yashsingh1/xdaforums huggingface dataset:
[Android General] ol1ver:
Help!

I used Helroz app, Galaxy_Ace_Unlock and it for sure showed me proper codes. I had NOT entered the code however. Wanted to do some research on unfreezing first.

Anyhow, I had factory reseted the phone after running Galaxy_Ace_Unlock on my S5660 (Samsung Galaxy Gio) and ran the app again. For some very strange reason, the phone was now unlocked!

I've been happy for a day, yet was stil curious how the app did its work, finding this thread.

I did the efs mount method to get the perso.txt (No dd, but obviously the Galaxy_Ace_Unlock app is still the one from march and thus does the dd) also I found a copy of my rfs in stl5.rfs on my SDCard.

In sumary it seems that Helroz app does corrupt the EFS on the GIO aswell, however!! on the Gio this doesn't seem to get into a reboot loop?

Unknowingly I did reboot the phone for 2 factory resets from the menu, and one reboot for some other reason. Luckly, no reboot problem (yet).

I am very iffy to reboot now however, finding this thread I checked my IMEI as it was mentioned and sure enough, all zero's. Also, my mac address of my BT and Wifi reset to something strange. I have done a nv reset from the menu as mentioned elsewhere in this thread, but it commands me to reboot the phone, to which I'm scared of doing now. Checking the perso.txt in the 'backup' from the app, as to checking it in the efs, I did notice something strange, all pincodes are reset to 01234567.

Long story short, will nv reset 'fix' my IMEI or do I have to do that in my backup copy of the rfs and dd back in emergency mode? As mentiond, my phone is running now, but i'm really scared to reboot it now (even though I had done it before).

Here's some info from getprop.

[gsm.sim.state]: [READY]

[ril.IMEI]: [000000000000000]

[ril.bt_macaddr]: [001247012345]

[ril.wifi_macaddr]: [12:34:56:B0:3C:B5]

bluetooth mac seems the end to be random but wifi is definatly random:

20:13:e0:56:??:?? is my randommac (?? hidden on purpouse, it's not 3c:b5)

Any thoughts?

P.S. Helroz are you aware of this on the Gio?
[Android General] ol1ver:
took the plundge and rebooted. And the phone is stuck in the reboot loop. download mode and 'ramdump' mode where the only two that still where working. Took it to the shop, hopefully they can re-flash the efs.

Kind of silly if you think about it, that it is quite easy to brick a phone. dd (and READ from the flash memory, and dead phone, without any user-way of fixing it. Not to mention, that the 'fix' is rather trivial, flash the efs.
[Android General] azlemad:
Thanks! Worked fine for my Australian Telstra locked i5503T (running stock froyo)

Have another identical phone to try it on now too.

edit: didn;t work on the other phone. no baseband no imei no service no bluetooth. ooops :(
[Android General] elfarto:
THIS WORKS!!!!

Tested on a i5500 and a 5830 (Galaxy Ace).

Thanks a lot
[Android General] edint3000:
Anyone had any luck solving this?

Did one Galaxy Ace and everything was great, tried to do another one and EFS got corrupt. Now phone does not have signal (Empty IMEI) and BT and WIFI mac adresses are blank also.

Is there an solution that excludes service center?
[Android General] ajhorus1:
Explanation about method for unlocking galaxy ace

What do you mean by this instruction

(from another phone /etc/fstab says: mount rfs /dev/block/stl5 /efs nosuid nodev check=no)
[Android General] tweakradje:
Just for parameter reference that was on another phone that do mount /efs from stock rom.

Cheers
[Android General] rjtd:
Maybe you should add the following:

nodiratime, noatime
[Android General] slickandy:
I just managed to restore my lost IMEI. I posted my fix in another thread (http://xdaforums.com/showpost.php?p=15408191&postcount=4) -hope this helps someone else out
[Android General] djbill2005:
Hi, procedure showed on: http://xdaforums.com/showpost.php?p=12099386&postcount=6 works fine for me on my Samsung Galaxy ACE GT-S5830

My ACE is Android 2.2.1 FROYO.XWKD1 - S5830XXKB1

Thanks.
[Android General] booci:
i'm glad you fixed your phone. i wish there was a fix for the phones with the boot loop
[Android General] lg_nik:
stl5

If i extract stl5, i can make a arhive tar.md5 and put the arhive in efs slot.Bat i dont know how do it(linux unknown for me),who can help me?
[Android General] tweakradje:
Did you read this post? http://xdaforums.com/showpost.php?p=14781519&postcount=251

It might work. But you need ODIN (4.42?). See attachement.

