Hi all.
I have a huge problem with my S2. When I type on my keyboard *#06# i get IMEI null/null. Ive tried everything mentioned here and nothing works. I don't know if i made a backup or not. Some app made a backup and i tried to restore and it didnt work. I rooted the phone and tried several custom roms and it doesnt work.
What can I do?
Regards, Brix
brixie11 said:
Hi all.
I have a huge problem with my S2. When I type on my keyboard *#06# i get IMEI null/null. Ive tried everything mentioned here and nothing works. I don't know if i made a backup or not. Some app made a backup and i tried to restore and it didnt work. I rooted the phone and tried several custom roms and it doesnt work.
What can I do?
Regards, Brix
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Edit: I've tried to install original stock rom without success
Any good local mobile repair shop should be able to fix this (re-write the IMEI to the device) for you fairly cheaply (for example, I can get it done for around AUD$30). A Samsung service centre can also do it, but will charge you a lot more.
If you've tried to restore a backup & failed for whatever reason, and flashing stock roms didn't work (it can if it was a temporary thing, which it is sometimes), you really don't have any other option apart from buying the equipment repair shops/Samsung use to do the repair mentioned above. Which is obviously more expensive than paying someone who already has the equipment to do it, you need to learn how to use the equipment without turning your phone into a paperweight permanently (or at least unfixable without a motherboard change), and you'll probably never use it again.
Best option is the first one (local mobile repair shop/non Samsung service centre) if you want it fixed easily, quickly, and guaranteed (assuming there's nothing hardware-wise wrong with the phone).
Hi Mistah.
Thanks for the advice. I will take my phone to thr repair shop. I think that too that its not SW fixable.
Regards, Brix
I doubt it is fixable by you, I mean, you can try the stuff in some of the threads on here (various 'guides' around the place), but given what you've already tried/said, they're unlikely to work. And you could spend days trying stuff for no result, be without a working phone for that time, and still end up having to get it repaired. And given how cheap (relatively speaking) it is normally, my choice every time is to get it done sooner rather than later, for those reasons.
Related
Hey,
I've recently bought Galaxy S2.
It had problems with Android 2.3.3 and batter drain so I decided to upgrade to 2.3.4. I followed the instructions and I had to re-partition. Rebooted my phone into download mode, set re-partition option, PDA and clicked start (as said in the guide). It started doing stuff but after ~40-50 minutes there was no progress - it was stuck at "SET PARTITION". After an hour and 20 minutes still nothing and the phone started heating. So I unplugged the USB and removed the battery. Left it to heat down and tried to start recovery/download mode. It couldn't even start. As if it's really dead
How could you know for sure if a phone is bricked? What should I do know?
Is there anything I can try to see if I can bring it back to life or I should go to my provider and ask him to fix it?
I would be really grateful for any suggestions
Thanks in advance,
tftd
You have a bricked phone, you will need to buy another one.
I don't know which instructions you have been following, but it is not the ones here.
Over here, we tell people not to click 2 things. CLEAR EFS, and REPARTITION.
Clear EFS, kills the IMEI, and REPARTITION kills the phone.
Since the bootloader sits in the partition, you don't have bootloader, so no download mode either.
Yup, as the poster before me mentioned; your phone is totally hardbricked. Only way to fix it is through a jtag (requires some advanced hardware) or to send it to samsung on warrantee. Thats why they say not to play with pit files/partitions in the guides.
There is someone on youtube that can fix your device since he has the necessary tools, go to youtube and search for sgs2 jtag, you should find his video where he demonstrates the process, or you can do what the other posters said.
I'm on my phone using the xda application so I can't post the link for you.
Sent from my GT-I9100
Well from what i have read, bricking is really hard even if u check repartition.
Anyway iam a noob,but just search youtube and forums iam sure u will find something.
LiFE1688 said:
You have a bricked phone, you will need to buy another one.
I don't know which instructions you have been following, but it is not the ones here.
Over here, we tell people not to click 2 things. CLEAR EFS, and REPARTITION.
Clear EFS, kills the IMEI, and REPARTITION kills the phone.
Since the bootloader sits in the partition, you don't have bootloader, so no download mode either.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Now that's something I shall remember for the rest of my Android Phone life.
