how to restore efs? - Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

I may have bricked my S3. Phone is stuck on boot animation. In recovery the next message is displayed:
E: failed to mount /efs (invalid argument)
So there is reason to believe that the efs partion is corrupt. Earlier I did backup efs, but don't remember what backup tool was used. The backup file name is efs.ext4.tar, sized 5.2 MB. I tried flash the tar file with Odin3 (as a CSC file), but Odin crashed after pressing start. What can I do to restore the efs partion??
ROM: I9300XXUGND5_I9300NEEGND1_I9300XXUGNA8_HOME.tar.md5 (same problem after flashing Omega v.58)
I think I cannot use Kies, since my loop counter is 2.

edwinn said:
I may have bricked my S3. Phone is stuck on boot animation. In recovery the next message is displayed:
E: failed to mount /efs (invalid argument)
So there is reason to believe that the efs partion is corrupt. Earlier I did backup efs, but don't remember what backup tool was used. The backup file name is efs.ext4.tar, sized 5.2 MB. I tried flash the tar file with Odin3 (as a CSC file), but Odin crashed after pressing start. What can I do to restore the efs partion??
ROM: I9300XXUGND5_I9300NEEGND1_I9300XXUGNA8_HOME.tar.md5 (same problem after flashing Omega v.58)
I think I cannot use Kies, since my loop counter is 2.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
u need to use pit file for repartition your internal memory.flash your phone with pit file

ifhi said:
u need to use pit file for repartition your internal memory.flash your phone with pit file
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Total Bull-sh-it!
Don't do this, @edwinn
You will restore your backup either with terminal command or within the custom recovery. Is it tar only or tar.gz?
tetakpatalked from Nexus 7 flo

edwinn said:
I may have bricked my S3. Phone is stuck on boot animation. In recovery the next message is displayed:
E: failed to mount /efs (invalid argument)
So there is reason to believe that the efs partion is corrupt. Earlier I did backup efs, but don't remember what backup tool was used. The backup file name is efs.ext4.tar, sized 5.2 MB. I tried flash the tar file with Odin3 (as a CSC file), but Odin crashed after pressing start. What can I do to restore the efs partion??
ROM: I9300XXUGND5_I9300NEEGND1_I9300XXUGNA8_HOME.tar.md5 (same problem after flashing Omega v.58)
I think I cannot use Kies, since my loop counter is 2.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
hello u should flash the tar file via recovery this should restores ur efs backup

tetakpatak said:
Total Bull-sh-it!
Don't do this, @edwinn
You will restore your backup either with terminal command or within the custom recovery. Is it tar only or tar.gz?
tetakpatalked from Nexus 7 flo
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The efs.ext4.tar file is in a folder called "clockworkmod", together with files like boot.img, system.ext4.tar, nandroid.md5 etc.
So I took the next steps:
installed CWM Touch 6.0.3.2 via Odin
copied entire "clockworkmod" folder tot ext sd card
tried to restore from external sd card
After checking MD5 sums the error "MD5 mismatch!" is displated.
Deleting all data in nandroid.md5 was not succesfull.
Further help would be appreciated.

edwinn said:
The efs.ext4.tar file is in a folder called "clockworkmod", together with files like boot.img, system.ext4.tar, nandroid.md5 etc.
So I took the next steps:
installed CWM Touch 6.0.3.2 via Odin
copied entire "clockworkmod" folder tot ext sd card
tried to restore from external sd card
After checking MD5 sums the error "MD5 mismatch!" is displated.
Deleting all data in nandroid.md5 was not succesfull.
Further help would be appreciated.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There have been major changes done in CWM since early 6xxx versions. Do you remember which recovery version number did you use to create your backup? I had myself some perfect backups done with 6.0.2.7 that weren't restorable with 6.0.4.5 due to md5 mismatch.
The chances are good you'll be able to restore it, mate.
tetakpatalked from N7100

