Related
So, There's always paranoia about Flashing. No surprise there.
Here I will list the major worries and hopefully some aces will give opinions on all.
1) Network Locked Phones? - Does it REALLY matter if your phone is network locked before flashing a new Firmware? (i.e. CSC/PHONE&MODEM)? [If so, what firmware are/were you on?]
2) IMEI numbers - There have been various reports of IMEI numbers going down the drain on certain flashes.
EFS folders CAN be backed up but is it only ADB that can sucessfully back this folder up without restoration problems? And more questions...
3) Bricking - Seems like it's hard to brick any SGS entirely, but, whats the realistic percentage? 5%, 10% or up to 50%?
4) Warranty problems. Flashing does not necessarily void your warranty. ROOTING DOES, correct?
4a) OMG MY PHONE IS BRICKED! HOLY CAPERS BATMAN EVERYTHING IS RUINED!
Whilst unfortunate, seems like if a phone in this state is sent to samsung/ a repair centre they will have no idea what's gone on and replace it anyway, even if there was root. Discuss......
Flake x
aahhh come one guys, after 150+ views, someone MUST have something to say about this...
It's never safe 100% to do any flashing, but maybe a weigh up of the problems might be useful to first timers... pleeaase
F x
n99flake said:
So, There's always paranoia about Flashing. No surprise there.
Here I will list the major worries and hopefully some aces will give opinions on all.
1) Network Locked Phones? - Does it REALLY matter if your phone is network locked before flashing a new Firmware? (i.e. CSC/PHONE&MODEM)? [If so, what firmware are/were you on?]
2) IMEI numbers - There have been various reports of IMEI numbers going down the drain on certain flashes.
EFS folders CAN be backed up but is it only ADB that can sucessfully back this folder up without restoration problems? And more questions...
3) Bricking - Seems like it's hard to brick any SGS entirely, but, whats the realistic percentage? 5%, 10% or up to 50%?
4) Warranty problems. Flashing does not necessarily void your warranty. ROOTING DOES, correct?
4a) OMG MY PHONE IS BRICKED! HOLY CAPERS BATMAN EVERYTHING IS RUINED!
Whilst unfortunate, seems like if a phone in this state is sent to samsung/ a repair centre they will have no idea what's gone on and replace it anyway, even if there was root. Discuss......
Flake x
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
-i have a network locked phone, no problems at all.
-imei, just root your phone and backup the /EFS folder, although if you dont check EFS remove or wipe in odin, anything should happen.
-bricking is hard... almost allways you can run into download mode (and if usb isnt hw damaged will repair your phone)
-flashing and rooting both void your warranty, if you have a hw issue and want to send it, just take sure to flash a stock rom.
-if aint booting, and anything can be done by you, just cross your fingers send it, and never say what you did.
(all those questions are answered tons of times, thats why pple dont answer)
Nice one, cheers!
Don't suppose you know the best way to backup EFS?
n99flake said:
Nice one, cheers!
Don't suppose you know the best way to backup EFS?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I used Nitrality (from market) to backup my efs. Open it, click tools, then click backup efs. ***Note: your phone must be rooted and have superuser for Nitrality to be able to perform this backup***
That is one nice app.
Thanks again!
imo, just copy&paste /EFS folder is safe enough, to repair imei just copy back...
apps might make images or dunno...
cheers^^
-I backed up my efs folder with root-explorer. Just zip it with root-expl and send it to yourself via mail.
-My phone is network locked, i flashed a couple of fws and not any problem so far.
-For flashing only use trusted fws, like Ramad's, and don't tuch the phone during you flash the phone (because the contact of the USB port). So it should be all right!
Regards
So basically someone (I don't know who, I was drunk, I thought it was a joke but no one has come forward) has set a pin on my phone and I can no longer use the thing.
I just want to be able to make phone calls again.
Is there anyway to factory reset my Sony Xperia Z1f without knowing the pin? What are my options basically?
Thanks,
Alex.
