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[Q] small help

hi ,
i got nexus s (3g)
and i try to install a new rom, Rom fell in the middle of installation, and since my phone is not dead (no reception) after I went online I realized that what happened is a folder called EFS was deleted or changed, because it is not working, I did a backup the folder ... What can you do?
Thanks
The device is a Root

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1138873&highlight=efs

yea i saw that , but i don`t have a backup file... i need to recreate it...

orbens said:
yea i saw that , but i don`t have a backup file... i need to recreate it...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If your EFS folder is damaged/deleted and you have no backup, you are out of luck. I don't know of any official way to restore it.
Search in the Sense port thread where apparently EFS folders were damage, maybe some hints in there.
I read on Google some ppl got lucky restoring their IMEI etc by deleting every remaining item in the EFS folder and flashing a new ROM using a fake IMEI.
DISCLAIMER: I have absolutely NO experience with it and strongly advise to do research before taking further actions. This is a too serious issue to try&error.

any one can help me? plz..

orbens said:
any one can help me? plz..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
In case you didn't get what I said, there is NO fix for that. You're phone is basically useless now.

Infuse EFS Folder (Request for someone's backup)

Hi guys,
One miraculous day, my efs folder became corrupt, when it just so happened to be the week after the hard drive on my computer took a dump! What a week this has been.. I was wondering if it is possible for someone to zip their EFS folder and send it to me to see if I can't get this phone to connect back to the network again. I honestly think there are applications on androids marketplace that will wipe things if you have superuser installed.. because it was like BAM, one morning I wake up and my efs folder was deleted the day after I had installed some new apps.
So my question is - Will someone send me a backup of their EFS? If that won't conflict with their phone of course -- I would send it back to Samsung, but their 3rd tier support has no idea what I'm talking about - they just hear root and think I'm a piece of trash.
Any help would be greatly appreciated - I have not seen anything about trying someone elses efs so I thought it could be a bit experimental as well.. Thanks
-Brett

Salmiery said:
Hi guys,
One miraculous day, my efs folder became corrupt, when it just so happened to be the week after the hard drive on my computer took a dump! What a week this has been.. I was wondering if it is possible for someone to zip their EFS folder and send it to me to see if I can't get this phone to connect back to the network again. I honestly think there are applications on androids marketplace that will wipe things if you have superuser installed.. because it was like BAM, one morning I wake up and my efs folder was deleted the day after I had installed some new apps.
So my question is - Will someone send me a backup of their EFS? If that won't conflict with their phone of course -- I would send it back to Samsung, but their 3rd tier support has no idea what I'm talking about - they just hear root and think I'm a piece of trash.
Any help would be greatly appreciated - I have not seen anything about trying someone elses efs so I thought it could be a bit experimental as well.. Thanks
-Brett
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is an interesting request, Brett.
I thought the efs.rfs file contains one's phone imei number/network id etc.
idk for sure...
I thought using someone else's imei is kinda like "let me borrow your ss# so i can check the ss office to see if mine is working.
I didn't know if you found this link and tried it?
http://forum.samdroid.net/f28/complete-imei-restore-how-1817/
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=882039
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=953436
Fortunately for me, I had a efs backup on my hd.
I think I also saw scripts in Zeus and Doctor ROM that backs up efs also prior to flash..
good luck

I wasn't trying to steal anyone's IMEI.. I just have tried multiple techniques, but I have not tried the first link..
I've been having trouble getting a shell with adb, does it need to be in download mode?
I was trying to see if it were possible to copy someone's existing files, and use a hex editor to change things, but reading into it, the IMEI is not able to be edited easily without knowing the encyrption type.
I'm just frustrated and have been back and forth with both at&t and also samsung (Their support is a joke, no one I spoke with even knew what the EFS folder was..)
I will try this technique and will report back later when I get home from work tonight. I've been reading a lot of similar issues with the null/null IMEI in the infuses and the guy at the AT&T store said that this was the reason they stopped selling the phone in their store.
Thanks for the help, I'll let you know what happens.
-Brett

Goodluck.
From the tone of your post, I didn't suspect any malice...I had a gist of what you were trying to do.
From reading some of links, there may be some method of recovery.
I hope that you're able to get it back.

I posted one a while back. I think it was in the q&a section. I won't be at my computer for a couple of days or I'd upload it for ya. Try searching or scrolling thru there.
Edit: I just uploaded an EFS.zip, unzip and flash the included efs.tar thru Odin or heimdall.

I had the same problem but i fixed it through Odin. There is an option in odin where you can click on the side (sorry i just reformated the comp so i dont have odin installed) that says something about the EFS. Try that, it fixed it for me.