tetakpatak said:
There have been major changes done in CWM since early 6xxx versions. Do you remember which recovery version number did you use to create your backup? I had myself some perfect backups done with 6.0.2.7 that weren't restorable with 6.0.4.5 due to md5 mismatch.
The chances are good you'll be able to restore it, mate.
tetakpatalked from N7100
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I found out that the backup was made with Online Nandroid v9.51 (The recovery.log file says so :victory. No info on the CWM version number. It may have been a very old recovery which had a bug that created nested /0 folders in the file systems after every data wipe. I didn't discover that issue until recently . More info on this bug:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-s3/help/storage-emulated-0-0-0-flashing-roms-t2214356
The backup may include the nested /0 folders. Perhaps that is causing the checksum mismatch?? (Since the system folder was formatted afterwards)
Anyway. I tried a new non-touch cwm recovery, version 6.0.4.3. No success.
Would you recommend to proceed with the terminal thing? Thx

edwinn said:
I found out that the backup was made with Online Nandroid v9.51 (The recovery.log file says so :victory. No info on the CWM version number. It may have been a very old recovery which had a bug that created nested /0 folders in the file systems after every data wipe. I didn't discover that issue until recently . More info on this bug:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-s3/help/storage-emulated-0-0-0-flashing-roms-t2214356
The backup may include the nested /0 folders. Perhaps that is causing the checksum mismatch?? (Since the system folder was formatted afterwards)
Anyway. I tried a new non-touch cwm recovery, version 6.0.4.3. No success.
Would you recommend to proceed with the terminal thing? Thx
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am sure it is possible to disable md5 check
tetakpatalked from P5110

Related

[Q] Working CWM Restore?

I wanted to use CWM to restore my galaxy tab 10.1 but when I used CWM 5.0 it somehow crapped out restoring data. /system restored fine however. I also tried to use CWM 4.0 and overcome CWM5.1 to restore the same backup but I got the same issue. /system restored fine and it started to restore /data but crapped out somewhere towards the end. What this also did in the process was corrupt the /data partition where CWM would appear to reformat it and odin thought it was ok but the /data partition really wasn't OK as I got several weird side effects. A repartition with PIT file in odin solved the problem. (Almost solved the problem, after the odin flash was done and the tablet ran some initializing script it said /data was corrupted. A formating using STOCK recovery fixed it).
Has anybody figured out a recovery that can properly backup and restore CWM backups? I guess titanium + reflash rom zip is a workable alternative.
PS: reflashing with repartition erases your /sdcard partition.
AAccount said:
I guess titanium + reflash rom zip is a workable alternative.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is what most veterans recommend anyway, as far as I know.
If you can read this it was sent using my GT-P7510.
If you rename your backup folder, make sure you dont use space in folder name
Please use the Q&A Forum for questions &
Read the Forum Rules Ref Posting
Moving to Q&A

[Q] Stuck in aman recovery and SD won't mount

I was recently doing a restore when I realized I restored the wrong backup file with aman recovery. When I booted back into recovery and tried restoring the proper backup file I get an error saying "E: Can't mount SDCARD: /nandroid/".
What should I do to fix this?
tryptic said:
I was recently doing a restore when I realized I restored the wrong backup file with aman recovery. When I booted back into recovery and tried restoring the proper backup file I get an error saying "E: Can't mount SDCARD: /nandroid/".
What should I do to fix this?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
format your sd on your comp. if your phone still doesnt recognize try and partition it thru amon ra.. you might need to run an ruu

CWM Backup Hangs on Creating mds sum

CWM 6.0.2.7 internal and when I try a backup it hangs creating the mds sum. Left it up to a half hour and it is repeatable. Still 7 GB on the SD card. Using ROM CM10 Pure AOSP 4.1.2 JB-Final.
I have an SD card recovery that is in the 5 series and was wondering if that would work. Will 6.0.2.7 restore a backup from a different recovery?
Thanks, for your help.
The CWM recovery backup just creates a backup folder on the SD card. In theory you can use any recovery program to restore your device if it be CWM, TWRP, or Titanium Backup.
miniblue said:
...
I have an SD card recovery that is in the 5 series and was wondering if that would work. Will 6.0.2.7 restore a backup from a different recovery?
...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
CWM switched its backup archiving format from tar to blob somewhere between its 5.x and 6.x versions, but I do not know if the 6.x versions supports the legacy tar format for backward compatibility purpose. TWRP uses yet a different archiving format.
To be prudent, you should keep a copy of the recovery program version together with its associated backup data sets.