Go to Sony Service or the Store where you bought it, they will reset your phone a think for free.
eclyptos said:
Go to Sony Service or the Store where you bought it, they will reset your phone a think for free.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I was hoping to be able to use it this weekend *sigh*
Do I need the receipt/box or something? I bought it from a small importing company who have told me I will need to mail the thing to Sony at my own expense as the nearest service center is a 10 hour drive.
So there is literally no way for me to unlock my phone short of how ever many weeks it takes Sony to mail it back to me?
It's like the shop where I bought mine, they said I got Manufacturer Warranty so I will have to send the phone to Sony, but actually when I call them they will do this for me. Go there and ask them or call them.
Factory Reset the device with PC Companion.
It doesn't ask for a PIN when I just tried now.. I needed to FR mine for the 4.3 update, so I tested it for you
Wiltron said:
Factory Reset the device with PC Companion.
It doesn't ask for a PIN when I just tried now.. I needed to FR mine for the 4.3 update, so I tested it for you
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry what is PC Companion? Can you please post a little more info, would be super grateful. I have not been active on these forums in quite some time and am out of the loop haha
Also, I tried following this guide...
http://unlockbootloader.sonymobile.com/instructions
But I can't access the service menu on my phone from the emergency dialer like many YouTube videos show.
Why might this be?
Pc companion is a program for your Pc where u connect your phone and you can do loads of things like reset update etc...is made by Sony so just do a lil Google search and download it... Or go on Sony website
Sent from my C6903 using Tapatalk
alexhope21 said:
Also, I tried following this guide...
http://unlockbootloader.sonymobile.com/instructions
But I can't access the service menu on my phone from the emergency dialer like many YouTube videos show.
Why might this be?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This have nothing to do with your problem, it's for Unlocking Bootlader not the phone. If you do this, you will lose your warranty.
Go via PC Companion.
eclyptos said:
This have nothing to do with your problem, it's for Unlocking Bootlader not the phone. If you do this, you will lose your warranty.
Go via PC Companion.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok I got PC Companion and figured it out and have updated my phones software to the latest version.
But now after reading through these forums I think I would like to flash a custom ROM, however looking in the service menu my phone says that bootloader unlock is not allowed.
Is there someway to still unlock my bootloader and flash a custom rom?
alexhope21 said:
But now after reading through these forums I think I would like to flash a custom ROM, however looking in the service menu my phone says that bootloader unlock is not allowed.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This actually is a bad news.
alexhope21 said:
Is there someway to still unlock my bootloader and flash a custom rom?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, if Unlock Bootloader Allowed say NO you can't unlock it, but you can flash custom roms with stock kernels and also root your phone. Unlock Bootlader is needed to flash custom kernels only.
Hi,
Today I tried to unlock my bootloader on Xperia T, because I recently downloaded android 4.3. When the bootloader was unlocked, I tried rooting the cell through usb debug. But it didn't work, I decided to look at it tomorrow, or at a later point. But when I restarted my phone, it was been factory reset. Some of the photos were recovered, but ALL my notes are gone and a lot of apps are gone, I never chose to format my phone or anything.
Is there a fix for this issue?
Thanks in advance!
EDIT: my phone contacts seem unlinked from WhatsApp too... So the contacts are there, but WhatsApp doesn't recognise them.... I think the internal memory and the phone memory are corrupting each other
EDIT2: the contacts don't even seem to be there now, not even on Google, while I am 100% sure I saved the contacts to my Google account
I never heard of this issue before, but a bootloader unlock always factory resets the phone. Are you sure that your bootloader can be unlocked, and that it is still unlocked now? For unlock just follow the instructions on the official Sony page, they're clear enough.
I don't know a method for recovering data after factory reset, other than restoring your nandroid backup.
Sent from my LT30p using xda app-developers app
I am sure the bootloader unlock is possible, it might be that I unlocked the bootloader, while it was unlocked already. I don't know if this is the problem.
vonis22 said:
I am sure the bootloader unlock is possible, it might be that I unlocked the bootloader, while it was unlocked already. I don't know if this is the problem.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Did you unlock your bootloader before? If not, then it is still locked. However, the status now is a bit unsure Did you check in the service menu? ('call' *#*#7378429#*#* (*#*#SERVICE#*#*) and check Service Info -> Configuration -> Rooting Status, what does it say?)
