Database Users

It is not possible to *repair* a lost IMEI on GS4 i9500

For reasons of brevity on this post, I ended up with a generic IMEI on my Samsung S4 i-9500 while flashing Philz CWM and then the stock ROM back. After extensiverly combing all possible threads on the subject, my conclusion is that there is no way to repair a lost IMEI on this phone when one does not have a working backup of the /efs folder.
I tried all possible methods:
- Flash stock ROM back
- Delete /efs and reboot
- Try to fiddle with copying .nv_data to .nv_data.bin
- EFS Pro to recover from an /efs I had. I noticed this was already the one with the generic IMEI
- Flash the modem twice
- etc.
Is that really the conclusion? It is not possible to repair a lost IMEI on GS4? On other phones people usually get it back when reflashing stock.
Does GS4 has some trick done by Samsung so that IMEI is not recovered?
I thank upfront whoever can enlighten me on this topic.

Either buy a RIFF box & A) Pay for something you'll never use again & B) Bork your phone to the point of requiring a motherboard replacement if you get it wrong or take it to a local mobile repair shop/someone who already has one & knows how to use it and have it fixed properly for half the price of you buying your own/without the risk.
Do the smart thing.

MistahBungle said:
Either buy a RIFF box & A) Pay for something you'll never use again & B) Bork your phone to the point of requiring a motherboard replacement if you get it wrong or take it to a local mobile repair shop/someone who already has one & knows how to use it and have it fixed properly for half the price of you buying your own/without the risk.
Do the smart thing.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the reply, so then it is really impossible to recover. Is that always the case with other models or firmwares? Can a Samsung service center repair it, even with a cost out of warranty?

partimers said:
Thanks for the reply, so then it is really impossible to recover. Is that always the case with other models or firmwares? Can a Samsung service center repair it, even with a cost out of warranty?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
From all the posts I have read in the last two days, this one gave me more hope, as it keeps saying that restoring an older ROM may help.
It is not that I have an empty /efs. I have an /efs that I backed up, but after I noticed the fake IMEI issue. Can it be that somehow this /efs still contains what I need and is just not recognized by the stock ROM I am using?
This is the data about the stock ROM I am currently using, my phone is a GT-I9500 bought in Colombia, from carrier Claro, factory unlocked, no contract (I suppose all 9500 are like that). I flashed the Stock ROM following this guide, using the stock ROM files listed there http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2265477
Colombia
GT-I9500 Galaxy S 4
PDA: I9500UBUAMDE
CSC: I9500UWMAMDE
MODEM: I9500UBUAMDE
Added: 2013-04-18

Yep. Sometimes flashing stock roms restores the IMEI where it's a case of it disappearing temporarily. But you've already tried that, and if this was the case with your situation, you would have fixed it already. I mean, you can flash a bunch of stock roms & maybe you'll get lucky, but it almost always returns with the first stock rom you flash in these cases.
If you have an EFS backup that you know is 'good' (I.E you verified its integrity with something like kTool when you made the backup), then you should be able to restore it with kTool/similar. If you've tried that & it doesn't work for whatever reason, the backup is obviously bad.
I would be very surprised if a Samsung service centre didn't fix it if you paid them. However, you will possibly find that a local mobile repair shop who isn't an authorised Samsung repairer will fix it more cheaply (that's certainly the case where I live).
I noticed you tried to restore the backup with EFS Pro (don't know why people insist on using this app, maybe it's the 'Pro' in the name ? I don't think I've seen anyone on here successfully restore with it), try with kTool (search here/Google Play).
What you do from here is up to you, but if it were me (having tried the things you've already tried), I'd be biting the bullet & getting it fixed tomorrow, because you can try a bunch of things that won't work & you'll still have to get it fixed in a week/whenever.