Phone brick after changing swap size?!

Hi all, i just replaced my sd-card so i can make a swap partition and speed up my phone.
any way.. i played with Swapper 2 options (swap and swappiness size).
after reboot my galaxy doesn't boot into the system i did a nandorid backup,moved back to Samsung official release, did a full system format and still i doesn't boot into the system.
when i'm restore to my cm backup it stuck on it writes that the restore succeed but it stuck on ''Samsung Galaxy SIII'' screen.
when the official release installed (from adb) it does a boot loop over and over (factory reset doesn't work).
another thing i noticed is that in the recovery it writes ''E:failed to mount /efs (invalid argument)''
that can i do? i think i did every thing i can
In recovery can you access the efs partition? If not then it probably is corrupt, you'll need to format it and restore your efs backup.
If you don't have an efs backup then you need a service centre.
I wouldn't mess with any partition software on this phone, too risky.
i don't have /efs partition
Ok so i managed to boot into official firmware and i found that i don't have /efs partition.
i figure this out from EFS Professional, EFS pro and the recovery.
im searching for an hours but with no answer.. - can i create /efs partition?
EFS Recovery
RReeD said:
Ok so i managed to boot into official firmware and i found that i don't have /efs partition.
i figure this out from EFS Professional, EFS pro and the recovery.
im searching for an hours but with no answer.. - can i create /efs partition?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Do you have any older backup files.
When you try to restore your backup file CVM or TWRP recovery will ask which partitions you want to restore.
If you see EFS partition on any of your old backups you can restore it.
If no the way to service is seen.