I sent my phone to customer service and hope they can fix it.
@achillies400 that dude is trained in small electronics (youtube/com /watch?v=zN7le4GmxZs) I saw what he does but I'm from Bulgaria and I'm not quite sure if the phone would get to USA and back to Bulgaria in one piece ...
For all the people coming after me:
DUDES! DON'T EVER RE-PARTITION! NEVER EVER!!!!!!
Thank you all for giving suggestions and helping me! Pretty much appreciated!
tftd said:
Hey,
I've recently bought Galaxy S2.
It had problems with Android 2.3.3 and batter drain so I decided to upgrade to 2.3.4. I followed the instructions and I had to re-partition. Rebooted my phone into download mode, set re-partition option, PDA and clicked start (as said in the guide). It started doing stuff but after ~40-50 minutes there was no progress - it was stuck at "SET PARTITION". After an hour and 20 minutes still nothing and the phone started heating. So I unplugged the USB and removed the battery. Left it to heat down and tried to start recovery/download mode. It couldn't even start. As if it's really dead
How could you know for sure if a phone is bricked? What should I do know?
Is there anything I can try to see if I can bring it back to life or I should go to my provider and ask him to fix it?
I would be really grateful for any suggestions
Thanks in advance,
tftd
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
MobileTechVideos have a jtag maybe they can repair.
Otherwise sent your device to an Samsung ServiceCenter!
looks like your simplest solution is the Jtag.
Is the samsung service centre offering a free repair? or are there any costs involved?
netchip said:
MobileTechVideos have a jtag maybe they can repair.
Otherwise sent your device to an Samsung ServiceCenter!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah.. Still that's not an option for the moment - I live in Bulgaria .. :/
dullah said:
looks like your simplest solution is the Jtag.
Is the samsung service centre offering a free repair? or are there any costs involved?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Weelll... I hope it's free... though I'm prepared for a bill..
I didn't tell them I was flashing the rom... I told them it was heating up and suddenly it stopped working. Hope that's convenient enough
Check this link out.Its a list of places where you can get your phone jtaged incase it happens again.Near the bottom there is a contact for your country.
http://www.jtagbox.com/riff-jtag-bo...-bricked-phone-riff-box-owners-list/#comments
okay, I hope it all works out
my phone has a busted up screen guys, claiming on house insurance, if i was to Clear EFS, kills the IMEI, and REPARTITION kills the phone. that would make it unbootable right??
I wouldnt give up jet
I ended up in quite a simular situation, i failed during flashing another pir, witch resulted in a non bootable phone with none ability to charge the battery. I tried to charge the battery elsewhere and was actually able to detect the phone in odin(none visual respons on the phone but stil). there should be a hope of reflashing it from here. could anyone explain why the screen goes blank even if its in downloadmode? is it related to imei/rom?
I would try this before sending in the phone. I talked to some guys in a norwegian servicecetre. If they are not able to connect it via usb to a pc and flash it they probably just change the motherboard!(EXPENCIVE) JTAG didnt seem to be the sollution of choice. changing the motherboard was rarely the sollution,but apperantly one customrom ****ed up both bootloaders(rom and imei) witch made them helpless reflashing it.
I bricked my phone because repartition was checked
I bricked my phone because I checked repartition. DO NOT CHECK BOX NEVER EVER EVER.
I sent back to t mobile and just said it would not turn on or charge and they repaired it free.
Since I have had my phone repaired I have flashed lots of custom roms with no major problems. Difference I have never once since clicked repartition and I made a backup of my EFS folder using Galaxy s unlock from android market also unlocked my s2 no probs
If you can detect it in Odin. Usually it is always able to be fixed.
But you may have to use someone else's full backup dump. But they may not want to give you their efs information of their phone.
Look online for galaxy s3 boot-loader etc.
This is for future people that need help
I was with 3 and I legitimately unlocked my phone to move over to vodaphone.
The it wouldn't work. Wouldn't recognise the sim.
I sent it back to Vodaphone and they wouldn't touch it because there was a crack in the screen.
I got it home and did a bit of a google search and figured out it had something to do with the EFS file.
I rooted the phone and figured out that its completely empty.