Mad Marty said:
Did you unlock your bootloader before? If not, then it is still locked. However, the status now is a bit unsure Did you check in the service menu? ('call' *#*#7378429#*#* (*#*#SERVICE#*#*) and check Service Info -> Configuration -> Rooting Status, what does it say?)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the reply, I did this, my phones bootloader is UNLOCKED, I was confused and did it again, so i double unlocked the bootloader, this seems to be the problem. Is there any way to get the data back?
vonis22 said:
Thanks for the reply, I did this, my phones bootloader is UNLOCKED, I was confused and did it again, so i double unlocked the bootloader, this seems to be the problem. Is there any way to get the data back?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, good to see your bootloader is indeed unlocked
If you didn't make any backups, there is almost no way to recover your data. The only thing I can think of is trying to recover something with data recovery software like Recuva (from Windows, not an Android app), but you should stop using your phone immediately, because if sectors on SD or internal storage are overwritten with new data it diminishes the chances of recovery of old data.
Now would be a good time to start backing up regularly, or at least before you start flashing roms, unlocking things, etc. There is a reason why we say 'always make a nandroid backup!' :angel:
Mad Marty said:
Well, good to see your bootloader is indeed unlocked
If you didn't make any backups, there is almost no way to recover your data. The only thing I can think of is trying to recover something with data recovery software like Recuva (from Windows, not an Android app), but you should stop using your phone immediately, because if sectors on SD or internal storage are overwritten with new data it diminishes the chances of recovery of old data.
Now would be a good time to start backing up regularly, or at least before you start flashing roms, unlocking things, etc. There is a reason why we say 'always make a nandroid backup!' :angel:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am afraid that I lost my data. I am going to try a root in the afternoon, I will update this post if any problems occur
Thanks for the help and replies so far!
Okay everybody,
I decided to write a new thread for my problem because I think my prob is a very special thing.
I'm from germany, so please don't wonder about my english. I think it is a understandable.
The story begins with a software update for my GT-I9305. After the update, the IMEI was just "null", after some work with google I found out that the efs partition was broken. With my bad knowledge for this case, I destroyed the whole EFS folder. I installed perseus kernel. And, there it was! The whole and correct IMEI. The solution was the perseus kernel (stock doesn't work, neither reflash). But then, after a while the phone doesn't boot anymore. I flashed Android 4.4.4 and my phone was revived but the IMEI was again "null". I have no backup or anything else!
So I spent approximately 20 hours or more to understand the efs thing. I found much solutions but nothing worked for me. So, here I am.
What I've tried before
-reflash KitKat
-reflash Perseus (not compatible anymore)
-formatting efs partition for a blank and new EFS for editing
-tried to edit nv_data.bin with HEX
-tried to backup efs with a 3rd party app and edit this with hex (the app doesn't support my GT-I9305)
and then, there it was:
-tried to use a working EFS partition from another GT-I9305
-editing with Qualcomm NV Tools! (I think THIS is the solution!)
I tried NV-items_reader_writer (1.0) and EFS Professional (2.1.73), but in both can't find my phone:
What I've done in NV-items_reader_writer
-dialed *#7284#
-at "Qualcomm USB Settings": "RNDIS + DM + MODEM"
-enabled USB Debugging in phone
-connected the phone
-opened NV-items_reader_writer
-checked the both boxes near the SPC box
-selected the right port (last: COM4)
-clicked on "connect"
-clicked on "read"
-> here it search the phone, but it can't find it and says "Failed.. Phone does not answer"
What I've done in EFS Professional
-dialed *#7284#
-at "Qualcomm USB Settings": "RNDIS + DM + MODEM"
-enabled USB Debugging in phone
-connected the phone
-opened EFS Pro
-clicked on "Qualcomm NV Tools"
-refreshed the Available COM Ports
-selected "SAMSUNG Mobile USB Serial Port" (last COM4)
-clicked on "Connect"
-> Here it takes few seconds and he stops and says: "Phone connection has been lost!" and "Unable to send SPC to the Phone!"