Can't backup EFS

Hi, i've tried all day, and can't manage to backup the EFS for my S3 I9300T.
Tried this walkthrough from droidviews.
Didn't work for me. Everything worked except that there was no file saved to my pc. The EFS Pro program created a folder called EFSProBackup, but there was nothing in it (not even hidden files). It also created the same folder on my SD card, but nothing in it.
The only thing that i did differently was the installation of BusyBox. There was no "smart install" option. I just didn't tick the advanced install.
See attached images for screenshots of my EFS backup procedure. EDIT: ok maybe not, not allowed by XDA.
I tried SA Manager which is supposed to backup EFS to your phone, but it says "Your device is not supported. Only for Samsung, Sony, ....". WTF?
:crying:
How about ktool or Samsung tool. ...
Sent from my GT-N7100
kunal1540 said:
How about ktool or Samsung tool. ...
Sent from my GT-N7100
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just tried Ktool. Claimed it worked, then said i need to run Check EFS Backup to make sure all is good. Ran this, and it said:
sdcard/efs.img found
------------------
mount returned: 0 (mount OK)
reading backup nv_data.bin (2097152 bytes)
MD5: 79575921ef5873a607d5efc1e26d87a2
- comparing backup nv_data.bin against phone -
reading phone nv_data.bin (2097152 bytes)
Match backup<->phone nv.data.bin:
100% (0 bytes differ)
/sdcard/efs.tar.gz found
-------------------
/!\ nv_data.bin NOT FOUND in backup!!!
I looked in the files and there is an EFS .tar file, and .img file. But i don't know why there's no .bin file....?
Apparantly others have had this same problem. Ktool doesn't work for some.
What's Samsung Tool? Is this an app on Play store? I can't find it.
Cheers.
JoshR81 said:
Apparantly others have had this same problem. Ktool doesn't work for some.
What's Samsung Tool? Is this an app on Play store? I can't find it.
Cheers.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Don't know about ps but it is on xda. ..
Sent from my GT-N7100
JoshR81 said:
Apparantly others have had this same problem. Ktool doesn't work for some.
What's Samsung Tool? Is this an app on Play store? I can't find it.
Cheers.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Use PhilZ recovery it as a option to backup efs
I'm having the same problems as the OP regarding EFS Professional (no backup file appears in the folder on my PC despite the application claiming it has been moved successfully) and kTool (receiving the "/!\ nv_data.bin NOT FOUND in backup!!!" error as well). Are there any known solutions?
Ok, i've just tried Samsung Tool.
Found here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-s3/development/tool-samsung-tool-1-0-t2602325
And it does "complete". The only file it is backed up as is a .md5 file. Is this all that's needed? Also the file is 0 bytes.... normal?
Tried to copy this file to my PC, but it didn't appear when phone plugged in via usb. So i just ran it again, and selected the external card (that i don't use with the phone) as the location.
I tried PhilZ recovery, but it didn't work i think, can't remember what the problem was though.
EDIT: That's right, i couldn't locate the .img file with the terminal emulator.:-
Doesn't work, can't find .img file. Even though i can see it sitting in the root of my sd card.
Tried different names like: /sdcard, /storage, /extSdCard, /storage/sdcard, /storage/extSdCard.
When i go into my files (standard samsung s3 file manager), i've got /storage, and inside i've got SD memory card and Device storage. Inside SD memory card i've got the recovery.img.
When inside SD memory card, it appears as /storage/extSdCard.
Don't know why it can't find the .img.
JoshR81 said:
Ok, i've just tried Samsung Tool.
Found here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-s3/development/tool-samsung-tool-1-0-t2602325
And it does "complete". The only file it is backed up as is a .md5 file. Is this all that's needed? Also the file is 0 bytes.... normal?
Tried to copy this file to my PC, but it didn't appear when phone plugged in via usb. So i just ran it again, and selected the external card (that i don't use with the phone) as the location.
I tried PhilZ recovery, but it didn't work i think, can't remember what the problem was though.
EDIT: That's right, i couldn't locate the .img file with the terminal emulator.:-
Doesn't work, can't find .img file. Even though i can see it sitting in the root of my sd card.
Tried different names like: /sdcard, /storage, /extSdCard, /storage/sdcard, /storage/extSdCard.
When i go into my files (standard samsung s3 file manager), i've got /storage, and inside i've got SD memory card and Device storage. Inside SD memory card i've got the recovery.img.
When inside SD memory card, it appears as /storage/extSdCard.
Don't know why it can't find the .img.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry i'm confused Why are you using terminal emulator to locate the img I thought you objective was to backup efs which it sounds like PhilZ recovery did?...Just save one copy to your pc and leave a copy on your ext SD card.Your computer should recognize the copy on the SD card.. If the computer is not seeing the copy on SD card use a card reader instead of usb or copy the the file to a online cloud storage dropbox etc and download to your pc from there.