This works! http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2432758
Sent from my GT-I9500 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

[Q] Help with no cellular connection n9005

Hi all, badly need some help.
So I had bobcat rom installed and working on my device, also had recently installed a new root app for phone, the skvalex call recorder but both had been up and running for a few days with no issues, then my cell connectivity disappeared. Tried wiping everything, tried going to a nandroid backup that had worked previously, tried installing the leaked polish stock rom that had worked when I upgraded bootloader to 4.2.2, sent it in to a cell phone repair place for a "free" estimate, to see if it was hardware related, got a call that it was in the software, that they were going to charge me $200 to try to see if returning it to stock helped, but if it didn't then no refund on the $200 and if they bricked the phone still no refund on the $200 and no guarantee on the phone, and if I didn't want to do that the free estimate wasn't free anymore it would be $100 between bench fees and shipping and handling BS.
So said screw that, got my phone back, and now I'm stuck, I think maybe I need to try a full nandroid wipe with odin, but I'm having trouble being sure that I have the right PIT file, and really don't want to make anything worse. Plus not 100% sure what I'm doing at this point.

Does anyone have any ideas?
Bumping this because I really need help and have no clue, had another thought which was to extract the pit file I have and use it with the leaked polish and a nandroid wipe inodin, does anyone have any idea if that would work?
tmmroy said:
Hi all, badly need some help.
So I had bobcat rom installed and working on my device, also had recently installed a new root app for phone, the skvalex call recorder but both had been up and running for a few days with no issues, then my cell connectivity disappeared. Tried wiping everything, tried going to a nandroid backup that had worked previously, tried installing the leaked polish stock rom that had worked when I upgraded bootloader to 4.2.2, sent it in to a cell phone repair place for a "free" estimate, to see if it was hardware related, got a call that it was in the software, that they were going to charge me $200 to try to see if returning it to stock helped, but if it didn't then no refund on the $200 and if they bricked the phone still no refund on the $200 and no guarantee on the phone, and if I didn't want to do that the free estimate wasn't free anymore it would be $100 between bench fees and shipping and handling BS.
So said screw that, got my phone back, and now I'm stuck, I think maybe I need to try a full nandroid wipe with odin, but I'm having trouble being sure that I have the right PIT file, and really don't want to make anything worse. Plus not 100% sure what I'm doing at this point.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

tmmroy said:
Bumping this because I really need help and have no clue, had another thought which was to extract the pit file I have and use it with the leaked polish and a nandroid wipe inodin, does anyone have any idea if that would work?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i have a really similar issue to what you describe, just 0 celluar connectivity, I tried a stock wipe and restore with stock polish rom from sammobile (I have an XEO model as well), and while odin said that everything went just ducky, the phone came back, fully stock, with exactly the same problem...
Did you have any success as to tracking down the cause of your situation or find a fix?
Thanks!

The first thing to do before flashing the first rom is to do efs backup....but nobody do it
Flash with Odin stock NF4 rom and after NF2 modem

[Q] Galaxy S5 b0rked using ODIN. IMEI lost. HELP!

Hi All
I have an Exynos Galaxy S5 (SM-G900H), and I done an ODIN update on it and it completely borked up the IMEI so it cannot be used on the network, and I cannot use Kies/Smartswitch to do a recovery as it rejects the serial number for some reason.
Is there anything I can do? I don't have a backup, and I can't seem to root it using towelroot. It's still running KitKat, not Lollipop.
I also tried multiple G900H firmwares but it borks up when flashing hidden.img but was able to get it going when a site suggests extracting the hidden.img and flashing it. The phone works, but the IMEI info is borked and I don't have a backup of the EFS.
Is the phone totally frigged and I would have to hock it on eBay as parts? I'm not sure if sending it to Samsung would help as that phone is a grey import. Do I have any other options?
Thanks in advance.

Anyone???

You tried to install the stock firmware ?

l3o4nn said:
You tried to install the stock firmware ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yep, sure did, downloaded stock firmware from SAMFIRMWARE for the G900H. Tried Asian roms, Middle Eastern ROMS. I even tried a PIT file, but still no go.

I wonder why people won't reply. All I want is the original IMEI back, not this 0049 IMEI that seems to occur. I guess the phone is cactus and has to be sold for parts? I have tried everything under the sun to try and get it working from flashing ROMS, even tripping KNOX and rooting it.

