Database Info

[Q] Can anybody explain what happened to my efs folder

Today I discovered that my Nexus S (9023) had no valid IMEI number. I suspect this happened while I was playing around with TWRP (I'm already back to CWM for the record).
Anyway, I saw no reason to panic, since I had backed up /efs back in june and I still had that backup.
At first, I tried to extract the tarball and copy it's contents to the /efs folder. This lead to my phone not even recognizing my sim card anymore. I tried several other methods of restoring my efs folder including this and this (edit: and this). I didn't succeed with any of these methods to get my sim recognized or have a valid IMEI number. In fact, I even ended up getting an efs folder inside the efs folder and another one inside that one (so ultimately leading to a /efs/efs/efs folder).
Then I wondered what would happen if I were to just delete the whole /efs folder. To be sure, I only renamed the thing to /efs_back. The result was amazing. Immediately, I had a valid IMEI number (the one that actually belongs to my phone). The efs_back folder was now gone however and /efs was back (with just the right content).
So what I can't help wondering is how my /efs folder was miraculously restored. Does the 9023 have some sort of self restoring feature, or did I do something right after all?

Today my IMEI was gone again, but I did not flash anything. I tried again renaming /efs to /efs_back and again, it was immediately replace by a /efs folder, but this time, I needed to reboot to get my IMEI back.
Can somebody please explain what's going on? I'm running CyberGR-MOD ver.8. Should I report my issues in the CyberGR-MOD thread?

Krekker said:
Today my IMEI was gone again, but I did not flash anything. I tried again renaming /efs to /efs_back and again, it was immediately replace by a /efs folder, but this time, I needed to reboot to get my IMEI back.
Can somebody please explain what's going on? I'm running CyberGR-MOD ver.8. Should I report my issues in the CyberGR-MOD thread?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Once you get it back, delete the bin files in the folder, then rename the bak files to bin files (ie: the bak files will become bin files after renaming!), reboot & see how you go from there! If all is well then it should stick on each reboot & you should then copy your efs folder to somewhere safe! Your bak files record the changes, so when you've deleted the bin files needed for connection & rename/change the bak files to bin files, the correct information that recorded the change should stick on each reboot!

CrackDaddy said:
Your bak files record the changes, so when you've deleted the bin files needed for connection & rename/change the bak files to bin files, the correct information that recorded the change should stick on each reboot!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't quite understand. Aren't the .bak files exact copies of the .bin files? And what do you mean by change? What change are you referring to?
Sent from my Nexus S using XDA App

..

Krekker said:
I don't quite understand. Aren't the .bak files exact copies of the .bin files? And what do you mean by change? What change are you referring to?
Sent from my Nexus S using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The bak file records any "changes" to the bin file (before you had a problem, ie: before your imei got corrupted!), meaning that if anything goes wrong with the bin file, the bak file will have the "correct" information stored on it before that "change" happened! Why not just try what I've said? because at this stage you have nothing to lose that you haven't already lost!
PS: if this fix doesn't correct your problem, try following this guide here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=881162 This works with the Nexus S also, good luck!

The problem is not how to fix my IMEI. I'm just very confused about why a simple renaming of the whole /efs folder fixes the problem and what caused my IMEI to get corrupted in the first place.
Sent from my Nexus S using XDA App

As the great member Election day taught me a great way of backing up the efs folder as .img by using the cat command in cwm recovery..as soon as you get a valid imei use that method.

Krekker said:
The problem is not how to fix my IMEI. I'm just very confused about why a simple renaming of the whole /efs folder fixes the problem and what caused my IMEI to get corrupted in the first place.
Sent from my Nexus S using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Aside from user intervention, who knows why /efs managed to get corrupted - anything i say is just speculation.
As for the renaming, most likely some kind of factory-backup that was restored when you (effectively) deleted it. This is just fuel for figuring out whether these /efs backups mean anything when the phone can fix itself, but most of us are perfectly happy without the worry of sorting out our IMEI's

Best way to backup the EFS folder

So what is the best way to back it up?
Please don't tell me to copy and paste it with a file manager

I hate to tell you this. Copy it with a file manager then transfer it to your computer. It's how you do it.

