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***WARNING TO ALL***FLASHING ANY FIRMWARE CAN POTENTIALLY BRICK YOUR DEVICE
With that said, PLEASE use some precautionary measures to keep your device alive!
There are many threads out there about making a backup copy of the "/efs" folder. that folder contains all of your IMEI information that is NOT replaceable! There are several cases all over the web, about people who have lost that information causing them not to have service, leaving them with "generic" IMEI's and some with all "0's"
I am posting this to help prevent thoes who are unaware of the consequences that happen when the EFS information is lost!
Here I will post a few guides and informational threads here in XDA to help with this.
EFS Tool for Windows
Guide for the Galaxy S II
A Story From the Vibrant
From the Galaxy Note
I would also emphasize on making a nandroid backup of your complete system in recovery before starting to venture off onto any custom rom!
Here the folks at XDA have built a great community with a outstanding reputation to help one another advancing to the next level, also unlocking the extreme potential of our devices.
Be sure to "hit" the thanks button and when possible post a personal "Thanks" to the great devs and contributers we have here in XDA!
Feel free to add to this thread, any useful tips and such...
Thanks and God bless.
I have not yet confirmed this, but here are three links to what may be a way for those who have lost their EFS to repair it!
there are other guides on how to recreate the efs folder but these tools may enable us to insert the correct information!
http://forum.gsmhosting.com/vbb/f611/android-language-editor-android-language-project-1543222/
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1570342
Thanks to Pierreone, he has provided this link providing a individual from Poland that can repair your IMEI through TeamViewer for a small donation. This may be out only hope!!
http://forum.samdroid.net/f70/repair-imei-s2-5729/
Please if anyone tries these methods, report here to confirm success or failed!
Thanks.
I just copy and paste in my pc the EFS folder, thats enough? and how you can identify if there is a problem in the EFS?
lorddavid said:
I just copy and paste in my pc the EFS folder, thats enough? and how you can identify if there is a problem in the EFS?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That should be enough, but I would make backups in at least to other ways just to be safe, it's better to be safe than sorry. a single file can get corrupt without your knowledge! find a on-line file host like Google drive and that way if your pc was ever to go down it will always be there. Just don't loose your password!!!
to know that there is a problem, check the about phone section in status, the device will show your phone info, look for the IMEI! if it reads all 0's or a generic number starting with "04" and ending like "40000" you have problems! that is a unique serial number that identifies your individual phone!
I'm also not sure that if you were to use it to call an emergency hot line like "911" they would be able to locate you in time! that may not be true tho!
dbrannon79 said:
That should be enough, but I would make backups in at least to other ways just to be safe, it's better to be safe than sorry. a single file can get corrupt without your knowledge! find a on-line file host like Google drive and that way if your pc was ever to go down it will always be there. Just don't loose your password!!!
to know that there is a problem, check the about phone section in status, the device will show your phone info, look for the IMEI! if it reads all 0's or a generic number starting with "04" and ending like "40000" you have problems! that is a unique serial number that identifies your individual phone!
I'm also not sure that if you were to use it to call an emergency hot line like "911" they would be able to locate you in time! that may not be true tho!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
mines is ok, has al ot of different numbers. Just a question, what ab out the serial number? mines has only 00000000000
lorddavid said:
mines is ok, has al ot of different numbers. Just a question, what ab out the serial number? mines has only 00000000000
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
the serial number so far is not a problem! it's the IMEI that you need to worry about! some refurbished phones and others that have flashed a custom rom will display an all "0's" serial no.
this is simply a helpful warning to make a backup before doing any modding! and finding ways for others to repair what is lost! if your phone is ok, just make a backup and your good!
One day we will figure out how to completely restore a lost efs and edit what is needed to get back to the norm!
Thanks to Pierreone, I added a link to a thread that looks promising and has success reports!!
Whew, I got lucky. I don't have an EFS backup and have flashed several custom ROMs, but I referenced About Phone against the label under the battery and my IMEI is still intact!
Could someone post what the Generic IMEI is so people can know whether their device is intact?
This is a a bigger problem than it sounds, because in some countries, changing the IMEI may be crime and land you jail time! If the IMEI under About Phone doesn't match the under-battery label, you could be in deep ****.
roothorick said:
Could someone post what the Generic IMEI is so people can know whether their device is intact?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It is 004999010640000.
