Topic: The importance of the EFS partition...

[devnullius]

FROM: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1897643

ORIGINAL QUESTION:
Tc6   21st September 2012, 07:26 AM

 [Q] Emergency Calls Only, Yet Full Bars

So. I've had my S3 for quite awhile now currently on 3 network. Something really odd happened though.
I was able to use it normally in the morning, once I got to the afternoon it I lost all network.
The only thing that I can use to connect to anything is Wifi
Usually there would be a little "H" symbol next to my signal bar when it's full. Now there is nothing but the full signal bar.
When I pull the notification bar down I see a Emergency calls only though I have full signal
I've gone into Settings>More settings>Mobile networks>Network operators to see if I can find a way to connect. I can choose from the networks on screen. Yet it tells me Unable to connect. Try later. I select "Select automatically" which doesn't help either, as it tells me "Registered on network" WHAT NETWORK?!
The Network mode is on Auto
My Mobile Data is on.
My Apn is on "3 WAP"
I've tried rebooting the phone.
Restoring to factory settings.
Turning phone to Flight mode then off again.
Re-inserting Sim.
I've even rooted the phone to see if it would work!!

Can anyone help me solve this ridiculous puzzle?
Thank you for your time.

(END COPY PASTE).

My [solved] solution in the reply...

Karma!

Devvie


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[devnullius]

devnullius   5th February 2013, 08:39 PM


A: samsung galaxy s3 i9300 sim registers but only emergency calls
In my case (sgs3) the problem was caused by the fact that I also formatted the efs partition (something used by Samsung to store hardware identifiaction like IMEI, ...).

If efs is empty/gone/changed(?), the phone will be unable to make regular calls: only emergency calls will be available!

Peace!

Devvie


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[devnullius]

Some more snippets / thoughts from original xda thread:


 devitrified   27th February 2013, 10:15 PM #12 
Junior Member
Thanks Meter 0

Posts: 13
Join Date: Oct 2012
Ok you're right, everyone should read sticky notes and try keep the forum tidy. Look, I don't want to go too off-track here but this problem is not just limited to Samsung handsets. I'm seeing similar reports about Sony's, which is what i've got. And there is no efs partition that can be saved on a sony because they don't come with one. I'm beginning to suspect that the problem might be with ICS/JB and this is why it's poping up on different phones/threads, with different roms etc.

---------

JJEgan   19th March 2013, 05:38 PM #14 
Senior Member
Thanks Meter 3461

Posts: 17,543
Join Date: Oct 2010
MORE INFO >
Quote:
Originally Posted by terry1256 
iv got "emergency calls only" but not with 3 uk that one works and the phone is unlocked
anybody no why other sims wont work plz

Stock answers to this question
check IMEI is correct
if not restore your backed up EFS folder ..
Check network APN etc is correct.
Check correct modem
Check CSC.
Check phone is unlocked

Factory reset phone
jje

--------

Karma,

devnullius

[devnullius]

EXCELLENT article on how to backup / restore efs partition, including screenshots, here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=888193

Copy-Paste (text only!):
Szaby59   26th December 2010, 05:16 PM (Last edited by Szaby59; 27th December 2010 at 11:16 AM.) #1 
Senior Member - OP
Thanks Meter 139

Posts: 246
Join Date: Aug 2010
MORE INFO >
  [TUTORIAL] Remounting/restoring/backup the /EFS partition
/EFS partition contains a lot of information about your phone, f.e: wifi/bt mac address and your IMEI (nv_data.bin).

It's highly recommended to backup the whole partition, or at least copy the files from the efs directory.

CORRUPTED OR NOT?

You can check if the efs is mounted or completly damaged with this command:

adb shell
mount

You will see something like this:



Red part means /efs is mounted.

IF YOUR PHONE HAVE CORRECT EFS PARTITION:

1, Root your phone - there are several methods to do this.
2, Install root explorer or Estrongs file explorer and copy /efs dir to your sdcard - this will copy the files.

or

2, Make a backup from the whole partition -this is better if you flash a phone with wrong ops, the only way to restore using this backup.

Backup:
adb shell
su
dd if=/dev/block/stl4 of=/sdcard/efs.rfs

Restore:
Add efs.rfs to an unix compatible tar and flash with odin as efs file:



IF YOUR PHONE /EFS IS CORRUPTED:

Flash the included /efs tar with odin:
This will remount your efs partition and (if you have a backup or fixed nv_data.bin) you just need to overwrite files with a file explorer.


ATTACHED FILES http://forum.xda-developers.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=473609&d=1293380224    efs.7z - (15.1 KB, 2072 views)

MIRROR: https://www.box.com/s/okifhep2zf0iml2iz5ef

EDIT devnullius: I do NOT know if this file goes for all samsungs.... :S

Karma,

devnullius

[devnullius]

SOURCE: http://www.sammobile.com/forum/showthread.php?t=10704

Thread: recover/recreate EFS partition for s3 gt-I9300

greenman 

> Originally Posted by speedman2202 
> no , there is no IMEI , my sis play with my s3 phone and messed up with EFS files .....and
> now i just apply PIT file and install stock ROM 4.0.4 and now no signal and now crap , any
> method to repair EFS partition and recover/recreate this files
> thx

To replace your IMEI is not a simple process, but this video explains it well enough:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_AlQmfMJBK0

From this Youtube video, Published on Sep 30, 2012: How to create and restore an IMEI number on your Galaxy S3 running touchwiz (US varients, not i9000)
"This is a short "how to" video on creating and restoring an IMEI file to your galaxy s3 if you happened to lose it while flashing a rom or other file."

