{"id":2823,"date":"2014-03-28T09:37:30","date_gmt":"2014-03-28T01:37:30","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.alfredivy.per.sg\/blogger\/?p=2823"},"modified":"2015-12-22T10:39:58","modified_gmt":"2015-12-22T02:39:58","slug":"efs-folder-imei-corrupted","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.alfredivy.sg\/blogger\/2014\/03\/efs-folder-imei-corrupted\/","title":{"rendered":"EFS folder or IMEI on Android is corrupted"},"content":{"rendered":"

If you are reading this, it means that your IMEI and\/or EFS folder is corrupted. \u00a0This can happen when the ROM you are flashing contains an EFS folder and it overrides yours. \u00a0Or you have ticked Odin’s “Clear EFS Folder” box. \u00a0Both of which converts your phone to a tablet.<\/p>\n

There are multiple guides that involves copying the nv_data.bin file and changing ownership. \u00a0This post does not cover that procedure, you can read about it here. link<\/a><\/p>\n

In my situation, a friend has managed to delete the EFS folder on a Samsung Note II LTE, GT N7105. \u00a0I have found the above method did not work for me. The version of stock that I have restored using Odin is behaving weirdly. \u00a0It seems that I don’t have write access and yet I could change filenames or delete files. \u00a0When I attach the phone as a USB, I could not copy files onto it. \u00a0This reinforce my belief that changing permission of one file is not going to recover my IMEI number.<\/p>\n

In the excellent thread by Hopper8 in XDA (link<\/a>)\u00a0on recovering from a failed Odin flash, he mentioned a 3 part stock flash recovery method. \u00a0Instead of the usual one file, there are three separate files to flash. \u00a0PDA, Phone and CSC. \u00a0Image below shows Odin flashing a PDA file. \u00a0Phone is BL.<\/p>\n

\"EFS<\/a><\/p>\n

After a few frustrating attempts to download the required files, I still got nowhere. \u00a0Either the hosting service has been discontinued (hotfile), no file found or throttling was so severe, I downloaded only 50MB of 1.2 GB.<\/p>\n

Back to the drawing board. This time round I tried to use Kies to connect to the phone. \u00a0Both Kies 2 and Kies 3 refuse to recognize the phone. Googled some more and someone suggested using the emergency recovery in Kies. (link<\/a>) \u00a0Kies 2 needs to download some components before upgrading, whereas Kies 3 starts immediately. \u00a0It helps if your device can be upgraded to Android 4.3 \u00a0I decided to use Kies 3.<\/p>\n

\"EFS<\/a>

Kies 2 Firmware upgrade<\/p><\/div>\n

So here it is the simplest and easiest way to recover your EFS Folder.<\/h2>\n

Pre-requisites<\/h3>\n
    \n
  1. Fast and stable (~ 2 hours) Internet connection<\/li>\n
  2. Kies 3 (link<\/a>)<\/li>\n
  3. Back up of all content, SMS, playlist, music, S Notes etc.<\/li>\n
  4. Device minimum charge 70%<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Procedure<\/h3>\n
      \n
    1. Launch Kies 3<\/li>\n
    2. Click on “Firmware upgrade and initialization”<\/li>\n
    3. Enter exact model number exactly as in the label in Battery compartment<\/li>\n
    4. Enter serial number\u00a0exactly as in the label in Battery compartment<\/li>\n
    5. \u00a0A menu will pop up asking to switch phone to \u201cdownload\u201d or \u201crecovery mode\u201d<\/li>\n
    6. \u00a0Check \u201cI have done this\u201d, select \u201cNo backup\u201d<\/li>\n
    7. \u00a0Click \u201cStart Upgrade\u201d<\/li>\n
    8. In the window \u201cUnsupported device alert\u201d, do not click “Confirm” device. \u00a0Just ignore but do not close the window.\n

    9. Kies will start downloading a recovery image for your device. \u00a0It is about 1.2 GB. \u00a0This will take about 30 mins to 1 hour. Do not touch the computer, go do something else.<\/li>\n
    10. Once downloaded, Kies will decrypt and expand the files.\n

    11. Followed by automated flashing.\n

    12. The device will reboot to complete the process. \u00a0Do not<\/strong> click any of the Kies window.\n

    13. Open Windows Explorer, go to %temp%, look for the most recent folder. \u00a0The Samsung Stock firmware files will be in there. \u00a0Copy the whole folder and archive.\n

    14. Exit from Kies.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      Using the phone app, type in *#06# to verify your IMEI number.<\/p>\n

      There you have it the easiest method to recover the EFS folder and IMEI. \u00a0Now all that is done, time for to back it up. \u00a0Here are some apps to backup and restore EFS folder. \u00a0(link<\/a>)<\/p>\n

      Update 2 Apr 14<\/h3>\n

      It may be possible to do this even faster. \u00a0Note you need to have Android installed. \u00a0I think it is independent of \u00a0version and type<\/del>. (link<\/a>) \u00a0Sorry, I don’t own this video and it was taken private by the owner.<\/p>\n

      Update 3 Jun 15<\/h3>\n

      Try this 3 minute method. \u00a0This works even you have flashed other ROMs. This method is only useful if you have a working OS, but no IMEI. \u00a0If you have none, you may be better off using the Kies method.<\/p>\n