What I've tried to solve this problem
-tried QUALCOMM USB Settings: "DM + MODEM + ADB"
-reinstall all Samsung drivers
-tried to install Samsung Modem with Qualcomm drivers (failed due to wrong platform; I've Win7 X64)
-reinstall Samsung Kies (for actual drivers)
-tried to dial *#9090# (in my case, this menu is totaly blank)
-tried in factory mode
It could be that I forgot some....
Now, my question to you all is, do you know what I've done wrong? I mean, this is working for the most users, but why not for me? What do you think? Did you think I really forgot something?
Some informations:
Phone: GT-I9305
Android: 4.4.4 KitKat
Kernel: Stock (3.0.31-2760029 ; [email protected] #1 ; Fri Sep 12 13:08:24 KST 2014)
Buildnumber: KTU84P.I9305XXUFNI3
Windows: Windows 7 X64
Do you need more informations? Post it!
Please help me, I want to bring this phone back to life!
And yes I know, to change the IMEI to a number which is not your own is ILLEGAL and to prevent this, it is not well seen to talk about, but this is MY PHONE and I want to change the "null" IMEI and IMSI to MY ORIGINAL IMEI. If this is a problem, I can send a PM to an mod with my phone (where you can see the IMEI), my username on a sheet of paper and the original box with the IMEI printed on. All on one picture!
Simply... I need a hero! Be MY HERO!
im in the exact same problem as you. the reason nv tools and efs reader is not seeing your phone is because you have NULL well usb wont work. so try installing the original 4.1.1 firmware, then install perseus, then nv tools and efs software will see your phone. if you end up fixing it please help me out. upgrading to a later firmware is where I get stuck. just stays on the boot logo. and like you said perseus isn't compatible. you seem to know how to use nv tools so hopefully you can get somewhere. as I don't no how to use it. GOOD LUCK.
take your phone to the samsung if you have warranty.otherwise give to a phone repair shop for repair because your problem can only be solved with special boxes and equipments etc, and they have it. it will not cost too much.
vnholden said:
im in the exact same problem as you. the reason nv tools and efs reader is not seeing your phone is because you have NULL well usb wont work. so try installing the original 4.1.1 firmware, then install perseus, then nv tools and efs software will see your phone. if you end up fixing it please help me out. upgrading to a later firmware is where I get stuck. just stays on the boot logo. and like you said perseus isn't compatible. you seem to know how to use nv tools so hopefully you can get somewhere. as I don't no how to use it. GOOD LUCK.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you for your reply!
I tried this, already. But I can't downgrade from 4.4.4. I don't read very much about this. I just know that this is a new security option from samsung (or Android)... I will tell you when I know more
qasim799 said:
take your phone to the samsung if you have warranty.otherwise give to a phone repair shop for repair because your problem can only be solved with special boxes and equipments etc, and they have it. it will not cost too much.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you for your reply!
The warranty is already expired...
This will be the last step I will do. Before this, I will try my very best to do this at home... But thank you for this tip
Edit:
What do you all think about this idea:
-I try to find somebody with a working EFS on GT-I9305 Android 4.4.4
-I get a backup from him
-I restore this backup to my phone
-I edit the duplicated IMEI with NV Tool to my IMEI
This requires that the NV Tool will with work with an existing IMEI and the the phone will be THE WHOLE TIME IN PLANE MODE to prevent IMEI ban...
What do you think? Will this work? Do I need somebody from germany (DBT) or is this not needed?
Take it to a phone repair shop they might have a way to fix it. And if they don't they might know someone who can and it would likely be cheaper than Samsung service center
Sent from my GT-I9305 using XDA Free mobile app
Identical case (Solved)
Hello partner!
I had the same problem with imei after years of using various roons.
In my case I had a rom lollipop, between a night and other My IMEI is gone. Follow almost the same steps you. After a long time searching the internet was found a case was solved by installing an original rom Samsung via Odin.
Just wiped everything on the recovery and follow this tutorial and today I am with my IMEI back, and well relieved.