Without backup you can't get back ur imei the only way is flash CERTIFICATE end QCN with octopus box

wocko1 said:
I wonder why people won't reply. All I want is the original IMEI back, not this 0049 IMEI that seems to occur. I guess the phone is cactus and has to be sold for parts? I have tried everything under the sun to try and get it working from flashing ROMS, even tripping KNOX and rooting it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
EFS folder is in the root section once you delete it , it does not really come back by flashing roms as rom flashing does not touch that folder. Once its corrupted there are different ways to get it back but you need special devices for it like mentioned earlier "octupus box" is one. Try to find a professional repair shop which also repairs software. Maybe they can help you. Samsung service centers also sometime repair IMEI if you have original purchase receipt and your phone isnt rooted...but you can still try. I messed up my Galaxy Alpha and instead of selling it for parts it sold it as a "Demo unit" with everything working but calls. Someone might use it as music player or a camera.

I have the same problem. SM-G900H made in Vietnam. Anybody may help me? Thanks in advance.

S5 IMEI null and Service mode blank

Hello,
I have this problem with my phone and i don't know how to fix it, the IMEI is Null and when i enter "*#0011#" the ServiceMode is Blank !!
I tried to use GS5_EFS_Backup but it doesn't work ! Also the phoe get hot a lot, and when i put it in charge the battery level of charge is stuck in 10% always.
My phone is rooted.
Help me Please.
Thank you

Sounds like you wiped your EFS partition without backing it up first
Phone is dead if that is the case
Some people have had success backing up another S5 EFS, then restoring it to the dead phone
Otherwise, take it to a repair shop, next time backup before messing about

*Detection* said:
Sounds like you wiped your EFS partition without backing it up first
Phone is dead if that is the case
Some people have had success backing up another S5 EFS, then restoring it to the dead phone
Otherwise, take it to a repair shop, next time backup before messing about
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you Detection for your answer. So where can i find another S5 EFS, and how can i restore it.
Help me Please because i tried already to take it to a repair shop but they don't know how to fix it, that's why I wanna try to repair it myself, and i think its one of the repair shops who wiped the EFS partition without making a backup (because i give to 3 repair shops and they don't know how to fix it).

You'll need another S5, no-one here will give you their EFS backup as it is specific to their S5
A trusting friend / family member or an old 2nd hand S5 if you can find one, is your only choice

*Detection* said:
You'll need another S5, no-one here will give you their EFS backup as it is specific to their S5
A trusting friend / family member or an old 2nd hand S5 if you can find one, is your only choice
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There is no other solution like flashing the PIT file using Odin and reinstate the stock rom or any other solution !

Nope, not if you've deleted the EFS partition - that contains the IMEI and Radios

Ok thank you, ill try to contact samsung after sales service.

Hi everybody,
I have same issue:
I needed to update SU-binaries and tapped accidentally on CWM/TWRP-Mode instead of normal. After this IMEI is null, Service Mode blank, sudden reboots and unable to install any Apps (always saying no free memory). uninstalling App causes reboot.
I have efs backup made with (PhilZ Touch) CWM, but I'm not able to fix the problem with it.
What I tried:
flashing Stock ROM + updating Bootloader in Odin
this Guide (except Samsung Tool and Terminal Emulator steps, as I can't install any App)
CWM script
I really don't know what else I can do. Does anybody have some other ideas?
Also backing up is not possible, now. EFS Professional says specified PIT file does not exist, even when I choose all partitions.

FIXED. Possible solution.
Fixed. Went to a shop to repair IMEI/EFS.
It seems there is something called "IMEI NV Generator", this should also do the magic and would have saved me some money.

samsung S5 Imei Proplem
zicozack said:
There is no other solution like flashing the PIT file using Odin and reinstate the stock rom or any other solution !
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have the same problem after trying to change the original IMEI>>> any help please

Please take a look here and here.

