Database Users

Please help me! my phone is screwed

Hey I'm from india and own an i9500
bought 5 months ago
I was using my phone normally and flashed a stock rom with ODIb
the phone booted up.
The problem is that I have emergency calls only and my IMEI has been changed to Fake IMEI
1) my phone is out of warranty as some moisture traces have gone into iy and samsung asks for 200$ for every small problem they need to change the board
2) I don't think so I have the EFS backup
Please Oh please someone guide me what to do?

usama492 said:
Hey I'm from india and own an i9500
bought 5 months ago
I was using my phone normally and flashed a stock rom with ODIb
the phone booted up.
The problem is that I have emergency calls only and my IMEI has been changed to Fake IMEI
1) my phone is out of warranty as some moisture traces have gone into iy and samsung asks for 200$ for every small problem they need to change the board
2) I don't think so I have the EFS backup
Please Oh please someone guide me what to do?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There's a thread on that here. You could try that, but I think that without a backup, it's going to be pretty hard to get it back up. First thing I do when I get a new phone is to backup the EFS.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2346136

no help man.
any other help please anyone?

Flashing a different stock rom did not help?

usama492 said:
no help man.
any other help please anyone?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Did you actually tried to flash your original Stock ROM with Odin? If not, try other stock ROMs.
There's another ref link here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2393289
I recommend you read through that thoroughly.

Cloxed said:
Did you actually tried to flash your original Stock ROM with Odin? If not, try other stock ROMs.
There's another ref link here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2393289
I recommend you read through that thoroughly.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes I did flash the stock rom with ODIN which I successively used before
I read it but this is actually getting impossible for me.
After the phone shows generic IMEI.
will backing up the efs help now?
Also I flashed CM 10.
that also didn't give me back my IMEI.
really appreciate your help
and would be really grateful if someone guides me through this catastrophe.

Also I forgot to mention that I update to stock MJ5 4.3
I read that it changes the directory of efs?
Please someone help me!

usama492 said:
Also I forgot to mention that I update to stock MJ5 4.3
I read that it changes the directory of efs?
Please someone help me!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Since you updated to mj5 you'll have to use that firmware version in odin.

maybe
Maybe you could wipe Dalvik and cache memory, then do a factory reset through the recovery menu. This will reset everything of your phone, so your IMEI should go back to it's real number(you'll lose all your data so make a backup before doing it).
Have you also tested if it's not the SIM that doesn't work by putting it into another cell-phone?

Eastkap said:
Maybe you could wipe Dalvik and cache memory, then do a factory reset through the recovery menu. This will reset everything of your phone, so your IMEI should go back to it's real number(you'll lose all your data so make a backup before doing it).
Have you also tested if it's not the SIM that doesn't work by putting it into another cell-phone?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sim isn't the problem.
Also wipin dalvik Cache might now fix the problem. But I will try it
thanks
any more suggestion?

A factory reset/wipe Dalvik ain't magically fixing this. If you've gone back to stock (a rom released by your carrier) & your IMEI hasn't returned & you have no backup, you're boned. Service centre (more expensive option), or ask around local mobile repair shops; they might be able to help more cheaply.

[Q] EFS ? Bootloop after trying to backup with EFS by BORIS.X.1

Hi! :crying:
I had the bad idea to use this software (EFS by BORIS.X.1 ) and I didn't see the warning at the END of the presentation of the soft...
I clicked on "backup EFS". The phone reboots straight away. (I thought it was maybe normal).
I clicked on "backup NVRAM". The phone reboots again.
Actually, since that, my phone is almost dead. I could boot but after a few second I got a reboot. --> bootloop.
I did a hard reset via the Android recovery. I reflashed my VEGA ROM (packed with the other missing files from the original stock ROM, so I guess it's full wipe anyway).
I did it many times. Nothing changed. On the top of that I can not access to my WIFI, 3G, on voice (SIM NOT FOUND).
I don't know what to do anymore. I have a MI7 rooter 0x0 phone and I would like to keep it so!!
Please help me since I just bought that phone and spent all the day before to manage the URDLV properly.
:angel: Merry Christmas and thank you in advance! :highfive:

