Hi everyone,
My S4 has lost its IMEI, and here is my situation.
I was using Prism v14 (http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2537515), and it was totally fine. Last night, I tried to flash a new S6 port rom, this http://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-s4/i9500-develop/rom-aurora-s6-port-t3063408, and my fone lost its signal. The signal icon is still full, but it was only available at emergency calls. When i check, IMEI and Serial number were still there. I tried flashing the Prism v14 again, didnt fix it.
Then I took my fone to the care center and left it there for a few hours. When i come back, they told me that, they flashed it back to stock, and when i ceck, the IMEI was gone. They explained that, when I flashed the S6 port rom, the real IMEI was gone, it was only the fake IMEI from the rom that I saw (didnt know if this was true).
So now im asking for any possible help/solution. I was bad to forget backing up my EFS. So i wonder if I can use someone else's EFS to restore? If yes, it would be great if any one can share with me the EFS backup.
Thank you for reading and please excuse my bad English.
The EFS folder doesn't store the IMEI, despite having an IMEI folder, thus it won't help you. nv_data.bin also will not be found there, if my S4 is any indicator, but will be found in the hidden partitions.
You'll need to try flashing the baseband for your device again, and to do that you're going to have to download a copy of the ROM, which should be found on the forums here. Sometimes the baseband needs to be flashed twice for everything to properly work. I can only speculate why that is, but I believe it to be due to having two hidden partitions for the baseband. When the baseband is copied into the first partition it isn't copied into the second, resulting in a mismatch. Flashing the baseband a second time writes the baseband to the second partition, and everything functions correctly.
If flashing the modem again does not work, getting your IMEI back will require using methods that cannot be discussed here on XDA.
Related
Hello to all. I'm trying to fix my friend's s4 i9505 because it shows that it's Baseband is Unknown and IMEI is null/null.
He told me the baseband and imei changed when he upgraded to 4.3 using wifi.
I have tried to flash stock rom but unfortunately the phone is in 4.3 so no downgrade.
I have tried flashing different modem.bin but still no avail.
He did not back up his EFS folder before upgrading to 4.3 but I still looked at the folder anyway.
I noticed that inside the EFS folder, there is no nv_data.bin and md5 file which is I think needed for the IMEI.
Is there a free way of recovering these files?
Is this a hardware failure?
I tried the different methods on recovering IMEI in the forums but all of them involves those 2 files so I can't continue.
I have another friend who has a i9500, can I copy and use his nv_data files? (He is willing to do it BTW to help my friend)
FYI: WIFI, Bluetooth and other functions are OK. It's just the call an text function which do not work.
Currently in JB 4.3 XXUEMJ5
No more warranty on the phone.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you for taking the time to read our problem.
thetruth34 said:
Hello to all. I'm trying to fix my friend's s4 i9505 because it shows that it's Baseband is Unknown and IMEI is null/null.
He told me the baseband and imei changed when he upgraded to 4.3 using wifi.
I have tried to flash stock rom but unfortunately the phone is in 4.3 so no downgrade.
I have tried flashing different modem.bin but still no avail.
He did not back up his EFS folder before upgrading to 4.3 but I still looked at the folder anyway.
I noticed that inside the EFS folder, there is no nv_data.bin and md5 file which is I think needed for the IMEI.
Is there a free way of recovering these files?
Is this a hardware failure?
I tried the different methods on recovering IMEI in the forums but all of them involves those 2 files so I can't continue.
I have another friend who has a i9500, can I copy and use his nv_data files? (He is willing to do it BTW to help my friend)
FYI: WIFI, Bluetooth and other functions are OK. It's just the call an text function which do not work.
Currently in JB 4.3 XXUEMJ5
No more warranty on the phone.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you for taking the time to read our problem.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This phone isn't that old! I have only today contacted Samsung as there is nothing in my EFS folder, they are sending out a jiffy bag for me to send the phone to them to repair under warranty!
Be careful talking about swapping efs partitions from phone to phone as the mods in here get funny about it, I would try contacting Samsung to return it if you can? When did you get it?