Honestly I've never had success backing up the efs folder. Every time I tried with any file manager it always failed to copy the IMEI.
Sent from my SGH-T959V using xda app-developers app

cpkelley94 said:
Honestly I've never had success backing up the efs folder. Every time I tried with any file manager it always failed to copy the IMEI.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Use Super Manager. I've restored mine with it before.

tar or cpio -- Using zip or anything related to Windows, especially a text editor, is just asking for trouble.
# cd /efs
# tar cvf /sdcard/my_efs_backup.20120816.tar .
then copy my_efs_backup.20120816.tar off your microSD and put it somewhere safe

Jeff... I'm not a Linux guy more of a Windows guy but am I suppose to put that in the terminal on the phone? And hechoen aren't there folder permissions involved when you put back the file?
I know there are apps that backup your efs but can I use them? Also somewhere in a thread there is a flash able zip that backups your efs, can it work with ics

I spent a few bucks and bought root explorer...no problems.

Shortbus-Driver said:
I spent a few bucks and bought root explorer...no problems.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah and it also seems that its the only file explorer without the bloat. Its pretty expensive for a simple file explorer.

But well worth it

I find adb a lot easier than the terminal on the phone. It's useful for pushing a file or two to the phone or vice versa without unmounting the microSD. Free too!
Posted from my AOKP-ified SGS4G

Any rom that installs with my aroma installer like most gb roms and a few ics roms make an efs backup in /sdcard/aroma-backup for you.
Also any ics rom that has used the cm9 update.sh script team acid made will back it up for you during the rom install (cm9/aokp).

But how about that flash able zip file from cm7 that backs up your efs folder?

FBis251 said:
Any rom that installs with my aroma installer like most gb roms and a few ics roms make an efs backup in /sdcard/aroma-backup for you.
Also any ics rom that has used the cm9 update.sh script team acid made will back it up for you during the rom install (cm9/aokp).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The reason I want to back it up is because I want to flash back to stock using heimdall and there are those times that something could go wrong.

th3controller said:
And hechoen aren't there folder permissions involved when you put back the file?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nope. The folder already has the correct permissions. All you need to do is stitch the system to read/write then paste it back in place. I have used this method so I know it works. I do agree with Jeff though. If you know how to use adb it's a sure fire way to go. Just most users are clueless about it.

hechoen said:
Nope. The folder already has the correct permissions. All you need to do is stitch the system to read/write then paste it back in place. I have used this method so I know it works. I do agree with Jeff though. If you know how to use adb it's a sure fire way to go. Just most users are clueless about it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Lumins guide to using heimdall uses adb right? So can I backup my efs and flash heimdall afterwards correct?

This is the easiest way to make a backup:
http://sourceforge.net/projects/teamacid/files/fb/cwm/cm7-efs-backup.zip/download
Thank FB.

lumin30 said:
This is the easiest way to make a backup:
http://sourceforge.net/projects/teamacid/files/fb/cwm/cm7-efs-backup.zip/download
Thank FB.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's the one I'm talking about! And isn't there another zip to restore the efs folder?
And does it work with ics galaxy s beam?

th3controller said:
That's the one I'm talking about! And isn't there another zip to restore the efs folder?
And does it work with ics galaxy s beam?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I just want to say... it is okay to test things out on your own. That is how you learn.

lumin30 said:
I just want to say... it is okay to test things out on your own. That is how you learn.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Can you at least please provide the thread that the flash able zip is which is both the efs back up and restore.

Try looking at the url I posted above and see if you can figure out - on your own - how to back in to the folder FB posted both the backup and restore zips.

[Q] EFS folder

Hi just having a look around on my N8000 I noticed the EFS folder is empty, just wondering if anyone else has an empty EFS folder. Need root, file manager to / and look in the efs folder.
Problem sorted forgot to enable root explorer in Estrong file manager so that's why nothing was showing up.

Mate, back up your EFS folder, If it goes bye bye so does your phone and mobile internet.
No-one in their right mind will give the details of their EFS file to another person as it includes their UNIQUE IMEI number....

Do you need root to backup it? (on my other phones I've used ktool but it requires root)
Brgds... /Tubgirl
Sent from my GT-N8000 using xda premium

I believe it does as you are accessing the root drive for the information.
Not really sure as I root all my phones/tabs within an hour of getting them

where is it located btw?
i saved mine but completely forgot where to put it back in.
thanks

No NETWORK. Recently flashed a rom.

Hi guys, im new here. i just flashed a rom it is audiophile redux 1.3. i successful. but problem is that it cannot search for a network. seems like it was on sim lock.. but before i flashed it i have a network, i can send text messages and make calls. but now i cannot. what seems to be the problem? what should i do? thanks!
btw. im from philippines.