I've tried a 1000's things. Looked at 1000's threads and I'm at a loss.
Is there ANY way to fix this at all?
I'm completely at a loss now.
Can I create a new nv_data.bin file and anything else that needs to be in the efs folder?
Happened to me before.
Well of course the way out will be send to service centre.
However, try a full flash to stock rom.
If it doesn't, try factory reset the phone, flash stock rom.
Since you have no backup, pretty tough here.
Sent from my Samsung Galaxy S II using XDA App
Maybe try GS_II Repair from the Market. No idea if/how it works (It's touted on here/on Market as your last best chance before sending it back to Samsung) as I've never used it & always backup my EFS.
If worst comes to worse, pm Odia, and apparently will repair it (edit: remotely) with a "donation". Instal app "team viewer" first;
https://market.android.com/details?id=com.teamviewer.teamviewer.market.mobile
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1103357
Apparently been quite successful, nearly but not 100%
Sent from my GT-I9100 using xda premium
nicregi said:
Happened to me before.
Well of course the way out will be send to service centre.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Is that how yours was fixed? I've already done that. They won't fix it.
MistahBungle said:
Maybe try from the Market. No idea if/how it works (It's touted on here/on Market as your last best chance before sending it back to Samsung) as I've never used it & always backup my EFS.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yep tried that. Didn't work.
So follow Up In The Air's suggestion & get in touch with Odia & see if he can help, or send it back to Samsung. I'm betting Odia will be cheaper if he can indeed fix it.
Please Help!
Did your issue got resolved?
I am facing the same problem now. Although i didn't root my s2. Been using it stock since i bought it. Only today i got this no network error (baseband and imei unknown) when i was changing between some sim cards.. Anyone any ideas?? My warranty is still applicable since its just been 5 months. So will samsung cover it under their warranty?
I read in a thread that a user got their imei back by switching off, removing sim, switching back on.
Then they were able to backup efs with correct imei.
Then they switched off, put sim back in, switched on. Can't remember if it was a sim issue but you could try that.
Sent from my GT-I9100 using XDA App
aceofclubs said:
I read in a thread that a user got their imei back by switching off, removing sim, switching back on.
Then they were able to backup efs with correct imei.
Then they switched off, put sim back in, switched on. Can't remember if it was a sim issue but you could try that.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Tried that like a dozen times already.. Heres some more details regarding my problem:
1. My S2 wont detect any sim card (tried like 3-4 sims)
2. When i checked under settings>about i found imei and baseband version are missing and has been changed to "unknown" (*#06# returns a blank number)
3. Its just 5 months old and is in stock condition. (Not rooted and still running 2.3.3)
4. Cant turn off the flight mode (constantly shows in the upper right corner)
5. Cant connect my phone to kies (version 2.0.2.11071_128) on pc either
What do i do now guys? I dont have a proper service centre in my town. I was wondering if i can fix it on my own without making my warranty void..
Try GS_II Repair from Market, and failing that, contact Odia on here who might be able to recover your IMEI for a small 'donation'. Or you could send the phone in for warranty repair given you haven't been messing around with it like most of us here
You'd probably want to use the third option (send it in for warranty service). If you try and fix it yourself & stuff it up, you'll void your warranty & then you'll end up paying to have it fixed.
kreygor said:
Tried that like a dozen times already.. Heres some more details regarding my problem:
1. My S2 wont detect any sim card (tried like 3-4 sims)
2. When i checked under settings>about i found imei and baseband version are missing and has been changed to "unknown" (*#06# returns a blank number)
3. Its just 5 months old and is in stock condition. (Not rooted and still running 2.3.3)
4. Cant turn off the flight mode (constantly shows in the upper right corner)
5. Cant connect my phone to kies (version 2.0.2.11071_128) on pc either
What do i do now guys? I dont have a proper service centre in my town. I was wondering if i can fix it on my own without making my warranty void..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Any fix will probably void warranty .Try factory reset first.
jje
Sent from my GT-I9100 using xda premium
MistahBungle said:
Try GS_II Repair from Market, and failing that, contact Odia on here who might be able to recover your IMEI for a small 'donation'. Or you could send the phone in for warranty repair given you haven't been messing around with it like most of us here
You'd probably want to use the third option (send it in for warranty service). If you try and fix it yourself & stuff it up, you'll void your warranty & then you'll end up paying to have it fixed.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks dude. Duly noted your point. Here are some more inputs from me:
1. So i tried GS_II repair from market but it requires for the phone to be rooted which mine isn't.
2. And first thing i tried after i faced this problem was doing a factory reset. Have done it over a dozen times by now and it does not solve it.
