[Q] S4 GT-I9500 IMEI lost, no EFS backup. Help!

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amit.talukdar

Member
Dec 9, 2012
9
5
Hi,
So i have the generic IMEI (004999010640000/01) on my device and I have no backup of the EFS. Can I get it Back? Thanks!

Edit: Actually, while installing a Custom ROM I ended up formatting all the partitions except ExtSD Card. I wanted a clean install :p and did not know that IMEI in android is on EFS. Dumb.. I know.

Solved
 
Last edited:
S

spamtrash

Senior Member
Nov 9, 2008
1,056
251
Krasnoyarsk
amit.talukdar said:
Hi,
So i have the generic IMEI (004999010640000/01) on my device and I have no backup of the EFS. Can I get it Back? Thanks!

Edit: Actually, while installing a Custom ROM I ended up formatting all the partitions except ExtSD Card. I wanted a clean install :p and did not know that IMEI in android is on EFS. Dumb.. I know.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

Try to find the full stock ROM with the PIT file, and flash it with repartition.
Best case scenario: you will have efs restored
Worst case scenario: you will end with the stock ROM, without efs, ready to be sent out for WARRANTY repair ;)
 
A

amit.talukdar

Member
Dec 9, 2012
9
5
EFS Floder deleted with no Backup

spamtrash said:
Try to find the full stock ROM with the PIT file, and flash it with repartition.
Best case scenario: you will have efs restored
Worst case scenario: you will end with the stock ROM, without efs, ready to be sent out for WARRANTY repair ;)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

HI, Thanks for your reply. I already tried that.
I used adonis.pit & I9500XXUEMK9_I9500ODDEMK9_I9500DDUEMK9_HOME.tar. But no change in IMEI status. It is still the generic one.


But I was wondering... If it is a fact that there is no "Hardware" IMEI in this device and the IMEI is in the EFS folder. Then is there any way I can replace the generic imei with the original one?
 
S

spamtrash

Senior Member
Nov 9, 2008
1,056
251
Krasnoyarsk
amit.talukdar said:
HI, Thanks for your reply. I already tried that.
I used adonis.pit & I9500XXUEMK9_I9500ODDEMK9_I9500DDUEMK9_HOME.tar. But no change in IMEI status. It is still the generic one.


But I was wondering... If it is a fact that there is no "Hardware" IMEI in this device and the IMEI is in the EFS folder. Then is there any way I can replace the generic imei with the original one?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

You stated that you do not have backup => I assumed that no backup is available.
In SGS 4 there is nothing like hardware IMEI, bcs all info is stored at efs partition.

any try to force the "custom" efs upload would lead you to legal issues, so if you have successfully restored "stock" condition of your phone, I'd recommend you to go to service center claiming that it was the result of OTA update.
 
T

tripod74

Member
Dec 27, 2010
7
0
amit.talukdar said:
HI, Thanks for your reply. I already tried that.
I used adonis.pit & I9500XXUEMK9_I9500ODDEMK9_I9500DDUEMK9_HOME.tar. But no change in IMEI status. It is still the generic one.
But I was wondering... If it is a fact that there is no "Hardware" IMEI in this device and the IMEI is in the EFS folder. Then is there any way I can replace the generic imei with the original one?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

Here is an EFS backup/restore app from Play. :good: Root needed.

Please click Thanks, if it was useful for you! :) :good:
 
T

tripod74

Member
Dec 27, 2010
7
0
spamtrash said:
Have you ever imagined that the RESTORE option may exist only if the BACKUP was made before?
no? so, young Einstein, tell me please from what source the efs restore would originate?
your Pampers?:rolleyes:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

Did I said that is will restore without backup? It is ment for the others reading this thread to backup quickly and safely, nothing else. Naturally, it can not create backup from the "fresh air". Hope you can solve your problem, I wish you a nice day.
 
Obagleyfreer

Obagleyfreer

Senior Member
Jun 29, 2012
2,019
844
Wellington
spamtrash said:
Have you ever imagined that the RESTORE option may exist only if the BACKUP was made before?
no? so, young Einstein, tell me please from what source the efs restore would originate?
your Pampers?:rolleyes:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

OK, was there really the need to be such a ****?

And for the OP if you use the search button there is a thread pages pages long with detailed info and step by step terminal commands that might help you :)

Sent from my GT-I9505 using XDA Premium HD app
 
A

ankit2911gehlot

Member
Dec 2, 2012
10
0
spamtrash said:
You stated that you do not have backup => I assumed that no backup is available.
In SGS 4 there is nothing like hardware IMEI, bcs all info is stored at efs partition.

any try to force the "custom" efs upload would lead you to legal issues, so if you have successfully restored "stock" condition of your phone, I'd recommend you to go to service center claiming that it was the result of OTA update.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

thanks a lot.
 
