[TOOL][I9505-I9505G/I9515-I9515L] Full IMEI backup/restore tool [EOL]

AntaresOne · Dec 16, 2014

Full IMEI backup/restore tool for Samsung Galaxy S4 GT-I9505/GT-I9515
Brought to you by AntaresOne

NOTE: This is only for Galaxy S4 with Qualcomm Snapdragon 600, Galaxy S4 Active version is here, Exynos 5410 (GT-I9500) version is here.
To devs: modifications & redistribution are not allowed. Contact me before including my work or any part of it in your stuff.

Explanation
What is IMEI?
Wikipedia

Why should I backup it?
When you start to mod your phone, sometimes may happen that you lose it (a bad flash, a wrong mod...) and without your phone is like this. Shortly, you lose mobile network forever.

The Qualcomm variant of Galaxy S4 doesn't have IMEI stored in EFS as most people think, it's stored in another place. Partitions to backup/restore are 8, each is required by the system to have IMEI. These are: EFS (there is IMEI's country code), modemst1, modemst2, m9kefs1, m9kefs2, m9kefs3, backup and fsg. It doesn't do miracles, so if you lose IMEI and don't have a backup, you're lost.

Features

Complete IMEI backup
Autozipping of saved partitions

Installation

Download tool from the link below
Put the zip file in your sdcard
Reboot in recovery
Install zip from sdcard
Choose downloaded zip file
Reboot system

Usage
When installed, the "imeibkp" executable goes in /system/bin. Obviously root is a must. This is not an app, so to run it you must use Terminal Emulator. It's very user-friendly and n00b-approved (joking :laugh

, normally you shouldn't run into issues while using it.

Open Terminal Emulator
Write su and press enter (this is to obtain root access)
Invoke this tool by writing imeibkp and pressing enter
To restore just invoke again imeibkp

In case you want to export your backup, it is in /sdcard/IMEIBackup and called IMEIBackup.zip (Internal Memory on PC through USB connection)
If you change ROM you'll lose this tool (you'll not lose a backup already made), in this case just follow again Installation steps

Download
IMEI Backup tool is hosted on my AndroidFileHost

XDA:DevDB Information
IMEI backup/restore tool for Galaxy S4 GT-I9505-I9505G/GT-I9515/GT-I9515L, Tool/Utility for the Samsung Galaxy S4

Contributors
AntaresOne

Version Information
Status: No Longer Updated
Stable Release Date: 2014-12-16

Created 2014-12-16
Last Updated 2017-05-19

AntaresOne · Dec 16, 2014

Changelog

25/5/2015

Added support for the following variants:
- GT-I9508
- GT-I9515L
- SGH-M919N
- SGH-M919V
- SGH-I337C
- SCH-R970
- SCH-R970C
- SCH-R970X

4/3/2015

Added support for Bell SGH-I337M (same thread as AT&T variant)

9/2/2015

Added Galaxy S4 AT&T support (its own thread is here)
Fixed Galaxy S4 Active issue

31/1/2015

Added Galaxy S4 T-Mobile support (its own thread is here)
Little code update

26/1/2015

Added full zip binary in flash package (this should fix stpcpy error)
Little code update

9/1/2015

Added zip binary in flash package (not all the ROMs have it included, fixes zipping process)
Little code update

8/1/2015

Added auto zipping of saved files during backup process
Added auto unzipping of IMEIBackup archive when restoring
Better backup identification for restore process
Various code updates

4/1/2015

Added support for GT-I9505G (S4 Google Play Edition)

21/12/2014

Fixed busybox path (some ROMs have it in different location)

16/12/2014

Initial public release

Other S4 variants
If you want this tool for any other Galaxy S4 variant device write me a PM or mail me to antaresone@antaresone.eu including a full cmdline copy & partition table.

Through Terminal Emulator or ADB, do this:

For cmdline

Code:

su [b](to acquire root access)[/b]
cat /proc/cmdline > /sdcard/cmdline.txt

For partition table

Code:

su [b](same reason as above)[/b]
ls -la /dev/block/platform/msm_sdcc.1/by-name > /sdcard/partitions.txt

You will find two files named cmdline.txt and partitions.txt in your internal storage (/sdcard)

Other Samsung devices
PM or mail me at antaresone@antaresone.eu for details.

Obleon99 · Dec 16, 2014

Sei il migliore

Jackyqxl · Dec 16, 2014

This is suit for SGH-i337M , right?

Jsilver73 · Dec 16, 2014

I feel nice and safe now, I always thought I was OK having efs backed up but apparently that's not enough right.

So now I have my imei nice and safe on my external SD - just in case, better safe than sorry

Thank you AntaresONE

Disrespective · Dec 16, 2014

Thanks for this, looks good.