Read http://xdaforums.com/showpost.php?p=14781519&postcount=251 again.

If it does not work? Only one solution: repairshop.

Cheers
[Android General] lg_nik:
stl5
[Android General] tweakradje:
Instructions here: http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=888193

What is your problem? You don't have tar for Windows? Tried Google?

http://gnuwin32.sourceforge.net/packages/gtar.htm

dos box:

tar cvf efs.tar stl5.img

Flash it with ODIN like in instructions first link.

Cheers
[Android General] lg_nik:
stl5

first link is for i5800,i have i5500 not working(only if i have .ops with slot for efs),dont understending me wrong tar file with md5 can made only in linux,i have peazip to make tar arhive in xp.my reparation cost in service is 100 e (i buy the phone with this money).

thnks
[Android General] booci:
every time i try to flash efs.tar, odin crashes, and gives an error.
[Android General] ol1ver:
Phone is at the shop now, they've sent it to samsung, appearantly the problem was worse then what he could solve. Should have told him it was a corrupted efs ;)

In any case, i wonder if the image gets corrupted if you mount it ro (including all those options) and only read the perso.txt file. with dd going through the entire efs and the phoneapp (speculation on that bit) accessing it aswell, it's plausible that it can cause corruption. Even though it's very stupid on samsung's part, as it ensures basically a bricked phone. (Simple virus on a rooted phone, inc. the root on a non-rooted phone)

Anyway, I'll let you know when my phone is back what happend. 1-5 weeks from now.
[Android General] BigOmar:
hi

hi there guys

my phone does boot ok however i have lost my IMEI number, baseband and GSM signal regardless if i input the following commands

dd if=/sdcard/stl5.rfs of=/dev/block/stl5

i suspect its not working because i carried out the unlock steps twice.

i think my efs is corrupt

is there anyway of fixing it
[Android General] londonmalik:
Please help

OK here is mine.

Model Number : GT-I5500

Baseband Version : Unknown

Kernel Version : 2.6.29-perf root@SE-S608 #1

Build Number : ERE27.XWJK3

IMEI : Unknown

IMEI SV : Unknown

Wi-Fi MAC : Unvailable

Bluetooth Address: 00:00:00:00:00:00

I got the 8 digit unlock code from this 100% safe method and the phone got unlocked, but after rebooting the phone, this happened.

I am stuck now. Phone gets rebooting every 5 mins or so and no wi-fi, no signal and not even connecting to Kies.

Please please advise what to do now.
[Android General] Maniac618:
Hi there,

I wouldn't normally do this but I'm getting a bit desperate.

I bought a Europa for my girlfriend for her Birthday this August 2nd and I just can't unlock it.

I followed the guide and got this from the perso.txt file:

So I have got as far as viewing that perso.txt file however I'm not sure which is the code and how I actually type it into the PIN box when a new sim is inserted. I can only type in numbers when it asks for the PIN, however a few youtube vids I have watched where you have to pay for services but they still give you info for after show users somewhere having to enter:

#7465625*638*unlock code#

Where is that entered if at all?

I'm getting a little bit stumped now.

I would love you forever if you can help me sort out my girlfriend's birthday present with me!

Regards,

Maniac618
[Android General] nislo:
If the phone is locked, you will be prompted for the unlock code when you power the phone in if a sim card from another service provider is inserted.

Well, my phone is a paperweight at the moment after following the instructions at the start of this thread. It's been like that for some time, but I've been patiently waiting for a resolution, but alas nothing yet. I did not back up my EFS and the phone is in the Samsung logo splash boot loop. I bought the phone in Australia, but I'm now living in Canada so I don't know how I'll go with repair.

Is it possible for someone to backup their EFS, strip the IMEI, wifi MAC etc and post their EFS up for others to add in their own IMEI and upload via Odin?
[Android General] cybot_x1024:
Unlock gone bad

Followed this to the letter and after reboot with locked simcard it wont ask for unlock code nor connect to network. After i checked the settings-> about phone it says baseband version is "unknown" :confused: . I tried flashing several baseband and stock roms and it did not solve the problem.

i even tried a hard reset and updating the firmware from an older version through kies suite but it didnt even detect the phone.