I would suggest you do the same. I can't fix mine either.
thetruth34 said:
Hello to all. I'm trying to fix my friend's s4 i9505 because it shows that it's Baseband is Unknown and IMEI is null/null.
He told me the baseband and imei changed when he upgraded to 4.3 using wifi.
I have tried to flash stock rom but unfortunately the phone is in 4.3 so no downgrade.
I have tried flashing different modem.bin but still no avail.
He did not back up his EFS folder before upgrading to 4.3 but I still looked at the folder anyway.
I noticed that inside the EFS folder, there is no nv_data.bin and md5 file which is I think needed for the IMEI.
Is there a free way of recovering these files?
Is this a hardware failure?
I tried the different methods on recovering IMEI in the forums but all of them involves those 2 files so I can't continue.
I have another friend who has a i9500, can I copy and use his nv_data files? (He is willing to do it BTW to help my friend)
FYI: WIFI, Bluetooth and other functions are OK. It's just the call an text function which do not work.
Currently in JB 4.3 XXUEMJ5
No more warranty on the phone.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you for taking the time to read our problem.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
try to flash latest modem twice (MKF or MKE) twice. first flash un-tick "auto-reboot".
benbird7 said:
This phone isn't that old! I have only today contacted Samsung as there is nothing in my EFS folder, they are sending out a jiffy bag for me to send the phone to them to repair under warranty!
Be careful talking about swapping efs partitions from phone to phone as the mods in here get funny about it, I would try contacting Samsung to return it if you can? When did you get it?
I would suggest you do the same. I can't fix mine either.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Should I try this too? I've just seen on Samsung website that mobile phones are covered for 24 months. I've only had this 8 months.
It's weird I have imei number when I type *#06# but nothing in efs folder!
Sent from my GT-I9505 using xda app-developers app
Thanks for all the replies. I tried to check it with my local technicians and all of them told me that my main board needs to be replaced.
I didn't know that a software mishap can result to a hardware failure to the extent of changing the main board.
I have tried flashing the recommended modems above but unfortunately still does not work.
I have noticed that when I type *#1234# in the Phone app, It shows me the AP and CSC and that is all written in the screen. No word modem and no modem version.
When I try to flash a firmware or a modem it says it flashed successfully but when I check the phone, still no service.
Again, wifi, bluetooth and other phone functions are working.
Technicians told me it is a "no service" unit and "cannot be fixed by software" because I have a "broken baseband/modem".
Is there really no hope for this unit?
Again any help or info is welcome.
Thank you for reading friends.
Bump
What do you want anyone here to say if you've been told by someone qualified that it needs a motherboard replacement ? In some (many ?) countries, this would be fixable by 're-writing' the IMEI to the device (either by a Samsung service centre or other repairer), but if that's not possible for whatever reason in your country & the way they fix it is a motherboard replacement, you don't really have any other option, do you ?
Edit - Attempting to move EFS files between devices normally ends up in both being blacklisted. Not recommended.
Hello,
I have exactly the same problem, with the i9505 phone version, do i have to change the motherboard or it can be fixed the "soft way"?
Dear all,
I am writing here as a last resort. I have an S5 G900F european model, I have rooted and flashed custom firmware without problems. I've been messing with samsung devices since the S2, so I know a bit about rooting and stuff. Funnily enough after rooting and flashing custom firmware, I noticed receiption getting worse by the day. I ended up with very minimal to no reception at all inside, and outside slightly better.
I am on Vodafone 4g, and getting not registered to network in worst cases even if reception looks full. I've tried original firmwares, reflashing modems, various CSC's but nothing worked, not even changing the SIM.
My warranty is void, so what can I do ? Can this be a hardware problem ? Nothing is working. PIT file is only for repartitioning, and I have no problems with that, so didn't try PIT Files. Csc as I said, i've changed them but with no luck, along with various modems.
Any help ? Please!
Thanks!
Did you make a full Nandroid backup of the original ROM before flashing custom?
