Database Info

[I9003] Request for EFS backup and Restore

I updated to XXBK3 as per the steps mentioned and everything went fine. When the phone booted, the simcard is not getting detected. I have factory reset the phone, changed the sim, tried my sim on another phone (works on another) but not this one.
Revert back to DDKB2 but still sim card is not getting detected. Kindly assist
Update: I have lost all folders in efs folder after flashing XXBK3. Unfortunately i dont have backup of efs folder
The only option left with me now if service center. Since there is no post for efs backup and restoer, i would request if someone can post settings/commands to backup and restore efs.

Hey, maybe you'll laugh, but there do not give any simcard wrong side. Once I flash phone at night and I'm still there giving the wrong side

fataLLik said:
Hey, maybe you'll laugh, but there do not give any simcard wrong side. Once I flash phone at night and I'm still there giving the wrong side
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I didnt understand you.
What i mean is i dont get network and when i try to open Mobile APN, i get message " Please insert SIM..."

This can happen if you have selected the option Phone EFS Clear in ODIN while flashing FW. This would delete the efs folder.
Follow my guide that I sent you for future. I have already backed up mine, but hope I wont need it.

What is the /efs folder? Should I also back it up? Only that folder or all folders under root are to be backed up?
Sent from my GT-I9003 using XDA App

jesrani said:
What is the /efs folder? Should I also back it up? Only that folder or all folders under root are to be backed up?
Sent from my GT-I9003 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Efs folder contains information about your Phones IMEI no. If you clear it or corrupt it you lose your IMEI and it can only be restored by Service centre if you have not backed it up. Just copying the folder is not enough. You need to back it up in the form that it can be directly flashed to your phone to restore the IMEI and to put your phone back in usable condition, as in india service providers do not support phones without IMEI nos.

Dude can u give us a walkthru of how to back up efs
Sent from my GT-I9003 using XDA App

Sure I will.
Sent from my GT-I9003 using XDA Premium App

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=859914
This process works absolutely fine. Just tried it.

trip007in said:
Efs folder contains information about your Phones IMEI no. If you clear it or corrupt it you lose your IMEI and it can only be restored by Service centre if you have not backed it up. Just copying the folder is not enough. You need to back it up in the form that it can be directly flashed to your phone to restore the IMEI and to put your phone back in usable condition, as in india service providers do not support phones without IMEI nos.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Is the link given by manu1991 okay in your opinion? According to Post#2, "An alternative to the backup part is to use Root Explorer and zip the whole /efs folder onto your external sd card. (or wherever you want)". Is this possible and reliable? I tried the option to zip folder in "Super Manager" but got an empty file.

No root explorer should not be used to back up this folder. Follow the link and back up your efs folder.
Sent from my GT-I9003 using XDA Premium App

manu1991 said:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=859914
This process works absolutely fine. Just tried it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok, I tried this and made the tar.gz file directly in my external sd card. I got a file of size 35Kb? Checked with 7-zip, seems to contain all files. Also made the .gz file using terminal emulator and got same size. In Super Manager the /efs folder seems to be 5Mb in size. I also extracted the .gz file and the uncompressed size is indeed about 5Mb. Can it really be compressed to 35Kb or is there some mistake?

jesrani said:
Ok, I tried this and made the tar.gz file directly in my external sd card. I got a file of size 35Kb? Checked with 7-zip, seems to contain all files. Also made the .gz file using terminal emulator and got same size. In Super Manager the /efs folder seems to be 5Mb in size. I also extracted the .gz file and the uncompressed size is indeed about 5Mb. Can it really be compressed to 35Kb or is there some mistake?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yes, it can. If the files has a lot of zeroes inside. BTW here is only 3 files are very big:
nv_data.bin, .nv_data.bak and .nv_core.bak and as I can see they are have a lot of zeroes.

jesrani said:
Ok, I tried this and made the tar.gz file directly in my external sd card. I got a file of size 35Kb? Checked with 7-zip, seems to contain all files. Also made the .gz file using terminal emulator and got same size. In Super Manager the /efs folder seems to be 5Mb in size. I also extracted the .gz file and the uncompressed size is indeed about 5Mb. Can it really be compressed to 35Kb or is there some mistake?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes it is compressed. Just pull out the efs folder out of the archive and see check the size, its 5.03MB for me.