On a related note. I thought I read somewhere that typical backups such as tibu and nandroid do NOT back up the efs folder. Is this correct? Should we all be doing this manually to protect against corruption?

Try searching here or on market. I remember there was this app called "nitrality" something. This app backs up EFS that we can restore in case we mess it up.

diablo009 said:
Try searching here or on market. I remember there was this app called "nitrality" something. This app backs up EFS that we can restore in case we mess it up.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I did try to dl that app and ran it. It didn't work for me. The app hung up the system until you fc it.
If you're versed in linux or Term emu, you can use script to back up your efs.
If you had flashed zeus or doctorz, there are scripts build in that backs up your efs.
if you had root explorer, you can find efs folder in your root. long press on the folder allows you to create zip or tar of this as well.

Any harm in just copy/paste the whole folder to external SD with root explorer? Then copy paste to windows over USB? Will permissions get messed up?
I think I've already backed it up but there have been a couple threads on this. Wonder if it should be part of superthread or a sticky...do this first :...
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I997 using XDA App

rxnelson said:
Any harm in just copy/paste the whole folder to external SD with root explorer? Then copy paste to windows over USB? Will permissions get messed up?
I think I've already backed it up but there have been a couple threads on this. Wonder if it should be part of superthread or a sticky...do this first :...
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I997 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
no problem with copy/paste that I know of.
Being cautious, I have a zip, a tar, and the whole folder on my PC, USB and box.net.

Hypothetically,
I have access to another Infuse on the same family plan at that, if i were to copy the efs folder to mine what would that do?
I want to make sure not to have the same IMEI number on the network though, but this could save me a lot of hassle...
any thoughts?

Read the threads on the links I provided...you will get more understanding.

I have multiple times, but the first post that seemed like it would be the best fix, I have to get him to send me a fixed nv_data file and he seems to be unresponsive at the moment.
I think I'm going to root the 2nd infuse, back up her efs folder (MULTIPLE times lol) and fix it so it's generic and not an exact replica of hers..
Do you see any problems there? I'm definitely not an expert at all with this.

Salmiery said:
I have multiple times, but the first post that seemed like it would be the best fix, I have to get him to send me a fixed nv_data file and he seems to be unresponsive at the moment.
I think I'm going to root the 2nd infuse, back up her efs folder (MULTIPLE times lol) and fix it so it's generic and not an exact replica of hers..
Do you see any problems there? I'm definitely not an expert at all with this.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
In order to see what is on the root of a phone, you may need to root it.
Once rooted, you can look for the efs folder.
I haven't used z4root in a while on an unrooted phone, I don't know if this program will let you see the root folder or not. It's possible.
The efs on my phone shows several programs and folders.
One of the folder is /imei. I suppose this is where the unique id is located.
read the thread: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1372455
as you can see, the efs contains unique id...i'm not sure of even how to make up a different imei file from using someone else's efs folder.
if your phone boots up but does not connect, if you go to settings/about phone/status
does it list the imei?
if it does, are you able to use a script in terminal emulator to back it up?
if you can't find the script, you can try flashing doctor or zeus rom, they have scripts to back up your efs folder. then try locating it on your phone.
the other thought i had was for you to call your provider to see if they can give you your previous imei number.
I'm only reasoning from what I have read...these are new territory to me.

Right, I have rooted my phone and for whatever reason the EFS folder is completely empty... The folder is there, but completley empty.
I have the IMEI number, its on the back of the phone as well as AT&T gave it to me.
The fact that my entire folder is empty, and I hadn't backed anything up because I never flashed the kernel or rom makes me think that the android marketplace does have malicious code that simply says:
if(phone==rooted){
wipe efs foler
}
continuing to pull my hair out and attempt new things, if anyone has any ideas let me know.

Salmiery said:
continuing to pull my hair out and attempt new things, if anyone has any ideas let me know.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Check out Post # 5, I just edited my post.