Also to see the file you would probably need a root explorer not the file explorer that comes with android..Or and PhilZ recovery stores the backup in clockworkmod/backup/ efs backup on your ext sd card
JoshR81 said:
Ok, i've just tried Samsung Tool.
Found here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-s3/development/tool-samsung-tool-1-0-t2602325
And it does "complete". The only file it is backed up as is a .md5 file. Is this all that's needed? Also the file is 0 bytes.... normal?
Tried to copy this file to my PC, but it didn't appear when phone plugged in via usb. So i just ran it again, and selected the external card (that i don't use with the phone) as the location.
I tried PhilZ recovery, but it didn't work i think, can't remember what the problem was though.
EDIT: That's right, i couldn't locate the .img file with the terminal emulator.:-
Doesn't work, can't find .img file. Even though i can see it sitting in the root of my sd card.
Tried different names like: /sdcard, /storage, /extSdCard, /storage/sdcard, /storage/extSdCard.
When i go into my files (standard samsung s3 file manager), i've got /storage, and inside i've got SD memory card and Device storage. Inside SD memory card i've got the recovery.img.
When inside SD memory card, it appears as /storage/extSdCard.
Don't know why it can't find the .img.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I just used Samsung Tool to create an EFS backup. Choosing the internal SD option worked but locating the files is a little trickier (I used ES File Explorer in root mode to navigate from the device's root folder through data/media/0/Samsung Tool). The external SD option worked and was easier as it just created a folder called "Samsung Tool" on my SD card with the .img and .md5 files. I then just plugged my phone in to my PC and copied them off from there.
tallman43 said:
Sorry i'm confused Why are you using terminal emulator to locate the img I thought you objective was to backup efs which it sounds like PhilZ recovery did?...Just save one copy to your pc and leave a copy on your ext SD card.Your computer should recognize the copy on the SD card.. If the computer is not seeing the copy on SD card use a card reader instead of usb or copy the the file to a online cloud storage dropbox etc and download to your pc from there.
Also to see the file you would probably need a root explorer not the file explorer that comes with android..Or and PhilZ recovery stores the backup in clockworkmod/backup/ efs backup on your ext sd card
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No PhilZ Recovery hasn't backed up EFS. Sorry, i can't even install PhilZ recovery. I was following this thread:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2686571
Which said:-
"How to install recovery?
•From download link below, you'll get a 'recovery.img' file. Put that recovery.img file at root directory of your
sdcard. (means not in any folder)
•Now, go to terminal emulator"
I can't even find the .img file to install PhilZ Recovery.
SimonTWUK said:
I just used Samsung Tool to create an EFS backup. Choosing the internal SD option worked but locating the files is a little trickier (I used ES File Explorer in root mode to navigate from the device's root folder through data/media/0/Samsung Tool). The external SD option worked and was easier as it just created a folder called "Samsung Tool" on my SD card with the .img and .md5 files. I then just plugged my phone in to my PC and copied them off from there.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well done. Doesn't work for me. I don't have .img file in data/media/0/SamsungTool. This is using ES File Explorer in root mode. Don't have .img file in other SamsungTool folders either.
I've used or tried to use: Ktool, SamsungTool, EFSPro, EFS Backup, PhilZ Recovery.
I've got various .img files, .md5, and .tar files. But none of these programs have produced ALL of the files they are suppose to.
Ktool: nv_data.bin NOT FOUND in backup!!!
SamsungTool: No .img file
EFSPro: Creates a folder EFSProBackup, with nothing in it. Dialog states "can't find .tar file"
PhilZ Recovery: Can't install. Terminal claims "no .img file found in folder"
EFS Backup: "can't find .tar file"
See attached for screenshots of EFSPro, and EFS Backup.
I'm passed the stage where i'm pulling my hair out, and i'm willing to risk installing roms without knowing if i've got a proper EFS backup.
JoshR81 said:
No PhilZ Recovery hasn't backed up EFS. Sorry, i can't even install PhilZ recovery. I was following this thread:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2686571
Which said:-
"How to install recovery?
•From download link below, you'll get a 'recovery.img' file. Put that recovery.img file at root directory of your
sdcard. (means not in any folder)
•Now, go to terminal emulator"
I can't even find the .img file to install PhilZ Recovery.
Well done. Doesn't work for me. I don't have .img file in data/media/0/SamsungTool. This is using ES File Explorer in root mode. Don't have .img file in other SamsungTool folders either.
