Could you give me a deleted photos recovery program?

[mikedt]

Moreover, I tried running MobiSaver for Android. Although rooting my phone exhausted me, and then eventually rooted it successfully, MobiSaver for Android didn't find my important deleted photos?????? It found only some icon photos and some very few camera photos.
View attachment 125035
Do you know any other Android Data Recovery software?

Thing is by installing this app, as well as just using the device and it being on, deleted data has quite possibly been overwritten by new data, like caches, temp files, etc. Which would be impossible to recover/undelete, because it's no longer there.

 

[a cooperator]

Thanks a lot,
Note, I didn't install MobilSaver on my phone on which data was deleted, I installed it onto my PC. then, ran it from there by connecting my phone to my PC.
Then why I had to exhaust myself rooting my phone. What new thing rooting makes different? The MobiSaver for Android scanned my phone without rooting it.
But, results shown after scanning my phone not rooted were fewer than results after scaning my phone rooted.

 

[ChristiC]

Didn't know there was even a prayer of recovering photos. Wish I know this before. Thanks for the info.

 

[lunatic59]

I think you are going to have to resolve yourself to the fact that your photos are gone. It's an awful lesson to learn and I feel for you, but you seem to be grasping at straws now hoping by some miracle there is a magic unicorn out there with your name on it.

Recovery programs in general are a crap shoot. They work on the assumption that a typical storage volume is only going to only remove the bit on the master volume record that mark a sector as in use and part of a file without actually removing or overwriting the data. On a spinning disk this is possible because that's exactly how it works. With flash memory volumes, it's not quite the same.

Your problem starts with the version of Android being later than 4.4.2 which is when the system/user volumes became virtualized as opposed to static volumes. While this provided a much more efficient use of total memory on an Android device, it did present the problem of mounting those volumes as traditional storage. So any recovery program that relies on a traditional storage model is not going to be able to read the file sectors on a virtual volume in flash memory. The reason why something like MobiSaver found things was because it was looking for things in hidden folders and app caches. This is most likely why it found some thumbnails of your deleted photos, because deleting the photo won't automatically delete the thumbnail or the app cache, especially if you've viewed the image in multiple apps.

The more you try to recover them now, the less likely you will be able to. Every time you use your phone for anything it's going to be using the file system and since the blocks where your image might have been stored is free, they are most likely being overwritten. Rooting will only make the matter worse as it give access to the total file system.

But, results shown after scanning my phone not rooted were fewer than results after scanning my phone rooted.

That's because with root you MobiSaver could search for files in protected areas. While this might give you more options it is very possible that giving root access to external apps can compromise your security or damage your phone's system.

I think your best course of action here is to give up and move forward with a solid backup plan in case this happens again.

 

[a cooperator]

Your problem starts with the version of Android being later than 4.4.2 which is when the system/user volumes became virtualized as opposed to static volumes. While this provided a much more efficient use of total memory on an Android device, it did present the problem of mounting those volumes as traditional storage. So any recovery program that relies on a traditional storage model is not going to be able to read the file sectors on a virtual volume in flash memory. The reason why something like MobiSaver found things was because it was looking for things in hidden folders and app caches. This is most likely why it found some thumbnails of your deleted photos, because deleting the photo won't automatically delete the thumbnail or the app cache, especially if you've viewed the image in multiple apps.

Thanks a lot,
But, if you had looked at the Hadron 's reply, you would have seen that he had told he has Android version with 4.1, but his phone never supported UMS.

I'd not swear that USB Mass Storage would be available if you could downgrade to below 4.4. My previous phone originally came with 4.1 and never supported UMS. The shift to MTP being the transfer protocol happened early in Android 4, though some manufacturers may have retained UMS as an option for longer.

I, myself, I have never ever come across a phone with supporting UMS. I.e. I never ever saw a phone connected into a PC and is being mounted an unique letter volume(static volume). Yes, when connecting my SD Card onto a Card reader on my PC, then the SD care was mounted with an unique letter volume.

P. S. I can downgrade to below 4.4. to see if UMS would be supported or not. If, yes, how to do?

Rooting will only make the matter worse as it give access to the total file system.
That's because with root you MobiSaver could search for files in protected areas. While this might give you more options it is very possible that giving root access to external apps can compromise your security or damage your phone's system.

