Has anyone actually made a backup of the PDS partition? - E 2015 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

This partition apparently holds the IMEI (well on the Moto G 2013 it does) but I don't even see that it exists on this phone (xt1527). I can't seem to make a backup of it but the phone works so, is it even there or have they changed how it works?

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bump, same issue

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seems a bunch of us have this issue.
sad there seems to be no answer anywhere..
edit:
here is what i got listing partitions.
Code:
C:\Program Files (x86)\Minimal ADB and Fastboot>adb shell
[email protected]_umts:/ $ su
[email protected]_umts:/ # ls -l /dev/block/platform/msm_sdcc.1/by-name/
lrwxrwxrwx root root 1970-06-10 11:47 DDR -> /dev/block/mmcblk0p3
lrwxrwxrwx root root 1970-06-10 11:47 aboot -> /dev/block/mmcblk0p4
lrwxrwxrwx root root 1970-06-10 11:47 abootBackup -> /dev/block/mmcblk0p14
lrwxrwxrwx root root 1970-06-10 11:47 boot -> /dev/block/mmcblk0p33
lrwxrwxrwx root root 1970-06-10 11:47 cache -> /dev/block/mmcblk0p43
lrwxrwxrwx root root 1970-06-10 11:47 carrier -> /dev/block/mmcblk0p41
lrwxrwxrwx root root 1970-06-10 11:47 cid -> /dev/block/mmcblk0p28
lrwxrwxrwx root root 1970-06-10 11:47 clogo -> /dev/block/mmcblk0p30
lrwxrwxrwx root root 1970-06-10 11:47 dhob -> /dev/block/mmcblk0p24
lrwxrwxrwx root root 1970-06-10 11:47 factorytune1 -> /dev/block/mmcblk0p11
lrwxrwxrwx root root 1970-06-10 11:47 factorytune2 -> /dev/block/mmcblk0p35
lrwxrwxrwx root root 1970-06-10 11:47 frp -> /dev/block/mmcblk0p20
lrwxrwxrwx root root 1970-06-10 11:47 fsc -> /dev/block/mmcblk0p26
lrwxrwxrwx root root 1970-06-10 11:47 fsg -> /dev/block/mmcblk0p25
lrwxrwxrwx root root 1970-06-10 11:47 hob -> /dev/block/mmcblk0p23
lrwxrwxrwx root root 1970-06-10 11:47 hyp -> /dev/block/mmcblk0p7
lrwxrwxrwx root root 1970-06-10 11:47 hypBackup -> /dev/block/mmcblk0p18
lrwxrwxrwx root root 1970-06-10 11:47 keystore -> /dev/block/mmcblk0p39
lrwxrwxrwx root root 1970-06-10 11:47 kpan -> /dev/block/mmcblk0p36
lrwxrwxrwx root root 1970-06-10 11:47 logo -> /dev/block/mmcblk0p29
lrwxrwxrwx root root 1970-06-10 11:47 logs -> /dev/block/mmcblk0p9
lrwxrwxrwx root root 1970-06-10 11:47 metadata -> /dev/block/mmcblk0p13
lrwxrwxrwx root root 1970-06-10 11:47 misc -> /dev/block/mmcblk0p32
lrwxrwxrwx root root 1970-06-10 11:47 modem -> /dev/block/mmcblk0p1
lrwxrwxrwx root root 1970-06-10 11:47 modemst1 -> /dev/block/mmcblk0p21
lrwxrwxrwx root root 1970-06-10 11:47 modemst2 -> /dev/block/mmcblk0p22
lrwxrwxrwx root root 1970-06-10 11:47 oem -> /dev/block/mmcblk0p40
lrwxrwxrwx root root 1970-06-10 11:47 padA -> /dev/block/mmcblk0p12
lrwxrwxrwx root root 1970-06-10 11:47 padB -> /dev/block/mmcblk0p19
lrwxrwxrwx root root 1970-06-10 11:47 padC -> /dev/block/mmcblk0p37
lrwxrwxrwx root root 1970-06-10 11:47 persist -> /dev/block/mmcblk0p31
lrwxrwxrwx root root 1970-06-10 11:47 recovery -> /dev/block/mmcblk0p34
lrwxrwxrwx root root 1970-06-10 11:47 rpm -> /dev/block/mmcblk0p5
lrwxrwxrwx root root 1970-06-10 11:47 rpmBackup -> /dev/block/mmcblk0p15
lrwxrwxrwx root root 1970-06-10 11:47 sbl1 -> /dev/block/mmcblk0p2
lrwxrwxrwx root root 1970-06-10 11:47 sec -> /dev/block/mmcblk0p10
lrwxrwxrwx root root 1970-06-10 11:47 sp -> /dev/block/mmcblk0p38
lrwxrwxrwx root root 1970-06-10 11:47 ssd -> /dev/block/mmcblk0p27
lrwxrwxrwx root root 1970-06-10 11:47 system -> /dev/block/mmcblk0p42
lrwxrwxrwx root root 1970-06-10 11:47 tz -> /dev/block/mmcblk0p6
lrwxrwxrwx root root 1970-06-10 11:47 tzBackup -> /dev/block/mmcblk0p16
lrwxrwxrwx root root 1970-06-10 11:47 userdata -> /dev/block/mmcblk0p44
lrwxrwxrwx root root 1970-06-10 11:47 utags -> /dev/block/mmcblk0p8
lrwxrwxrwx root root 1970-06-10 11:47 utagsBackup -> /dev/block/mmcblk0p17
[email protected]_umts:/ #