Have it, because the unlock made my network disconnect every 10 seconds.
About the efs folder ?
First of all Thank You for the heads up... I'm finding out a lot about backing up the efs folder but not a lot of detail about what exactly is contained in it other than imei and serial... probably because it shouldn't be fooled with but I like to know how things work in detail... is there any detailed post or site where I can get a complete explanation about it ? Complete file list/tree? What else does it control ? Can it be edited ?
EFS Tool for Windows
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This utility works fine. Just wanted to mention 2 things that you need to set before running this successfully:
Settings -> developer options -> android debugging enabled
Settings ->Developer options-> Root access -> set to 'apps and adb'
I followed the guide from the Galaxy S2 forum, and after the first command:
busybox cp -a /efs /sdcard/efs/
Every line says "can't preserve ownership of..." and "operation not permitted"
Am I doing this right?
I did get an efs folder on my internal storage which is about 5mb in size after that command anyway
The rest of the guide, all of the other commands went through ok.
Holy crap, I wish I had listened to this warning! After flashing a great new rom and getting it 98% set up the way I like it I was deleting some junk apps the marketplace had auto installed, one of them (for wi-fi hotspots I think) was to blame and must have toasted my IMEI.
I thought, oh I'll just restore my CWM backup from an older setup - md5 error can't restore. DOH! After spending most of two days hunting for solutions (none of them linked in this thread worked, except I did get to where I could place calls with a generic IMEI but no data or text). I finally was able to recalculate the md5 manually and restore my old backup, which then got stuck at boot logo, then I flashed a new ROM and the IMEI still isn't back! After much reading I have come to understand NANDROID BACKUPS DO NOT TOUCH THE EFS. That is one thing that that I didn't understand, and the reason I thought I was safe. Please update the OP to state that so more people like me will listen to your advice.
Backup your EFS! Thanks for the warning
Sent from my SGH-I927 using xda app-developers app
Victory!!!! :victory:
I was so close to just paying at http://sam.123unlock.nl/ and using their service to re-write my IMEI (because they show an unlock video using our phone and their software), but I kept digging in XDA and trying everything I could find. I tried the SIII IMEI editor, NV reader-writer, manually restoring the .nv_data.bin, mobiletech videos backup script...blah blah blah. I tried restoring CWM backups, flashing back to stock everything, using kies, I was trying everything! During all this I at times had no IMEI, all 000s, and a generic #, each of which provided different levels of services. I considered keeping the generic IMEI which AT&T didn't seem to mind but then I finally stumbled on a solution.
In reading the http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=859914 post which is linked to in the "A Story From the Vibrant" in the OP I tried the abd EFS tar command and executed it on another Captivate Glide I have that had some water damage but is mostly still functional thinking I could overwrite the entire good EFS of that phone to my good phone with the hosed IMEI. I used AROMA http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1646108 and deleted the EFS from CWM (I felt like adb and terminal weren't effective since the OS was still awake) and then restored from my working EFS tar, then wrote on top of that the first backup of the hosed EFS I had from before I started messing with it (thinking I'd try that before trying just the other phone's E)FS.
When I rebooted I had the correct serial and IMEI back for the phone! It is now working 100%
I flash alot from to rom, if i use the aroma file manager n save the entire efs folder on my external drive ,if i were to ever run into problems can i go bak to aroma file manager n just restore the efs folder and make everythinfunction again ?
Some guys say yes, others say use the tar command to preserve file permissions. I backed it up both ways. When I used aroma I deleted the files and replaced them rather than over-writing the corrupted ones and it worked fine for me.
Sent from my SGH-I927 using xda app-developers app
So I just got my captivate glide bought it used and I followed thegreatones instructions to get CM 10.1 using the factory image to get it to 4.X then flashing the rom.. and after i flashed CM 10.1 my imei was gone. SIGH. I don't have a backup, which of the paid services works the best? who has tried them?
I managed to make EFS Pro work but the glide is not listed and I don't see any partition to backup. Am I missing something?
