yashsingh1/xdaforums huggingface dataset:
[Hardware Hacking General] PepaLogik:
I think SRAM is a volatile memory, so it cannot hold data while the battery is removed. The data are held by the flash memory, which resides on the same chip in this phone model. Right?

I am afraid that the phone inoperability is not caused by corrosion (it has been cleaned) but rather by some short circuit that happened when the water got inside the phone while it was on.
[Hardware Hacking General] AnArChYm:
There may be many factors affecting why the phone is not powering on, it could be as you said some short circuit, but don't forget that under the chips there are the solder balls where water can easily go under the chip and make a complete mess of the pads and the connections. But repairing these kinds of boards you will need various tools and skills, namely, a dc power supply (to monitor current), a fine soldering iron, a stereo microscope and at least a hot air station.

Can you upload some high resolution photos of the board from both sides, so that I may be able to point some things out.
[Hardware Hacking General] gaumzi2010:
Swapping internal memory

Hi Guys,,,I am exactly looking for something on this.

My Xperia P had a fall from a good height. Now the Display screen has cracked and the phone is not booting.While charging the red light is ON for few minutes and than it turns off automatically. Looks like there is also problem of circuit for charging broken.

I showed it to Service center and they recommended change of motherboard and Display screen.

For me the data in the phone is very important. As far as i understand i cant do anything unless the phone is switched back on.

I also have the same idea of placing my internal storage onto some other motherboard and take a backup.

However the ideas and messages dint went thru my mind. Can anyone explain me with less of jargons so that i can understand a bit abt this procedure.

Thanks in anticipation.
[Hardware Hacking General] PepaLogik:
I'll explain it the best I can understand it (I am not an expert on cell phones). Moving the memory chip is a complicated procedure but it is possible. The problem is that we do not know what exactly happens then.

IMEI is a unique number that identifies the phone and it is used mainly for blacklisting of stolen devices (attempts to register a stolen phone in the network are rejected). In most cell phones, apparently, this IMEI is stored in two distinct places simultaneously, i.e. the flash memory and some other chip on the motherboard. Thus, if you move the memory onto another motherboard, there will be an IMEI mismatch.

Naturally, the manufacturers do not disclose information on the places where IMEI is stored and on what happens if there is a mismatch. As AnArChYm has written, iPhones and Samsungs will refuse to do any radio communication but they should work in other respects (such as data backup). For other brands, who knows??

(BTW, I have sent the photos of my motherboard to AnArChYm.)
[Hardware Hacking General] AnArChYm:
As PepaLogik said, in these new aged smartphones it is very difficult to do such an operation, because nowadays the internal memory chip is right behind the CPU which naturally while heating the memory chip may disrupt the bga alignment of the CPU so unless the technician really knows what is doing I wouldn't dare to do it. Usually automated bga machines are required for this job, rather than a simple Infrared or hot air rework machines.

Unlike PepaLogik's phone which is simple based board, it is much more simpler to work on it.

I guess at this stage Gaumzi the only option you have to is to find a capable programmer technician who is willing to take off the internal memory chip and put it somewhere externally to manually read the data off the device. Having said that Xperia devices schematics are very difficult to find, so it is much more even difficult to be able to rework board level repair as it is like navigating into a territory without a map.
[Hardware Hacking General] AnArChYm:
Glad to hear this :)

With regards to the BGA, yes they need to be put exactly or else the alignment would shift, and the balls underneath start to create a short, this is also affected by how large the bga balls are while reballing the IC.

With regards to the IMEI, does the phone registered the IMEI as the old (water damaged phone)? If yes that clearly means that this phone does not do any checking between the baseband processor (in the case the main CPU) and the NAND, could be because of old technology, but hey at least you are pleased to recover all your stuff back.

