Develop Bugs

[Q] Galaxy Nexus i9250 lost your IMEI

I have a big problem.
My Gnex i9250 lost your IMEI.
I have already taken the unit on technical assistance and said they would try to rewrite the IMEI but failed.
In my research I learned I should have done a backup of file containing the IMEI (nv_data.bin), is it correct ?
I don't have any backup.
Please help me friends.
NOTE: Sorry for my terrible english.

Not to assume, but it would appear at first glance that you purchased a stolen phone....
Also, pretty sure anything related to writing or creating IMEI is against XDA rules.

Is this a new or used phone? Do you not have the original box with your IMEI on it? And inside the battery compartment as well?

martonikaj said:
Is this a new or used phone? Do you not have the original box with your IMEI on it? And inside the battery compartment as well?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I live in Brazil but I bought this phone in NY.
It's a new phone and the IMEI number on the box matched the number in the battery compartment.
I bought the phone in december but I only had problems recently.
I traveled to a place where I couldn't get any signal and I turned off the phone.
After one day I turned it on and it stopped working.

lmrbrazil said:
I live in Brazil but I bought this phone in NY.
It's a new phone and the IMEI number on the box matched the number in the battery compartment.
I bought the phone in december but I only had problems recently.
I traveled to a place where I couldn't get any signal and I turned off the phone.
After one day I turned it on and it stopped working.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Did you buy it new or used?
There could be a chance perhaps it was a stolen unit maybe from a store or such that when it was discovered gone, the IMEI was disabled.
I just don't see otherwise how the IMEI could just stop being valid.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda premium

uoY_redruM said:
Did you buy it new or used?
There could be a chance perhaps it was a stolen unit maybe from a store or such that when it was discovered gone, the IMEI was disabled.
I just don't see otherwise how the IMEI could just stop being valid.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I bought this phone brand new.
I saw that in some cases the IMEI can be corrupted, but I don't know how can i repair this file.

This its a known issue.. The efs folder gets corrupted.. Go to galaxy s2 forum and try the several fixes for it there.. If your lucky it will work..
If not.. Well there's not a fix for it yet on Nexus.. Theres several ppl around here waiting for this solution.. As currently they just have a really nice music players Hehe..
Cheers
Nexus Cm9 + Franco

Its not the efs folder like it was on the nexus s etc.
Your imei data is stored in the factory folder on the gnex.
Sounds like it got corrupted.
I lost my imei on my nexus s and ended up being stuck with a generic one, it still worked though.
Maybe you can find a way to do that.

nodstuff said:
Its not the efs folder like it was on the nexus s etc.
Your imei data is stored in the factory folder on the gnex.
Sounds like it got corrupted.
I lost my imei on my nexus s and ended up being stuck with a generic one, it still worked though.
Maybe you can find a way to do that.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How do you change your IMEI on your Nexus S ?

The IMEI can be changed/repaired on this phone using samsung pro tools. In Brazil it is legal to change the IMEI to whatever you like, in UK it is only legal to repair the IMEI to the original IMEI. There are some IMEI Nazis on xda that don't want to empower users with the ability to change the IMEI, so they won't tell you how to do this, even if it is for the legal reason of repair only. And, will probably get xda to delete this post and/or close the thread, like they are uk police shills or paid subverts or maybe just do-gooders (the latter is the worst).
This page describes repairing the IMEI of the Galaxy Nexus that had generic IMEI (which can be caused by corrupt MD5 hash for nv_data.bin) using SPT box
An SPT Box cost about $200, but you can usually find this service on ebay or google for about $30, they will resotre the imei to the sticker under the battery. You must pay shipping to and from as well. This place might offer such service: http://www.fonefunshop.co.uk.

