repair centre say rooted firmware modified IMEI blacklisted
If rooted is true then someone has carried out that task .
jje
Service provider 3 did confirm that the phone was not blacklisted . Would like to get any sort of advice on what steps I should be taking now with regards to contacting Samsung on further assessment and repairs.
JJEgan said:
Root is not a virus or trojan if its rooted its been flashed .
Root does not prevent access but it does void warranty .
interference in the software. >> really does not make sense as a service centre with software problems on a unit would just factory reset the phone ..
This saga smell like a second user phone that has been rooted and possible firmware changed . You have ended up with it from the store .
Presume you have no details of the firmware that was on the phone at point of sale .Nor your IMEI .
jje
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Have you not seen AdamOutler's explanation on why rooting doesn't void the warranty?
b-eock said:
Have you not seen AdamOutler's explanation on why rooting doesn't void the warranty?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes but i have also seen the Samsung letter that clearly states it voids warranty .
Plus i have yet to see one successful user report that Samsung accepted that root does not void warranty .
But the op has the choice of telling Samsung they are in the wrong even though presumably they have rejected as root is against their rules for the limited warranty .
jje
---------- Post added at 01:43 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:04 PM ----------
OP i think your best to find out why warranty is not valid.
If its root or custom rom the reason then use b-eok post / adam outler to argue that root does not invalidate your warranty.
If the phone is rooted and you have not rooted then contact the vendor as to why was it a returned phone or similar .
jje
The way things stand right now, Samsung have arranged my phone to be collected on Tuesday ( 23/03.2013) . But i am still confused as to what I should tell them in terms of what I think is the fault. I'd imagine that they would know the causes of SDS by default. I guess this is what happens to people who clearly don't know much about phones. :crying: The only update that I had done on my S3 was ICS to Jellybean.
Akhil John said:
The way things stand right now, Samsung have arranged my phone to be collected on Tuesday ( 23/03.2013) . But i am still confused as to what I should tell them in terms of what I think is the fault. I'd imagine that they would know the causes of SDS by default. I guess this is what happens to people who clearly don't know much about phones. :crying: The only update that I had done on my S3 was ICS to Jellybean.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How did you update it?
Sent from my GT-I9300 using xda app-developers app
notification came up saying jb update avaiable, so i went nd updated it.
My phones gonna be send to Samsung today. Can anyone suggest any points that i could mention to them in order for them to understand that, it was the phone being faulty and not me doing anything to it. Is true that SDS makes the phone appear to be rooted ( with Custom status being ) ?
If that is so, then how do I explain it to them?
Just say its dead and you suspect eMMC / motherboard failure
Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 2
rootSU said:
Just say its dead and you suspect eMMC / motherboard failure
Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Cheers pal, will do.
There is a huge difference between warranty and limited warranty.
Basically the warrany is what your seller (not Samsung!!!) is required by law to provide and usually includes a phase (6months or so) where the seller has to prove you damaged the phone. claiming "rooting" as damaging the phone is btw not sufficient.
Limited warranty is optional and can have any restrictions the provider wants, including requiring you to sing karaoke on handstand every day and post it on Youtube. Limited warrany can be provided by anyone, but usually the manufacturer.
In short: ONLY deal with your carrier. Samsung has nothing to do with you and can charge / refuse repair unless they decide otherwise to provide customer service.
Sent from my GT-I9300 using xda premium
d4fseeker said:
There is a huge difference between warranty and limited warranty.
Basically the warrany is what your seller (not Samsung!!!) is required by law to provide and usually includes a phase (6months or so) where the seller has to prove you damaged the phone. claiming "rooting" as damaging the phone is btw not sufficient.
Limited warranty is optional and can have any restrictions the provider wants, including requiring you to sing karaoke on handstand every day and post it on Youtube. Limited warrany can be provided by anyone, but usually the manufacturer.
In short: ONLY deal with your carrier. Samsung has nothing to do with you and can charge / refuse repair unless they decide otherwise to provide customer service.
Sent from my GT-I9300 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
In the EU, if you can prove the fault is a manufacturing defect rather than user damage, Samsung would be breaking the law to refuse the warranty within a 2 year period of the device being purchased. It's the proof that is the hard part.
I would too always suggest going to the carrier first, but not for this reason. Simply so they have a log of your faults. However OP went to the carrier first and refused him under nonsense grounds. I do think that Offcom could make 3 UK evidence the nonesense they speak...
Got in touch with Samsung again. They said that the reason that the engineers haven't been able to fix it is because there is a software interference caused by installation of an unauthorized software. If this is the case, they said that the wouldn't touch the phone. But send it back just the way it was. I asked them to provide proof and I was told that the engineers would arrange photo's to be sent along with a letter, when they return the phone (clearly didnt make any sense to me). I got told that I could cross check with an individual repair center, to confirm about this so called unauthorized software.
Any suggestions on what I should do now? At this point of time i have clearly lost all hope that my phone will ever get fixed :crying:
Akhil John said:
Got in touch with Samsung again. They said that the reason that the engineers haven't been able to fix it is because there is a software interference caused by installation of an unauthorized software. If this is the case, they said that the wouldn't touch the phone. But send it back just the way it was. I asked them to provide proof and I was told that the engineers would arrange photo's to be sent along with a letter, when they return the phone (clearly didnt make any sense to me). I got told that I could cross check with an individual repair center, to confirm about this so called unauthorized software.
Any suggestions on what I should do now? At this point of time i have clearly lost all hope that my phone will ever get fixed :crying:
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Click to collapse
That is the standard reason they give when voiding warranty due to root custom roms etc .
Samsung's warranty is not the same as a vendors liability / warranty and says Limited on the packet .
Go back a few posts and you are told that root does not void warranty so i would take that path of pointing out to Samsung that root is not a valid reason to refuse warranty ( though i think as its an extra limited warranty it is ).
Or likewise from the vendor make a claim via the courts if they refuse it under EU law .
Initially it is the vendors responsibility .
Take advice from what was Trading Standards via your local council as well .
jje