Congrats :)
[Hardware Hacking General] PepaLogik:
As I have written, I have my original IMEI again, by which I mean the IMEI of the damaged phone. Yes, this means it is stored in the memory only. Moreover, I cannot find in the datasheet any information that there is a PROM section on this chip, which would be, in my opinion, best suited for IMEI storage, as it can be written only once. But there are only flash and PSRAM and this suggests that the IMEI is stored in the flash memory. It follows that it can, in principle, be changed. Right?
[Hardware Hacking General] karides:
PepaLogik, that’s really great thing you did and it seems you make the impossible thing possible and also before I was thinking BGA can only be machine soldered and now as you said it is possible to hand solder the BGA and it is working fine.
[Hardware Hacking General] PepaLogik:
Yeah, it is a great thing but it was not me who did the actual soldering. And note that you can find videos of BGA reballing by hand on YouTube, e.g.:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ds04BTVL8i0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KjKEmKUatJ4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tQSQYhsN1sk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JB1InDsWCjQ
[Hardware Hacking General] b1tman:
Access MLC-nand flash chip through a usb-stick?

Hi guys! Have a simple question! Is it possible to access a mlc-nand flash chip (from a broken sony xperia. Arc) through a usb-stick? My theory is that you remove the flash on the USB, and attach wires from the points on the USB to the nand-flash? Cheers!
[Hardware Hacking General] PepaLogik:
It is possible only if both chips are the same - and that is very unlikely.
[Hardware Hacking General] b1tman:
Hello, thanks for answering! My question to you: Why is that? Why can't there be two different chips?
[Hardware Hacking General] spinky360:
1. Depends on the voltage

2. Depends on the buffer that USB has

3. No... Won't work

Why? Let's say like this

Your NAND is doing a 50mb/ sec writing ( not real value ) when a USB 2.0 is reaching to 10 ( not real value )

You have 20 points on NAND and 19 on flash. Witch one is where and the 20th is what? Floating?
[Hardware Hacking General] ttmstarr2:
Solder an 16GB EMMC Board to EMMC Module

Hello I have an Samsung Galaxy S5 that suffered saltwater damage. and I would like to remove the samsung emmc board and solder it to an emmc module and use an universal card reader to recover my important pictures that i can not replace and documents. Can you tell me what I need to do!!??

Please and Thank You!

---------- Post added at 03:18 AM ---------- Previous post was at 03:07 AM ----------

Hello I have an Samsung Galaxy S5 that suffered saltwater damage. and I would like to remove the samsung emmc board and solder it to an emmc module and use an universal card reader to recover my important pictures that i can not replace and documents. Can you tell me what I need to do!!??

Please and Thank You!
[Hardware Hacking General] Latiosman:
I have the same problem, and looking for information about how to unsolder and solder the internal flash memory... I found this post!!

I want to do what PepaLogik did.

In my case, my phone is an HTC One S (1) . Now I am trying to find someone that does reballing, and also another htc one s (2) that works.

But my question is, once I get everything, should I set in the new htc one s (2) all the configuration (rom, kernel, recovery, etc) exactly the same as the old htc one s (1) ????

thanks
[Hardware Hacking General] mmc888:
its 2016 guys any update? I've got an s3 that fell into the bathroom and has been short circuited, would gladly pay enough to recover data
[Hardware Hacking General] Tono1:
Have you checked if the data is encrypted on the NAND?

If so, after migrating the chip you will not be able to decrypt it anymore......
[Hardware Hacking General] Kuhanzzi:
Lg g3 d855

Hello,

My LG G3 D855 fell to the ground really hard and bottom part of the motherboard cracked, meaning that I cant use usb or screen.

I had important files on internal memory, so what way would you suggest to recover them?

AFAIK, there is 3 ways to do this and I would like to know what would be the most wise decision

1. Get identical, working phone and swap NAND chip to it.

1.1 IMEI wouldn't match, but am I able to connect phone to pc and recover files?

2. Buying JTAG box and connecting it to motherboard (I have figured out connect points)

3. Buying BGA153 adapter from ebay, removing chip from motherboard and using this adapter to connect it to pc.

3.1 Would this work? Seems like "too easy"
[Hardware Hacking General] PepaLogik:
Hi Kuhanzzi,

Your option 1 (including 1.1) has been discussed in this thread and should work (but will be difficult and expensive). I am suspicious about option 2 - can it work if the motherboard is cracked? Regarding option 3, I do not know anything, sorry.