Oh and one more thing i noticed is that when i reboot the phone from menu, it hangs on the black screen while it shuts down, i have to take out the battery and put it back in then start the phone :(

Can someone please help?
[Android General] DVBDIGITAL:
I have same problems: baseband version is "unknown", no imei, no signal, i tried everything, flash with odin, flash with jtag, repair bootloader, but the phone continously reboot after 4-5 minutes and its dead again..only jtag help, but the problems still there..no imei, no signal, no mac adress..help us please! Any advice? Tell us what is went wrong and how to repair our phones..thx
[Android General] tweakradje:
I don't know why some people have problems with safe method.

Could be any typo or whatever.

Did you try NV Rebuild from service menu? (post 3)

http://xdaforums.com/showpost.php?p=9051523&postcount=3

Also you can try: adb reboot recovery

then use dd command to copy stl5 to sdcard BUT then dd it right back again.

Cheers
[Android General] Maniac618:
Hi there, I tried to PM you my previous post but it didn't work, could you have a look at what I posted in this thread befrore please, I don't know which is the code to type in, I also am not 100% sure on where to type it.

I put in a different sim and it wants a PIN. I tried the 8 digit number twice and it didn't allow it. I have 1 chance left. I typed it correctly, what could be wrong?

Thanks.
[Android General] DVBDIGITAL:
I didnt tried the nv rebuild method because i couldnt enter in download mode and jtag flashing its useless..i wanna know if others could find a solution for this issues..I am very disappointing:(
[Android General] sgonzalez_betin:
Boot loop solution?

See this site: w w w . jtagbox.com / jtag-news / riff-jtag-samsung-i5500-galaxy-unbrick-dead-boot-repair-supported/

please coment.

Thanks
[Android General] ilarrain:
That's promissing.
[Android General] DVBDIGITAL:
Thanks to share the info! Somebody could confirmed that this method works on our softbricked phones?
[Android General] cybot_x1024:
Thanx for the suggestions, i think the more the suggestions we get the faster we will find a fix for this ;)

I have tried the NV Rebiuld method but as soon as i type the *#*#197328640#*#* code my screen goes blank. It stays black but the phone is still on.

Also tried the adb method where i dd the stl5 to the sdcard [ dd if=/dev/block/stl5 of=/sdcard/stl5.rfs ] but it just copies a 252kB file to the SDcard, and i believe the file is supposed to be about 4MB?

Oh and it happens both when i use adb in normal mode and recovery mode.

Please correct me if am going wrong somewhere.
[Android General] cybot_x1024:
i will try all methods you suggest, and post my results for all, incase any of them works for anyone
[Android General] Unwound:
Just unlocked my "I5500L" using tweakradjes method. Thanks! Saved me a $100 unlocking fee!

Link to post with method I used: http://xdaforums.com/showpost.php?p=12099386&postcount=6
[Android General] mraalbertina:
Hello, is it still impossible to fix the boot loop without using RIFF Boxes?
[Android General] DVBDIGITAL:
The boot loop maybe can fix without riff boxes..your phone its stuck on boot logo or dont show anything?
[Android General] mrkipling:
my phone is stuck on boot logo - I can still flash other ROM's onto it, but stuck with unknown baseband & IMEI issue ?

Is this bricked? will samsung in the UK repair the device free of charge?
[Android General] DVBDIGITAL:
Its semi bricked, so you can try to fix it..read some tutorials posted in this thread! and yes you can go to the Samsung Service center if couldnt fix the issue! Good luck:)
[Android General] mraalbertina:
I've followed the tutorials, but I only have access to firmware download mode. I can't connect to use command line controls so that's the major problem I'm - and everyone with the boot loop I guess - have. Flashing to 2.3 doesn't seem to fix it.
[Android General] cybot_x1024:
I'm almost giving up on this, anybody found a way to unbrick the i5500 with soft brick?
[Android General] DVBDIGITAL:
I'm tired too, but i have a question to all Samsung Android developers, why not help us?
[Android General] barqers:
I got the perso.txt file but all I see are some weird characters and a bunch of 01234567's.

I've been scouring these pages but no one seemed to have a solution to this. Anyone know?
[Android General] DVBDIGITAL:
If you have the perso.txt you have the unlock code in the bottom..we look for a solution to repair somehow ours bricked phones:(
[Android General] barqers:
I have the perso.txt but all it gives me is a bunch of "01234567"s. I tried this number but it's not the unlock code.