3. I faced this problem when i was changing between some sims cards within a couple of minutes. (Hope this doesn't void my warranty since i wasn't actually messing with it!)
4. As i mentioned in my earlier post, my town doesn't actually have a proper authorised service centre. So sending it for service would mean missing my baby S2 for over a month or two (which i find hard since i am so used to it by now)!
So my question is, can i flash an official stock firmware which matches with mine (i found one already here on xda, thanks you guys!) without having to root my phone or making my warranty void, and more importantly, will it solve my problem?
No reflashing a rom won't help, your best bet is to send it off to Samsung before you do anything that might void your warranty.
Sent from my GT-I9100 using Tapatalk
^ Precisely. As long as you have warranty you should use that to your advantage and keep from doing rash decisions that void your warranty. Good luck!
Seriously dude, don't try and fix it yourself. Regardless of how long you'll be without it, at least you'll get it back working and it won't cost you anything other than postage (I presume ?).
If you stuff up whatever you try to do to fix it, you might brick it, which means you'll be without your phone while Samsung fixes it anyway, only you'll be paying for it to be fixed. And given you've already spent however much you paid for the phone, do you really want to spend another couple of hundred bucks to have it repaired when you can get it fixed for nothing ?
As the very wise two posters above me have said, just don't risk it.
Thanks guys.. i have decided to send it for warranty repair then. I will make the visit tomorrow. Will be missing it lots! One hell of a great phone, it was like my mini computer
If i ever knew changing sim cards would screw it up so bad, i would never have done it!
Hopefully will post here later with the good news..
Gave my cell to the service center guys, told me to return later today so that they can examine it. Last i saw it they were fiddeling with it by some IMEI writer on a pc. Hope i get it back up and running soon.
While i was briefing them about my missing IMEI no. they told me that the reason behind it could be me using screen-lock-pattern on my phone. Is it true? Any one experienced it before?
Cool. Hopefully they sort it for you soon
That's interesting. I use a pattern lock mostly & have never seen a relationship between it and the IMEI going missing. What I have noticed tho (and I've seen other people report on here) is the IMEI/baseband go missing occasionally if you reboot the phone whilst connected to a charger.
This rights itself if you do a reboot (occasionally two) with the phone off charger. The first time it happened it scared the crap out of me I had an EFS backup so it would have been recoverable, but it happened out of the blue & I had no idea what caused it. I re-flashed my modem as a first step as the baseband was missing, and that seemed to fix it tho I suspect simply rebooting did the job.
kreygor said:
Gave my cell to the service center guys, told me to return later today so that they can examine it. Last i saw it they were fiddeling with it by some IMEI writer on a pc. Hope i get it back up and running soon.
While i was briefing them about my missing IMEI no. they told me that the reason behind it could be me using screen-lock-pattern on my phone. Is it true? Any one experienced it before?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The screen unlock codes are stored in the efs, both patern and pin so maybe that's correct, but efs and thus imei corruption seem to be random, I got it once updating my rom, I keep about 5 backups so I was ok, scary thought.
If you are going to root, first thing you should do after rooting is make an efs backup, hellcats ktool from the market is a good choice, easy and works well.
Sent from my GT-I9100 using Tapatalk
So my phone is not reading my sim card anymore and i'm desperate to fix this.
Stumbled upon this thread : http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1264021
Did everything in there, IMEI still not on and it still doesnt work, i start reading supplies and see that 'SGSII_Repair' thing. I'm like YES. God has heard my prayers!! So i download it and all, but i cant use it anymore cause in the process of following that thread i've apperantly totally destroyed my IMEI. So i read the russian english(something) what the App said(SGSII Repair) and i thought it said i should delete my backup EFS folder cause it couldn't save it because there was one there already.