Nemorensis32 said:
Hi! :crying:
I had the bad idea to use this buggy software (EFS by BORIS.X.1 ) and I didn't see the warning at the END of the presentation of the soft...
I clicked on "backup EFS". The phone reboots straight away. (I thought it was maybe normal).
I clicked on "backup NVRAM". The phone reboots again.
Actually, since that, my phone is almost dead. I could boot but after a few second I got a reboot. --> bootloop.
I did a hard reset via the Android recovery. I reflashed my VEGA ROM (packed with the other missing files from the original stock ROM, so I guess it's full wipe anyway).
I did it many times. Nothing changed. On the top of that I can not access to my WIFI, 3G, on voice (SIM NOT FOUND).
I don't know what to do anymore. I have a MI7 rooter 0x0 phone and I would like to keep it so!!
Please help me since I just bought that phone and spent all the day before to manage the URDLV properly.
:angel: Merry Christmas and thank you in advance! :highfive:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Your EFS is corrupted by the sounds of it, can you check settings > general > about device and see if your baseband says "Unknown"? If so then...
Only guarantee to unbrick and get your baseband back properly (without EFS back up) is using a custom recovery (tripping KNOX) and using This - used it myself and it does work - But it only works on the N9005
Aside from that, I'm not 100% sure myself without an EFS backup as to how to fix..Good luck

radicalisto said:
Your EFS is corrupted by the sounds of it, can you check settings > general > about device and see if your baseband says "Unknown"? If so then...
Only guarantee to unbrick and get your baseband back properly (without EFS back up) is using a custom recovery (tripping KNOX) and using This - used it myself and it does work - But it only works on the N9005
Aside from that, I'm not 100% sure myself without an EFS backup as to how to fix..Good luck
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you. Yes, I know that tip but, before making that step, I want to be sure this is only the EFS :
That's the thing! I can't use my phone and access to the menu "state of the phone". It always reboots before. I have also a error message telling "the process SYSTEM doesn't respond. Do you want to terminate it ?" And most of my softs just crash, even contact. I can't dial on my phone!!
Can we say it's only a EFS problem ? In which proportion the soft I used would have damage my phone ??
Thanks

Nemorensis32 said:
Thank you. Yes, I know that tip but, before making that step, I want to be sure this is only the EFS :
That's the thing! I can't use my phone and access to the menu "state of the phone". It always reboots before. I have also a error message telling "the process SYSTEM doesn't respond. Do you want to terminate it ?" And most of my softs just crash, even contact. I can't dial on my phone!!
Can we say it's only a EFS problem ? In which proportion the soft I used would have damage my phone ??
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yup sounds like an EFS issue, mine done the same with System not responding - I flashed the .zip in custom recovery and it fixed it straight away.

radicalisto said:
Yup sounds like an EFS issue, mine done the same with System not responding - I flashed the .zip in custom recovery and it fixed it straight away.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What did you do to brick your phone ?

Nemorensis32 said:
What did you do to brick your phone ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I was messing around with custom kernels, constant rebooting every 60seconds. Managed to check my baseband which said unknown, so went into TWRP and flashed the EFS fix and it booted straight up, baseband back, 3G signal etc

The good thing would be to get an adaptation of this script for Odin !!

i had the efs issue yesterday, exactly as described.
was playing with custom kernels, phone suddenly rebooted and baseband was gone.
i restored mine from a twrp backup.