I believe the EFS partition on the phone contains pretty important things such as IMEI and radio files/data
If that got messed up, it could be the cause of your problems
Hopefully you made a backup of that, and can try restoring that partition
IMEI Number is still present.
I have no back up unfortunately. That's a mistake. But how can I fix it ? The IMEI Number is still present and it's the correct one according to the sticker, so that's ok.
How can I fix the rest?
*Detection* said:
Did you make a full Nandroid backup of the original ROM before flashing custom?
I believe the EFS partition on the phone contains pretty important things such as IMEI and radio files/data
If that got messed up, it could be the cause of your problems
Hopefully you made a backup of that, and can try restoring that partition
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If it is the EFS partition and you don't have a backup, I'm not sure
I have read some people saying they have backed up one S5 EFS, and restored it to another successfully, but I don't know the consequences of doing that, I would imagine it would cause problems having two identical devices on the same network, like two identical IPs conflict on the same network, but I'm just guessing - possible if the operator blocks one S5, it would block both
I'd make a backup of it anyway
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2696153
Flash another modem
drowsy1982 said:
I've tried original firmwares, reflashing modems, various CSC's but nothing worked, not even changing the SIM.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Akalsemann said:
Flash another modem
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
---------------
I have flashed various modems, with no luck. I noticed my IMEI matches the one under the battery but as a /01 at the end. Is it corrupt ? Can I fix it ? Probably that's causing the issue. I've heard /01 is fake or corrupt IMEI.
Mine has a /01 at the end of the *#06# IMEI too, and mines not corrupt or fake
Doesn't sound like the IMEI side of things is the problem, but possibly the radio side
Like I say though, I don't know much about the EFS partition, only that it contains very important data for the phone to work correctly
Definitely back it up before trying to fix it further
I have backed it a few days ago to be super sure not to do further damage. I'm just very confused. The reception goes up decently in certain areas and very low in others. Definitely goes completely down or no network when inside. It's like the antenna in not connected correctly like it happened to me once with my SGS 4 when I dismantled it and forgot the wire connecting the antenna.
But in the case the mobile is only a week old...never opened. I'm guessing i messed up as I noticed these signal problems only a day after flashing the mobile. Could it be something else ? I've tried PIT files, new firmware, clearing the NAND and EFS with Odin, and still the same problem. Even Kies firmware recovery. Nothing helped and dozens of firmwares and modems.
I'm stuck
*Detection* said:
Mine has a /01 at the end of the *#06# IMEI too, and mines not corrupt or fake
Doesn't sound like the IMEI side of things is the problem, but possibly the radio side
Like I say though, I don't know much about the EFS partition, only that it contains very important data for the phone to work correctly
Definitely back it up before trying to fix it further
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hello everyone,
As this is my first thread, and I have been reading previous assists based on IMEI fixing and couldn't find the answer I am looking for, I really hope that the XDA community can help me fix my Galaxy S4 I9500. I will try to explain the problem the best I can, and I will create a list of every solution I have tried in the 3 week phone fixing saga I have.
1. The problem :
My friend decided he does not need this phone anymore, everything was fine with it except the battery was swollen(but I bought a new one so it doesn't matter). The day before he gave it to me, he accidentaly dropped it in the toilet and it couldn't boot. I opened the phone, cleaned it with alchohol and the phone booted up normally. The thing I noticed was that in the status bar the network symbol was replaced with No signal symbol. I tried 3 SIM cards and none worked. I decided to downgrade to 4.4.2 KitKat version and this is where everything went even worse. I used Odin to downgrade a firmware downloaded from sammobile.com, but I didn't create an /efs backup because I have flashed an Alcatel Idol 2 before and there were no problems with the IMEI or so. It turns out that Samsung devices are different and I am left with NO EFS BACKUP. I know, I should have checked what to do before flashing the device, but what's done is done. The device is doing everything great, there are no problems with Wi-Fi or Bluetooth either, except I cant connect to a network because IMEI is null/null and the Baseband is unknown. The thing is, I am not sure if the IMEI is wiped completely because of a hardware problem, or it's software related because of the /efs folder, because I am not a developer, but a civil engineer...