I understand this can't generate an IMEI from the phone itself, but I have a dead S4 which has a null IMEI which I know (it's on the box it came in). Is there a method for me to insert this into another S4 IMEI backup (I have another working S4 as my main phone so could use it's backup)?

baudbox · Dec 17, 2014

Hi great tool AntaresOne. Thanks for sharing.

Quick note: if some those like me busybox is installed under /system/xbin/; you can have trouble to launch the imeibkp like a noob

Backing up EFS ....
/system/bin/imeibkp[171]: /system/bin/busybox: not found
...

I have created a symlink from the source file like this (done via adb, but can be directly done via a terminal console):

C:\Baud\platform-tools>adb shell
shell@android:/ $ su
su
root@android:/ # mount -o remount,rw /system
mount -o remount,rw /system
root@android:/ # ln -s /system/xbin/busybox /system/bin/busybox
ln -s /system/xbin/busybox /system/bin/busybox
root@android:/ # imeibkp
imeibkp
***********************************
* AntaresOne's IMEI backup tool *
***********************************

Checking device...

GT-I9505 found!

Checking backup...

Backup not found. Do you want to make it now?

1 - Yes
2 - No

Type 1 or 2 and press enter:
1

Backing up EFS...
27904+0 records in
27904+0 records out
14286848 bytes (13.6MB) copied, 2.645813 seconds, 5.1MB/s
Backing up modemst1...
6144+0 records in
6144+0 records out
3145728 bytes (3.0MB) copied, 0.563782 seconds, 5.3MB/s
Backing up modemst2...
6144+0 records in
6144+0 records out
3145728 bytes (3.0MB) copied, 0.568542 seconds, 5.3MB/s
Backing up m9kefs1...
1560+0 records in
1560+0 records out
798720 bytes (780.0KB) copied, 0.143830 seconds, 5.3MB/s
Backing up m9kefs2...
1560+0 records in
1560+0 records out
798720 bytes (780.0KB) copied, 0.142853 seconds, 5.3MB/s
Backing up m9kefs3...
1560+0 records in
1560+0 records out
798720 bytes (780.0KB) copied, 0.149078 seconds, 5.1MB/s
Backing up backup...
12288+0 records in
12288+0 records out
6291456 bytes (6.0MB) copied, 2.140778 seconds, 2.8MB/s
Backing up fsg...
6144+0 records in
6144+0 records out
3145728 bytes (3.0MB) copied, 0.574982 seconds, 5.2MB/s
Writing log...

Operation successfully completed!

Thanks for using this tool!
Remember to leave a feedback on XDA thread
AntaresOne@XDA-Developers
root@android:/ #

Hope it helps

sn0wman1 · Dec 18, 2014

Disrespective said:
Thanks for this, looks good.

I understand this can't generate an IMEI from the phone itself, but I have a dead S4 which has a null IMEI which I know (it's on the box it came in). Is there a method for me to insert this into another S4 IMEI backup (I have another working S4 as my main phone so could use it's backup)?

I can confirm this works. I bought an s4 off eBay which was blacklisted. I've had it now for about 6months now and never been able to sort it. UNTIL NOW!!. Backed up my IMEI number off my phone and restored it to blacklisted phone. Now all is good!!

Disrespective · Dec 18, 2014

OK, OK, so I am definitely a noob, and this wasn't hard to run, however, I can only see the files when I look at the phone with a file browser. How can I retrieve them from the phone? I can't see them from a PC when I move them to a different location (extSD).

sn0wman1 · Dec 18, 2014

They are saved in the internal memory mate. You can just drag the folder IMEI BACKUP to a pc

Disrespective · Dec 18, 2014

Yeah, you'd think that, wouldn't you? I've used a number of different file browsers and they all see the folders but when trying to view the folders with a PC (or OSX) they just don't exist.

I just compressed them and emailed them to myself with ES.

Chibbo · Dec 19, 2014

this works on cm12?

AntaresOne · Dec 19, 2014

Jackyqxl said:
This is suit for SGH-i337M , right?

Yes it is

baudbox said:
Hi great tool AntaresOne. Thanks for sharing.

Quick note: if some those like me busybox is installed under /system/xbin/; you can have trouble to launch the imeibkp like a noob

I have created a symlink from the source file like this (done via adb, but can be directly done via a terminal console):

Hope it helps

If busybox is installed in xbin, always has a symlink in /system/bin (automatically created at the moment of ROM installation/busybox installation)

If you open xbin and bin with a root browser or adb shell, you'll see that all the binaries in xbin are symlinked to bin, then there's no need to manually create a symlink

Chibbo said:
this works on cm12?