Turns out that wasnt the case. So now i've deleted my backup and im pretty much ****ed?
Any help?
...
MistahBungle said:
1) Stuff like this goes in Q&A.
2) If you don't have an EFS backup, you essentially have two realistic options given you've already tried something like GS_II Repair & it didn't work. One, service center. If you've never rooted your phone/flashed roms/messed with it your warranty should still be good (thought using GS_II Repair may change that; I have no idea if they can tell), so send it in for warranty service & hope they can't tell you tried to fix it yourself.
If you have rooted your phone/flashed roms/messed with it, go back to stock, reset flash counter, send it for warranty service & cross your fingers.
The other option is to contact a member on here called Odia by PM (and patiently wait for his reply. Do not hound him He will probably ignore you if you do) who can sometimes recover EFS/IMEI (for a small 'donation'; which will be much cheaper than Samsung/authorised repairer fixing it if they do decide to charge you for this repair which they're quite within their rights to do given you've voided your warranty by messing with it).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm sorry, i didn't know this belongs in the Q&A.
I'm trying to contac Odia, and the other option is going to be odd.. I had damaged my screen and got a new display for 180 euros, but that means they also have my original which has that sticker inside. This one has nothing.
...
So maybe the question from the title is a little bit unclear.
The problem that i had with my phone is that one day, i got a message that a new android version appeared(4.1.2)...and obviously i clicked to download it. After the download and install when it was time to enter in my new version, a screen where a password was required appeared, saying something that my phone is encrypted, and a pass is needed to make i work...Problem is that i didn't have a previous password...
So anyway i restarted the phone...and android didn't even brought me to that screen...it just wouldn't load...So i decided to take matters in my own hands (not the best decision i made that day)...
I searched online how to do that...i found about odin..installed it ...and then tried to install android...Problem is that odin gave me errors when trying to upload the kit or something (i was in download mode with the phone)..when odin gave errors i either disconected the cable from the phone, or in some cases i got pissed off and removed the battery...
My question is...could i have broken my phone permanently by doing that ? Like i don't know...in a way..that neither an expert could fix it?
Thanks
You can scramble the NAND so badly it has to be replaced if a flash goes bad/you flash something you shouldn't be flashing (or if you do dopey things like pull a USB cable in the middle of a flash), and the way that's done is by replacing the motherboard, so you can certainly cause damage that costs money to repair, but it can pretty much always be repaired one way or another.
I seriously doubt you could bork a phone completely beyond all repair via firmware/software & without physically damaging components.
No physical damage was made to the phone...
Assuming all the alien language things that you said ...so the worst case scenario...do you have any idea how much a new motherboard would cost?
Varies widely depending on country/how much labor costs in your country. Samsung don't sell new motherboards on their own, you can either pay an authorised service centre to put a new one in (most expensive option, you normally keep your existing IMEI), or you can get a 2nd hand board from a broken/'donor' phone (How much you'll pay for one again highly variable depending on how much someone wants for their busted phone, search eBay/Google) & either swap it into your phone yourself, or if you're not confident with that sort of thing pay a local mobile repair shop to swap the boards for you (least expensive option, your IMEI will change to that of the phone the board came from).
Edit - If what I said in my PP was 'alien', I'd suggest you shouldn't have been messing with your phone in the first place & should probably avoid same when you get it fixed as well.
Teshte said:
So maybe the question from the title is a little bit unclear.
The problem that i had with my phone is that one day, i got a message that a new android version appeared(4.1.2)...and obviously i clicked to download it. After the download and install when it was time to enter in my new version, a screen where a password was required appeared, saying something that my phone is encrypted, and a pass is needed to make i work...Problem is that i didn't have a previous password...
So anyway i restarted the phone...and android didn't even brought me to that screen...it just wouldn't load...So i decided to take matters in my own hands (not the best decision i made that day)...
I searched online how to do that...i found about odin..installed it ...and then tried to install android...Problem is that odin gave me errors when trying to upload the kit or something (i was in download mode with the phone)..when odin gave errors i either disconected the cable from the phone, or in some cases i got pissed off and removed the battery...
My question is...could i have broken my phone permanently by doing that ? Like i don't know...in a way..that neither an expert could fix it?