2. Solutions I've tried so far :
- Flashed many different Android versions;
- Flashed a Lollypop with adonis.pit with Re-partition checked on Odin;
- Tried writing an IMEI and repairing the EFS with Octoplus box;
- Tried flashing an EFS backup from my friend's Galaxy S4 I9500 ( IT IS ILLEGAL IN MANY COUNTRIES, NOT IN MINE, BUT I WANTED TO TRY AND CHANGE THE IMEI LATER SO IT WOULD NOT BE A PROBLEM );
- Tried flashing with a IMEI_null_fix.tar.md5 file which i found on a forum and that didn't fix it either;
- Tried KIES to return the stock ROM but either it does not recognize my device, or it says that my device could not be initialized or so;
- Took the phone to service, but in my town the only service we have is not very professional and they didn't even know the IMEI null does not mean that I will have no wireless connection/bluetooth connection, so they didn't fix it either;
- Tried with EFS Pro, Terminal Emulator and programs similar to those, 3rd party and PlayStore ones;
- Maybe other things but I could not remember because I think I tried everything...
I don't know if the problem can be fixed, but deep inside me I hope that there is a solution, and I think this is the best place to search for help, because it is a great phone and I don't want to throw it away just like that.
Thanks in advance everyone, hope you can come up with a solution.
Hello.
I'll first describe the secuence of events and then tell which solutions I've tried. Bear with me. I'll be brief.
I've bought a second hand Samsung Galaxy S4 (i9500) sold through a local carrier. By law the carrier can only give the unlock code to the original buyer of the phone, and the person from who I bought it from wasn't him/her.
I tried to unlock it by my means (basically this, trying lots of variants until "186" code dead-end), which resulted in rooting, flashing diferent modems and trying a CM based custom ROM (GearCM). Before going on any of this, I made an EFS, cdma-radio, radio, m9kefs1/2/3 backup.
As I couldn't do it, I took the phone to a repair shop, where they unlocked it with a box. Then they told me that the SIM tray was broken, and after trying a different one, they concluded that it was a software problem (I suggested it) and flashed a stock ROM from the carrier, which still didn't recognized any SIM.
This is when I took back the phone.
I've restored the EFS and flashed the correct modem (In fact I've found two which work: I9500UBUHPB2-CP and I9500UBUHOI1), but even if the SIM card is recognized, I can't connect to the network, I think, because the IMEI which displays the phone is different from the factory IMEI. In fact, is the infamous generic IMEI 0049... with IMEISV 01.
I've since tried this methods:
- Changing permissions of the EFS folder
- Flashing the stock ROM after completly wiping out the phone
- Manually deleting the EFS contents and restoring
And combinations of the above with RegionLockAway and with both working modem drivers.
I still have to try rooting an older stock ROM, maybe 4.4.2, but I wanted to ask more wise people if there is a logical, correct order to any of the above steps, or if you think I'm missing something here.
The only other answer that comes to me is that it's something done by the repair shop with the box, but still I've no conclusive proofs of that. I wanted to exhaust options.
Thanks in advance. Any answer will do good.
Restoring the EFS does nothing, as the IMEI is no longer stored in it. Thus none of the things you tried will help. You'll have to take the device back to the place who fixed it for you.
Strephon Alkhalikoi said:
Restoring the EFS does nothing, as the IMEI is no longer stored in it. Thus none of the things you tried will help. You'll have to take the device back to the place who fixed it for you.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I would have thought that it was stored on it. Do you infer that from my failed attemps? Where should it be "stored"?
I don't "infer" anything. It's a fact. IMEI was stored in a file named nv_data.bin in EFS, but for some time now it's no longer been located there. It's been moved to three hidden partitions that a nandroid backup does not touch. You'd have to use Wanam Partition Backup and Restore to see the partitions in order to be able to back them up as well as restore them. Thus, your IMEI is gone, and the repair shop is going to have to fix it.