Mission Impossible (?) / Unroot S2 with broken screen!

I've broke the screen of my S2. It doesn't show anything!
I will get it fixed by official Samsung service.
The problem is that I am rooted and they will see it and I am going to lose my remaining 1-year warranty.
I've found some guidelines to unroot it from the PC using ODIN (no need for the screen of S2 to work):
However, I must also reset the flash counter. Is that possible without seeing the mobile's screen??
If you physically 'broke the screen' (cracked/etc accidentally or whatever), you can forget about getting it fixed under warranty (unless you have some kind of 3rd party warranty covering such things). If the screen malfunctioned, that's a different story.
I don't think A/S center will fix 'physically' broken screen for nothing because it is your fault...
I don't know much about SGS2 because I don't have it. But just try to flash ODIN Firmware.
Sent from my IM-A840S using xda app-developers app
D-Phi said:
I don't think A/S center will fix 'physically' broken screen for nothing because it is your fault...
I don't know much about SGS2 because I don't have it. But just try to flash ODIN Firmware.
Sent from my IM-A840S using xda app-developers app
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Click to collapse
Of course I will have to pay the screen replacement.
What I don't want is to lose the remaining warranty...
Ahhhh OK. Gotcha. Hmmm....
Why not replace the screen yourself ? Will be cheaper than paying an authorised repairer to do it, and if anything goes wrong with the phone after, your warranty will still be good. Or even go to a local mobile repair shop who isn't an authorised repairer & have it replaced.
This is going to be easier than trying to do something that's bordering on impossible. I know with some Android phones you can flash stock roms from ADB, but with the SGS2 I'm not so sure. If it were me (If I cared about warranty; I don't, but, anyway...), I'd get the screen replaced (which you've said yourself you're going to have to pay for anyways) via either of the above methods & bypass authorised repairers. If you don't have that choice (I.E only local mobile repair shop is a Samsung authorised repairer), buying one from eBay/replacing it yourself is your best bet.
MistahBungle said:
Ahhhh OK. Gotcha. Hmmm....
Why not replace the screen yourself ? Will be cheaper than paying an authorised repairer to do it, and if anything goes wrong with the phone after, your warranty will still be good. Or even go to a local mobile repair shop who isn't an authorised repairer & have it replaced.
This is going to be easier than trying to do something that's bordering on impossible. I know with some Android phones you can flash stock roms from ADB, but with the SGS2 I'm not so sure. If it were me (If I cared about warranty; I don't, but, anyway...), I'd get the screen replaced (which you've said yourself you're going to have to pay for anyways) via either of the above methods & bypass authorised repairers. If you don't have that choice (I.E only local mobile repair shop is a Samsung authorised repairer), buying one from eBay/replacing it yourself is your best bet.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
OK, thanks for your advice!

[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

[Q] Write new IMEI into phone?

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.
Click to expand...
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.

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