I had my IMEI disappear, the "about phone' just had "unknown" for my IMEI. My Nexus GSM was only a week old and purchased from the Play Store. The only reason I checked is because I was on the phone with Google Wallet support and they needed to know. Surprisingly, I was on the phone on T-Mobile network, but with an "unknown" IMEI.
I did a battery pull to reset the phone and it was back. The number on the screen matched the inside, the number on the box, and the number on my receipt. I called support back (again, on the same phone) and they fixed the problem once I gave them my IMEI.
I was a little freaked out that it disappeared like that, but at least the battery pull fixed it.
Good luck with yours.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda premium

Same problem
lmrbrazil said:
I have a big problem.
My Gnex i9250 lost your IMEI.
I have already taken the unit on technical assistance and said they would try to rewrite the IMEI but failed.
In my research I learned I should have done a backup of file containing the IMEI (nv_data.bin), is it correct ?
I don't have any backup.
Please help me friends.
NOTE: Sorry for my terrible english.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hey.. I am facing this same .. I am from India, i bought from google play store.. If you get to know of any fix for this, do let me know too.. i tried the 9 step recover process given in xda for s2, but that did not work for me.
---------- Post added at 11:48 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:32 AM ----------
b177y said:
I had my IMEI disappear, the "about phone' just had "unknown" for my IMEI. My Nexus GSM was only a week old and purchased from the Play Store. The only reason I checked is because I was on the phone with Google Wallet support and they needed to know. Surprisingly, I was on the phone on T-Mobile network, but with an "unknown" IMEI.
I did a battery pull to reset the phone and it was back. The number on the screen matched the inside, the number on the box, and the number on my receipt. I called support back (again, on the same phone) and they fixed the problem once I gave them my IMEI.
I was a little freaked out that it disappeared like that, but at least the battery pull fixed it.
Good luck with yours.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hey, even i bought from playstore and i have this same issue. Can you tell me how your issue was fixed ? i realize that the imei is printed on the phone just beneath the battery. But how does it reset the phone ?

Ok soo first of all this is common problem for samsung smartphones - and it has nothing to do with stolen phone. I have the same issue as well - IMEI just got lost one day. Getting factory resets or flashing orginal stock from google page dosn't work.
I just hope that it's not a hardware issue - still waiting for solution for nexus. It's crap cause i bought from google play store while being in US - now when i got back to EU it stopped working - sending it back is very costfull...
So only because it's never happend to you don't say it must have been stolen or something!

Papi1986 said:
Ok soo first of all this is common problem for samsung smartphones - and it has nothing to do with stolen phone. I have the same issue as well - IMEI just got lost one day. Getting factory resets or flashing orginal stock from google page dosn't work.
I just hope that it's not a hardware issue - still waiting for solution for nexus. It's crap cause i bought from google play store while being in US - now when i got back to EU it stopped working - sending it back is very costfull...
So only because it's never happend to you don't say it must have been stolen or something!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i am facing the issue after wiping everthing(CACHE,SYSTEM,XLOADER,...)..

abhishek_ab said:
i am facing the issue after wiping everthing(CACHE,SYSTEM,XLOADER,...)..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Same issue here, anyone please have a solution!?
All the best,
Mark

Yep one more for me :/

Same here
I'm facing this same problem. Any solution to it yet?

Same for me
I am having the same problem after formatting /factory. Is there any solution?

Wether flashing the factory image recovers that???
Sent from my CyanogenMod powered Galaxy Nexus

varadparulekarofficial said:
Wether flashing the factory image recovers that???
Sent from my CyanogenMod powered Galaxy Nexus
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Unfortunately no, but you can try.
I have the worst luck, my GNex lost its iMEI and II tried to recover it for 6 months.
Then, one day I got the IMEI back (did a backup of the nv data files and deleted them from the system folder)
So look at this: I did a backup on the nv_data files and put it in the Internal Storage
Then, I wanted to revert back to full stock (no root, locked bootloader)
So I flashed the stock (ps: this wiped the internal storage, so I lost the backup files).
When the cellphone booted I didn't have the IMEI again, so I rooted my phone and deleted the NV Data files FOREVER.
So basically there is NO way to recover the files, I lost my IMEI forever.
But for anyone who is having this issue, backup the files (save it in your computer :silly: ) and delete the nv data files from the system. Try everything related to that. (but be sure to have a backup, hahaha :silly: )

