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Root [MetroPCS/CDMA] Very Important! backup nv Before flashing!

n4zty

Android Expert
Apr 6, 2011
4,302
1,700
Hey guys just wanted to let ya know theres a few of you guys that have lost your phone's info including phone number min number and imei aka esn number, due to a currupt ef file.I was talking to shabby and he showed me how to back up my nv just incase it ever happened to me so i wanna share with you guys and give him all the credit. Also if your thinking this wont ever happen to you just ask nuttmeg and a few other on the forum... they had to return their brand new phone to metro's corp store.

alright first thing first your gs3 MUST BE Rooted And must have recovery installed after that

download terminal emulator which can be found here for free.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/...251bGwsMSwxLDMsImphY2twYWwuYW5kcm9pZHRlcm0iXQ..

Once downloaded and installed open it and type this command

su then press enter now type reboot nvbackup and press enter again

screenshot2012112618222.png


your phone should reboot and back up your important nv file. I really cant stress how important this is to do since it will save you the headache of returning back your phone to corp and wait till they give you another one.

For those of you guys that had to return back your gs3 im sorry i didnt ask shabby soon enough but atleast now you guys can make sure it never happens again ;)

Edit: shabby forgot to tell me to restore settings its the same command cept instead of nvbackup you type nvrestore so should look like this.
Code:
u0_a40@android:/ $ su       <<< press enter then you get another command line so u enter
u0_a40@android:/ # reboot nvrestore

That should make your phone reboot and from what mrpnut said it will keep your phone on the samsung splash screen for 30 sec or so then it will enter recovery from which u can restore to any backup and your phone's info number/min number /esn number should be back to normal.

Edit
Update:

Playfulgod has shared an app he created that does this without all the need for the terminal or typing the command im not sure if root is needed for this i dont recall this app asking for root permission but im so used to seeing that i might of not noticed but anyways try it never the less the worst that can happen that it wont do anything lol.

Credits to playfulgod for his app:

NVBackup&RestoreTool.apk

another tut for you guys that are not rooted is using an app that i've recently been using alot and thats Quickshortcut maker

which can be found on the play market for free here:

https://play.google.com/store/apps/...vbS5zaWthNTI0LmFuZHJvaWQucXVpY2tzaG9ydGN1dCJd

anyways once u download it and install it open and navigate to almost the bottom of the list and yes we are searching for activities. Look for sec_ril_dump

screenshot2013041508302.png


select it then you should get this screen

screenshot2013041508303.png


then just press the try button and you should get this screen. look for nv back up and select it

screenshot2013041508305.png


the passcode is 873283 enter and press ok

screenshot2013041508311.png


then you should get this last screen saying you saved it successfully

screenshot2013041508312.png


Anyways i would like to add a disclaimer not to mess with any other options some require password some dont i would like to find the pass for saving efs data to sd card but cant find anything for that yet. anyways ya been warned ya start playing with settings and screw something up ya are on your own!! like always try this on on your own risk.
 
Hey guys just wanted to let ya know theres a few of you guys that have lost your phone's info including phone number min number and imei aka esn number, due to a currupt ef file.I was talking to shabby and he showed me how to back up my nv just incase it ever happened to me so i wanna share with you guys and give him all the credit. Also if your thinking this wont ever happen to you just ask nuttmeg and a few other on the forum... they had to return their brand new phone to metro's corp store.

alright first thing first your gs3 MUST BE Rooted And must have recovery installed after that

download terminal emulator which can be found here for free.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/...251bGwsMSwxLDMsImphY2twYWwuYW5kcm9pZHRlcm0iXQ..

Once downloaded and installed open it and type this command

su then press enter now type reboot nvbackup and press enter again

screenshot2012112617582.png


your phone should reboot and back up your important nv file. I really cant stress how important this is to do since it will save you the headache of returning back your phone to corp and wait till they give you another one.

For those of you guys that had to return back your gs3 im sorry i didnt ask shabby soon enough but atleast now you guys can make sure it never happens again ;)
At the moment, I'm using stock rooted ROM, & terminal emulator isn't working. The screen says app_10@android:/ $
 
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sorry guys if you guys followed the pic i uploaded shabby just pointed out i typed the command wrong it was su then enter then reboot nvbackup then enter not backupnv lol sorry i just reuploaded correct pic. if your phone reboots you should see on starup blue letters kind of like how when u enter recovery. it will then proceed to normal bootup.
 