Best,

Jan
[Hardware Hacking General] kishan vaya:
what is adb shell????

i flashed my s6 edge sm-g925i msg comes pass but phone goes to boot loop.

pls help data in it is important
[Hardware Hacking General] Molvol:
So guys here my opinion:

most unpractical:

Putting the chip into a different identical phone. Theoretically works, practically you have to remove a FBGA chip (which is very difficult with no damage due to the epoxy glue always present, they don't just get loose, and the heat required). That step is hard, and then it gets only harder when you want to resolder the thing - you have to clean and somehow reball and position correctly. And you should avoid damage to the "new" phone - which you have to heat twice because you have to get the original chip off. Don't attempt unless you do it for fun!

somewhat practical, but costly or really difficult and always time consuming:

unsolder chip and read in computer-attached MMC/SD reader. If you buy an adapter for about 100$ it can work, soldering the chip by hand to an sd-card adapter is a very difficult task as you don't just need connections, but also decoupling capacitors and pull-up/down resistors.

the easy way:

take your motherboard and solder simply 5 wires (DAT0, Vss, Vcc, CMD, CLK and maybe Vccq+Vssq) from an sd-card to it. That way you will get the same result as above, but without having to design your own circuits or buying an adapter. Also, the chip won't be in danger of getting damaged by heat or mechanically.

The only thing you need to do is find the points on the mainboard where to solder on to. But things like that can be found on the internet. If power is still available on the mainboard you may be able to spare the Vcc connection. That soldering will be way easier than soldering to the chip itself! This is the way to go and should always be tried first. Of course you need Emmc chips, newer phones and really old ones are different.
[Hardware Hacking General] satans_claus:
Hi Molvol. Could you elaborate on "the easy way"? I am not sure if I understand correctly.

Is it removing the chip from an sd card "casing" soldering wires in casing and motherboard? Then sticking sd card in a reader with wires hanging out and read on pc like a normal sd card?

Thanks.
[Hardware Hacking General] HalFBlooDPrincE:
Its like a hard disk in pc u can change it but thr firmware will also change contains in it

sent from IT Heaven
[Hardware Hacking General] CRunner731:
Use a phone's internal storage while still outside of the phone

Well, you seem to know quite a bit about this subject. I have a Samsung Chromebook 3 with (I think) 16gb of internal storage; along with a ZTE Blade Vantage (destroyed screen), also with 16gb of storage.

So, I was wondering; after removing eMMC from the phone, is it possible for me to use it as an external hard-drive (via USB) with my Chromebook?
[Hardware Hacking General] Mr.thang025vn:
.

Gửi từ G3226 của tôi bằng cách sử dụng Tapatalk
[Hardware Hacking General] Yamaha169:
He's right , AllSocket

AllSocket makes these devices that read Raw data from removed chips. Striaght to pc via USB 3.0

This kit fits many! (Fits Samsung s8+ for sure)

Just make sure your eMMM chip socket is listed.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/m.aliexpress.com/item/32848523227.html
[HTC One S] Ergo Proxy:
Hi, I've made a sound Mod for Sense with Jelly Bean. Since I don't own HTC One S anymore I need your help with testing. Please send me a message if your interested in helping.
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S III] ogcuddles:
When updating or switching Roms entirely, I go through the typical steps through CWM: Back up, Wipe Date, Wipe Dalvik, Install zip, Restore .data . I was wondering if restoring the data interferes with anything, such as new features/updates from the new Rom. Am I just recycling the properties of the properties of the first Rom by restoring the data?
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S III] flastnoles11:
Most of the time it's oh to restore data unless the room developer explicitly says bout to.. never restore system apps data and never restore data when moving between different versions of android or if switching between tw and cm roms (even though, with the latter you can get away with it sometimes, it can cause problems and I never recommend doing it...) that being said, I never restore any data at all. I back up apps only and never restore their data to minimize problems... (I don't play games and the such on my phone)
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S III] doubledragon5:
When I switch rooms I do a full wipe. Never back up anything. I can 're-download my apps from market. I have nothing important on phone that requires me to back up. Less problems this way.
[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S III] flastnoles11:
Backing up just apps without data will cause no problems ever... this only applies to user apps, not system apps
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy Note II] famous145:
So my upgrade is in a couple weeks. So I'm debating between this phone, Samsung galaxy s3, or the droid dna. What are your opinions on Samsung galaxy note 2?
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy Note II] kintwofan:
http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?p=37548501

4 posts below yours and if you search there are like 20 more of these exact same threads
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy Note II] sleevasteve:
Note 2 has bigger and brighter screen, and longer lasting battery than S3. Other than that, they are very similar.