I've used or tried to use: Ktool, SamsungTool, EFSPro, EFS Backup, PhilZ Recovery.
I've got various .img files, .md5, and .tar files. But none of these programs have produced ALL of the files they are suppose to.
Ktool: nv_data.bin NOT FOUND in backup!!!
SamsungTool: No .img file
EFSPro: Creates a folder EFSProBackup, with nothing in it. Dialog states "can't find .tar file"
PhilZ Recovery: Can't install. Terminal claims "no .img file found in folder"
EFS Backup: "can't find .tar file"
See attached for screenshots of EFSPro, and EFS Backup.
I'm passed the stage where i'm pulling my hair out, and i'm willing to risk installing roms without knowing if i've got a proper EFS backup.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Regarding PhilZ recovery you are doing things totally wrong you are making a simple job harder! Forget about terminal emulator and .img you flash Philz either with another revovery or odin. If you flash with odin you need to download a .tarmd5 file ftom PhilZ site or if you flash with cwm you need a .zip file. .I suggest you read a bit more or you may brick your device..Can't go into more detail at work right now but will look in on the thread later..Please read the stickies and forget about terminal emulator you are doing it the hard way.[emoji1]
Sent from my GT-N7100 using Tapatalk
You install philz recovery with Odin, go read the main thread on how.
Once in Philz you select custom backup and choose efs partition.
Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk
tallman43 said:
Forget about terminal emulator and .img you flash Philz either with another revovery or odin.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
boomboomer said:
You install philz recovery with Odin, go read the main thread on how.
Once in Philz you select custom backup and choose efs partition.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok thanks guys, i've managed to install it! However, i've done the EFS backup, and i go into clockworkmod/backup/.efs_backup and there's nothing in there. I'm using ES File Explorer in root mode. PhilZ shows that the backup is successful, and lists the location and the name of the .img file
EDIT: If i bring up properties for the folder "backup", it says it contains 11 files and 3 folders, totalling 50mb.
So how can these files be viewable in order to restore with ODIN? Can i just transfer the Backup folder to my PC, and ODIN will automatically be able to use the invisible files in there?
You can restore it by your recovery only..go in custom restore and select efs
Press thanx if i helped you in anyway..
JoshR81 said:
Ok thanks guys, i've managed to install it! However, i've done the EFS backup, and i go into clockworkmod/backup/.efs_backup and there's nothing in there. I'm using ES File Explorer in root mode. PhilZ shows that the backup is successful, and lists the location and the name of the .img file
EDIT: If i bring up properties for the folder "backup", it says it contains 11 files and 3 folders, totalling 50mb.
So how can these files be viewable in order to restore with ODIN? Can i just transfer the Backup folder to my PC, and ODIN will automatically be able to use the invisible files in there?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not sure why ES File Explorer is not showing the files I use root explorer and have never had any problems with it seeing files..it sounds like the files are there (try another explorer) also efs backups can be made in different ways depending on what program makes them Philz backup makes them in .tar ( I think) but they can also be in .tar.gz or .img.gz
Just copy the folder to your computer also leave a copy on your phone (you can never have too many backups of efs) and see if the computer can see the files.. my computer's both windows 7 and 8 can see them fine Also just use Philz recovery to restore them in the future if you ever need to
If you've set es file explorer to hide hidden files then it will do just that.
Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk
boomboomer said:
If you've set es file explorer to hide hidden files then it will do just that.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ohhh hell yeah! Thanks boomboomer. Can see those files now. I hadn't set ES File Explorer to hide hidden files, but that is the default setting.
I went into EFSProBackup folder too, but still no files in there.
I still can't see the files when i go to transfer to my computer. How do i load invisible files in Odin?
EDIT:
kunal1540 said:
You can restore it by your recovery only..go in custom restore and select efs
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok i see.
JoshR81 said:
Ohhh hell yeah! Thanks boomboomer. Can see those files now. I hadn't set ES File Explorer to hide hidden files, but that is the default setting.
I went into EFSProBackup folder too, but still no files in there.
I still can't see the files when i go to transfer to my computer. How do i load invisible files in Odin?
EDIT:
Ok i see.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you can see those files on Explorer. At least try upload them with mega Dropbox or smt at least

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