Timelord83 said:
So I just got my captivate glide bought it used and I followed thegreatones instructions to get CM 10.1 using the factory image to get it to 4.X then flashing the rom.. and after i flashed CM 10.1 my imei was gone. SIGH. I don't have a backup, which of the paid services works the best? who has tried them?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I haven't tried any but I would first give AT&T a call. They can probably assist you. And I believe there's a 14 day return date, I believe AT&T only checks the physical aspects of the phone.
jzamoras said:
I managed to make EFS Pro work but the glide is not listed and I don't see any partition to backup. Am I missing something?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It worked for others. Check to make sure you have all Glide drivers installed and reread the OP please Thanks!
Finally I used an older EFS Tool and it worked!
need help from anyone pls for some reason after i install a rom my phone keeps looping. and sometimes will load to main screen but i get no signal and after a few mins phone starts looping... i can go to recoveryand flash any rom and i get e: unable to mount usbstorage... i used odin back to stock 3 times still same thing.. i did notice on settings baseband said unknown... will donate $50 if someone can help me fix it thanks
trezegol said:
need help from anyone pls for some reason after i install a rom my phone keeps looping. and sometimes will load to main screen but i get no signal and after a few mins phone starts looping... i can go to recoveryand flash any rom and i get e: unable to mount usbstorage... i used odin back to stock 3 times still same thing.. i did notice on settings baseband said unknown... will donate $50 if someone can help me fix it thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That error isn't important, unless you're trying to load something from a device connected via OTG cable. It's just letting you know that it's not finding the OTG storage, so if you need it you know to look into that. Flash the latest TWRP from Odin. Boot to recovery and factory reset, no Odin doesn't wipe. Then flash stock with Odin. See if you can boot and sit without looping. Don't screw with it, just let it sit for a bit and settle. Just watch for 5min or so to see if it loops. It's probably bad data and factory reset will fix it. The stock flash it just to make sure you have a known good base. If it doesn't loop in 5min or so, it's probably fine. If it does, try getting a logcat. There's not much anyone can do to help without more information at that point.
No signal and baseband unknown could be a corrupted EFS. You DID back that up didn't you? Does the IEMI show in the settings? Try booting without a SIM. If that's the problem, it might help.
ttabbal said:
That error isn't important, unless you're trying to load something from a device connected via OTG cable. It's just letting you know that it's not finding the OTG storage, so if you need it you know to look into that. Flash the latest TWRP from Odin. Boot to recovery and factory reset, no Odin doesn't wipe. Then flash stock with Odin. See if you can boot and sit without looping. Don't screw with it, just let it sit for a bit and settle. Just watch for 5min or so to see if it loops. It's probably bad data and factory reset will fix it. The stock flash it just to make sure you have a known good base. If it doesn't loop in 5min or so, it's probably fine. If it does, try getting a logcat. There's not much anyone can do to help without more information at that point.
No signal and baseband unknown could be a corrupted EFS. You DID back that up didn't you? Does the IEMI show in the settings? Try booting without a SIM. If that's the problem, it might help.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
thanks for your help i did try factory wipe and then odin but no luck i do have a backup of my efs but dont know how to restore efs since i can go in to the phone only recovery mode would you be able to help me restore my efs ?
trezegol said:
thanks for your help i did try factory wipe and then odin but no luck i do have a backup of my efs but dont know how to restore efs since i can go in to the phone only recovery mode would you be able to help me restore my efs ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How did you back it up? TWRP should be able to restore it if you used that. If not, I would need to find the partition number and you would use dd to write it. I've never had to mess with it on the Note 3. What's the filename of your backup file? You might need to decompress it first.
i used the efs backup tool posted somewhere here i also did a backup with a diferent tool the firstone gave me a efs.zip that contains a efs.raw.img and also a efs.tar files is that what i need ? i did the backup when everything was working normal
ill try anything you can help with even if it doesnt work or ends up on a hard brick would you be able to help me via teamviewer?
trezegol said:
i used the efs backup tool posted somewhere here i also did a backup with a diferent tool the firstone gave me a efs.zip that contains a efs.raw.img and also a efs.tar files is that what i need ? i did the backup when everything was working normal
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Can you hook the phone up to kies and do a restore that way? Just give it your serial number and it does the rest. It will restore all partitions including your efs. Have restored a couple friends phones this way which appeared to be unrecoverable in one way or another....
Sent from my SM-N900T using xda app-developers app
chstewart can you give me the steps you did to restore it via kies pls.....nevermind got it its installing rightnow ill let you know in a min
no luck still bootloops
trezegol said:
no luck still bootloops
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm almost for a loss as my understanding when using kies it re writes all partitions of the phone. I've restored a couple phones that way for friends that were completely borked. 'Missing imei etc.'