Look under settings, about phone. Do you still have an iemi number or does it say zeros/unknown?

champ1919 said:
Look under settings, about phone. Do you still have an iemi number or does it say zeros/unknown?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
it is unknown.. i saved a back up of my old efs folder.. will it help?? if it will how can i put in my device from my desktop?

i found a md5 file and a compressed file of my efs. how can i use it?

You could use a file explorer. Overwrite current .efs with the good one. Fix permissions & reboot. I don't know which file explorer you use. There are plenty of good ones in the play store. I use root explorer, but, it's a paid app.

champ1919 said:
You could use a file explorer. Overwrite current .efs with the good one. Fix permissions & reboot. I don't know which file explorer you use. There are plenty of good ones in the play store. I use root explorer, but, it's a paid app.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
just copy and paste it as it is? it is in .tar.md5

Did you use a program to back it up? Then use that program to restore.
If it's in a cwm backup, just extract with a zip program (winzip, 7zip). And yes, just copy/paste.
Check your file explorer, most have the ability to extract.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I547 using xda app-developers app

champ1919 said:
Did you use a program to back it up? Then use that program to restore.
If it's in a cwm backup, just extract with a zip program (winzip, 7zip). And yes, just copy/paste.
Check your file explorer, most have the ability to extract.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I547 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I used cwm on backing it up.. I restored my phone in stock I will try supermanager, will that work?

You might be better off doing one click back to stock again. Possibly reformat your sdcard. You should have imei back after one click
Sent from my SGH-T959V using Tapatalk 2

turtlepa said:
You might be better off doing one click back to stock again. Possibly reformat your sdcard. You should have imei back after one click
Sent from my SGH-T959V using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i can't seem to get oneclick working, good thing is that i found the odin tutorial and i got it working again with kc1 and kj6. how do i update?

successfully flashed a rom without having problem with the network carrier. please close the thread. thanks!!:good:

Pure Stock 1.55.605.2 TWRP Nandroid Backup

Pure Stock 1.55.605.2 TWRP Nandroid Backup ((( TWRP Recovery Only )))
This can be used to either update to the newest firmware or to use in the future to return to stock for other OTA's.
Have tested it severals times and had no problems.
FROM YOUR PHONE:
Download Root Explorer
Download the Pure Stock 1.55.605.2.zip ((( IM me if the links go down, I will add new ones.)))
Unzip the Pure Stock 1.55.605.2.zip
Double click on the HT43ASF08359 folder
MOVE (Not Copy) The 2014-04-20--10-11-12 KOT49H release-keys folder and place in in the TWRP folder / Backup folder / Phone Marker folder. ((( Mine is HT43ASF08359, yours might be different. )))
Reboot into recovery and restore
Thats It!
If any problems please leave them in the comments below.
THANKS,
UPDATE:
If you haven't done a backup before with TWRP then there won't be a folder for you to put this file in. Do a backup of your current Rom and then follow the steps above. This will give you the folders you need.
Phone Marker Folder: is a folder that the TWRP Recovery generates to store the backup in and is different with each phone.
This is what the folder should look like on the sdcard,
TWRP ----> Backup ----> Phone Marker folder ( Mine is HT43ASF08359, your might be different) Then the file you downloaded from me ----> 2014-04-20--10-11-12 KOT49H release-keys
If you just put the 2014-04-20--10-11-12 KOT49H release-keys file in the backup folder and not the Phone Marker folder then it won't show up when you go to restore the backup.
UPDATE: again
LINKS are live again!!!!!

The Root Explorer and Pure Stock 1.55.605.2 Links
Roland_K said:
Pure Stock 1.55.605.2 TWRP Nandroid Backup
This can be used to either update to the newest firmware or to use in the future to return to stock for other OTA's.
Have tested it severals times and had no problems.
FROM YOUR PHONE:
Download Root Explorer
Download the Pure Stock 1.55.605.2.zip (((IM Me and I will send you the link to download both.)))
Just unzip the Pure Stock 1.55.605.2.zip
Double click on the HT43ASF08359 folder
MOVE (Not Copy) The 2014-04-20--10-11-12 KOT49H release-keys folder and place in in the TWRP folder/Backup folder
Reboot into recovery and restore
Thats It!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
They are uploading now.
Also the Pure Stock Nandroid is exactly how it sounds, Pure Stock. It will be as if you just started you phone for the first time. Has all the bloatware, bells and whistles. Nothing has been added/removed.