Yes, works on any ROM that has root and busybox installed. Works in Aroma filemanager's terminal and TWRP console too

Chibbo · Dec 19, 2014

doesn't work on cm12
its looking for busybox in bin folder but its in xbin. anyways it's easy to fix but just sayin it isn't working "out of the box"

Conito11 · Dec 21, 2014

If i make a backup, what i have to do to restore it?

--
Believes in Christ and you and your family will be safe of the Great day of Jehovah's wrath
I9505 Powered with Phoenix Rom v9.4 - Tamirda
GoogyMax Kernel v1.1.5 - Googy_anas
Philz touch Recovery - Philz
S5's S-view Cover service - Karkasss
Jehovah's Thunder Bootanimation - Pas2001
Bootanimation sound - Me
A lot of mods and stuff - Xda community
Thanks to all of you...

sn0wman1 · Dec 21, 2014

Conito11 said:
If i make a backup, what i have to do to restore it?

--
Believes in Christ and you and your family will be safe of the Great day of Jehovah's wrath
I9505 Powered with Phoenix Rom v9.4 - Tamirda
GoogyMax Kernel v1.1.5 - Googy_anas
Philz touch Recovery - Philz
S5's S-view Cover service - Karkasss
Jehovah's Thunder Bootanimation - Pas2001
Bootanimation sound - Me
A lot of mods and stuff - Xda community
Thanks to all of you...

Same process only when you have backup it gives you option to restore

KenHua · Dec 21, 2014

I tried it but this is what I got:
Quote
imeibkp
***********************************
* AntaresOne's IMEI backup tool *
***********************************

Checking device...

GT-I9505 found!

Checking backup...

Backup not found. Do you want to make it now?

1 - Yes
2 - No

Type 1 or 2 and press enter:
1
1
1
1
2
2
Yes
No
Unquote
There is no response after I typed 1 and enter! Typed again and again and other options but nothing! Can someone help please ?
p.s I used 3C Toolbox Terminal. There is an (su) append to each entry.

AntaresOne · Dec 21, 2014

KenHua said:
I tried it but this is what I got:
Quote
imeibkp
***********************************
* AntaresOne's IMEI backup tool *
***********************************

Checking device...

GT-I9505 found!

Checking backup...

Backup not found. Do you want to make it now?

1 - Yes
2 - No

Type 1 or 2 and press enter:
1
1
1
1
2
2
Yes
No
Unquote
There is no response after I typed 1 and enter! Typed again and again and other options but nothing! Can someone help please ?
p.s I used 3C Toolbox Terminal. There is an (su) append to each entry.

Use this terminal

Tool updated, fixed busybox path & various updates to the code

Download: https://www.androidfilehost.com/?fid=95864024717067320

KenHua · Dec 21, 2014

AntaresOne said:
Use this terminal

Tool updated, fixed busybox path & various updates to the code

Download: https://www.androidfilehost.com/?fid=95864024717067320

Thumbs Up :good: for your quick response. Now I get :
u0_a225@jflte:/ $ su
root@jflte:/ # imeibkp
***********************************
* AntaresOne's IMEI backup tool *
***********************************

Checking device...

GT-I9505 found!

Checking backup...
/system/bin/imeibkp[39]: busybox: not found
/system/bin/imeibkp[39]: busybox: not found

Backup not found. Do you want to make it now?

1 - Yes
2 - No

Type 1 or 2 and press enter:
1

Backing up EFS...
/system/bin/imeibkp[180]: busybox: not found
Backing up modemst1...
/system/bin/imeibkp[180]: busybox: not found
Backing up modemst2...
/system/bin/imeibkp[180]: busybox: not found
Backing up m9kefs1...
/system/bin/imeibkp[180]: busybox: not found
Backing up m9kefs2...
/system/bin/imeibkp[180]: busybox: not found
Backing up m9kefs3...
/system/bin/imeibkp[180]: busybox: not found
Backing up backup...
/system/bin/imeibkp[180]: busybox: not found
Backing up fsg...
/system/bin/imeibkp[180]: busybox: not found

Writing log...
/system/bin/imeibkp[180]: busybox: not found

Backup path: /sdcard/IMEIBackup

Operation successfully completed!

Remember to leave a feedback on XDA thread
AntaresOne@XDA-Developers

root@jflte:/ #

My Busybox is:

BusyBox
Stephen (Stericson)
- 22 November 2014

I think the commands are Installed in Xbin by default.

edzamber · Dec 21, 2014

Same here, come back to previous version and it works.

[TOOL][I9505-I9505G/I9515-I9515L] Full IMEI backup/restore tool [EOL]

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