its not simply a folder its actually a partition, on Linux you can mount drives/partitions however you like so it can appear to be under another directory and be an entirely different device.
you can make a .rfs image from the dd command through adb or terminal emulator.
if it is corrupt you "may" be able to salvage it through options of the dd command.
I gotta look up the device path and whatnot but if there is anything on there, visable or not, you might be able to recover the unique files and paste them over the files from someone else's efs backup. if not I have heard but never tried it, but I heard that fromatting the partition will cause the system to generate a generic efs, but I don't know for sure.
edit: the device location is /dev/block/stl3
you can dump it to the SD card with
dd if=/dev/block/stl3 of=/sdcard/efs.rfs bs=4096
if there are bad blocks I think but not quite sure you can add noerror to the end
dd if=/dev/block/stl3 of=/sdcard/efs.rfs bs=4096 noerror
but if the information has actually been deleted unless it was overwritten it is mostly intact. it is not well known that delete doesn't actually delete the data, even after a format data can be recovered with the right program. if the dumps come up empty there is also dd_rescue and foremost but I don't know if those commands are available on android, but you may be able to loop mount the dump on a Linux box or in cygwin and try the ddrescue or foremost commands.
http://www.linuxquestions.org/questions/linux-newbie-8/learn-the-dd-command-362506/
hopefully you can recover something. and learn something along the way. this is also useful for recovering deleted files and securely deleting stuff you want gone for real.

i remember I lost my efs on my captivate. There are tools in the forum to get it back.

Salmiery said:
Hi guys,
One miraculous day, my efs folder became corrupt, when it just so happened to be the week after the hard drive on my computer took a dump! What a week this has been.. I was wondering if it is possible for someone to zip their EFS folder and send it to me to see if I can't get this phone to connect back to the network again. I honestly think there are applications on androids marketplace that will wipe things if you have superuser installed.. because it was like BAM, one morning I wake up and my efs folder was deleted the day after I had installed some new apps.
So my question is - Will someone send me a backup of their EFS? If that won't conflict with their phone of course -- I would send it back to Samsung, but their 3rd tier support has no idea what I'm talking about - they just hear root and think I'm a piece of trash.
Any help would be greatly appreciated - I have not seen anything about trying someone elses efs so I thought it could be a bit experimental as well.. Thanks
-Brett
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Uh, NO than you. My EFS folder has nothing to do with yours. Don't know how that would work...

[Completed] [Q] Stucked at Boot Loop after changing Boot animation

Hello,
I'm Using a Rooted Starmobile Up has an MediaTek MT6582M
well, it started when i was changing the bootanimation of my phone with an marvelboot.zip using ES File Explorer, i forgot to set the permissions so after i restart it, my phone stucked at boot animation.
i copied the marvelboot.zip at the /Device > system > media folder as far as i can remember.
i think it will be solved if i am able to delete the bootanimation.zip from that media folder using computer or something else.
i am wondering how can i delete that file from the system folder, or perhaps change permission? and is there a way to browse the system folder from android to computer?? i just wonder if theres such, but i will go with your answers.
i have no CWM installed and i dont know how, i dont know ADB, or SDK and all
when i tried installing CWM from recovery menu, it says installation aborted and thats my only way.
can someone help me?
another thing is i forgot to backup the firmware, and ofcourse warranty is voided as it is rooted, i cannot get it's firmware anywhere.
thanks again
I need your help, thank you.

OK so you can post your question here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2257421&page=1
However, I urge you to keep searching for the stock firmware. This is a rare device that has practically no support.
If you had adb support which is highly unlikely you could use the command "adb push bootanimation.zip/system/media"
But I very much doubt you will be able to get adb to communicate.
I wish you all the best in searching, but I think you may have just learned a very costly lesson on always having a backup before tinkering.
Good luck

hello, hmm what if i buy a new unit of this model? lets say another starmobile up, and i backup its firmware, is it possible to do that?
and is it possible to copy the back up on this device?

whateverwhenever said:
hello, hmm what if i buy a new unit of this model? lets say another starmobile up, and i backup its firmware, is it possible to do that?
and is it possible to copy the back up on this device?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I honestly don't think it would work. You really need a custom recovery or a way to access your bootlooping phone's system.
You can check this thread out on adb http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2588979
If you're successful in getting adb to work you may have a shot at fixing it. But the odds are against you.
This is why we are all encouraged to read and be careful.

[Q] Help, deleted my calendar storage file, and can't restore it with Titanium Backup