Links Are Up
LINKS are up now!!! If they go down please IM me and I will add new ones.

Roland_K said:
LINKS are up now!!! If they go down please IM me and I will add new ones.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Down again...

New Link Are Up!!!
Roland_K said:
Pure Stock 1.55.605.2 TWRP Nandroid Backup ((( TWRP Recovery Only )))
This can be used to either update to the newest firmware or to use in the future to return to stock for other OTA's.
Have tested it severals times and had no problems.
FROM YOUR PHONE:
Download Root Explorer
Download the Pure Stock 1.55.605.2.zip ((( IM me if the links go down, I will add new ones.)))
Unzip the Pure Stock 1.55.605.2.zip
Double click on the HT43ASF08359 folder
MOVE (Not Copy) The 2014-04-20--10-11-12 KOT49H release-keys folder and place in in the TWRP folder / Backup folder / Phone Marker folder. ((( Mine is HT43ASF08359, yours might be different. )))
Reboot into recovery and restore
Thats It!
If any problems please leave them in the comments below.
THANKS,
UPDATE:
If you haven't done a backup before with TWRP then there won't be a folder for you to put this file in. Do a backup of your current Rom and then follow the steps above. This will give you the folders you need.
Phone Marker Folder: is a folder that the TWRP Recovery generates to store the backup in and is different with each phone.
This is what the folder should look like on the sdcard,
TWRP ----> Backup ----> Phone Marker folder ( Mine is HT43ASF08359, your might be different) Then the file you downloaded from me ----> 2014-04-20--10-11-12 KOT49H release-keys
If you just put the 2014-04-20--10-11-12 KOT49H release-keys file in the backup folder and not the Phone Marker folder then it won't show up when you go to restore the backup.
UPDATE: again
LINKS are live again!!!!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
New Download Links Have Been Added!!!

I did this and I'm stuck on the splash screen, any ideas?
Thanks

haevn said:
I did this and I'm stuck on the splash screen, any ideas?
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Have you tried a hard reboot? You updated firmware prior to doing this correct?
Sent from my HTC6525LVW using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
---------- Post added at 11:08 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:07 PM ----------
Roland_K said:
LINKS are up now!!! If they go down please IM me and I will add new ones.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Good look on this as how I'm totally updated an it is working great no problems restoring/booting nothing.
Sent from my HTC6525LVW using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

Roland_K said:
Pure Stock 1.55.605.2 TWRP Nandroid Backup ((( TWRP Recovery Only )))
This can be used to either update to the newest firmware or to use in the future to return to stock for other OTA's.
Have tested it severals times and had no problems.
FROM YOUR PHONE:
Download Root Explorer
Download the Pure Stock 1.55.605.2.zip ((( IM me if the links go down, I will add new ones.)))
Unzip the Pure Stock 1.55.605.2.zip
Double click on the HT43ASF08359 folder
MOVE (Not Copy) The 2014-04-20--10-11-12 KOT49H release-keys folder and place in in the TWRP folder / Backup folder / Phone Marker folder. ((( Mine is HT43ASF08359, yours might be different. )))
Reboot into recovery and restore
Thats It!
If any problems please leave them in the comments below.
THANKS,
UPDATE:
If you haven't done a backup before with TWRP then there won't be a folder for you to put this file in. Do a backup of your current Rom and then follow the steps above. This will give you the folders you need.
Phone Marker Folder: is a folder that the TWRP Recovery generates to store the backup in and is different with each phone.
This is what the folder should look like on the sdcard,
TWRP ----> Backup ----> Phone Marker folder ( Mine is HT43ASF08359, your might be different) Then the file you downloaded from me ----> 2014-04-20--10-11-12 KOT49H release-keys
If you just put the 2014-04-20--10-11-12 KOT49H release-keys file in the backup folder and not the Phone Marker folder then it won't show up when you go to restore the backup.
UPDATE: again
LINKS are live again!!!!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Anyone using this backup has to remember to change the phone marker folder to the serial number of their own phone or TWRP won't recognize it. When you press restore it'll be completely blank. Once you make the phone marker folder your own phone's serial number, it'll work like a charm with no issues.