S

spamtrash

Senior Member
Nov 9, 2008
1,056
251
Krasnoyarsk
Obagleyfreer said:
OK, was there really the need to be such a ****?
....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

Sorry, did not understood your wording (can be an effect that I grown in different environment what resulted with other than yours standards and wording, apologies for that).
Did you mean, if it was really a reason to be sarcastic, while seeing the totally rubbish post, asking the @op to perform nonsense, useless and irrelevant in his situation actions because its author was not able to read the problem with understanding?
If so, the answer is: yes, indeed, it was a need to be sarcastic. Maybe the author would stop himself from posting nonsenses in the future.
 
A

amit.talukdar

Member
Dec 9, 2012
9
5
Solved:Hex Editor Route

1- Flashed Stock android- adonis.pit & I9500XXUEMK9_I9500ODDEMK9_I9500DDUEMK9_HOME.tar

2- Rooted using CF-Auto-Root-ja3g-ja3gxx-gti9500.tar

3- Installed TWRP Recovery using goo

4- Downloaded Hxd (Windows Hex editor- Freeware)

5- Using ES Explorer (Root Mode) copied EFS folder to Windows and started opening all files-

Made following changes-

Change 1: In nv_data.bin change the addresses to this-

00188000: FF FF FF FF 4D 50 20 30 2E 38 30 30 00 00 00 49
00188010: 4E 55 00 00 00 00 47 54 2D 49 39 35 30 30 5A 4B
00188020: 41 49 4E 55 00 00 00 00 00 00 FF FF FF FF FF FF

This reads as - MP 0.800...INU....GT-I9500ZKAINU......

Change 2: efs\FactoryApp\ serial_no

Put the serial no in hex and changed permission to system and removed write access from system. After reboot it reverted to zero so made it read only for system (changed permissions from with in ES file manager)

Rebooted and it worked

I know.. I am lucky to get it back working.. have made 4 backups from dropbox to google drive :) now
 
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Velcis Ribeiro

Velcis Ribeiro

Senior Member
Jan 31, 2012
478
231
Porto Alegre
You have the IMEI at under battery spot, so get the number than change the IMEi with IMEi Changer.

Take a look on google for a app for this.
Or with Notepad + ADB

Cya!
 
R

romjo

New member
Dec 12, 2010
3
1
amit.talukdar said:
1- Flashed Stock android- adonis.pit & I9500XXUEMK9_I9500ODDEMK9_I9500DDUEMK9_HOME.tar

2- Rooted using CF-Auto-Root-ja3g-ja3gxx-gti9500.tar

3- Installed TWRP Recovery using goo

4- Downloaded Hxd (Windows Hex editor- Freeware)

5- Using ES Explorer (Root Mode) copied EFS folder to Windows and started opening all files-

Made following changes-

Change 1: In nv_data.bin change the addresses to this-

00188000: FF FF FF FF 4D 50 20 30 2E 38 30 30 00 00 00 49
00188010: 4E 55 00 00 00 00 47 54 2D 49 39 35 30 30 5A 4B
00188020: 41 49 4E 55 00 00 00 00 00 00 FF FF FF FF FF FF

This reads as - MP 0.800...INU....GT-I9500ZKAINU......

Change 2: efs\FactoryApp\ serial_no

Put the serial no in hex and changed permission to system and removed write access from system. After reboot it reverted to zero so made it read only for system (changed permissions from with in ES file manager)

Rebooted and it worked

I know.. I am lucky to get it back working.. have made 4 backups from dropbox to google drive :) now
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

Amit, your instructions were spot on !
Fixed everything for me.

I've been narrowing it down and figured it was something to do with EFS but i've been researching this all day and stumbled upon your post GJ I dont think i would have edited the .bin file with a hex editor to read it ..
 
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Reactions: amit.talukdar
L

Ljle

Member
Dec 15, 2010
15
0
Santiago de Chile
amit.talukdar said:
This reads as - MP 0.800...INU....GT-I9500ZKAINU......

Change 2: efs\FactoryApp\ serial_no

Put the serial no in hex and changed permission to system and removed write access from system. After reboot it reverted to zero so made it read only for system (changed permissions from with in ES file manager)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

Sorry but, what you mean here is that I replace the serial number inside the serial_no file with I9500ZKAINU?
 
rakesh.aggarwal

rakesh.aggarwal

Senior Member
May 3, 2014
255
49
35
Faridabad
Xiaomi Mi 11i
amit.talukdar said:
1- Flashed Stock android- adonis.pit & I9500XXUEMK9_I9500ODDEMK9_I9500DDUEMK9_HOME.tar

2- Rooted using CF-Auto-Root-ja3g-ja3gxx-gti9500.tar

3- Installed TWRP Recovery using goo

4- Downloaded Hxd (Windows Hex editor- Freeware)

5- Using ES Explorer (Root Mode) copied EFS folder to Windows and started opening all files-

Made following changes-

Change 1: In nv_data.bin change the addresses to this-

00188000: FF FF FF FF 4D 50 20 30 2E 38 30 30 00 00 00 49
00188010: 4E 55 00 00 00 00 47 54 2D 49 39 35 30 30 5A 4B
00188020: 41 49 4E 55 00 00 00 00 00 00 FF FF FF FF FF FF

This reads as - MP 0.800...INU....GT-I9500ZKAINU......