Ok, I admit up front I am an idiot and don't know what I am doing!
So I deleted that file, and even though I have it backed up, TB just hangs every time I want to restore it. If someone has a file I can download, and can give me clear directions as to how to reinstall it, I would be eternally grateful, as I realize after some reading of threads, etc, that that file actually controls ALL calendars. It's obviously a system file. I have Root Explorer, and I'm not sure how to even use that program. Please ask any questions I haven't answered here, and hopefully some kind soul can walk me through this. The package name is com.android.providers.calendar. My current phone/ROM is SGH-T769, Android 4.0.4
Thanks in advance,
Totally inept uesay

uesay said:
Ok, I admit up front I am an idiot and don't know what I am doing!
So I deleted that file, and even though I have it backed up, TB just hangs every time I want to restore it. If someone has a file I can download, and can give me clear directions as to how to reinstall it, I would be eternally grateful, as I realize after some reading of threads, etc, that that file actually controls ALL calendars. It's obviously a system file. I have Root Explorer, and I'm not sure how to even use that program. Please ask any questions I haven't answered here, and hopefully some kind soul can walk me through this. The package name is com.android.providers.calendar. My current phone/ROM is SGH-T769, Android 4.0.4
Thanks in advance,
Totally inept uesay
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hello. I met you on IRC, my nick was "Potatoes".
Anyway, I saw your message after you quit. I'll try to walk you through fixing this.
First up, Try to follow this guide.
If that doesn't work, Use this guide. You can get the stock firmware here. You need an account, but it is free to create one.
Good luck!

THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!! It's fixed!!!!! I had to go the Odin route, but it worked, and my calendar is back, YAYY!!
-uesay, much relieved

SM-T116bu Kernel?

I just bought a Samsung tab 3v then I successfully rooted it using this: ( www 4shared com/get/4sFqkNODba/ ) but after I did that I could no longer use the camera (error then force close) so I'm asking if anyone could help me with that please? I did few research they said it's something about the kernel so anyone could provide me with one for my phone?

Someone please help me with this? At least provide me with an already rooted rom.

Stanwar said:
Someone please help me with this? At least provide me with an already rooted rom.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
have a look through these and see if you can find a kernel :
https://www.google.com/search?q=SM-...es_sm=93&ie=UTF-8#q=SM-T116bu+return+to+stock
i didnt see any promising leads on google for a rom, so your only alternative may be to return to stock. have a look through these for a possible way to do that :
https://www.google.com/search?q=SM-...es_sm=93&ie=UTF-8#q=SM-T116bu+return+to+stock
one small tip for future reference.
you should figure out how to fix your phone and have the tools and files on hand before making any modifications.
personally, i never do anything to my phone before thoroughly learning how to fix it, and if i cant find a way, then i dont mod it.
i see all the time on here, people frantic because they broke their phone and dont have a clue how to fix it.
in some cases there is no way to fix it because the files are not available, its really important to know that before you break it.

bweN diorD said:
one small tip for future reference.
you should figure out how to fix your phone and have the tools and files on hand before making any modifications.
personally, i never do anything to my phone before thoroughly learning how to fix it, and if i cant find a way, then i dont mod it.
i see all the time on here, people frantic because they broke their phone and dont have a clue how to fix it.
in some cases there is no way to fix it because the files are not available, its really important to know that before you break it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Didn't you actually 'think' that I already searched for that on Google? Please try to 'think' that if you don't do mistakes you will never learn so yeah not breaking your phone doesn't mean you're smart OR intelligent.

Stanwar said:
Didn't you actually 'think' that I already searched for that on Google? Please try to 'think' that if you don't do mistakes you will never learn so yeah not breaking your phone doesn't mean you're smart OR intelligent.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There's no need to be rude... He was trying to help you

Stanwar said:
Didn't you actually 'think' that I already searched for that on Google? Please try to 'think' that if you don't do mistakes you will never learn so yeah not breaking your phone doesn't mean you're smart OR intelligent.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i never implied that you or anyone else wasnt "smart or intelligent"
i have broken my phones many times. the difference between me and a lot of users i see posting here is, i think about what would happen if i do something and it breaks the phone, before i actually do it. then i go and find out how to restore stock, and gather the files and tools first. then i actually restore stock, just so im sure i know how to do it first.
i see and help countless users here on xda, and frequently see people run to flash things they think they have to have right away. frequently that is followed by post pleading for help, because they failed to understand the journey, and chose to jump right to the finish line.
so yes, i agree, not breaking your phone doesnt make you smart or intelligent. knowing how to fix it, and helping others to fix theirs for many years, at minimum should gain those of us who help others a little respect, because we dont get paid to, nor have any obligation to, help anyone.

sdeepb said:
There's no need to be rude... He was trying to help you
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How come? Posting a Google link is actually helping? Then next time someone asks who's that guy, you tell him Google it. I did come here for a reason, which is finding a developer who can make a prerooted rom for me since it doesn't exist anywhere in the Web.
Anyway I found a solution I will post it here in case someone needed it:
1- Flash the tablet with stock rom (the one of your SM-T116bu) skip to 2 if you already have the stock rom and you only want to root the tablet.
2- Get a file explorer (ES explorer or root explorer).
3- Browse to system/lib and copy the whole lib folder and put it somewhere you can access it later.
4- Flash your tablet using the prerooted SM-T116nu rom (link is above).
5- Using the root explorer replace all files in the system/lib which has a 'camera' word in their name with the same files name from the lib folder of the stock rom, do the same with the files in system/lib/hw6- Reboot your device and the camera should work again.