Thanks falex and trip
I also made image of stl3 and it is about 6mb.
Sent from my GT-I9003 using XDA App

EFS / IMEI changes to Fake frequently.
With regards to your post on EFS restore, thanks for the excellent instructions I managed to get IMEI back but noticed that it gets changed quiet frequently when I am on any version of Gingerbread so I downgraded my self to Froyo and I notice that the IMEI doesnt change, Could you kindly advise me so to get it working when I am on gingerbread. Does it have anything to do with bootloaders. The restore method I used is to flash via Odin and no other commands there on.
ThanK You In advance.

i have the same troubles
i try many methods
last i failed
now i just play t959 as a pda

I believe the Nitrality app has an EFS backup feature

Good morning from Argentina!
I have a problem to restore my /EFS I have Froyo LUBKB1 (Argentina) coming from KPQ and the /efs is broken.
I have a backup from a functional EFS directory but when I try to copy it with Root Explorer, it seems that it copies it but when I reboot, EFS directory is empty.
Is there any possibility to create the .img with ADB from a directory which is in the sdcard?
Regards

Try this man: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1308546

[Q] How to use Titanium Backup before flashing to a new rom?

Hi.
I want to flash anew.
I want to backup my apps.
I do not have an external SD card (i mean - i do, i just don't use it, it's in my drawer collecting dust).
I see that I can backup apps with Titanium.
But - once I will flash, these backups will all be wiped, will they not?
THANK YOU !

Why not just copy the titanium backup folder to your computer first? Flash your rom then once you get your phone running copy the folder back to your phone. Reinstall titanium backup and restore as needed. Titanium also comes with dropbox built in which can be pretty useful.
Sent from my LG-P999

e4e5nf3nc6 said:
Why not just copy the titanium backup folder to your computer first? Flash your rom then once you get your phone running copy the folder back to your phone. Reinstall titanium backup and restore as needed. Titanium also comes with dropbox built in which can be pretty useful.
Sent from my LG-P999
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Great! Will do that! Thanks!

benyben123 said:
Hi.
I want to flash anew.
I want to backup my apps.
I do not have an external SD card (i mean - i do, i just don't use it, it's in my drawer collecting dust).
I see that I can backup apps with Titanium.
But - once I will flash, these backups will all be wiped, will they not?
THANK YOU !
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Only if you format your internal sd card I mean that's common sense get a clue
Sent from my LG-P999 using XDA App

ZeroT| Demented said:
Only if you format your internal sd card I mean that's common sense get a clue
Sent from my LG-P999 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yea I guess you are right....
Just didn't think of it since I thought I am suppose to format the SD card every time I flash. I also didn't know that TB saves its files to the SD card.
Thanks

ZeroT| Demented said:
Only if you format your internal sd card I mean that's common sense get a clue
Sent from my LG-P999 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Dude what is your problem. Sometimes people don't know as much as you. This is why they come here and ask questions. They don't need to be ridiculed for not knowing how to do something. I wouldn't ridicule you for losing for instance some chess games against me. I would instead assume you haven't spent thousands of hours studying it and be fine with that instead of throwing it in your face. You have a problem. I've been coming to these forums for maybe 2 weeks and I've seen some negative or condescending thing from you over and over. Read the rules and adhere to them or kindly leave. That is all.
Sent from my LG-P999

e4e5nf3nc6 said:
Dude what is your problem. Sometimes people don't know as much as you. This is why they come here and ask questions. They don't need to be ridiculed for not knowing how to do something. I wouldn't ridicule you for losing for instance some chess games against me. I would instead assume you haven't spent thousands of hours studying it and be fine with that instead of throwing it in your face. You have a problem. I've been coming to these forums for maybe 2 weeks and I've seen some negative or condescending thing from you over and over. Read the rules and adhere to them or kindly leave. That is all.
Sent from my LG-P999
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'll school you in a game of chess!
If you got chesspresso installed lets play a game sometime.
Sent from my LG-P999 using xda premium

Not going to waste my time bud.
Sent from my LG-P999

Not to be rude but if you could beat me I would know who you are. I sort of make part of my living giving private lessons.
Sent from my LG-P999

ZeroT| Demented said:
Only if you format your internal sd card I mean that's common sense get a clue
Sent from my LG-P999 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Why are you always a ****? Get a clue and lose the damn attitude.
I swear you sound just like a guy that was banned with a very similar name.