Would you like to see the perso.txt file to know what I'm talking about?
[Android General] DVBDIGITAL:
Send me a message with the perso txt..maybe could help you!
[Android General] barqers:
Sent :D

10 chars
[Android General] abacusreader:
Please help

I followed the below instructions unlock my samsung I5500

==Start of instruction===

root your phone

- adb shtell

- su

- cd /

- mount -o remount,rw / (or do it before adb with root explorer)

This works on other systems: mount -o remount,rw -t rootfs rootfs /

- mkdir /efs

- mount -o nosuid,ro,nodev -t vfat /dev/block/stl5 /efs

- cat /efs/mits/perso.txt

- umount /efs

- reboot

=== end ==

I noted down the unlock code.

After reboot, I restarted the phone with the original sim, i.e the network which locked the phone in the first place (I did not understand whether it should be started wither a different network sim or own sim from the instructions)

The phone started straight away it didn't ask any unlock code.

But it is not connecting to any network.

I am unable to enter unlock code even if I change the sim from a different network and start it.

It simply starts up, all other features wifi bluetooth etc work.

When I switch it off, it doesn't completly switch off the LCD back light is ON.

The phone came with Samsung's own of Fryo 2.2 version XWJPJ

Can you let me know is this called bricking? or is there way to revive it?

I am new bie noob here, so please be gentle :)
[Android General] DVBDIGITAL:
Look at the phone settings, and give us more info..if shows the real imei number, maybe you are lucky!
[Android General] abacusreader:
Phone setting

Imei - Unknown

Imei SV - unknown
[Android General] abacusreader:
Can the original poster who posted these instructions to read the unlock code, can you confirm whether your method is working on 2.1 or 2.2 OS versions?

Whether you have tried it only on 2.1 stock OS or have you tried it on 2.2 stock OS?

If it was never tried with stock OS then atleast new users will stop bricking it by not trying this method.

I am sorry if this information was already available in the forum, there are 31 pages to go through.
[Android General] DVBDIGITAL:
If you have the Unknown status, the phone is soft bricked, but we dont have yet any solution to fix it..
[Android General] abacusreader:
the phone also keeps rebooting every 10 minutes. So I would suggest there is something incomplete in the steps. If the original poster can try to remember, how long after reboot command did he unplug the uSB cable and when did he remove the battery etc might throw some information.
[Android General] davyasdf:
Hey dude, have you figured out what's the code in your perso.txt file?

I got the same 01234567s as yours.

Thx
[Android General] prpltiger:
This worked for me to get my IMEI back! Thanks.
[Android General] martani:
I have the same problem on my Samsung Galaxy Ace.

Would it be accepted for repair (from Samsung) if it's stuck in the boot loop?

thanks
[Android General] dro3:
how to fix screen flashing on startup and nothing happens?

i've tried to flash it with firmware but it's not flashable.
[Android General] smarty111:
Hi all have been following this thread and it seems like theres been a lot of bricked phones using the method described at the start of this thread, I personally have a galaxy 5 (europa) but am too scared to try this method--too risky, however have come across another potential method:

see this post http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=1204705&page=5

someone on post number 50 states they have managed to unlock their galaxy ACE using some software from:

http://search.4shared.com/q/1/galaxy ace unlock?view=searchMainField

I know the guy in post 50 mentions he unlocked his galaxy ACE with the above file/software but would this work for the galaxy 5? the post talks about the same method of unlocking the galaxy ace being the same for the galaxy 5.

Could someone help, perhaps you super clever android users /developers will know if this will work for the galaxy 5 (europa)

Anybody out there who can help???
[Android General] gongoscho:
Thx, working with GT-i5510
[Android General] iScientist:
Have you a backup of your efs ? Have you been able to reflash your efs ?

I used dd to extract the stl5.rfs raw file system and got the perso.txt file from it. But I did not dd the stl5.rfs back to the phone. I think this is why my i5500 is also bricked. I believe that Odin knows where each kind of filesystem goes in the phone, so I am attempting to add my stl5.rfs into one of the tar files and use the one package option which I have a copy of so that I can put it back. I ave used Odin to flash the phone many times, Odin says success, but until I get the stl5.rfs back where it shouldbe I dont think the phone is gonna get past the boot loop.
[Android General] tlloyd1983:
For all those who have soft-bricked your phone (as I did) and lost your IMEI, follow these steps, and remember to give it 5 minutes. I tried this method without waiting for 5 minutes and it didn't work, be patient and wait the full 5 minutes before you pull the battery.

