[TOOL][TUT]Backup and Restore Mediatek based phone's IMEI

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On Mediatek based phones (MT6516, MT6513, MT6573, MT6575 and soon probably also MT6577) when flashing using flash tool, sometimes people loose their IMEI number.

Luckily, putting the IMEI back is not hard on Mediatek based smart phones. Though better yet is to back up your IMEI first. To backup, there are in fact several options:

Backing up your IMEI

Method 1) Use RootExplorer to copy file /data/nvram/md/NVRAM/NVD_IMEI/MPOB_001 to your external SD card. (or if that folder does not exists, try /nvram/md/NVRAM/NVD_IMEI/MPOB_001)
Personally, I would backup the entire /data/nvram/md/NVRAM/* just in case. I believe your WiFi and BT MAC are in there too, maybe some other stuff. I advise to have the entire directory snugly in a zipped file on your SD card!

Method 2) Back up using Mobile Uncle utility (actually, that did not work for me)

Method 3) Write them on a piece of paper. Very low tech, and very reliable
You need to first locate your IMEI of course:

IMEI 1 can be found inside battery compartment. It can also be found in menu Settings->About->Status->IMEI (ICS) or Settings->Status (GB). Or it can be found be entering *#06# into the phone.
IMEI 2 is sometimes listed alongside IMEI 1, but sometimes it is a bit harder. It may be visible from the phone's FACTORY bootup menu, if it has one. On my P700 based phone, it was also shown with *#06#
Also, some phones have the same IMEI for 1 and 2, and it may work, especially if the two SIM's are from different providers. It is my hope that in the posts following this one, people will be kind enough to post where to find IMEI 2 on their specific brands and models

NIEUW: Method 4) User rua1 of the russian forum made a very nice PC utility. You do need the drivers for the phone installed, but MTK Droid Root & Tools can read and re-write, among other, the IMEI for Mediatek phones. If you have working drivers, this is now the preferred method.

Note that if you use someone else's IMEI, you will not benifid, your call cost *do not* magically appear on his account. All that will happen is that your phone may disconnect every time he turns on his phone. Additionally some countries like India block all 'made up' IMEI numbers. And some providers may push settings based on what they think is your brand/model phone based on its IMEI. So best to stick to the number that you were given!

Restoring your IMEI

Edit: Since it is now often used, and proven, method 5) at the bottom may be the preferred method

Edit2: And now the new Droid Tools (method 6) is an even nicer tool. In fact, it may be so good, it is not just the last, but the final Mediatek tool. See below.

Method 1) Use RootExplorer to copy back that backup MPOB_001 file from your external SD card into folder /data/nvram/md/NVRAM/NVD_IMEI/. (or if that folder does not exists, maybe /nvram/md/NVRAM/NVD_IMEI/.)
Afterward, set permissions to 0660 or rw-rw----

Method 1b) You can also generate your own MPOB_001 file on a PC, using this set of programs created by some clever russians called f_mulder & pvsurkov, and copy that file to above location. Generate using these commands on a PC:

imei.xxx <15digit_IMEI_1> <15digit_IMEI_2>

. Restore this file as mentioned above in Method 1)

Method 2) Restore using Mobile Uncle utility (actually, that did not work for me)

Method 3) Install a cli terminal app, for example Android Terminal Emulator, and enter these commands:
(replacing IMEI_1 and IMEI_2 with the actual IMEI of course). Please take care, the Android keyboard will constantly try to change the commands you are typing into 'proper' English spelled words. Ensure the commands are as shown below.

su
echo 'AT +EGMR=1,7,"IMEI_1"'> /dev/pttycmd1
echo 'AT +EGMR=1,10,"IMEI_2"'> /dev/pttycmd1

Method 4) If you have ADB running, the same as above, from windows adb:
(replacing IMEI_1 and IMEI_2 with the actual IMEI of course) If you do not know what ADB is, then never mind, easier to use 3) above or 5) below.

adb shell
su
echo 'AT +EGMR=1,7,"IMEI_1"'> /dev/pttycmd1
echo 'AT +EGMR=1,10,"IMEI_2"'> /dev/pttycmd1

Method 5) Install this mt6516imei.apk app, and enter your imei numbers in there, and press write.

The reason I list this option last, even though it is the easiest, is because the program was never finished. Only the 'write' button works. While working on it in 2011 my PC crashed and I lost the source, so I never completed it. So again, only the Write button works!
But its enough, and at moment of writing, 3 people have used it on their phones, two reported success (the 3rd never reporting anything, so I assume it worked for him too, because if it had failed I am sure he would have complained).