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Not up to speed on this device yet but it seems to me that if you know where the PDS partition is from a terminal you should be able to use a form like:
dd if=/dev/block/mmcblk??? of=pds.img
provided your current working directory has enough room in it to hold the .img file

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conductive said:
Not up to speed on this device yet but it seems to me that if you know where the PDS partition is from a terminal you should be able to use a form like:
dd if=/dev/block/mmcblk??? of=pds.img
provided your current working directory has enough room in it to hold the .img file
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
on another phone it's mmcblk12 (i have been doing a LOT of searching on this)
i looked at the root folder on my phone and i see a shortcut to "pds"
when i open it it's empty.
i have some experience with Linux but i am no pro and it's been a while for my nix activity.
and i have almost no experience with Android.
i am good with computer stuff though. cracking, coding reversing, graphics etc.
i love modding everything i can.
i say that to give a bit of context to this..
if anyone else has any idea or leads on what i can do or where to look i am all ears.
i posted that partition command because i found it on Google
and i remember using it (ls) before trouble shooting driver issues on Linux in the past.
you guys will notice the console log i posted does not list a pds partition by-name..
is it because it's not mounted maybe ? or is it using a different name on this phone ?
i'd love to try and update to 5.1 (from 5.0..2) on my Telus XT1527 but i think it's time i make a PDS backup before i carry on any further.. so far i have installed a custom kernel and TWRP + root.
So i can't continue until i figure out a way to back that stuff up (irresponsible otherwise i think)

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Based on this post http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1138220 the OS uses /dev/block/mmcblk0p3 and it was dumped to the /tmp directory.
from here you can use dd to flash it to an sd card where you can read it to see if it has pds information. You can also use (mount -a) to mount all partitions and do another ls -l

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conductive said:
Based on this post http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1138220 the OS uses /dev/block/mmcblk0p3 and it was dumped to the /tmp directory.
from here you can use dd to flash it to an sd card where you can read it to see if it has pds information. You can also use (mount -a) to mount all partitions and do another ls -l
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That says Atrix though and on another posting i found it was mmcblk0p12
If you look at the log i posted earlier that number mmcblk0p3 is mapped to DDR
I have been dumping the partitions and checking them (if the file size is roughly correct)
I heard it was suppose to be about 8mb as an .img on another device.
and i have one downloaded as an image and extracted (some other guys data)
so if i find the files on my phone i think i can match them to my downloaded files.
i also got a windows tool to extract the images ready..
One last thing i said i seen a shortcut to "pds" on the filesystem of my Telus XT1527
so i take it that it's there just that i can't see it or something.
I'm basically poking around in the dark LOL
edit:
oh and i seen on other phones that pds partition can be backed up with TWRP.
The TWRP i have installed does not show it for me (i am using Squid's TWRP)

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The partitions are probably associated with the OS version and not the hardware so you should probably compare your version to a similar version.
If you can find fstab file you should be able to (cat fstab) and see what the partitions are mounted as.
The partition should be mounted or else your device will not work.

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I've modded fstab on linux before but i am not finding it i think on the XT1527
found a couple with "fstab" in the title and it don't say much..
just one line about mounting the sdcard.
Thanks but i am lost.. i wonder how it's created because it's prob not files in the Firmware package right ?
So then i'd have to assume the contents of PDS would be created on the phones first boot maybe.
i don't know what else to do really i am going around in circles ..i might just say screw it and give up.
too bad guys here who DO have the ability to find it can't help
100% of Moto-E users seem to carry on flashing their phones with out it
so i take it backing up the PDS is pointless ?
Just kind of dumb i see tutorials on how to do it all over but no one can claim it actually works LOL
If you google it you will see what i am saying (people tell you to you to do it becuase it's sooooo important..
then it doesn't work ahahaha
thanks for your help conductive.
edit:
Oh and guys.. i tried to do this because... Q13:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/moto-e-2015/help/faq-frequently-questions-moto-e-2015-t3044929
The stickied topic here tells us all how to do it.
..but did anyone at all bother to verify it actually works ?

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Ok so i think i got it.. sort of.
I installed "Root Explorer Pro" and when i opened it this time it showed files/folders.
I then selected .zip it up and copied it manually to my sdcard then to my PC.
I have been hex viewing the contents with UltraEdit and the files contain data.
I also compared to a pds dump from an Atrix and they are some what similar.
I did see a reference in one of the root config files about the pds partition though..
I can't recall which file it was but it said something about
setting the dummy directory "pds" as persistent.
I don't know what is going on but i got the content off the phone i think.
edit:
Here is what the root of that folder looked like (folder names)
Code:
.bt_nv.bin
batt_health
bt
camera
data
factory
lost+found
public
security
WCNSS_wlan_dictionary.dat
wifi
wmdrm