It asked for the serial number and showed successful when done?
Sent from my SM-N900T using xda app-developers app
Just to make sure all the bases are covered... You tried this? http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2471421
I got that issue last night, and that fixed it right up.
chstewart said:
I'm almost for a loss as my understanding when using kies it re writes all partitions of the phone. I've restored a couple phones that way for friends that were completely borked. 'Missing imei etc.'
It asked for the serial number and showed successful when done?
Sent from my SM-N900T using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
it did serial number and took about 25mins to download software and about 10 mins to finish reboot it it self when kies said it was done and nothing still bootloop
ttabbal said:
Just to make sure all the bases are covered... You tried this? http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2471421
I got that issue last night, and that fixed it right up.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
that's the first thing I tried did it many times
Hi, apparently some genius developing CWM decided it would be fun to allow the factory partition to be formatted with the newest versions of CWM (I'm on 6.0.4.6). Well guess what, I managed to format it on my GNex (it's quite easy to do actually).
Anyways, I've lost my IMEI data and unable to access mobile network (data connectivity is fine, however, surprisingly). Somebody please help me restore my IMEI because I don't have a nandroid backup either.
Thanks a lot!
Deleted, did a search on IMEI and found a bunch of threads. Reading them now...
pherder said:
Deleted, did a search on IMEI and found a bunch of threads. Reading them now...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Paul how did you manage to mess up your phone? Was it the same way I did? The thing is, all is not lost, I'm absolutely certain of that. It's not a brick until it absolutely and completely refuses to power up...
@osm0sis, can you please help me out here? I know there was even an IMEI changing tool but most probably considered illegal or something by the "powers that be" and hence removed most likely. I just need my original phone IMEI back, that's all. Thanks a lot!
rahimali said:
Paul how did you manage to mess up your phone? Was it the same way I did? The thing is, all is not lost, I'm absolutely certain of that. It's not a brick until it absolutely and completely refuses to power up...
@osm0sis, can you please help me out here? I know there was even an IMEI changing tool but most probably considered illegal or something by the "powers that be" and hence removed most likely. I just need my original phone IMEI back, that's all. Thanks a lot!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think I screwed up and flashed my phone with the wrong image (LTE instead of CDMA) that wiped the factory info and all the attempts I have tried do not do anything to get the phone back. I have a nice tablet that just upgraded to 4.3 via WiFi since it isn't on the Verizon network.
Paul
pherder said:
I think I screwed up and flashed my phone with the wrong image (LTE instead of CDMA) that wiped the factory info and all the attempts I have tried do not do anything to get the phone back. I have a nice tablet that just upgraded to 4.3 via WiFi since it isn't on the Verizon network.
Paul
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My maguro CWM thread has all the info you need explained several times. Check it out.
osm0sis said:
My maguro CWM thread has all the info you need explained several times. Check it out.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i have gone through your cwm thread. it's suggested taking it to a shop and getting it fixed with spt box or something. unfortunately, i can't do that because nobody in my location has anything even remotely similar to one of those. apart from that, i've done everything i could think of, flashed radios, flashed stock samsung rom, flashed google factory images. what else would you suggest?
i don't have a prior nandroid either
Resolved
Problem solved. Took it to repair shop and got it fixed. Everyone that helped or tried to help, thanks a lot! Mods please close thread, thanks!
I was thinking more along the lines of restoring a backup and grabbing what you need to fix Factory from Radio, which was detailed a couple of times.
Glad you got it fixed, nonetheless. :good:
rahimali said:
Problem solved. Took it to repair shop and got it fixed. Everyone that helped or tried to help, thanks a lot! Mods please close thread, thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Did you ask them how they fixed it?? we need to know so we can help others..:--))
osm0sis said:
I was thinking more along the lines of restoring a backup and grabbing what you need to fix Factory from Radio, which was detailed a couple of times.
Glad you got it fixed, nonetheless. :good:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i didn't have a nandroid, nothing in factory since i had wiped it accidentally via the new cwm's new ""feature". i didn't like twrp until now but i ain't budging from it now that cwm has screwed me up so bad!
buhohitr said:
Did you ask them how they fixed it?? we need to know so we can help others..:--))
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
the guy connected it to a couple of external devices which in turn were connected to his pc, i guess one of them was something along the lines of an spt box, the other thing looked like a miniature spaceship, so maybe ET was involved in fixing it as well...