Nemorensis32 said:
Thank you. Yes, I know that tip but, before making that step, I want to be sure this is only the EFS :
That's the thing! I can't use my phone and access to the menu "state of the phone". It always reboots before. I have also a error message telling "the process SYSTEM doesn't respond. Do you want to terminate it ?" And most of my softs just crash, even contact. I can't dial on my phone!!
Can we say it's only a EFS problem ? In which proportion the soft I used would have damage my phone ??
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Unless we learn more about what that program was trying to do (presumably from the author of the program?) the only other FACT that we know is that writing a custom recovery is GUARANTEED to trip your knox flag; just writing your original Samsung ROM has a good chance to NOT trip knox; if you apply the first then you can never try the 2nd and keep knox, while if you apply the 2nd method and it does not work you still can use the 2nd or something else.

xclub_101 said:
Unless we learn more about what that program was trying to do (presumably from the author of the program?) the only other FACT that we know is that writing a custom recovery is GUARANTEED to trip your knox flag; just writing your original Samsung ROM has a good chance to NOT trip knox; if you apply the first then you can never try the 2nd and keep knox, while if you apply the 2nd method and it does not work you still can use the 2nd or something else.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Here's another alternative.
I'll let you know soon!
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=48818814&postcount=85

Nemorensis32 said:
Here's another alternative.
I'll let you know soon!
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=48818814&postcount=85
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
To have some script that can be written in Odin would be nice - as long as it does not trip knox. Something which might be a little more complex than it sounds.

Well Asansam can do it with just a rooted device, no need for custom recovery.
So find one with an Asansam box, and just run the "Restore PB" command.

Ratata82 said:
Well Asansam can do it with just a rooted device, no need for custom recovery.
So find one with an Asansam box, and just run the "Restore PB" command.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hum, where I live I will not find one...

SM-N900A
Im having the same problem
i used that program to back Efs
Boris.x.1 and it sent my note 3 into a bootloop
is there anything i can do to fix this
and i cant find a SM-N900A stock firmware to reflash
it is a rooted phone
thank you

Note 3 duos SM-N9002 have same problem after backup internal nvram, help me

[Q] [i9505] Galaxy S4 Baseband and IMEI: Unkown

Hi,
I've been having problems with my 4 month old GS4 lately, mainly because I was not able to make or receive calls and texts. I looked up my problem, and eventually traced it down to a unknown baseband and IMEI problem. Sure enough, my baseband and IMEI was missing. I researched and found out that you need to backup your EFS folder as it may have been corrupted, unfortunately I was not able to do so. I even tried factory resetting my phone to stock TouchWiz, hearing reports that a hard reset can fix the problem; unfortunately, I'm still missing my IMEI and Baseband. All help is appreciated
This Phone was/is rooted, and has been flashed several times with custom ROMS.
Thank you in advance.

If the problem started without you flashing or doing anything else, then you have a hardware failure. Your emmc chip is probably broken. Bring it to a service center.

Lennyz1988 said:
If the problem started without you flashing or doing anything else, then you have a hardware failure. Your emmc chip is probably broken. Bring it to a service center.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm not so sure really. I flashed Cyanogenmod and it was working fine, I could make and receive calls. However, my SIM card died and I had to replace it. That was when I noticed the problem.
EDIT: Okay, I failed to read completely. I kept reflashing nandroid backups however, after experiencing problems unrelated to this.

HeadhuntrActual said:
I'm not so sure really. I flashed Cyanogenmod and it was working fine, I could make and receive calls. However, my SIM card died and I had to replace it. That was when I noticed the problem.
EDIT: Okay, I failed to read completely. I kept reflashing nandroid backups however, after experiencing problems unrelated to this.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Try using root explorer and see if your efs folder is ok?

Old_Geezer said:
Try using root explorer and see if your efs folder is ok?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How do I know if it is okay??? P.S. I can't find certain files like nv_data.bin... sign of corruption?

HeadhuntrActual said:
How do I know if it is okay??? P.S. I can't find certain files like nv_data.bin... sign of corruption?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It might be, since my efs folder have nv_data.bin but i can't tell for sure since i'm still a newbie here.
Did you try searching for efs backup on the phone? I know some roms do automatic backup after flash so it might be left there somewhere.