Stanwar said:
How come? Posting a Google link is actually helping? because believe it or not, some people dont know the best key words to get the results that would actually be helpful, and a lot of times, they dont try at all. so occasionally i try to point them in the right direction, in the hope that they will actually try to help themself, because i cant be of further assistance. Then next time someone asks who's that guy, you tell him Google it. I did come here for a reason, which is finding a developer who can make a prerooted rom for me i can tell you right away, thats not going to happen. this site isnt a place where devs sit waiting for people to make request, so they can make stuff for them. xda is a place where you come to learn how to make it yourself, if you dont already know how, and support the community with it. since it doesn't exist anywhere in the Web.
Anyway I found a solution I will post it here in case someone needed it:
1- Flash the tablet with stock rom (the one of your SM-T116bu) skip to 2 if you already have the stock rom and you only want to root the tablet.
2- Get a file explorer (ES explorer or root explorer).
3- Browse to system/lib and copy the whole lib folder and put it somewhere you can access it later.
4- Flash your tablet using the prerooted SM-T116nu rom (link is above).
5- Using the root explorer replace all files in the system/lib which has a 'camera' word in their name with the same files name from the lib folder of the stock rom, do the same with the files in system/lib/hw6- Reboot your device and the camera should work again.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
^^^^^

Stanwar said:
How come? Posting a Google link is actually helping? Then next time someone asks who's that guy, you tell him Google it. I did come here for a reason, which is finding a developer who can make a prerooted rom for me since it doesn't exist anywhere in the Web.
Anyway I found a solution I will post it here in case someone needed it:
1- Flash the tablet with stock rom (the one of your SM-T116bu) skip to 2 if you already have the stock rom and you only want to root the tablet.
2- Get a file explorer (ES explorer or root explorer).
3- Browse to system/lib and copy the whole lib folder and put it somewhere you can access it later.
4- Flash your tablet using the prerooted SM-T116nu rom (link is above).
5- Using the root explorer replace all files in the system/lib which has a 'camera' word in their name with the same files name from the lib folder of the stock rom, do the same with the files in system/lib/hw6- Reboot your device and the camera should work again.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1. First respect others, no one gets paid or forced to do anything here
2. What kinda help you want ? if you want the most perfect thing all the times than I'm sorry as we only have humans here, not super computers with everything stored on them !

T116BU Tab E Rooted Without Camera or Unrooted? I want neither... Can anybody help?
Stanwar said:
How come? Posting a Google link is actually helping? Then next time someone asks who's that guy, you tell him Google it. I did come here for a reason, which is finding a developer who can make a prerooted rom for me since it doesn't exist anywhere in the Web.
Anyway I found a solution I will post it here in case someone needed it:
1- Flash the tablet with stock rom (the one of your SM-T116bu) skip to 2 if you already have the stock rom and you only want to root the tablet.
2- Get a file explorer (ES explorer or root explorer).
3- Browse to system/lib and copy the whole lib folder and put it somewhere you can access it later.
4- Flash your tablet using the prerooted SM-T116nu rom (link is above).
5- Using the root explorer replace all files in the system/lib which has a 'camera' word in their name with the same files name from the lib folder of the stock rom, do the same with the files in system/lib/hw6- Reboot your device and the camera should work again.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks, but your method soft bricks (black screen, can't operate the phone at all after booting) the phone until I flash the rooted or the official ROM again. There's no hw6 folder either, just hw and even changing only the lib files with camera in their names will also soft brick the phone.
I found a solution!!!
Restored my phone to the latest official ROM, then flashed the tiny file from the topic below using ODIN.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/devdb/project/?id=10223#downloads
Worked like a charm!

Fdamaral said:
Thanks, but your method soft bricks (black screen, can't operate the phone at all after booting) the phone until I flash the rooted or the official ROM again. There's no hw6 folder either, just hw and even changing only the lib files with camera in their names will also soft brick the phone.
I found a solution!!!
Restored my phone to the latest official ROM, then flashed the tiny file from the topic below using ODIN.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/devdb/project/?id=10223#downloads
Worked like a charm!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The solution was so nice that I even made a short video explaining what I did with my Samsung Galaxy Tab E SM-T116BU from Brazil!!