[Galaxy S 4 i9500 Android Development] tamirda:
Note to forum managers:

Please make it a Sticky Thread, It should help to all users and there is no use for this tutorial if it is in page 3

Hello XDA Users,

I think some people here know who I am, so I will jump on the "Introduction of myself" for now.

Recently, I have faced many questions & problem of fake IMEI, of damaged EFS folder. So I made a little experiment on my device(GN2).

First, I backuped my EFS folder in 2 types - one is .img and the second is tar.gz.

Then, I deleted my EFS folder using ES Root Explorer. Which made my device to be on somethine called "Permanent Safe Mode" - You can not get out untill you fix your EFS folder and change some values.

This is permanent safe mode:

After I did my "research" I have managed to make several methods to backup & restore EFS, which should make your life easier and better.

First of all,

Disclaimer:

I'm not responsible for any damage caused by using these methods, all methods tested by me, so it should work on your device too.

This is for I9500 Only!!!!!!!

Let's continue.

What you must have:

Latest base with latest modem and latest kernel - very important since in the latest versions samsung prevented the option to install old modems/kernels, so if you install old kernell/modem it can show you wrong IMEI.

Rooted device with the latest Super User

Latest busybox

CWM / PhilZ Recovery

Terminal Emulator

Root explorer - Can be ES File Explorer with working root option or just a root explorer from the market

A working EFS backup(In order to restore it...)

Time & Patient.

Important Notes:

When installing XWUBMG5, several people suffered from Fake IMEI. This is because the new firmware messed up your EFS folder, which means that you can not restore EFS backup until you are on older version, recommended is XXUBMG9(right to 05/08/2013)

Some custom roms include modem installation in their rom installer. Due to

modem flashing in recovery

, some devices might get Fake IMEI. My recommendation is before even starting to use this guide, please try to install the latest modem

via odin

from this thread:

http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=2192025

You will find at least one method that works on your device, so don't give up after one method.

Note II & S4 has the same EFS partition (mmcblk0p3), All methods were checked by me on my Note II and fully work. So it should work on S4 too. At least 90% of them :)

Read all guide and pay attention to all small details.

Backup methods

Method 1 - .img backup

First method, is an automatic backup/restore software.

Special thanks to A.S._id for his software.

Original thread:

http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=2430177&nocache=1&styleid=19

The software:

Method 2 - .img backup

Method number 2 will create you efs.img backup on your internal sd. After that you can copy it to your computer.

What you have to do is this:

Method 3 - .tar.gz backup

This method will compress your efs folder into tar.gz file. This method is the same as choosing backup EFS folder in my rom(PhoeniX ROM)/Omega/Wanam/etc.

A tar.gz backup should look like this(On some devices there might be more files, but this picture was taken from Note II N7100 backup and it fully works):

What you have to do is this:

Restore methods

Now the fun begins :D

You will have to restore your backup when you have one or more of the folowing problem:

Fake IMEI (usually 004999010640000) or "null" IMEI

Blinking SIM card icon on the top tray… ETC

Unable to unlock your SIM card using your PIN

Fake Serial Number (usually 0000000) or "null" Serial

Unable to register to the network (usually comes with Fake IMEI & Fake Serial so check them.)

Attention please,

If you are 100% that your EFS folder is damaged and you have a working EFS backup with the right IMEI number, my recommendation is this:

Method 1 - restore .img backup

First method, is an automatic backup/restore software.

Special thanks to A.S._id for his software.

Original thread:

http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=2430177&nocache=1&styleid=19

The software:

Method 2 - Restore .img backup

Method number 2 will restore your efs.img backup from your internal sd.

What you have to do is this:

Method 3 - restore .tar.gz backup

This method will restore .tar.gz backup.

A tar.gz backup should look like this(On some devices there might be more files, but this picture was taken from Note II N7100 backup and it fully works):

If you have like this, continue to the guide:

Method 4 - restore .tar.gz backup

This method will restore .tar.gz backup.

A tar.gz backup should look like this(On some devices there might be more files, but this picture was taked from Note II N7100 backup and it fully works):

If you have like this, continue to the guide:

Exit "Permanent Safe Mode"

When you in "Permanent Safe Mode" situation, it means that your EFS folder is broken.

If you succeeded in restoring your IMEI and you still stuck in this Safe Mode, use this guide:

Method 1

Method 2

This is all I can do for you friends, Worked alot on these methods to give you the best information.

Each method was tested by me and fully works.

If this helped you please press the "Thanks" button.

If you like & appreciate my work please consider a donation!

Credits:

shnizlon

Candanga

A.S._id

dhiru1602

UtkarshGupta

P.M If you think that I forgot you

XDA:DevDB Information

Backup & Restore EFS + Get out from Permanent Safe mode I9500, a Tool/Utility for the Samsung Galaxy S 4

Contributors

tamirda

Version Information

Status: Stable

Created 2013-09-05

Last Updated 2013-09-05