Strephon Alkhalikoi said:
I don't "infer" anything. It's a fact. IMEI was stored in a file named nv_data.bin in EFS, but for some time now it's no longer been located there. It's been moved to three hidden partitions that a nandroid backup does not touch, m9kefs1, m9kefs2, and m9kefs3. You'd have to use Wanam Partition Backup and Restore to see the partitions in order to be able to back them up as well as restore them. Thus, your IMEI is gone, and the repair shop is going to have to fix it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
But I have a backup of those partitions, made with Wanam Partition Backup. I've restored them in this order: cdma-radio, EFS, radio, m9kefs1, m9kefs2, m9kefs3. Somehow, its not working.
That's why I think maybe it has to do with the order of the steps I'm taking, maybe even before restoring the partitions.
I edited my post while you were making yours.
My backup consists of much more than those three partitions. I have in addition to those efs.img, fsg.img, modemst1.img, and modemst2.img. The IMEI is in one of those partitions, NOT EFS.
Well then... I hope they can repair the IMEI then. It would be a damn shame if not... Thanks for your time.
hi all
my partners s7 edge was running very slow so i flashed the stock firmware yesterday and now its lost IMEI information. i have followed guide on here and tried all 3 steps (reflashing rom etc) however whenever i try backing up EMS it fails saying there is no EMS file, she cannot make any calls as its not registering on the network. please can someone help with this???
rumel2011 said:
hi all
my partners s7 edge was running very slow so i flashed the stock firmware yesterday and now its lost IMEI information. i have followed guide on here and tried all 3 steps (reflashing rom etc) however whenever i try backing up EMS it fails saying there is no EMS file, she cannot make any calls as its not registering on the network. please can someone help with this???
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hey, I have the same problem, I guess that there's not solution yet.
Try here:
https://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=3379516
Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk
Do you a have a efs.img backup ? Or any kind of IMEI/EFS/RADIO backup ?
I had the same problem I flashed the stock ROM and somehow I lost my IMEI info, I tried everything and I was even thinking about buying a z3x box but then I decided to do a very risky move , I completely deleted all the EFS related files/info and reflashed again but now I was not able to boot because I always sent me to recovery mode saying that :
"E:Failed To Mount /EFS (invalid argument )"
Then all I did was installing TWRP and rooted my SM-G935F and then I placed my efs.img backup on my internal SD CARD and went on recovery launched the terminal and wrote this :
dd if=/sdcard/efs.img of=/dev/block/platform/155a0000.ufs/by-name/EFS
Then I wrote reboot and it finally my phone was booting and I recovered my IMEI and was able to use my phone normally.
This only works if you have a backup of your EFS, and even if you do is risky , but I did it because I lost all hope and was accepting the fact that my phone would just become a useless wifi only device .
So there is not a fix yet for this problem ?
I have a problem on my s7edge instead. If i have valid imei i'am almost always in emergency calls, and when the signal comes back does not go into mobile data connection. With the wi fi no problem.Can someone help me i'am going crazy.!
IMEI, Network Signal and Baseband is misssing
Re: IMEI, Network Signal and Baseband is misssing
IMEI, Network Signal and Baseband is misssing
Hi
I am ready to donate if any expert can help me to restore IMEI.
I am using SM-N9500 samsung note 8 model - hongkong version, i frequently change the roms.. when last time i tried to install a custom rom i lost IMEI. i am getting error like IMEI-unknown, baseband- unknown, no network and sim cards not working..
i tried installing stock rom, custom roms, it was installing successfully but only baseband, signal and IMEI are not working. i didnt even back up my EFS folder. So, kindly help me to get back my IMEI.
I have installed stock rom, still no IMEI. now i rooted my mobile and taken EFS backup. is it enough? if yes, pls suggest me the next steps. I also tried installing combination firmware, though is not working, installation was successful and also i am able to see the factory binary logo, after which it will switch off automatically and boot loops. everytime it will open factory binary and immediately it will switch off automatically..
Build number - R16NW.N9500ZHS4CRJ1