Baseband Version unknown

Hi guys,
after two days of unsuccessful trying I really need your help now. I was owner of a HD2 Leo and am used to flashing roms and stuff, so I'm not a total noob - anyway:
I bought a Galaxy Nexus on eBay. The seller wrote that the phone itself work, but there it's only on airplane mode. I bought it and thought with flashing it would be fine.
The problem is:
Baseband-Version: unkown
Network: unkown
IMEI: unkown
I am not been asked for a PIN when turning on the device. No network connection is available.
In two days I tried:
- Galaxy Nexus Toolkit > flashing Google Stock 4.0.1, 4.0.4 and 4.1.1
- Flashing several Radios including i.E. UGLC1 via Fastboot
- This thing here: [TOOLS] Unbrick dead Samsung GT-i9250 Galaxy Nexus 32GB / Prime via USB cable http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1640443&page=1
I actually don't know how to continue and from todays view I bought an expensive MP3-Player for 250 bucks.
I would really appreciate if you guys could help me out.
Thanks in advice.
- Sebastian

Uh, EFS partition is borked.
Look at this thread, maybe the restoring IMEI part is relevant.

Pew ... this loos tricky. I'll try that.

baseband unkown IMEI unkown
Mach3.2 said:
Uh, EFS partition is borked.
Look at this thread, maybe the restoring IMEI part is relevant.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have looked at this and also tried it but with no luck it seems. I really need help can someone offer me some advice. My Gn also keeps rocking between radio off and radio on.
Thanks

Download from play store: get ril
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda app-developers app

ntorresla said:
Download from play store: get ril
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That will not do anything for the issue described.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

As I already wrote in another topic - had the same problem and at last brought my nexus to the service. They changed motherboard and said that this problem is not related to broken efs partition, as I was thinking before.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda premium

edijs said:
As I already wrote in another topic - had the same problem and at last brought my nexus to the service. They changed motherboard and said that this problem is not related to broken efs partition, as I was thinking before.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It could be related, it's either broken hardware or corrupted /factory folder.
The files in the /factory folder holds your IMEI, it's proven beyond doubt.
Beamed from my Grouper.

Galaxy Nexus baseband issue
Hi, I have the same issue.
The phone was working fine and it just stopped working. So I flashed the factory images once again but no luck.
Then I suspected EFS partition issue but after rooting, I could list the files under /factory, cat/read the md5 files, copy them etc. So I think EFS is not the issue but don't know what has gone bad.
Still my phone is not working

Found this, dunno if it'll help, though...
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1510906
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1428988

Fixed by sending in for warranty
Just an update...I was having all of these symptoms...unknown IMEI, Baseband, etc...basically gave me an expensive media player for a few months while waiting for a fix on XDA. After no update I decided to call up Samsung and after talking to 3 different technicians, I was able to send it in. Just a note for anyone about to do the same, they will try very hard to blame it on the carrier/SIM card, so save yourself some trouble and just say you already went to the physical store of your carrier (calling isn't enough)and they couldn't get it working. Once you get past that, they will email you a printable 2-day UPS shipping label so you can ship it to them for free. It took 2 weeks from the time I called to having a working phone back in my hands.
This was their fix:
Problem found:
NO PCS SERVICE
Solution:
REPLACED PBA
After a quick search I found that the PBA is the motherboard, so it's definitely a hardware issue. Hope you guys are still under warranty because I've heard this is ~$200 to fix otherwise.
Good luck.

[Q] Rebuild NV to restore IMEI?

Hi, I recently brought a T-Mobile Galaxy S4 from eBay. The IMEI is not the same as the one under the battery. I have heard that Qualcomm based phone can rebuild the NV data to restore the IMEI. Can someone provide me with instructions on how to do this? I am trying EFS Professional, but I don't want to mess anything up. Thanks.

A couple things.....
1- You are in possession of a Federal felony. To have an altered ESN/IMEI/ MEID is like having a car and altering the vin number.
2- The phone is probably stolen.
3- The phone is probably stolen.
4- Run the IMEI thats under the battery on an ESN checker website and I bet it wont come back as clean.
5- Ever seen the 1st 48 when some one ends up with the dead guys phone? Yeah we might see you questioned on the first 48 soon.
6- Return the phone. Because if it is infact stolen not only will you be charged with stolen property youll also be charged with the possession of the altered ESN/IMEI/MEID device which again is a felony on a federal level.