Not CWM's fault, though I definitely understand your sentiment. But "with great power.."
I make damn sure I know what I'm pressing Yes on when I'm wiping.
osm0sis said:
Not CWM's fault, though I definitely understand your sentiment. But "with great power.."
I make damn sure I know what I'm pressing Yes on when I'm wiping.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
with great power comes great tragedy
anyways, I was just browsing through my phone with root explorer and with twrp's file manager and surprisingly there's no efs folder there! is that normal?
i've taken a twrp nandroid backup to include efs as well but i'm thinking to take a raw backup as well as described here. i've also copied the /factory and /data/radio folders.
i was wondering whether flashing a stock samsung ROM might result in the creation of the efs folder? on yakju 4.2.2 stock google image right now...
Nah efs is the partition but it's mounted to /factory :good:
osm0sis said:
Nah efs is the partition but it's mounted to /factory :good:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's great thanks!., I'll clean flash 4.3 yakju in a day or two and see if the IMEI sticks after the wipes. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to backup using EFS Commander or the terminal/shell commands (got error both ways) so I'm hoping the TWRP backup (without MD5) and manual file copy should be sufficient insurance...
hello,
This morning i was using my phone like every day, but i notice that i had no signal so i decided to restart the phone. When it restarted out of nowhere the phone started to boot loop.. i didnt do anything for it to start doing that.. after a long while trying to fix it i gave up and got into recovery and decided to clean install the rom. It did install but after 1 minute of being on the screen it would boot loop.. I download it the same rom and installed it and still kept doing the same thing.. i had a back up so i decided to install it which i did but again after 40 seconds of start up it would boot loop.. finally, i decided to use the LG Flash tool TWICE and it did work but again after a little while the phone turns off and on.. idk what lese to do??? any ideas?
Check if it displays your IMEI in the Settings. If not you should check if you've got a EFS Backup.
vixman said:
hello,
This morning i was using my phone like every day, but i notice that i had no signal so i decided to restart the phone. When it restarted out of nowhere the phone started to boot loop.. i didnt do anything for it to start doing that.. after a long while trying to fix it i gave up and got into recovery and decided to clean install the rom. It did install but after 1 minute of being on the screen it would boot loop.. I download it the same rom and installed it and still kept doing the same thing.. i had a back up so i decided to install it which i did but again after 40 seconds of start up it would boot loop.. finally, i decided to use the LG Flash tool TWICE and it did work but again after a little while the phone turns off and on.. idk what lese to do??? any ideas?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
mmeidl78 said:
Check if it displays your IMEI in the Settings. If not you should check if you've got a EFS Backup.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I already checked and everything says unknown. I do not have any type of backup! is there something i can do?
Congratulations! Now your on the same step as I am. Don't know how to fix this without a EFS Backup.
vixman said:
I already checked and everything says unknown. I do not have any type of backup! is there something i can do?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
mmeidl78 said:
Congratulations! Now your on the same step as I am. Don't know how to fix this without a EFS Backup.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
OHH wow!! so im basically stock with a brand new phone that boots on and off ..Wow.. well if you ever find an answer can you please share it with me!!! thank you in advance.
I have no idea what kind of backup you are talking about but could we use it from another G2?
Maybe this will help you find out what a EFS-Backup is:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2451390
I've seen the question somewhere else (to use a backup from another g2) and they said, that it will boot but don't login into the network, cause you'll get a IMEI with 00000 or something like this.
Don't know a answer. I think I must send my G2 to LG and pay a lot of money IF they'll fix it.
vixman said:
OHH wow!! so im basically stock with a brand new phone that boots on and off ..Wow.. well if you ever find an answer can you please share it with me!!! thank you in advance.
I have no idea what kind of backup you are talking about but could we use it from another G2?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
mmeidl78 said:
Maybe this will help you find out what a EFS-Backup is:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2451390
I've seen the question somewhere else (to use a backup from another g2) and they said, that it will boot but don't login into the network, cause you'll get a IMEI with 00000 or something like this.