HeadhuntrActual said:
I'm not so sure really. I flashed Cyanogenmod and it was working fine, I could make and receive calls. However, my SIM card died and I had to replace it. That was when I noticed the problem.
EDIT: Okay, I failed to read completely. I kept reflashing nandroid backups however, after experiencing problems unrelated to this.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't understand what you are saying.
When did your problem start? Did you do anything or did it happen without you doing anything.

Old_Geezer said:
It might be, since my efs folder have nv_data.bin but i can't tell for sure since i'm still a newbie here.
Did you try searching for efs backup on the phone? I know some roms do automatic backup after flash so it might be left there somewhere.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I tried, there was none unfortunately, I also flashed back to stock twice. If there was, it was probably wiped.
Lennyz1988 said:
I don't understand what you are saying.
When did your problem start? Did you do anything or did it happen without you doing anything.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I can't say for sure. My IMEI and Baseband was visible when I was running CM11. My SIM died eventually, so I had 0 service after that for about a week. During this time, I flashed AntaresOne's Unofficial cm12 5.0. Maybe it was corrupted when I flashed it? Anyway, My efs folder appears to be missing files aswell. I can't seem to find nv_data.bin perhaps my efs folder really is corrupted?

Factory Mode ON

Ok, here's a Question.......
I have somehow gotten myself into factory mode on...this disables things on your phone like wifi, makes it very laggy ect, I need to change it back to user mode..
None of the things on google work, simply because there is no FactoryApp folder
My device is the N910F, if anyone can help, I would be most grateful as my phone is pretty much useless..
Thanks :good:
EDIT - I lost me EFS backup too, Im sure that would of done it...but there must be a way to reset it, Im also on a lollipop Rom, not sure thats why theres no factoryapp file

Rixsta said:
Ok, here's a Question.......
I have somehow gotten myself into factory mode on...this disables things on your phone like wifi, makes it very laggy ect, I need to change it back to user mode..
None of the things on google work, simply because there is no FactoryApp folder
My device is the N910F, if anyone can help, I would be most grateful as my phone is pretty much useless..
Thanks :good:
EDIT - I lost me EFS backup too, Im sure that would of done it...but there must be a way to reset it, Im also on a lollipop Rom, not sure thats why theres no factoryapp file
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Best thing would be to Odin back to Stock, so probably back to 4.4.4, as for your EFS back up being lost, well so long as the EFS is still intact on the device going back to stock should be OK. From there you'll have to re-back up EFS etc.
Reason I say go back to Kitkat is because it seems to have no issues restoring back to KK atm, Lollipop ROM's are still a little picky at times.

Wow that sounds like quite a mess you've gotten yourself in mate What I'd probably do is copy the important files to my PC and then just use Odin to flash it back to factory FW.

Rixsta said:
Ok, here's a Question.......
I have somehow gotten myself into factory mode on...this disables things on your phone like wifi, makes it very laggy ect, I need to change it back to user mode..
None of the things on google work, simply because there is no FactoryApp folder
My device is the N910F, if anyone can help, I would be most grateful as my phone is pretty much useless..
Thanks :good:
EDIT - I lost me EFS backup too, Im sure that would of done it...but there must be a way to reset it, Im also on a lollipop Rom, not sure thats why theres no factoryapp file
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Did you ever get a fix? I'm th opposite. I can run lollipop roms fine but even after factory restore in Odin my Tmob Note 4 still has the Factory Mode on issue as well. It's Because of the /efs file missing or corrupt so I'm told there should be a way to odin in the PIT file and the AP/AC and whatever other file there was, 4 total and use hemindal but I can't find anything on it for Note 4, only Note 3.......Anyone?
Fas
---------- Post added at 05:16 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:57 PM ----------
gekkehenkie11 said:
Wow that sounds like quite a mess you've gotten yourself in mate What I'd probably do is copy the important files to my PC and then just use Odin to flash it back to factory FW.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I tried, it doesn't work because it doesn't recreate the /efs folder or contents....Ive factory flashed stock image twice and issue just pops up again.
my efs directory is empty even with show invisibles on.....ugh
Fas

