[T-Mobile Samsung Galaxy Note II] garbageslot:
Thank you for the read-visit.

I recently bought a second hand Tmobile Samsung SGH-T889 Galaxy Note II. Unfortunately,

I inherited a host of issues. The IMEI is corrupted. In this thread, I'm hoping to figure

out why I can't successfully write to the device. I will list everything that I've tried so far,

and to be honest, I really don't know what I can try next. Share your input please!

SGH-T889

Build Version: M9615ACEHWMAZD17513035

Version Dir ;: ACEFWMAZ

Firmware: T889UVALK8:_(4.1.1) (12/19/12) [FACTORY IMAGE]

Preface:

I read in a few other threads where people were having issues with the 4.1.2 firmware, so

I elected to downgrade to the 4.1.1 using a factory image by flashing using Odin 3.0.7.

I then used "Galaxy Note2 Toolkit" to flash root of the device while also including clockworkmod

recovery and busybox.

First Method:

After downloading and installing the Android Terminal Emulator, I tried to enter

the following code to write to the device:

su

echo 'AT +EGMR=1,7,"IMEI_1"'> /dev/pttycmd1

The device accepted the commands, but the write never occurred.

On the web, this solution is everywhere; however, I think that the

solution is specifically for MTK phones. In fact, the output command

"pttycmd1" isn't in the /dev directory or anywhere within the root file structure.

Second Method:

Accessing the hidden menu on the phone by entering *#7284#, I modified

the Qualcomm USB settings to allow for a serial USB connection.

I then used the "Qualcomm NV Tools," included in the fourth tab of EFS Professional

development software, to restore the backup IMEI to the device at the memory block located

at decimal address 550. The device accepted the command and I received

no indication of error, but the device was again not overwritten.

Third Method:

I installed RootExplorer application and used this tool to access the root directory and made

a copy of the EFS folder where I assumed the IMEI is stored. I then deleted the folder allowing

the system to recreate the EFS Folder after a reboot and a factory reset. I repeated the

previous methods, but I wasn't able to make a difference. Consequently, I restored my EFS folder.

Fourth Method:

I tried messing around with permissions allowing for read/write for the "efs" and "factory" folders

within the root file structure. Notwithstanding, I also expanded my read/write changes to the /dev/block folder focusing in particular on /dev/block/mmcblk0p3. (I read in another thread that the IMEI was stored in this block

/dev/block/mmcblk0p3.) Changing ownership of the files "owner" and "group" to root, I then tried writing to the device again using the previous methods mentioned, as well as fiddling around with another software called

"NV-items reader_writer v1.0," but all these approaches failed too.

Just as an added comment, I think that file manager such as Root Explorer re-mounts a read only root file

structure as a floating read/write. Therefore, while I think that I'm making changes to permissions -- I am, because I can see the change occur -- this change is actually temporary until the device is rebooted.

General Comments:

I suspect the GSM US variant of the Galaxy Note II is different, because I can't explain

why the device will not update the IMEI even with superuser rights. Along the way, I tried to

do a factory reset as well, but remember this approach made little difference since the device

was near factory settings from the onset since I just downgraded to 4.1.1.

Questions

Am I missing another method? please point me in the correct direction -- I'm stumped.

I value and appreciate any input in advance that you could lend.