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Long story short, Yes your device could be "Broken" in such a way that the only option is to replace the motherboard. You atleast tried reading and doing something, dude there are several thread regarding this matter try different strategies, try out your luck, ask questions, but don't get your hopes too high.
Sorry pal, I wish you the best of all the luck in this tiny planet of ours.
Edit : sorry I was too late, I actually started the reply almost after you posted it but I went away had a coffee then completed it.
Edit: lol to actually make a phone completely unrecoverable you might need a sledgehammer, no software related issue in the world can completely damage an electronic device(unless that software was related to triggering a nuke).
Sent from my GT-I9100 using xda app-developers app
After the Feb update phone was working fine than suddenly it restart and stay on the G logo and nothing further happen after waiting for 2 hours I reboot to recovery and perform a factory reset there. Than the phone booted up with blank imei. Imei is not showing not in about phone not in dialer.
Help me to fix.
Have you attempted to install a factory image using the Android Flash Tool on Google's Pixel pages or else downloaded a factory image and used ADB to install it?
Try those and see if that resolves your issue.
Regarding the IMEI, if the factory images don't fix that issue, you'll have to send the device to Google.
Indeed you need to try flash the factory image that you were on to start with before it broke.
Yes now it did the factory image flashing unlock the bootloader and flash through online, everything is fine but the IMEI still not there.
Now I have a option for root and is there any thing that help me get fixing the IMEI edit it or update it or restore it
Gohar___Nadeem said:
Yes now it did the factory image flashing unlock the bootloader and flash through online, everything is fine but the IMEI still not there.
Now I have a option for root and is there any thing that help me get fixing the IMEI edit it or update it or restore it
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Send it to Google. We cannot discuss methods of resolving IMEI issues here as the techniques for restoring the IMEI could also be used to change it, something illegal according to the laws of most countries. Especially the USA, where XDA servers are located.
How to backup imei for future ?
Bartx96 said:
How to backup imei for future ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Under normal circumstances there should be no need to back up the IMEI. The OP's issue is NOT common, which is why he needs to get a hold of Google.
Obviously I don't know what happened to your phone but I had the good ol axon 7 and one day after sitting in storage for months I turned it on and it would do everything except receive texts and I looked closer and saw it said imei null. I remember doing a reset before knowing it had a weak battery issue and I'm sure it didn't reset before the battery died and so I'm thinking at least in my case the issues are related. Do you think you had anything like that happen?
devingubler1 said:
Obviously I don't know what happened to your phone but I had the good ol axon 7 and one day after sitting in storage for months I turned it on and it would do everything except receive texts and I looked closer and saw it said imei null. I remember doing a reset before knowing it had a weak battery issue and I'm sure it didn't reset before the battery died and so I'm thinking at least in my case the issues are related. Do you think you had anything like that happen?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No brother my battery was at good level above 60% but all of sudden it restarted and went into bootloop i was just scrolling the instagram.
Strephon Alkhalikoi said:
Send it to Google. We cannot discuss methods of resolving IMEI issues here as the techniques for restoring the IMEI could also be used to change it, something illegal according to the laws of most countries. Especially the USA, where XDA servers are located.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am asking for help to repair my devices everyone know the law and regulation internet is full of stuff that depend on you how you use it.
Maybe IMEI info is also stored on a partition on the currently inactive slot. Try taking the March update, it will switch slots and hopefully IMEI reappears.
Gohar___Nadeem said:
I am asking for help to repair my devices everyone know the law and regulation internet is full of stuff that depend on you how you use it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The law makes no allowances for intent as that is for a judge to decide. Regardless, you got your answer: send it to Google! I'm sorry if that wasn't the answer you wanted, however that is the answer you are going to get from me. In fact, I will spell it out for you.
I will not help you as to do so could potentially get this site into trouble as well as cause possible legal issues for me. Not to mention the fact I cannot verify you actually own the device.
ALL problems of this sort should be directed to your product manufacturer. Contact them, provide them with the information they ask for, and see if they can help you. They are the only ones who will assist you in these matters. I cannot and will not give you any assistance with these problems.
Is that clear?
OK thanks for the long comments