Adam0524 said:
A couple things.....
1- You are in possession of a Federal felony. To have an altered ESN/IMEI/ MEID is like having a car and altering the vin number.
2- The phone is probably stolen.
3- The phone is probably stolen.
4- Run the IMEI thats under the battery on an ESN checker website and I bet it wont come back as clean.
5- Ever seen the 1st 48 when some one ends up with the dead guys phone? Yeah we might see you questioned on the first 48 soon.
6- Return the phone. Because if it is infact stolen not only will you be charged with stolen property youll also be charged with the possession of the altered ESN/IMEI/MEID device which again is a felony on a federal level.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have checked both IMEIs, they are clean. Tried some IMEI checker sites and T-Mobile sites. Even asked a T-Mobile agent. All said clean. Thank you for the suggestion.

Maybe at some point the phone was repaired and a new mother board was installed.
If the imei is clean just use the phone as is. There's no need to change imei.
☞Sent from here☜

baseballfanz said:
Maybe at some point the phone was repaired and a new mother board was installed.
If the imei is clean just use the phone as is. There's no need to change imei.
☞Sent from here☜
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I 100% agree. I was in need of a Main board for my S2, and all the main boards come with their own IMEI some include a sticker to place over the older barcoded one some don't. So if they are clean you are good to go and just use it as is as baseballfanz said!

Cool, thanks.

Also please NEVER make a thread on XDA asking for instructions on how to change an IMEI or give out ANY info on doing so. It is strictly against XDA rules to discuss such matters here.
Sent from my SGH-M919 using xda app-developers app

Skipjacks said:
Also please NEVER make a thread on XDA asking for instructions on how to change an IMEI or give out ANY info on doing so. It is strictly against XDA rules to discuss such matters here.
Sent from my SGH-M919 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
He's really not asking how to change it, but how to rebuild it back to original. Which isn't bad. He was just confused as to why the software is showing a different IMEI then on the back covor.

elesbb said:
He's really not asking how to change it, but how to rebuild it back to original. Which isn't bad. He was just confused as to why the software is showing a different IMEI then on the back covor.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How you use the power to alter imei isnt really relevant. Once that is discussed openly on xda the information is out there for others to use for less legitimate purposes.
Sent from my SGH-M919 using xda app-developers app

Skipjacks said:
How you use the power to alter imei isnt really relevant. Once that is discussed openly on xda the information is out there for others to use for less legitimate purposes.
Sent from my SGH-M919 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What I mean is that he's not trying to change it to some random number or to that of another phone.
What he found was prolly information regarding the s2 or s3 when I had those devices there was a thread instructing one how to rebuild your IMEI. Rebuilding and changing it are two different things, the latter of the two being illegal lol.
Sent from my SGH-M919 using Tapatalk 2

But if he did have a new mother board installed... There's nothing to rebuild. You cant rebuild the pervious boards number. Only way for it to match the sticker is.... Illegal
Sent from my SGH-M919 using xda app-developers app

You have nothing to worry about. When my company fixes a cracked s4 screen, we replace the entire frame/LCD/glass at once, this piece also contains the imei sticker. Sometimes we take the good motherboard and swap it into a decent used screen from a phone we bought from someone. It is not uncommon for a lazy tech to forget to swap the stickers. Then we sell the refurb on eBay. And that is how you ended up with your phone. No imei foul play (most likely.)

[Q] Bricked Note 2

I've been having power issues with my AT&T Note 2 (draining battery when completely off, wouldn't start after changing batteries without first plugging into USB). I swapped the USB charging port with no luck. Reverted to old backup I took which didn't solve the problem either. And lastly, I started to wipe it and revert to a factory image. Aftering wiping data, system, cache, etc. my phone is stuck on the battery logo screen (no animation). It won't boot into download or recovery. I tried a homemade jig which isn't working.
I have about a year left on contract. It was refurbished and has no warranty left. I have a couple questions:
1. Should I try a jig from amazon? I'm not seeing any specifically stating they'll work with the Note 2.
2. If I've hosed bootloader or have a hardware issue, what's the chance a new mainboard will fix it? (is the internal memory part of the mainboard?)
3. Should I see if I can find a repair shop that will use jtag or something similar to salvage it?
4. Do I sell it for parts (hoping I'd get ~$200 since the display and glass are in good condition) and buy a nexus 5?
5. Any other suggestions?