I hope it helps you too.
droidviews.com/install-official-android-4-4-4-kitkat-firmware-samsung-galaxy-s3-gt-i9305
Obs. I used all the programs and drivers available in the tutorial. and installed only the samsung drivers. I did not need the KIES
Good luck!!!
When nothing is helping try to restore your Efs partition.:http://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-s3/general/how-to-fix-efailed-to-mount-efs-invalid-t2858056
WesleyPs said:
Hello partner!
I had the same problem with imei after years of using various roons.
In my case I had a rom lollipop, between a night and other My IMEI is gone. Follow almost the same steps you. After a long time searching the internet was found a case was solved by installing an original rom Samsung via Odin.
Just wiped everything on the recovery and follow this tutorial and today I am with my IMEI back, and well relieved.
I hope it helps you too.
droidviews.com/install-official-android-4-4-4-kitkat-firmware-samsung-galaxy-s3-gt-i9305
Obs. I used all the programs and drivers available in the tutorial. and installed only the samsung drivers. I did not need the KIES
Good luck!!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hey,
Thank you for your reply.
I reinstalled my windows yesterday. So I can try it with a whole clean OS.
I will response after testing. But actual I'm very busy. I will reply as soon as possible.
viktorak said:
When nothing is helping try to restore your Efs partition.:http://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-s3/general/how-to-fix-efailed-to-mount-efs-invalid-t2858056
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you, I will try this, too. But this is more if your efs isn't mounted. My partition is there but just clear.
I will tell my experience after testing.
€dit
Now I tried my idea with the EFS partition from somebody with a working GT-I9305. In my case, this isn't working... I think I must try the next step and try to repair it from a shop or so...
Hello,
someone could give me an EFS file because I deleted mine but my camera would not boot and remains on bootloop
thank you in advance
SurrendeR1993 said:
Hey,
Thank you for your reply.
I reinstalled my windows yesterday. So I can try it with a whole clean OS.
I will response after testing. But actual I'm very busy. I will reply as soon as possible.
Thank you, I will try this, too. But this is more if your efs isn't mounted. My partition is there but just clear.
I will tell my experience after testing.
€dit
Now I tried my idea with the EFS partition from somebody with a working GT-I9305. In my case, this isn't working... I think I must try the next step and try to repair it from a shop or so...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Repair shops aren't as expensive as you think to get my camera replaced all up cost 50$ au dollars and when I first got into Android I trashed heaps of phone's (low end thankfully) before I knew what the hell I was doing and never cost me more than 80$
---------- Post added at 05:00 AM ---------- Previous post was at 04:46 AM ----------
banjomike said:
Repair shops aren't as expensive as you think to get my camera replaced all up cost 50$ au dollars and when I first got into Android I trashed heaps of phone's (low end thankfully) before I knew what the hell I was doing and never cost me more than 80$
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry dude just found out only samsung can restore Imei give phone shop a try but I don't think they could sorry
I want to update all you guys.
I flashed the old bootloader so I was able to downgrade to Jelly Bean. There I installed perseus and now I could connect to the Network, but I don't want. IMEI ist still 0.
But now I can enter *#9090# menu. But I can still not connect the phone with any DM Prog
Sent from my GT-I9300 using XDA Free mobile app
SurrendeR1993 said:
I want to update all you guys.
I flashed the old bootloader so I was able to downgrade to Jelly Bean. There I installed perseus and now I could connect to the Network, but I don't want. IMEI ist still 0.
But now I can enter *#9090# menu. But I can still not connect the phone with any DM Prog
Sent from my GT-I9300 using XDA Free mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you were to 4.4.4 Official Stock rom can`t do downgrade the bootloader.What you have done is downgrade to Firmware with extracted knox bootloader.But you still with EFS corrupt partition.
viktorak said:
If you were to 4.4.4 Official Stock rom can`t do downgrade the bootloader.What you have done is downgrade to Firmware with extracted knox bootloader.But you still with EFS corrupt partition.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hm okay. I applied a "old bootloader" before here from xda. I don't know what it was exactly. There was a boot.so or so in it.