e4e5nf3nc6 said:
Not going to waste my time bud.
Sent from my LG-P999
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The Ruy Lopez hah!
I keeeeeel you!
Sent from my LG-P999 using xda premium

ZeroT| Demented said:
Only if you format your internal sd card I mean that's common sense get a clue
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Firstly, Your Rude, Secondly you don't have a clue because you are completely wrong and clearly cannot read.
The OP had clearly stated he did not have an SD Card (but COULD), so if you did a full backup to internal memory (because of no SD Card).
Then yes, if you flash (as most require format/wipe, cache, and dalvik) you would also wipe your backup. Those with devices with no SD Card support should take care to copy the backup files manually to another device for later use.
I was searching for the question of "How to use Titanium Backup before flashing to a new ROM?"
However my question remains unanswered...
I have a custom ROM already installed, with all my apps and configuration etc, I want to try a new ROM to test something, then revert back to the ROM I am using now,
Does Titanium Backup create a restore point image, that I can restore later, and as such carry on using my device where I had it at the point of backup?
If not an image, then is the functionality I am looking for available?
Many Thanks,
Robert Readman

I don't believe titanium offers the feature you are looking for. It does have a feature that creates a flashable zip to to flash all your apps backcto the phone...however this feature has never worked for me lol. I always have to restore my apps the old fashioned way with the batch options restore. Like you,I did not have a SD card when I first flashed my phone. To get around this issue I created a backup with cwm and moved it to my PC for safe keeping. DO NOT MAKE THE SAME MISTAKE I DID and transfer the backup to PC via USB cable....if you do this the md5 sum will become corrupt. I don't know why but nandroids are sensitive in the way they handled/moved across platforms. Download the free app from the market called Airdroid. It connects your phone to your PC through a wireless LAN connection. It takes a little longer to transfer the boot image since its a large file but its MUCH safer. When you do transfer the nandroid to your PC its very important to not change ANYTHING in the file, especially the name. Change nothing! Otherwise you will mess up the md5. If you do get aa corrupt md5 like I did there is a tutorial on this site somewhere that walks you through the process of fixing it but it was a pain in the a** so use airdroid lol. Hope this helped.
Ps- having a SD card makes like much easier in the world of flashing/android Modding. Even a small one is worth it. Best of luck
Sent from my LG-P999 using xda premium

Pain-N-Panic said:
DO NOT MAKE THE SAME MISTAKE I DID and transfer the backup to PC via USB cable....if you do this the md5 sum will become corrupt. I don't know why but nandroids are sensitive in the way they handled/moved across platforms.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for this Pain-N-Panic, I am not sure, but it maybe something to do with transferring in binary / ASCII modes, similar to an issue you come across with FTP, so it is very plausible as an issue but someone with more knowledge of this would need to comment.
My solution which should help, is to go into Terminal Emulator, and use tar to create an archive.
Example...
type 'pwd' (for present working directory), it should be root by default '/'
in my case, i have /sdcard/ as a symlink to /storage/primary/legacy/
so then type 'cd' (for change directory) to the location of your sd card storage.
then typing 'tar -cvf file.tar ./folder/' c for create, v for verbose, f for file, then the file to create, and the folder.
Search for use of tar online, if you require more information.
Code:
cd /sdcard/
tar -cvf TitaniumBackup.tar /sdcard/TitaniumBackup/
You can then transfer your TitaniumBackup.tar with all file ownership, permissions and even file / folder timestamps are stored, for restoring the folder later.

[Q] Location of my backup files?please help

Hi to every one.. I just would like to ask the location of my backup files
im using ext4 recovery to back up my stock rom. every time i flash roms i usually clean the every cache and dalvic even ext 3 to 4. now after using different roms,downloading and stalling applications in my Ds. my sd card is currently populated and im planning to reformat it. Just a heads-up for me before doing that. I would like to ask if my backup file(stock rom) is located in my SDcard,since i dont want to take a risk of removing my backup.Hope any body can help me.

Backups will be stored in Sdcard/4ext/backup.. It's just simple like that.
If you were using cwm before, 4ext will save backups in clockworkmod/backup or something like that. I copy backups from Sd card to PC nearly every day but I simply don't know the exact folder names, sorry
Sent by my fingers to your head.

eyahl said:
Backups will be stored in Sdcard/4ext/backup.. It's just simple like that.
If you were using cwm before, 4ext will save backups in clockworkmod/backup or something like that. I copy backups from Sd card to PC nearly every day but I simply don't know the exact folder names, sorry
Sent by my fingers to your head.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
thanks for the headsup..i check if that ext4 folder is present in my sd card..Thanks..