kevingt01 said:
I've been having power issues with my AT&T Note 2 (draining battery when completely off, wouldn't start after changing batteries without first plugging into USB). I swapped the USB charging port with no luck. Reverted to old backup I took which didn't solve the problem either. And lastly, I started to wipe it and revert to a factory image. Aftering wiping data, system, cache, etc. my phone is stuck on the battery logo screen (no animation). It won't boot into download or recovery. I tried a homemade jig which isn't working.
I have about a year left on contract. It was refurbished and has no warranty left. I have a couple questions:
1. Should I try a jig from amazon? I'm not seeing any specifically stating they'll work with the Note 2.
2. If I've hosed bootloader or have a hardware issue, what's the chance a new mainboard will fix it? (is the internal memory part of the mainboard?)
3. Should I see if I can find a repair shop that will use jtag or something similar to salvage it?
4. Do I sell it for parts (hoping I'd get ~$200 since the display and glass are in good condition) and buy a nexus 5?
5. Any other suggestions?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Send it to ...
Mobiletechvideos.com
And have them fix it...(Google their website for info..)
Then ....when the device comes back...
Read the process of rooting and flashing at least 100 times ...so you can remember the proper steps...because after seeing your post...it is quite apparent that you don't know what you are doing....???
I don't mean to sound harsh...but dang dude...you've messed it up pretty good...
We see countless users get excited and jump in head first trying every possible mod under the sun...
Only to realize that the wrong steps were taken and the wrong software was used..
Each user has a personal responsibility to learn and understand the basics before asking for help or advice ..
Remember ...this is a development site that lives on the edge of code modification...and if not used with some prudence and wisdom ends up costing a lot of time and money...
I can't tell you what to do...only you can decide that...but honestly...you need to learn the basics "before" jumping in and toasting a $700.00 device...IMHO ...g
Sent from my GT-N7105 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

gregsarg said:
Send it to ...
Mobiletechvideos.com
And have them fix it...(Google their website for info..)
Then ....when the device comes back...
Read the process of rooting and flashing at least 100 times ...so you can remember the proper steps...because after seeing your post...it is quite apparent that you don't know what you are doing....???
I don't mean to sound harsh...but dang dude...you've messed it up pretty good...
We see countless users get excited and jump in head first trying every possible mod under the sun...
Only to realize that the wrong steps were taken and the wrong software was used..
Each user has a personal responsibility to learn and understand the basics before asking for help or advice ..
Remember ...this is a development site that lives on the edge of code modification...and if not used with some prudence and wisdom ends up costing a lot of time and money...
I can't tell you what to do...only you can decide that...but honestly...you need to learn the basics "before" jumping in and toasting a $700.00 device...IMHO ...g
Sent from my GT-N7105 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
+1 on that bro

It seems the repair shop is the only way
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I317 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

RoninTPD said:
+1 on that bro
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There is hope, you can take the shoot.bin from the update and put it in a tar file with the files from the old stock tar and flash it. I had the same problem and did this for the sprint version and completely downgraded, boot loader and all. You can find the info on the sprint version. You can email me at keithgordon66 @gmail.com and I'll give you my number so you can call me and I can talk you through it, its easy.
Sent from my A501 using xda app-developers app

I was finally able to get it into download mode by removing the battery, plugging it into my laptop via USB, and doing the normal 3 button combo. Flashed the stock ROM with these instructions: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2275844 (what I was trying to do when it apparently died on me).

[Q] imei problem on gnex

my phone imei has changed
Someone has a solution?

Have you tried turning it off and on again?
Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk

Misledz said:
Have you tried turning it off and on again?
Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I did it but to no avail

Don't you have an older nandroid backup somewhere?
.

Ed V said:
Don't you have an older nandroid backup somewhere?
.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not sorry:crying:

What is the IMEI that it's showing? Is it the generic IMEI of 004999010640000? If so, this means that somehow the real IMEI has been corrupted. This happened to me and without a backup I have found that it's nearly impossible to fix easily. From what I have learned you need some specialized hardware and software in order to rewrite the partition that stores the IMEI data on the phone. In my area at least, I could not find a repair shop that had the hardware / software combo needed in order to fix this. In the end, as a last ditch effort I called Samsung to see if there was anything they could do. They ended up fixing my phone for free, and they paid shipping costs both ways. The process took less than 3 weeks total, and my phone is actually being delivered back to me today so I'm excited to get it back.
If you can't find someone in your area who is ale to fix it, give Samsung Support a call at 888-987-HELP.