Change 2: efs\FactoryApp\ serial_no

Put the serial no in hex and changed permission to system and removed write access from system. After reboot it reverted to zero so made it read only for system (changed permissions from with in ES file manager)

Rebooted and it worked

I know.. I am lucky to get it back working.. have made 4 backups from dropbox to google drive :) now
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

Bro. I will try this tomorrow morning. If I need any help can I PM you. Please please...

---------- Post added at 06:09 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:02 PM ----------
Strephon Alkhalikoi said:
Just to point this out for the rest of the folks watching, but in order for this to work the phone has to have the nv_data.bin file. Some devices, e.g. mine, don't have the file at all.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

So what do we have to do in this case...

Scary Samsung... :eek:
 
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  • 5
    A
    amit.talukdar
    Solved:Hex Editor Route

    1- Flashed Stock android- adonis.pit & I9500XXUEMK9_I9500ODDEMK9_I9500DDUEMK9_HOME.tar

    2- Rooted using CF-Auto-Root-ja3g-ja3gxx-gti9500.tar

    3- Installed TWRP Recovery using goo

    4- Downloaded Hxd (Windows Hex editor- Freeware)

    5- Using ES Explorer (Root Mode) copied EFS folder to Windows and started opening all files-

    Made following changes-

    Change 1: In nv_data.bin change the addresses to this-

    00188000: FF FF FF FF 4D 50 20 30 2E 38 30 30 00 00 00 49
    00188010: 4E 55 00 00 00 00 47 54 2D 49 39 35 30 30 5A 4B
    00188020: 41 49 4E 55 00 00 00 00 00 00 FF FF FF FF FF FF

    This reads as - MP 0.800...INU....GT-I9500ZKAINU......

    Change 2: efs\FactoryApp\ serial_no

    Put the serial no in hex and changed permission to system and removed write access from system. After reboot it reverted to zero so made it read only for system (changed permissions from with in ES file manager)

    Rebooted and it worked

    I know.. I am lucky to get it back working.. have made 4 backups from dropbox to google drive :) now
    View
    2
    S
    spamtrash
    tripod74 said:
    Here is an EFS backup/restore app from Play. :good: Root needed.

    Please click Thanks, if it was useful for you! :) :good:
    Click to expand...
    Click to collapse

    Have you ever imagined that the RESTORE option may exist only if the BACKUP was made before?
    no? so, young Einstein, tell me please from what source the efs restore would originate?
    your Pampers?:rolleyes:
    View
    1
    R
    romjo
    amit.talukdar said:
    1- Flashed Stock android- adonis.pit & I9500XXUEMK9_I9500ODDEMK9_I9500DDUEMK9_HOME.tar

    2- Rooted using CF-Auto-Root-ja3g-ja3gxx-gti9500.tar

    3- Installed TWRP Recovery using goo

    4- Downloaded Hxd (Windows Hex editor- Freeware)

    5- Using ES Explorer (Root Mode) copied EFS folder to Windows and started opening all files-

    Made following changes-

    Change 1: In nv_data.bin change the addresses to this-

    00188000: FF FF FF FF 4D 50 20 30 2E 38 30 30 00 00 00 49
    00188010: 4E 55 00 00 00 00 47 54 2D 49 39 35 30 30 5A 4B
    00188020: 41 49 4E 55 00 00 00 00 00 00 FF FF FF FF FF FF

    This reads as - MP 0.800...INU....GT-I9500ZKAINU......

    Change 2: efs\FactoryApp\ serial_no

    Put the serial no in hex and changed permission to system and removed write access from system. After reboot it reverted to zero so made it read only for system (changed permissions from with in ES file manager)

    Rebooted and it worked

    I know.. I am lucky to get it back working.. have made 4 backups from dropbox to google drive :) now
    Click to expand...
    Click to collapse

    Amit, your instructions were spot on !
    Fixed everything for me.

    I've been narrowing it down and figured it was something to do with EFS but i've been researching this all day and stumbled upon your post GJ I dont think i would have edited the .bin file with a hex editor to read it ..
    View

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