DNA doesn't have a removable battery or allow you to add more storage. You're pretty much stuck with 16gig, which is what the Note 2 comes standard with, but the Note 2 allows you to expand up to an additional 64 gigs.

This topic HAS been beaten to death...but the Note 2 still wins ;)

Sent from my Inverted Beans ROM @ 240 DPI
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy Note II] ScottieB:
Don't forget the s-pen! That's the main reason I went with the note (along with screen second and battery third; and wanting to leave iOS - unrankable).
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy Note II] Dakota0206:
You might also wait until march to see what the S4 will offer. If you dont want to wait, most people a very very happy with their Note 2. I especially love the Note 2's battery life.

Whatever your choice is, good luck. And please search before you post. There are several people that dont mind helping, but it can be frustrating to help those who dont help themselves.
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy Note II] imnuts:
The SGS4 is likely 6-8 months off at this point. Their last release was in the summer, and every release before that was in the summer in the US (late spring internationally). If you want a phone now, I'd say get the Note 2, if you can wait, this coming summer/fall looks like it will be amazing
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy Note II] famous145:
Well as of right now that's a rumor that the s4 will be out in March. Also I have a lg revolution which is the worst phone I ever bought
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy Note II] imnuts:
The international release has been 3-4 months before US Carrier release so far, so the earliest you'd see it is June/July in the US on VZW.
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy Note II] Geminidragon99:
Lol I remember selling that phone when I worked for Vzw. It was great at the time but now...well you already know. I got my note2 on Xmas eve and I can't think of any other device I would own at this point. The spen opens up so many options. I find myself officially spoiled after owning this. No other phone on Verizon in my opinion can rival the Note2 unless you can't deal with the size.
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy Note II] famous145:
Even Verizon and lg said the phone sucked. That's why the released the spectrum so quick
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy Note II] Dakota0206:
I wasnt saying the phone will be out in march. I said wait until march to see what it will have to offer. I was referring to it being announced in march. Either ar MWC or its own event.

Just to be clear: I agree the S4 will more than likely not be available for purchase until July in the US.

On a side note: my gf cousin works for a company that plans big events for corporations. They have been working on something big for Samsung. He was in town for christmas and was pretty much on the phone (ironically an iPhone) the whole time having teleconferences with Korea. My guess is the S4 but they dont get told the actual product until a couple of weeks out.
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy Note II] nrfitchett4:
I think the Note 2 is the best phone out right now. All phones have compromises. S3 only has 1gb of RAM, DNA doesn't have expandable storage and battery life is so/so.

I've only had the note 2 a few days, but I've been a little disappointed with battery life. I'm coming from a Rezound with extended battery (2750mah). The battery life is similar to that and the Rezound got bashed for poor battery life. I was expecting a little more. Guessing it might get better after a few charge cycles. I find myself having to charge about an hour a night. The good thing is that it is a 2amp charger so it charges fast.
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy Note II] kintwofan:
S3 had 2gb of RAM is the International version that had 1. Is basically a smaller note without the pen
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy Note II] DaRkL3AD3R:
The S3 and the Note 2 should never ever be compared. They are totally different devices in almost every way possible. Not bashing you kintwofan, or anyone in particular, just saying these 2 devices should not even be in the same sentence.

It's more like DNA vs S3/4, or do I want a mini tablet with a Wacom pen.