Also point to: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1804123

ORIGINAL article contains screenshots too! TEXT ONLY COPY PASTE, below:
"<:GeeK:>   30th July 2012, 03:21 AM (Last edited by <:GeeK:>; 25th September 2012 at 11:51 AM.) #1 
Senior Member - OP
Thanks Meter 450

Posts: 145
Join Date: Jul 2011
 [TOOL/GUIDE] Full NV Backup and Restore [SIMPLE] [08-03-2012]
This is a simple and easy way to backup and restore your GS3's COMPLETE NV items which hold your IMEI, IMSI, Data settings and much more!

INSTRUCTIONS:

1) Download NV reader/writer HERE (http://phonegeek.us/NV-items_reader_writer.rar) and install THESE (https://dl.dropbox.com/u/9823502/Samsung_USB_Driver_v1_4_6_0.exe) drivers.*

2) Dial *#7284# and select "Qualcomm USB Settings" then check "RMNET + DM + MODEM".

*If you are running a aosp rom (cm9,cm10,aokp etc) you can use the diag method described HERE (https://dl.dropbox.com/u/9823502/SGS3-AOSP-DIAG.txt)**

3) Create backup.

a) Click "port" in the top left and select your samsung serial port.
b) Make sure BOTH boxes in the top bar are checked.
c) Click "Connect" in the top bar.
d) Click "Read" in the top bar.
e) Click "Read" in the lower 'NV-items' section.
f) Save the .txt file, this is your backup

*The process will take 5-10min. The file size will be roughly 3mb and "inactive item" and "bad parameter" sections are normal.
*To restore click "Write" in the lower 'NV-items' section and navigate to your backup file.

4) Dial *#7284# and select "Qualcomm USB Settings" then check "MTP + ADB".

Demonstration video HERE << Thanks to moonfire for the video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CQkUozRhGvw&feature=youtube_gdata_player).

IMEI ALREADY CORRUPT?

Use THIS (http://www.cidextreme.com/download/sgs3.nv.gen.zip)* custom built tool to easily generate a backup file with your properly formatted IMEI to restore your phone!

1) Enter your IMEI (find it behind your battery) in the text box up top, hit generate then hit save.

2) Use "NV-Item reader writer" to write the saved text file back to your phone and then reboot.




Time and money have been invested into this project so donations are appreciated.

Donations: https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=E38QSTFVKF8U4

ATTENTION: I need a copy of someones full backup. Requirements are that you never flashed an AOSP rom (CM9, CM10, AOKP) and that your SGS3 is T-mobile. I need this to work on the data issue!
Update: The data issue is still being worked on and some progress has been made but there is still not a solid easy fix. IF YOU MADE A BACKUP THEN GOT THE DATA BUG, PLEASE MAKE A SECOND BACKUP SO THAT I CAN COMPARE THE BEFORE/AFTER!"

Karma!!

devnullius



* MIRROR (April '13) with all files, here: https://www.box.com/s/ssdkpq4rd08ewh74zhli . Currently, sgs3.nv.gen.zip is missing. I think my Avast false detection ++ my stubborn Download Master crashed their system. It's not an IP block or cookie. Will upload later. Diag Mode Scripts are added too! See ** below;
** .txt file contents:
Samsung Galaxy S III Diag Mode Scripts.

You can either enter these manually or use gscript lite to make it faster and easier.

ENABLE DIAG:

echo 0 > /sys/class/android_usb/android0/enable 0
echo smd,bam > /sys/class/android_usb/android0/f_rmnet/transports
echo diag > /sys/class/android_usb/android0/f_diag/clients
echo 1 > /sys/class/android_usb/android0/f_acm/instances
echo rmnet,acm,diag > /sys/class/android_usb/android0/functions
echo 1 > /sys/class/android_usb/android0/enable

DISABLE DIAG:

echo "" > /sys/devices/virtual/android_usb/android0/f_mass_storage/lun_ex/file
echo 0 > /sys/devices/virtual/android_usb/android0/enable
echo "mtp,acm,adb" > /sys/class/android_usb/android0/functions
echo 1 > /sys/devices/virtual/android_usb/android0/enable
vold


Thank you,

-GeeK

[devnullius]

Also of interest, I guess, but not for today...

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1946915 : [WARNING! + GUIDE] Backup and Restore IMEI / NV Data Procedure for GT-I9305

Karma etc.

devnullius

[devnullius]

Another useful link? http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1801997

[FIX/TOOL] Backup/Restore/Fix IMEI & Data Restore Tool v3.5 - Updated 03/22/2013!!

Karma enzo,

devnullius