Don't know a answer. I think I must send my G2 to LG and pay a lot of money IF they'll fix it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
OHH i see what you mean... I have added EFS backup to the IOroot scripts so that everyone that roots will have a copy of their EFS partitions on the computer you run IOroot from. Regardless, this current thread will still be a good "heads up" and an alternative for those who insist on using other shady root methods or for those who just want another way to back things up.
I did use IOroot, does that mean that if i connect it to the computer and try to root it again it would fix it? you think???
vixman said:
OHH i see what you mean... I have added EFS backup to the IOroot scripts so that everyone that roots will have a copy of their EFS partitions on the computer you run IOroot from. Regardless, this current thread will still be a good "heads up" and an alternative for those who insist on using other shady root methods or for those who just want another way to back things up.
I did use IOroot, does that mean that if i connect it to the computer and try to root it again it would fix it? you think???
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
In the Thread is a step-by-step tutorial how to restore EFS-Files. Make a Backup of these 2 files before you root your phone again! Don't know, if those 2 files got overwritten (maybe with the damaged data) when you root your phone again.
Fixed my phone
mmeidl78 said:
In the Thread is a step-by-step tutorial how to restore EFS-Files. Make a Backup of these 2 files before you root your phone again! Don't know, if those 2 files got overwritten (maybe with the damaged data) when you root your phone again.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well just wanted to let you know that i sent my phone to LG for them to fix it. They didnt charge me and all they did was re-flash the rom. if you havent fixed it you should try sending it to them.
So, this is a long process I've been through-- First thanks so much for just taking the time to read this and any input would be awesome
I tried to flash a new slimkat 4.4.2 rom today and it flashed fine came up had service all was well except I think i did it as a "dirty" flash. I don't want to think any errors possible would be from that so i immediately did a "clean" flash and wiped everything except external sd-card in TWRP
Rebooted and noticed i didn't have any signal or data. First thought was modem so I started flashing MJ4 and reboot, nothing, so I flashed MK6 and reboot, nothing, so i changed to CWM recovery and flashed them, nothing, then at this point i just want a phone back doesn't even matter so i always seem to have several ROMS on my phone so i flashed another Sky Note 4.3 and reloaded nothing... So i started really wondering now and looking at my baseband to see what it said and noticed "Unkown Baseband" and Imei "unkown" (All while at work) So I came home did a little research while trying various other roms and none worked. So I read one way is to use Kies and do a "firmware upgrade initialisation"
Now it rebooting and completed going back to 4.1.2 CAMA4 and i still have nothing.. So I flashed UCALJ modem (Which should work as well) and I still have no data or signal because of unknown IMEI and Baseband. I don't really care about using triangle away or not, but i can get around and flash roms and everything thats what I don't understand.
Oh I did use CF-autoroot to install TWRP to install the modem as a .zip
Any ideas I would love you forever!!!
Bradbetheman said:
So, this is a long process I've been through-- First thanks so much for just taking the time to read this and any input would be awesome
I tried to flash a new slimkat 4.4.2 rom today and it flashed fine came up had service all was well except I think i did it as a "dirty" flash. I don't want to think any errors possible would be from that so i immediately did a "clean" flash and wiped everything except external sd-card in TWRP
Rebooted and noticed i didn't have any signal or data. First thought was modem so I started flashing MJ4 and reboot, nothing, so I flashed MK6 and reboot, nothing, so i changed to CWM recovery and flashed them, nothing, then at this point i just want a phone back doesn't even matter so i always seem to have several ROMS on my phone so i flashed another Sky Note 4.3 and reloaded nothing... So i started really wondering now and looking at my baseband to see what it said and noticed "Unkown Baseband" and Imei "unkown" (All while at work) So I came home did a little research while trying various other roms and none worked. So I read one way is to use Kies and do a "firmware upgrade initialisation"
Now it rebooting and completed going back to 4.1.2 CAMA4 and i still have nothing.. So I flashed UCALJ modem (Which should work as well) and I still have no data or signal because of unknown IMEI and Baseband. I don't really care about using triangle away or not, but i can get around and flash roms and everything thats what I don't understand.
Oh I did use CF-autoroot to install TWRP to install the modem as a .zip
Any ideas I would love you forever!!!
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I gots more love than I know what to do with.....
Do you have a backup of your /efs? Hopefully when (if) you did a backup in TWRP you choose to back up efs also ..... ???
dicksteele said:
I gots more love than I know what to do with.....