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sorry guys if you guys followed the pic i uploaded shabby just pointed out i typed the command wrong it was su then enter then reboot nvbackup then enter not backupnv lol sorry i just reuploaded correct pic. if your phone reboots you should see on starup blue letters kind of like how when u enter recovery. it will then proceed to normal bootup.
Nothing will type in. Just reinstalled it & stiil the same line when it first opens.
 
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sorry guys if you guys followed the pic i uploaded shabby just pointed out i typed the command wrong it was su then enter then reboot nvbackup then enter not backupnv lol sorry i just reuploaded correct pic. if your phone reboots you should see on starup blue letters kind of like how when u enter recovery. it will then proceed to normal bootup.

Just redid it. Wonder if I got two backsups now. :)

Nothing will type in. Just reinstalled it & stiil the same line when it first opens.

When you type su and hit enter does your dollar sign change to a number sign? From $ to #?
 
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I use this after i got my new phone when i had the ultimate brick S3 about a month ago. Thanks for the great share bud, anything that makes the s3 is awesome. ;)

EFS_Pro_1.12.6_Release

attachment.php


Features:
  • Supports Backup and Restore of Partition Image (*.img) and Compressed TAR Archive (*.tar) formats.

  • Automatically detects saved EFS Backups on Device and PC for hassle free restoring.

  • Re-Scan option to refresh Backup list for restoring Backups.

  • Automatically Re-Mounts '/efs' folder with Read/Write permissions during restore for users 'stuck' with Read Only permissions.

  • Automatic detection and prompting of Mass Storage Mode.

  • Automatic detection and termination of SAMSUNG Kies application on startup.

  • Supports Multiple Backup handling.

  • Automatic detection of '/efs' partition File System type during restore of an EFS Backup.

  • Option to Format '/efs' partition before restoring an EFS Backup.

  • Independant Button to Format the '/efs' partition.

  • Displays various Device, ROM and BusyBox related information on startup.

  • Attempt NV Recovery - Restores NV Data from '*.bak' files if they exist to fix corrupt or incorrect IMEI number.

  • Repair NV Data - Repairs NV Data file ownership to fix 'Unknown Baseband' and 'No Network / Signal'.

  • AUTOMATIC '/efs' partition location detection to add support for many more including future devices.

  • Hashing of Partition Image Backups to verify the data written.
 
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unfortunatly the /efs partition doesnt hold everything. so that wont save you nuttmeg :/

im making a flashable zip to back everything up. anyone willing to test? :D

it will back them up to your sdcard where you can see it, the nvbackup command saves it to your nand (flashing a rom wont wiope it out but odin will)

please only one tester shabbypenguin.com/OUDstuff/Samsung/Metro/R530M/EFS_Backup.zip
 
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well geeze nutty when were yout thinking about sharing with us eh??? that looks like a great tool to export nv files to computer just to keep around but from what shabz told me this method saves straight into nand ;) either way i think this is a fantastic thread to keep up i gurantee your not the first nor the last person to run into this prob.

Edit: shabby beat me to the response lol thats my boy!! good job shabby!!
 
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unfortunatly the /efs partition doesnt hold everything. so that wont save you nuttmeg :/

im making a flashable zip to back everything up. anyone willing to test? :D

it will back them up to your sdcard where you can see it, the nvbackup command saves it to your nand (flashing a rom wont wiope it out but odin will)

please only one tester shabbypenguin.com/OUDstuff/Samsung/Metro/R530M/EFS_Backup.zip
I'll try it

OK, this is a zip to go on the phone right? lol that may be a dumb question
nah thats a external program to save your efs file but shabby said it wont save everything.
 
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unfortunatly the /efs partition doesnt hold everything. so that wont save you nuttmeg :/

im making a flashable zip to back everything up. anyone willing to test? :D

it will back them up to your sdcard where you can see it, the nvbackup command saves it to your nand (flashing a rom wont wiope it out but odin will)

please only one tester shabbypenguin.com/OUDstuff/Samsung/Metro/R530M/EFS_Backup.zip
OK, I'll give it a try
 
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OK, this is a zip to go on the phone right? lol that may be a dumb question

no one the pc.

@n4sty i thought i posted that to the other person who was having that same problem i had, but notice it was sent via pm...lol But it has the option to backup to pc or phone, But either way we have some great methods thanks to you and shabb also.

@shabby i'll test it, i will get on irc when i make it to the house. ;)
 
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