I fixed mine. I had an old backup from the current rom I'm running so just booted into TWRP and did a restore and selected the older backup and checked EFS ONLY and then rebooted and now it remembers wifi and no Factory Mode popping up so if you guys/gals have an older or current nandrpoid just restore the efs only from TWRP and you'll be good to go.! WOOT!!
Fas

good tip faslane ...thx man, u save alot of asses man

[Q] Problems on N9005 after installing multiple OS

So, my Note 3 N9005 worked fine, then i tried to install CM 12 The phone kept locking so i tried to install CM 12.1 instead. It did the same thing. Then i tried to install CM11. Phone got stuck to a bootloop. Then i tried to install the stock firmware. It launched but the phone lags like hell, apps don't open at all. Waking up the phone takes a lot of time. And the phone doesn't recognize the sim-card anymore. I used CWM to install all the custom roms, and i wiped cache, dalvik cache and did a factory reset every time before i installed a new rom. I used Odin v. 3.04 to flash the stock firmware.
So my question is this, how do i get my phone back up and running smoothly again, like it was fresh out the box? I'll appreciate all the help i can get because i am starting to get very desperate, i really wouldn't like to tell my mom i need a new phone. Note 3 cost like hell after all.
I am from Finland so i used the N9005XXUEND5 version of the stock firmware, KitKat 4.4.2.
The only thing i can think of that can cause this problem is that if the OS's i installed didn't get deleted fully, so there would be multiple OS's on my phone running at the same time. This may be a bit far fetched.
Please help as fast as possible. And i'm not that good at these things so i would appreciate if you could walk me through this step by step and explaining each step as specifically as you can.

Judging from your post, you didn't even bother to read the install instructions of the roms you were flashing.
And this is the result you get.

In CWM recovery mounts and storage format sdcard system cache data preload .
Reboot to download mode and flash stock rom .

The last time i flashed the stock ROM I formatted everything, including the firmwares and such. Now i flashed AOKP ROM and the phone is working fine, except it doesn't recognize the sim card. Any idea how to fix that. Thanks for all the help so far

Basics check you have correct IMEI and correct modem change sim card .

I'm sorry, i have no idea what IMEI and correct modem change sim card. :/

If you don't understand the very basics of flashing and firmware then i suggest you take your phone to a repair shop .Its not a game you are going to end up with a dead phone with no chance of a fix .

I think i understand the very basics of flashing, considering i have done it before twice and on both times it has worked. My sim card worked on my moms Lumia, so is it possible that the sim card reader broke. Can flashing a rom or formatting system do that? Are there a kernel i should flash? I heard it might fix problems like these. And when i go to settings there are no options for IMEI or modem change, that's why i'm confused.
**********************************************
I do have my backup still, but when i try to restore it with CWM, it says something about md5 sums, any idea how to deal with that, because i think that would help if i could use that backup. The stock rom that i downloaded wasn't from any known page. Mostly because SamMobile doesn't have my version anymore for some reason. And i tried to download it from samsung-updates.com but it said that the download would take about 9 hours. I think that the download time would only keep growing and growing so eventually it would be a waste of time.

I think i understand the very basics of flashing,
No you don't and that's your problem this post only makes it more obvious and makes it nearly impossible to give guidance .
MD5 and cwm basics turn off MD5 check in recovery .
You cannot go flashing kernels for no reason .
Modem change is not settings neither is IMEI .
Broken sim reader yes its possible but highly unlikely from a firmware bad flash .
Its entirely possible that you have downloaded a bad firmware .
You also have a non Samsung rom flashed now (aokp)
suggest you read up on that for problems .Though i cannot see any 9005 AOKP roms here .
But first you need to check you have the correct IMEI if your IMEI does not match then you restore the EFS folder you backed up before you started flashing .