Infinite7154 said:
Anyone using this backup has to remember to change the phone marker folder to the serial number of their own phone or TWRP won't recognize it. When you press restore it'll be completely blank. Once you make the phone marker folder your own phone's serial number, it'll work like a charm with no issues.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you for explaining that for me. I been trying to help those who aren't familiar with TWRP Recovery. Well explained.

haevn said:
I did this and I'm stuck on the splash screen, any ideas?
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Make sure you do a Factory Reset, Wipe Cache, Wipe Dalvik and do the restore again. Should boot fine after that.

This is nice to have. I made a Nandroid of my stock setup but I had already removed a ton of bloatware so it wasn't really a STOCK nandroid. I'm downloading this just so I have it.
But, could you post an MD5 sum of the zipped file that way I know I got a good download? It failed several times before downloading completely and I wanna be sure it's legit.
Thanks

Nobody yell at me . what exactly is this post for ? Is this for stock android ? Like aosp ?

ANTHONY81L said:
Nobody yell at me . what exactly is this post for ? Is this for stock android ? Like aosp ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nobody is gonna yell at you... Lol.
This is a Nandroid backup of the full stock rom that comes on the Verizon M8 out of the box. No modifications made to it at all. It is the exact software you would get on your M8 if you just bought it at the store (minus stock recovery and radios of course) If you don't know what a Nandroid backup is, it's a backup of the software on your device using a custom recovery like TWRP. Say you flashed a custom rom and were having problems with it but didn't have your own backup of the stock software. You could download this and use TWRP to restore it and you would be back to stock again. AOSP is something else. AOSP is Android without Manufacturer skins like Sense (HTC devices), or Touchwiz (Samsung devices), the only devices that come with AOSP installed on them are Nexus devices. Everything else is Android that's slightly modified. Hope this explains it.

Infinite7154 said:
Anyone using this backup has to remember to change the phone marker folder to the serial number of their own phone or TWRP won't recognize it. When you press restore it'll be completely blank. Once you make the phone marker folder your own phone's serial number, it'll work like a charm with no issues.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I just extracted part of the zip inside the folder your talking about which the folder I extracted was named with the release keys an then no need to rename anything. That's what I did anyways.
Sent from my HTC6525LVW using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

Infinite7154 said:
Anyone using this backup has to remember to change the phone marker folder to the serial number of their own phone or TWRP won't recognize it. When you press restore it'll be completely blank. Once you make the phone marker folder your own phone's serial number, it'll work like a charm with no issues.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think I know what you mean? I already use twrp so when I download this just go to my external sd card (where I keep my backups), open twrp, open folder with HTC and I guess my serial number, then inside this folder is where I place this backup correct? Thanks.

deeznuts said:
I think I know what you mean? I already use twrp so when I download this just go to my external sd card (where I keep my backups), open twrp, open folder with HTC and I guess my serial number, then inside this folder is where I place this backup correct? Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Extract the folder From zip I circled in 1st pic is all you need
Then place it In the folder I show in other pic an you r all set. No rename anything then flash the restore as normal.
Sent from my HTC6525LVW using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

Thanks
Tigerstown said:
Extract the folder From zip I circled in 1st pic is all you need
Then place it In the folder I show in other pic an you r all set. No rename anything then flash the restore as normal.
Sent from my HTC6525LVW using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for helping everyone out. I tried to make the instructions as detailed as possible.
Again if the link goes down let me know so I can add a new one.
Making a Pure Stock Rom as we speak. Keeping it close to Stock as possible but with all of the unneeded Files removed (Verizon/Amazon/Keyboard Language/ect..... Adding a small amount of tweaks/files to the system and thats it. I not sure if anyone has use Scotts Roms in the past (CleanRom) But it is going to be like that for each update to come. Should have it up in the next couple of days.

Tigerstown said:
I just extracted part of the zip inside the folder your talking about which the folder I extracted was named with the release keys an then no need to rename anything. That's what I did anyways.
Sent from my HTC6525LVW using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
For some reason if I don't change the serial number my TWRP doesn't see it in restore. Had the same problem a few times yesterday.

Infinite7154 said:
For some reason if I don't change the serial number my TWRP doesn't see it in restore. Had the same problem a few times yesterday.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So you download the zip. Open zip it an go find the folder with build keys in the name. You extract that to downloads folder then place the file you just extracted in your normal twrp file path. You still have to rename? If you do it correct there is nothing to rename to match your phone. Not saying your wrong. I just never have had to rename anything when restoring someone backup.
Sent from my HTC6525LVW using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

So is there away to use this as an upgrade to the new firmware without destroying all the apps and settings?
Thanks