Do you have a backup of your /efs? Hopefully when (if) you did a backup in TWRP you choose to back up efs also ..... ???
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Lesson learned... no backup
I'm going to try and repair (backup and re-put) my EFS folder there, but how do i tell if its a complete EFS folder or if it is damaged? On the note 2 ATT is there a way to manually put in your IMEI? or reasons why this couldn't be my problem please
Bradbetheman said:
I'm going to try and repair (backup and re-put) my EFS folder there, but how do i tell if its a complete EFS folder or if it is damaged? On the note 2 ATT is there a way to manually put in your IMEI? or reasons why this couldn't be my problem please
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Last time this happened to me, a very long night, I had a guru on hangouts with me and we tried everything we could think of..
Only thing that got me back was a restore of an old backup, as a wild ass last resort.... Lost my mind when it worked
This problem is not weird, unfortunately it's common.
Starting surfing for your error and read read read.... I've had a long fricking day ..
Like a maniac I'm trying to port over a 7100 ROM.. I get that error also.
Only thing that gets it back is restoring a backup rom that had an efs backup in it.
dicksteele said:
Last time this happened to me, a very long night, I had a guru on hangouts with me and we tried everything we could think of..
Only thing that got me back was a restore of an old backup, as a wild ass last resort.... Lost my mind when it worked
This problem is not weird, unfortunately it's common.
Starting surfing for your error and read read read.... I've had a long fricking day ..
Like a maniac I'm trying to port over a 7100 ROM.. I get that error also.
Only thing that gets it back is restoring a backup rom that had an efs backup in it.
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In my EFS folder i can't find any .nv_**** files so I'm assuming they are gone and I don't have a back-up. I've been reading and reading with nothing coming out of it other then how to fix it on alot of other samsung phones. I can't seem to find a way to re-build and manually enter my own IMEI (because i know the IMEI) Driving me nuts!! but thanks for your reply
EFS folder anyone?
Any chance i can get a copy of someones EFS folder so that i can edit the .nv_data and add my IMIE? Please of a ATT Note 2
Thanks so much and just PM link
Bradbetheman said:
Any chance i can get a copy of someones EFS folder so that i can edit the .nv_data and add my IMIE? Please of a ATT Note 2
Thanks so much and just PM link
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Sadly no...
It is both illegal...and unethical for someone to give you a copy of an EFS folder...
It contains the user data and carrier information for the device...making the folder private...and unique to it's owner ....g
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Have you tried restoring firmware from Kies or flashing official firmware via Odin?
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nikzDHD said:
Have you tried restoring firmware from Kies or flashing official firmware via Odin?
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I have done official firmware and over odin and before that Kies recovery. Also, knew it wasn't smart but didn't know it was illegal.
Any idea's for programs that will scan for deleted folders? or other ways to re-build EFS or .nvdata?
Bradbetheman said:
I have done official firmware and over odin and before that Kies recovery. Also, knew it wasn't smart but didn't know it was illegal.
Any idea's for programs that will scan for deleted folders? or other ways to re-build EFS or .nvdata?
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I was going to try this but didn't have to because I found a backup with my efs. I was going to try putting a new sim in and see if phone would see it and rebuild.
Actually was going to pull the sim out of my wife's note 2 and try it.
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So I tried from my wifes sim today with no avail. Still don't have my phone and wondering if there is any way to recover it? Do i try to set it back to stock everything fix the flash counter then call samsung? I don't think its under warranty anymore since i've had it for almost 2 years. I know its a long shot but I wonder if taking it to one of those "cell phone repair" places would be any help? I'm out of options and actually had to drop back to my old HTC Inspire
Bradbetheman said:
So I tried from my wifes sim today with no avail. Still don't have my phone and wondering if there is any way to recover it? Do i try to set it back to stock everything fix the flash counter then call samsung? I don't think its under warranty anymore since i've had it for almost 2 years. I know its a long shot but I wonder if taking it to one of those "cell phone repair" places would be any help? I'm out of options and actually had to drop back to my old HTC Inspire
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Yea, the sim deal was to simple to work...
So never heard I don't think. What were you on before you flashed slimkat? Did you do the 4.3 OTA update?