I said that i would appreciate that if you would guide me through this step by step. How can i check IMEI? I'm sorry i'm making this so hard for you. The only thing i care about now is that i get my phone back stock and running smooth.
*****************************************************
That is also true that i might have downloaded a bad firmware. Are there any other place to get a stock firmware other than samsung-updates.com?

Download from sammobile.com. It is advised to flash the newest 5.0 firmware on your N9005 (N9005XXUGBOB6) with Odin 3.09 or later.
Check your IMEI from Settings/About device/Status/IMEI. If it starts with 0049, your phone has lost its IMEI. Try flashing to the newest 5.0 firmware to fix it.

WhateverMan said:
Download from sammobile.com. It is advised to flash the newest 5.0 firmware on your N9005 (N9005XXUGBOB6) with Odin 3.09 or later.
Check your IMEI from Settings/About device/Status/IMEI. If it starts with 0049, your phone has lost its IMEI. Try flashing to the newest 5.0 firmware to fix it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I checked and it sais my IMEI is unknown. But i will try to flash that software you suggested

Restore the EFS folder you backed up .

JJEgan said:
Restore the EFS folder you backed up .
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think i already said something about it not working because of incorrect md5 sums.

You said backup that's not your EFS backup .
Solution given for MD5 .

JJEgan said:
You said backup that's not your EFS backup .
Solution given for MD5 .
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm sorry that i have to make this hard for you again, but can you tell what EFS backup means and what i'm supposed to do with it?

The EFS folder contains your phones unique identification code or IMEI . Without correct IMEI your phone cannot connect . That is why the EFS folder is backed up before anything is ever flashed . No backup and wrong IMEI then you probably need a service centre repair . EFS/ IMEI can be damaged during flashing that is why rule one is backup your EFS folder first .

Nansus said:
I'm sorry that i have to make this hard for you again, but can you tell what EFS backup means and what i'm supposed to do with it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Dude you are like 12 years old. Why do you even have such a phone? Your attitude toward the dude that was helping you was very rude.
If you don't know what EFS is, it is highly likely that you don't have a back-up. In that case you can try to flash the stock firmware suggested previously. But I really doubt that it will actually magically "cure" your IMEI. I would really go to a service center before you do anymore damage. It could be a little expensive, but at least they do know what they are doing.
That being said, I'm not sure even a service center could help you.

You can restore your backed up EFS folder .
CWM backup restore does not include EFS .
You can flash lollipop .
You can flash a matching modem .
All these may restore IMEI or make the situation worse that is why a service repair is recommended .

phonexpert_alex said:
Dude you are like 12 years old. Why do you even have such a phone? Your attitude toward the dude that was helping you was very rude.
If you don't know what EFS is, it is highly likely that you don't have a back-up. In that case you can try to flash the stock firmware suggested previously. But I really doubt that it will actually magically "cure" your IMEI. I would really go to a service center before you do anymore damage. It could be a little expensive, but at least they do know what they are doing.
That being said, I'm not sure even a service center could help you.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm sorry if i sounded rude towards to anybody, that is totally not what i'm trying to be. I know you guys are trying to help so i really don't see why i would be rude towards to anyone. I guess my english is still so bad that i'm sounding rude.
I think the best option now is to take the phone to a service repair. Especially if flashing anything can make the situation worse.
I thank everyone that has tried to help. It seems like that i have to accept the fact that i ****ed up my phone. At least this will serve as an example to anyone who's trying to flash custom roms and don't know what they are doing.
Oh, and the reason i have this phone because i'm a student i high school. I just started doing flashing and trying custom roms and i guess i thought it would be really simple. Clearly it wasn't.