I just ran 4ext but the backup directory is empty when I browse it over USB from my windows7 machine
what gives? I need to save the backup off the card before I repartition it

/sdcard/clockworkmod/Backup/<Backup Name Directory>

[Q] Nandroid or CWM

I typically use CWM to back up my phone before flashing a new ROM.
I have been reading about Nandroid and dont see an advantage to using that over CWM, however most the devs say to use Nandroid to back up your phone.
Is there a reason/advantage to use Nandroid over CWM that I'm not seeing?

Technically, Nandroid does a little bit better job of backing up absolutely everything, and it would be a good idea to have at least one full, nice backup of your phone for if things go horribly, horribly wrong.
That being said, I just use CWM to backup everything every time I'm going to flash a new ROM, and I never have problems. (I'm a habitual ROM changer) You should be ready to flash CWM with Odin in case your recovery gets corrupted, but I don't see any reason not to trust it.

I thought nandroid backup was backup in cwm. I learn new things everyday. Maybe that's my md5 mismatch problem when I try to restore a backup.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727 using xda premium

GooSe275 said:
I typically use CWM to back up my phone before flashing a new ROM.
I have been reading about Nandroid and dont see an advantage to using that over CWM, however most the devs say to use Nandroid to back up your phone.
Is there a reason/advantage to use Nandroid over CWM that I'm not seeing?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Using CWM to back up your phone is a nandroid backup. Are you referring to using Rom Manager to backup your roms? If so, it is still creating a nandroid backup. View the screen as your back up begins and you will see that it is creating a nandroid backup.

Im asking myself the same question ... I use this backup methode: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1390771
- Is it also creating a nondroid backup ?
- When I look at my backupfiles, how can I check it ?
- as this backup does not seem to backup all files ... is there another backup doing a real image or at least
Pls see the jpg of the .zip I made from the CWM backup dir on SD card...

gggg said:
Im asking myself the same question ... I use this backup methode: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1390771
- Is it also creating a nondroid backup ?
- When I look at my backupfiles, how can I check it ?
- as this backup does not seem to backup all files ... is there another backup doing a real image or at least
Pls see the jpg of the .zip I made from the CWM backup dir on SD card...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That certainly looks like an official nandroid backup to me.
Sent via Tapatalk 2

Backups
Just a word of caution that some of the other Senior Devs I have talked to about this say to stay away from using Rom Manager for things if you can. It is better and safer to boot into recovery and do things via CWM or TWRP or whatever your Recovery of choice is...
I know Rom Manager might be good for somethings but trusting your backup to anything other than CWM is not something I would do.
Also, Nandroid Backup and the Backup setting in CWM is the same thing.

Keep in mind it won't backup internal storage. "emmc"
Boot
Recovery
System
Data
Cache
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727 using xda premium

i have little Linux knowledge ... is there a way to copy all the missing directories / partition ... eg. using ADB / busybox ???

Imei restore on ics

I'm on aokp build 39 and was using devil kernel. After two days off use my Imei was borked. It's happened twice each time two days. Is there a way to restore Imei on my phone? Without being at a computer? I have the efs file backed up but am unsure what to do with it. I searched Google but couldn't find anything concrete.
Sent from my SGH-I897

I've also found the post that does it in 9 steps. Just wondering other ways
Sent from my SGH-I897

This may sound crazy but I have just taken the backup /efs folder and put it on the SD card and used root explorer to copy and overwrite the /efs in the root directory of the phone, rebooted, and everything was fine.
Not sure if its the right way to do it but it worked for me. This was a while back though when I first was experimenting with flashing roms, miui would always screw up the /efs so I would flash back to froyo and overwrite the /efs by using root explorer.
May be worth a try, good luck with it.

I can confirm this works. I used this method on icssgs a few months ago.
Phoned in.....

Wow. Sounds great. Thanks guys. If my Imei gets borked again I'll try that
Sent from my SGH-I897

Lost my imei again today. Just deleted efs folder reboot. Copied my imei folder over reboot and all was well. Next time I'll try just copying my imei folder.
Sent from my SGH-I897