Have you tried flashing an original rom with the Pit file? That's your last resort, EFS is unique to each phone by using someone's else's this is illegal as your modifying the IMEI. I've had efs issues in the past but always had a backup to hand. Try flashing everything with a pit file if that doesn't work then you will have to take it in for repair, Samsung official could do it but don't know what they will charge as it's out of warranty or maybe a local phone repair shop could do it or someone with jtag services can do it perhaps too.
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nikzDHD said:
Have you tried flashing an original rom with the Pit file? That's your last resort, EFS is unique to each phone by using someone's else's this is illegal as your modifying the IMEI. I've had efs issues in the past but always had a backup to hand. Try flashing everything with a pit file if that doesn't work then you will have to take it in for repair, Samsung official could do it but don't know what they will charge as it's out of warranty or maybe a local phone repair shop could do it or someone with jtag services can do it perhaps too.
Sent from my GT-I9505G using Tapatalk
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I was on another 4.4 rom before I went to slimkat
What is a pit file? I don't know much about it and is there a "trusted" guide on how to use one with the Note 2? I mean I'm familiar with Odin so I know its there but I've never had to use one
Bradbetheman said:
I was on another 4.4 rom before I went to slimkat
What is a pit file? I don't know much about it and is there a "trusted" guide on how to use one with the Note 2? I mean I'm familiar with Odin so I know its there but I've never had to use one
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Here's the info...
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2609871
A couple of other people are having worse problems like not being able to flash a recovery in ODIN or a ROM saying it can't read partitions. That's a good choice for a PIT flash.
But I'm reading and reading and everything is saying, yep that will work.... IF you then have the efs backup to restore
dicksteele said:
Here's the info...
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2609871
A couple of other people are having worse problems like not being able to flash a recovery in ODIN or a ROM saying it can't read partitions. That's a good choice for a PIT flash.
But I'm reading and reading and everything is saying, yep that will work.... IF you then have the efs backup to restore
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Thanks so much for the help!! I'm just worried that its not going to fix it and only make it worse possibly. I can't find how to pull my PIT file to analyze it so my next option is... Call a professional tomorrow... I'm going to call because apparently a "Z3X box" will fix my phone in like 3 minutes. I will post back though letting people know in the future whether they can or not. Because of legal reasons I don't know if they can even write my own IMEI back to the device. Will post back though regardless after tomorrow when I call them.
This happened to me a while back and I just flashed back to stock using Odin and all was fine
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GREAT NEWS!
So I got desperate and realized this was going to take a professional. I called around to my local "cell phone repair" shops that really only know how to change the screen and asked about recovering the EFS file. It started out: "Hi can I talk with someone knowledgeable about the Android file system?" and every time the person said they were an "expert" So I said "I deleted or corrupted my EFS file and I need a repair for it" and EVERY time they told me they had no clue what I was talking about. I read and read everything I could find on the internet and most pointed me to some international "send you phone here" and of course I'm very skeptical of shipping my phone just about anywhere. So I found a person in the US at mobiletechvideos.com and looked him up with the BBB and found reviews from multiple sources.
I can say mobiletechvideos.com is legit and awesome! Josh fixed my phone and repaired the IMEI in less the 10 minutes remotely. I have my note 2 back! Please do not hesitate to give this guy a try he is legit and really down to earth guy. This thread can end here because whatever he did I have no clue but it worked!
Also a lot cheaper then I though it was going to be
Bradbetheman said:
GREAT NEWS!
So I got desperate and realized this was going to take a professional. I called around to my local "cell phone repair" shops that really only know how to change the screen and asked about recovering the EFS file. It started out: "Hi can I talk with someone knowledgeable about the Android file system?" and every time the person said they were an "expert" So I said "I deleted or corrupted my EFS file and I need a repair for it" and EVERY time they told me they had no clue what I was talking about. I read and read everything I could find on the internet and most pointed me to some international "send you phone here" and of course I'm very skeptical of shipping my phone just about anywhere. So I found a person in the US at mobiletechvideos.com and looked him up with the BBB and found reviews from multiple sources.
I can say mobiletechvideos.com is legit and awesome! Josh fixed my phone and repaired the IMEI in less the 10 minutes remotely. I have my note 2 back! Please do not hesitate to give this guy a try he is legit and really down to earth guy. This thread can end here because whatever he did I have no clue but it worked!
Also a lot cheaper then I though it was going to be
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That is great news. Congrats ! How in the world did he do it remotely ?????