I will try my best. I mean, if I can beat this, this is a really great success for me. My next step is to restore a full NAND backup from a friends of mine (from a GT-I9305).
I wondered about that, after I restored a working EFS, there were no NV data.
My journey to restore a corrupted GT-I9305 without pay some money
Sent from my GT-I9300 using XDA Free mobile app
how did you success ?
how did you success ?
Hi guys, i had the same issue: after a botched restore of nandroid backup (something to do with it being over 2GB, different story though), I lost IMEI (null/null) and no baseband.
I was running CM so I tried to flash the original Samsung ROM, to no avail. Then a whole bunch of other stuff that didn't work, until:
- I flashed kitkat (which failed due to some error in the install script, dunno why)
- then flashed my last nandroid, which I had already flashed with no restoration of phone functionality, HOWEVER,
- I then flashed over that nandroid the modem files (see here: dropbox.com/sh/d2ljv1ylvr9nvib/M7UzMgux4f) , mine was Modem-I9305-XXUENE2.zip for i9305 LTE Intl.
- tadaa! fixed
hope this helkps anyone, took me some 20 hours of tinkering
Oakhand said:
Hi guys, i had the same issue: after a botched restore of nandroid backup (something to do with it being over 2GB, different story though), I lost IMEI (null/null) and no baseband.
I was running CM so I tried to flash the original Samsung ROM, to no avail. Then a whole bunch of other stuff that didn't work, until:
- I flashed kitkat (which failed due to some error in the install script, dunno why)
- then flashed my last nandroid, which I had already flashed with no restoration of phone functionality, HOWEVER,
- I then flashed over that nandroid the modem files (see here: dropbox.com/sh/d2ljv1ylvr9nvib/M7UzMgux4f) , mine was Modem-I9305-XXUENE2.zip for i9305 LTE Intl.
- tadaa! fixed(
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Can you post the links you used?
EwOkie said:
Can you post the links you used?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
aside from the dropbox link in my post above I did not use much else. I downloaded a stock kitkat rom, but don't know from where.
My phone is at&t LG V40 ThinQ (V405) and I have forgotten the pin password.
As you know, I cannot access to everything without the password. I connected it to the PC and the files won't show up.
It turns on without problems, but it asks for a password to unlock the screen.
I can hard rest it, but it will erase everything. I cannot even root it because I need to enable the developer mode and allow the bootloader to be unlocked via the setting.
Is there is any way that I can retrieve the files via PC?
hamooz92 said:
My phone is at&t LG V40 ThinQ (V405) and I have forgotten the pin password.
As you know, I cannot access to everything without the password. I connected it to the PC and the files won't show up.
It turns on without problems, but it asks for a password to unlock the screen.
I can hard rest it, but it will erase everything. I cannot even root it because I need to enable the developer mode and allow the bootloader to be unlocked via the setting.
Is there is any way that I can retrieve the files via PC?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Are the photos saved on the sd card? Another good reason to turn that on if you didn't.
There is an frp partition for vzw phones that enables oem unlock, not sure it would work for a different variant though. Have you ever connected it with qfil? U don't need root for that, and in edl mode, you could save off user data (which is huge, like 40 gig I think). Not sure if your pics would be in that or not actually.
interesting problem. good luck.
AsItLies said:
Are the photos saved on the sd card? Another good reason to turn that on if you didn't.
There is an frp partition for vzw phones that enables oem unlock, not sure it would work for a different variant though. Have you ever connected it with qfil? U don't need root for that, and in edl mode, you could save off user data (which is huge, like 40 gig I think). Not sure if your pics would be in that or not actually.
interesting problem. good luck.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No. The files are not stored in the SD.
Any detailed instructions to your suggestion is highly appreciated. Thanks
hamooz92 said:
No. The files are not stored in the SD.
Any detailed instructions to your suggestion is highly appreciated. Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
wish I had detailed instructions to give you. I've never been in that situation, or resolved one like it. I pointed out some avenues I'd explore it it were me... but it's not.
maybe you'd like to look more closely at those avenues, maybe you wouldn't, that's your choice.