NIEUW: Method 6) User rua1 of the russian forum made a very nice PC utility. You do need the drivers for the phone installed, but MTK Droid Root & Tools can read and re-write, amoung other, the IMEI for Mediatek phones. If you have working drivers, this is now the prefered method I guess, my half-finished app demoted to when you can't get the drivers.


If you do use this tutorial or its 'barely a program' attachment, please leave a response, and if you know how to find the IMEI-2 on your model phone, post it clearly below. Thanks!

Lenovo A750

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On the Lenovo A750, IMEI-1 is in the battery case. IMEI-2 is only listed in the boot-up FACTORY mode. On GB, you can get to FACTORY mode by pressing camera button to 2nd click, then power button. On ICS, I did not find how to get to FACTORY mode.

However, I found that on Lenovo A750, the 2nd IMEI is simply the 'next' IMEI, so you can calculate it from IMEI 1:

Take IMEI 1 except the last digit and enter it into this webpage. Verify if the last digit calculated is the correct one. Now add +1 to IMEI take its calculated check digit, and you have your IMEI 2

Example: 862672012345677 => 86267201234567 gives 7 (check) => +1 => 86267201234568 gives 5 => 862672012345685

Warning: This is for Lenovo A750. Other brands and types dual SIM may use different schemes for the 2nd IMEI. For example, my MT6516 HD9 simply had the same IMEI for both, and my K9 T5388++ had two apparently completely unrelated IMEI.

Note that if you use someone else's IMEI, you will not benifid, your call cost *do not* magically appear on his account. All that will happen is that your phone may disconnect every time he turns on his phone. Additionally some countries like India block all 'made up' IMEI numbers. And some providers may push settings based on what they think is your brand/model phone based on its IMEI. So best to stick to the number that you were given!

Factory mode on a750 would start by holding power button + after 2 or 3 seconds holding camera button on 2nd click

can you help me please.

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Originally Posted by fireeee

Factory mode on a750 would start by holding power button + after 2 or 3 seconds holding camera button on 2nd click

i am sorry my bad english.
i try it what you say. but i can't start in factory mode. Do you write a step by step how to do?

i make like this.
close phone
battery out
battery in
hold power button
click cam button
click cam button again
release power button

and nothing happen

please help me

Well, the 2nd click fireeee and me refer to is not pressing for the second time, but pressing the camera button deeper.

If you feel carefully, you will find the camera button can be pressed lightly, for focus, and deeper, to take the picture. You need to press deeper.

However, the problem is, with ICS also came a new bootloader. If you flashed the entire ICS package, you would have gotton this new bootloader. And this ICS bootloader seems very critical and unstable, and I am unable to get into the factory mode myself.

..

Originally Posted by cybermaus

Well, the 2nd click fireeee and me refer to is not pressing for the second time, but pressing the camera button deeper.

If you feel carefully, you will find the camera button can be pressed lightly, for focus, and deeper, to take the picture. You need to press deeper.

However, the problem is, with ICS also came a new bootloader. If you flashed the entire ICS package, you would have gotton this new bootloader. And this ICS bootloader seems very critical and unstable, and I am unable to get into the factory mode myself.

thanks for advice. there is what i have done.

i close phone.
i hold the power button
i hold cam button on second click(i understand what you mean, deeply press)
i release power button
i release cam button

and there is nothing happen. only opened phone.

i am going to crazy my friend. i just want only change imei. I did everything but not changin '.

will you help me for step by step solution.

Thanks again.

I did it. I find somewhere new and clean MP0B_001 file. I give it permissions. Open terminal. I type it su. and I type it echo 'AT+EGMR=1,7,"xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx"' >/dev/pttycmd1 . and type it for IMEI2 echo 'AT+EGMR=1,10,"xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx"' >/dev/pttycmd1 . and restart.

And it is done. yuppi

sucess

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Originally Posted by cybermaus

Method 5) Install this mt6516imei.apk app, and enter your imei numbers in there, and press write.

The reason I list this option last, even though it is the easiest, is because the program was never finished. Only the 'write' button works. While working on it in 2011 my PC crashed and I lost the source, so I never completed it. So again, only the Write button works!
But its enough, and at moment of writing, 3 people have used it on their phones, two reported success (the 3rd never reporting anything, so I assume it worked for him too, because if it had failed I am sure he would have complained).

If you do use this tutorial or its 'barely a program' attachment, please leave a response, and if you know how to find the IMEI-2 on your model phone, post it clearly below. Thanks!

this apk helped me restore imie in spice 350n MT6573

Cool. Can you write how where to find 1st and especially 2nd IMEI on your specific model phone?