Personally at this point I recommend you wait another month for the S4 reveal and see if that floats your boat OP. I would never recommend an S3 to someone, it's 2013. Especially not a US variant S3 which has horrible specs compared to most devices released in the last 6 months. So you want someone who owns a Note 2's opinion OP? Wait a month.
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy Note II] kintwofan:
Ya I guess bad comparison. All I really meant was it had 2gb of RAM should have just stopped there. I actually really liked mind though (when in good signal area).
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy Note II] SwiftLegend:
The Note 2 is a tank of a phone, I just wish there was some more dev support. The Dev Sections are pretty much ghost towns :/
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy Note II] Dakota0206:
That's because there is so little to improve on ;)
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy Note II] famous145:
Now I wanna ask which rom you like the most. Apologize if this has been asked.
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy Note II] hypersonicx:
Im on Clean Rom, and since the phone is near perfect, hasnt really been a need for any of the devs to do any work.
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy Note II] MikesDroid:
I have both the Note 2 and S3 and prefer the S3 over the Note. Both phones are great, but I personally like the S3 better. The S3 is stock / rooted and the Note 2 is stock / unrooted which may have something to do w/ it. It seems there's more to do with the S3 as far as the Dev community, it's not too big and I have never had any issues with it. I've had the Note 2 for about 4 weeks now and sometimes it won't send a text message until I restart the phone.
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy Note II] hopesrequiem:
Imnuts just dropped a rom yesterday. It's fantastic. No overclocking or under volting bs. Just great mods
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy Note II] universexda:
2.5 months and never had that problem.
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy Note II] Dakota0206:
Im not saying you dont have the texting issue you described, but it would be the very first reported case in millions sold. I may have made up that stat, but I cannot find a single thread on the issue.

Considering you are on XDA, I would assume that you know that, if it is an issue, it is very rare. You might truly like the S3 better, but when you skew the information it discredits the opinion.

Also if its 100% stock, why not get it replaced through warranty?
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy Note II] jake21:
So these are my opinions on the note 2 (which will differ from other people):

a) Size; I would not mind a smaller phone - more concern about width than height.

b) Brightness - a bit dim outside but otherwise fine

c) Screen clarity - very nice; probably the only screen I've seen that *I* thought was nicer was the one-x/evo (the dna screen is nice but I think the one-x made more of an impression on me)

d) Clarity (sound) very good; better than the razr I had as well as gs3 that I've heard.

e) reception and 4g switching - very good as good as razr I think and it switches much faster

f) good battery life (I had the regular razr which plain sucked)

g) hackable (I'm using cleanrom - thanks Scott)

h) spen - mostly gimick but has some uses

i) multi-window - seemed like a good idea but I've not found usage in practice.

k) camera - miles ahead of razr but the auto-flash doesn't seem to work (it doesn't use the flash when i think it should so I'm forced to enable manually)

l) I wish the speaker phone was louder; for some reason I though the store model was louder but on my phone it doesnt' seem quite loud enough

m) At the itme of my purchase I think it was the best option on verizon (though the dna has a lot to offer as well as the razr hd - depending on user preference for features/form factor et all)

-

If I had to do it over - on verizon I would go with the note 2 but woudl seriously consider at&t or even sprint (via ting) once they get a bit better 4g coverage.

-

I would not consider the s3; I simply didn't like it when I played with it and the sound quality (via speaker) is definitely no where near as good a the note (I have not tried the s3 with iem; though the note 2 is miles ahead of the razr when using iem).

-

the dna is more interesting option for me but was reluctant due to smallish non-changeable battery and no sd slot

-

razr hd - truth be told a lot of the software I use on the phone prefers a menu key so until that issue is sorted out I'm not gonig to get a phone with on-screen keys (also my tablets have on-screen key and quite frankly I think i prefer having the buttons)

-

forward looking:

s4 - if it has good volume (not just max volume but clarity of the built in speaker) and good reception (the s3 is definitely a step below the note 2)

LG phone bit of an unknown also unknown if it will come to verizon but I think they make decent phone (though I really disliked the nexus 4 display; gotta say that one-x/evo 4g had a magnificient display)

sony z - no clue if it will come to verizon and no clue how the phone will shape up; also i believe it has a smallish battery

-
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy Note II] :
Deleted.
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy Note II] N3RD420:
Best phone I ever had. You won't regret getting the note 2
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy Note II] mutelight:
Note 2 improvements over the S3:

Quad-core processor vs dual-core

RGB screen vs PenTile

Larger battery

S-Pen