[Q] Where is the ESN/IMEI stored on the S4? - Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

Hello all!
So, my S4 has been having some problems lately. I'm pretty sure my motherboard is bad, it's been heating up a lot and randomly telling me I have no SIM card, or that my SD card has been unmounted unexpectedly.
So, I was planning on buying an S4 on eBay or Craigslist that has a broken screen/digitizer, because people sell them cheap and I'll be able to swap the motherboard and SIM/SD card slots from it to my current S4.
My only question - if I buy one with a bad ESN, is that stored on the motherboard? Will it affect my current S4 in any negative ways if I swap the motherboard in?
Thanks!

Are you sure it isn't just a module fault? (The sd and sim tray are in the same cheap module)

n01zii said:
Hello all!
So, my S4 has been having some problems lately. I'm pretty sure my motherboard is bad, it's been heating up a lot and randomly telling me I have no SIM card, or that my SD card has been unmounted unexpectedly.
So, I was planning on buying an S4 on eBay or Craigslist that has a broken screen/digitizer, because people sell them cheap and I'll be able to swap the motherboard and SIM/SD card slots from it to my current S4.
My only question - if I buy one with a bad ESN, is that stored on the motherboard? Will it affect my current S4 in any negative ways if I swap the motherboard in?
Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
IMEI is stored in the EFS Folder linked with the board..
Press Thanks if I helped
Sent from my Samsung Galaxy S4 via XDA app.

frapeti said:
Are you sure it isn't just a module fault? (The sd and sim tray are in the same cheap module)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm not exactly sure, it could be now that you mention it. Where would I buy a new module at?
Oh, I forgot to mention, occasionally the phone also sits at the AT&T logo when booting without continuing, and I have to hold down the power button and restart it to get it to boot.

I think there esn will go with the motherboard, but not 100% sure about that.

Related

Looking for sim slot replacement

One of the gold plated pin in the sim slot for my Galaxy S II broke, too bad its the real small one that is covered. I am having a hard time finding a replacement for sale anywhere on the internet.
I looked at gsm4world.us without luck. I think the best chance is to buy the one from the original Galaxy S: http://www.gsm4world.us/samsung-i9000-galaxy-s-oem-sim-card-slot-flex-cable-d-03610_615.html which should fit, but faces the wrong way, then I can resolder it myself, though I'm not good at soldering and would need to buy the tool.
(Phone is not under warranty and I wouldn't want to wait 2 weeks (or so I'm guessing) and incur high cost just to repair a cheap part.)
Let this be a warning for all of you that have microSIM card like I do. I use this tray holder which is hard to insert: http://www.ebay.com/itm/1-Micro-Sim...y-Holder-iPhone-4-4G-USA-Seller-/250907522599 and I guess as I removed it, it takes the pin with it.
Ordered that sim slot, but simply don't want to wait due to being shipped from china. Sent it to Samsung for a replacement for $75. It only takes less than 1minute to replace the part, but sim slot seem to be almost rare on ebay.

Simcard/SD Card Tray Jammed/Broken

Hey Forum,
So a friend of mine recently gave me his Samsung Galaxy S4, and I realized that the Simcard tray is jammed/broken. I found online that it is fairly simple and cheap to replace, but I had some concerns. The phone was originally from Canada, and locked to Rogers (model number SGH-1337m), and I am currently in America using t-mobile's services. Does it matter which replacement simcard/SD card tray I purchase, or is there a specific one that I have to get?
I was looking to just buy any generic Samsung Galaxy S4 Sim/SD tray replacement off eBay to fix this most economically.
Thanks in advance!
As far as I know, the SIM card are all the same regardless of country, but you are in the wrong forum. This one is for the S4 Active.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I537 using Tapatalk
Thread moved, please be careful to post in the correct device forums:good:

Swapping two motherboards (from same phone model)

Hello
I was just wondering, Is it possible to swap 2 motherboards from two exact S4 ? (both from Verizon) ?
The reason I'm asking this is that I have broken my current Verizon S4 glass ...
BUT I have an my old S4 (also from verizon) that had a motherboard problem (that's why I changed phone in the firs place) and this one is in perfect state (no broken glass etc...)
SO I was wondering maybe I can take out the motherboard of my broken Glass S4 and put it in my old non broken glass S4?
Is this going to work ?
Thanks!!!
Yes it should probably work.
Lennyz1988 said:
Yes it should probably work.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
And will all my data will be transferred too ? Or this is not stored on the motherboard ?
thanksss

Samsung's Note 4 replacement motherboards actually fixed? (EMMC)

Does anyone know if Samsung's Note 4 motherboard replacements actually have a proper EMMC chip? Or are they simply giving you another defective motherboard with a short warranty?
I'm asking because Samsung in Canada wants $390 to replace the motherboard. Even the service staff guy rudely recommended against it. It only comes with a three month warranty.
So, I'm inferring they don't actually change the motherboard. They most likely just give you another Note 4 and hope it doesn't go bad in three months.
Also - Any suggestion of a robust android phone would be much appreciated. I seems like Samsung is the Ford of phones.
$390 seems excessive. In EU a used Note 4 is ~$150. Note 4 with a broken screen ~$90.
I plan to do the motherboard swap myself and would suggest you check out https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OUDgGaFcCNY&t=287s and decide if you want to try it yourself.
kosmarnik said:
$390 seems excessive. In EU a used Note 4 is ~$150. Note 4 with a broken screen ~$90.
I plan to do the motherboard swap myself and would suggest you check out https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OUDgGaFcCNY&t=287s and decide if you want to try it yourself.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, $390 is excessive, but that's Canada for you..
If you're planning to do a motherboard swap, how will know if the new board has a good emmc chip? Are you buying the board directly from Samsung?
Pvt Joker said:
Yes, $390 is excessive, but that's Canada for you..
If you're planning to do a motherboard swap, how will know if the new board has a good emmc chip? Are you buying the board directly from Samsung?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm planning to buy a used Note 4 with a broken screen. Possibly even N910C. Now, I cant know for sure the state of the eMMC chip, but it will be better than mine, that is dead

Will swapping motherboard remove bootloader lock?

I have the opportunity to get a verizon locked pixel 4 and I was wondering whether swapping the motherboard out would remove the lock. I found some new motherboards at aliexpress and I am not sure where the bootloader lock is located at.
Thanks for the help!
You can't be sure that you'll get unlocked motherboard, but yeah, if you're lucky you can get unlocked pixel. But I recommend to search for broken pixels and asking sellers about their bootloader status. And after changing your motherboard your Face ID probably won't work, cause it linked to motherboard ID, so you want to change motherboard and front cameraa module together.
Thanks for the answer! I did not know the modules were linked. Hmm.
So if I buy a new motherboard from aliexpress or whatever, and I then get an additional camera module, those two will not link? Or do they link the initialization process?
hascherpur said:
Thanks for the answer! I did not know the modules were linked. Hmm.
So if I buy a new motherboard from aliexpress or whatever, and I then get an additional camera module, those two will not link? Or do they link the initialization process?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No they won't link, you need to buy motherboard with camera module included. From another donor phone, for example. Otherwise your Face ID won't work. I wanted to change my motherboard from 64gb to 128gb, but unfortunately there's no motherboard + camera module on Aliexpress. Best option is to search for broken or used Pixels to take parts from, but it'll be a bit pricey or with dead flash memory.
Thanks for the quick reply. Yeah, I was also thinking about upgrading 64gb to 128gb but that now seems like a no-go. But I found a broken display 128gb version and might grab that. Thanks again for the help!

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