Phone must be rooted, Super One Click or Androot will do the job. ADB on to your phone in normal mode, no recovery.

su
dd if=/dev/block/stl5 of=/sdcard/stl5.rfs
dd if=/sdcard/stl5.rfs of=/dev/block/stl5
reboot

Now wait 5 minutes. Your phone's screen will be blank, but it won't restart. This is fine, wait 5 minutes. Not 4, 5 minutes, clear? After 5 minutes, pull the battery and power up your phone. Now should be restored. This is confirmed as working on the soft brick. I even soft bricked it again on purpose to make sure. It does work, but the 5 minutes after the copy of the stl5 is important. Also your phone MUST be rooted, and you must be superuser.
[Android General] tlloyd1983:
Just as a sidenote, once you have a stl5.rfs on your sdcard, you can use image reading software (Winimage works well) on it to navigate to the perso.txt and get your unlock code.
[Android General] iuss:
Interesting behaviour. Has anyone dared to dd the corresponding BML device instead? Being lower-level than STL, it should eliminate STL being the cause. It's at best yet another to-brick-or-not-to-brick coinflip though.

Anything to be seen in dmesg after a dd of either the BML or STL device?
[Android General] DVBDIGITAL:
Thanks for the info and i have one question..if the phone can enter in download mode, its possible to fix the phone without jtag? i tried to replace the corrupt stl5 and now the phone flash continuously with the samsung logo and nothing else! I try to reflash with Odin but the problem remains..Somebody have a solution? Or only Riff box can handle this? thx
[Android General] smellulater:
Mate, Didnt work. Rebooted instant on a Galaxy Gio. Looks like ill be wiping the block section and sending it to samsung...
[Android General] Darkshado:
If it's not too late: would you look at this, flash the CWM-based recovery, and dd your EFS partition back on the phone while in recovery mode?

It could give us a clue as to the exact moment the corruption occurs.

It might solve the problem, or tell us that the solution lies elsewhere...

FWIW, I've managed to dd my stl5 partition on a Gio 5660M to the SD card without wiping my IMEI by doing it while in recovery mode. Problem is that I haven't found my IMEI in the extracted image yet...

Goodbye,

Darkshado
[Android General] tiddydiddler:
I, too, tried the "safe" method on a standard i5500. I'm somewhat familiar with Linux(everyday user for over a decade now), so figured no harm could come from just mounting and reading stl5.

How wrong I was. Lost the IMEI, no phone connection, refused to shutdown(would restart after a few seconds with corrupt date and time).

This was a standard, unmolested phone, aside from the suggested method of root. No badly typed commands, just everything in the guide. I tried the backup/restore stl5 "fix", but this had no effect.

I strongly feel the first post in this thread, as well as the one linked to from it, should be updated to reflect the fact that "safe" means more bricked phones than successes.

Don't do it. Codes are available for £9 on eBay. It's cheaper and safer to go down that route.
[Android General] tweakradje:
Sorry to hear a few had trouble with the method. Don't forget the amount that did succeed.

You cannot say that more phones are bricked than cured. Not everyone logs it here ;)

I will change the text from "Safe" to "Safest method that we know of today".

If you find a better one I will put that into the opening post.

Strange that I have done the routine many times without any problems.

I must say I use root explorer ro mount root r/w. How did you did it?

Perhaps it is also better to do it in flight mode or even in "adb reboot recovery" mode.

Perhaps you can tell me exactly what commands you gave and what tools you used.

Cheers
[Android General] tiddydiddler:
Hello,

I didn't read the thread through its entirety until after I lost my IMEI. The commands were followed to the letter, but the handset was not in flight mode or recovery mode. Had I read the thread all the way through, I'd have placed the handset in recovery mode using "adb reboot recovery".

I didn't use root explorer, I mounted stl5 via the command line. It was correctly unmounted before restarting the handset.

Please don't take my response as a criticism of you or your efforts - it's very good that people are trying to offer help to the community and risking their own devices in the process! :)

I don't understand why mounting and reading the block device should cause these problems, as nothing should(!) be changed in the process. Possibly there is something we don't yet understand about RFS?

Software used: Windows 7 x64, Kies was installed, and I used ADB from the attachment in this post...

http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=828534

stl5 was correctly unmounted, and /efs removed prior to the reboot. After that, no network or IMEI.

I had the handset replaced by the shop the next day, and purchased a working unlock code from eBay for £9 rather than risk another handset. I'm in the UK, the handset(s) are running 2.2 and originate from 3UK(Hutchison 3G).