After 7.1.2 update, no service, no SIM detected, no IMEI, no band base

Hi everyone,
Google messed up ! I received the OTA for the 7.1.2 uptdate last thursday. After it my phone was unable to detect my SIM card, my IMEI number disappeared, neither base band.
The first thing i've tried is to get a new SIM card, with no result, then I tried a soft reset, an hard reset (factory reset+wipe data), and wiping the cache without any positive result either. I've contacted Google, the phone was from Google Store and my 1 year warranty expired on 25/03/17 (the update was installed on 05/04/17, exactly two week later), they refused to take it back, nor RMA, a shame! I think it will be the last Google phone I buy!
I've tried to flash the full factory image of 7.1.1. but nothing positive from it. I think the OTA corrupted my EFS data files but no idea on how to fix it. The thing is when i'm going to the bootloader, under barcodes menu i still find an IMEI number.
I don't know what to do now, I'm little bit desperate, if anyone have an advice here.:crying::crying:
Thank you in advance.
Nexus 6P
7.1.2 build N2G47H
kernel 3 .10.73-g0a21e4c
Bootloader locked
Unrooted

blckhwkone said:
Hi everyone,
Google messed up ! I received the OTA for the 7.1.2 uptdate last thursday. After it my phone was unable to detect my SIM card, my IMEI number disappeared, neither base band.
The first thing i've tried is to get a new SIM card, with no result, then I tried a soft reset, an hard reset (factory reset+wipe data), and wiping the cache without any positive result either. I've contacted Google, the phone was from Google Store and my 1 year warranty expired on 25/03/17 (the update was installed on 05/04/17, exactly two week later), they refused to take it back, nor RMA, a shame! I think it will be the last Google phone I buy!
I've tried to flash the full factory image of 7.1.1. but nothing positive from it. I think the OTA corrupted my EFS data files but no idea on how to fix it. The thing is when i'm going to the bootloader, under barcodes menu i still find an IMEI number.
I don't know what to do now, I'm little bit desperate, if anyone have an advice here.:crying::crying:
Thank you in advance.
Nexus 6P
7.1.2 build N2G47H
kernel 3 .10.73-g0a21e4c
Bootloader locked
Unrooted
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hello...
Unless you have a TWRP EFS backup, there's not much you can do...
I already saw some people saying that a restore from someone else EFS backup solved the problem and their proper IMEI, etc were back. I never had the issue, so I can't confirm it really works.
Now you need to find someone who can give it to you.
Otherwise you can RMA...
Good luck...

Is there any personal info in the efs backup? I would be happy to help but am not going to jeopardize privacy...
Sent from my Nexus 6 using XDA-Developers Legacy app

CyberpodS2 said:
Is there any personal info in the efs backup? I would be happy to help but am not going to jeopardize privacy...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hello...
Since his IMEI disappeared, there must be infos about it somewhere in the EFS. I don't know what else...
Cheers...

CyberpodS2 said:
Is there any personal info in the efs backup? I would be happy to help but am not going to jeopardize privacy...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think giving someone a copy of your efs partition essentially gives them the information needed to clone your phone, so it's not something you would want to do for a stranger.

blckhwkone said:
Hi everyone,
Google messed up ! I received the OTA for the 7.1.2 uptdate last thursday. After it my phone was unable to detect my SIM card, my IMEI number disappeared, neither base band.
The first thing i've tried is to get a new SIM card, with no result, then I tried a soft reset, an hard reset (factory reset+wipe data), and wiping the cache without any positive result either. I've contacted Google, the phone was from Google Store and my 1 year warranty expired on 25/03/17 (the update was installed on 05/04/17, exactly two week later), they refused to take it back, nor RMA, a shame! I think it will be the last Google phone I buy!
I've tried to flash the full factory image of 7.1.1. but nothing positive from it. I think the OTA corrupted my EFS data files but no idea on how to fix it. The thing is when i'm going to the bootloader, under barcodes menu i still find an IMEI number.
I don't know what to do now, I'm little bit desperate, if anyone have an advice here.:crying::crying:
Thank you in advance.
Nexus 6P
7.1.2 build N2G47H
kernel 3 .10.73-g0a21e4c
Bootloader locked
Unrooted
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Google's been messing up along recently

blckhwkone said:
Google messed up !
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Several people have been able to recover from this by wiping both the EFS partitions, but because your bootloader is locked (and USB debugging probably not enabled), I don't believe there is any way forward. See the link for the method used: http://www.theandroidsoul.com/fix-e...d-wifibluetooth-issues-restoring-twrp-backup/