Although I have not already figured out what root is and what is the mechanism of and benefits of it, you have recommended the MobiSaver for me, if Recuva didn't work. And you absolutely knew that MobiSave must have a phone rooted to scan deeply phone's storage, and enabled for USB debugging to start scan phone's storage.
Now, my phone became have 'developer mode options' turned on in which I can enable or disable USB debugging. ----- 'Developer mode option' now is permanently shown in the settings of phone, and I think will never be turned off as it was before tapping many times on 'build number'????
Now, my phone has been rooted. Which I don't see any options added to the settings of my phone to know if the rooting is still turned on or not. If rooting could be still turned on once it was enabled, then how to turn it off back.
Now, I would highly appreciate it if you could enlighten me what other benefits are there from rooting a phone????

I think your best course of action here is to give up and move forward with a solid backup plan in case this happens again.

I tried running the same MobiSave while phone was being rooted, and the results were a little bit fewer than the previous results while phone was also rooted. Though I didn't do any changes on phone in between the two scans.
Screen shots below:
The previous scan results of MobiSave are:



The next scan results MobiSave are:

You don't think there are other recovery software like MobiSave to be given a try.

 

[lunatic59]

Let me first say that we are all just regular users like yourself trying to help other out with our own personal experiences. Everyone's experience is going to be different because every phone/user/software combination will be unique.

I gave you suggestions as to what would be your best avenues to try and recover your accidentally deleted files. True, I had little hope of success, but then it's better than not trying at all. I am sorry it's not working for you, and that none of the recovery programs are able to get back your lost files. Please don't fall prey to any of the shadier places that claim miracles. They aren't likely to work either and you'll end up paying for it one way or another.

Honestly, I didn't know that mobisaver required root. I have never used it. I did try recuva for a different situation once and it was able to find some files, but it was on an external hard drive, not a phone.

By turning on developer options all you do is have access to some more advanced settings. It doesn't do anything to your phone. While you can't turn it off once it's been enabled, you can simply ignore it.

As for root, that will give you the ability to elevate permissions so you can access the whole file system. It also give you the ability to give those permissions to other apps as well. Be very careful if an app asks for root privileges as it can change thing in a very bad way if the app is malicious.

You don't think there are other recovery software like MobiSave to be given a try.

Frankly, no. I think you've given it your best shot. Other than VERY expensive data recovery services who will take your phone apart to try an access the memory chips themselves (and there's no guarantee there either) you're out of options, I'm sorry to say.

 

[a cooperator]

Honestly, I didn't know that mobisaver required root. I have never used it. I did try recuva for a different situation once and it was able to find some files, but it was on an external hard drive, not a phone.

By turning on developer options all you do is have access to some more advanced settings. It doesn't do anything to your phone. While you can't turn it off once it's been enabled, you can simply ignore it.

As for root, that will give you the ability to elevate permissions so you can access the whole file system. It also give you the ability to give those permissions to other apps as well. Be very careful if an app asks for root privileges as it can change thing in a very bad way if the app is malicious.
.

Thanks a lot,
'MiniTool Mobile Recovery for Android', 'EaseUS MobiSaver for Android', and I think any mobile recovery software, would require first to enable USB debugging on enabling 'developer mode' for start a quick scan. However, for a deep scan, rooting a phone will be required.
However, you don't tell me how to turn rooting off back? Or once my phone got rooted by a tool, it would not be turned back off. And no need to root it again.
Also, you don't tell me how to downgrade Android version to an earlier version.

 

[lunatic59]

Your way to reverse root will be dependent on how you rooted in the first place. Many time, all you need to do is uninstall SuperSU to remove the ability to give root permissions.

As for rolling back to an earlier version of Android, Assuming you can find the right firmware for your phone, it requires reflashing the phone's memory which overwrites EVERYTHING. If you do that, you have permanently destroyed any hopes of retrieval. Although right now I doubt you're getting them back anyway.

 

[a cooperator]

Your way to reverse root will be dependent on how you rooted in the first place. Many time, all you need to do is uninstall SuperSU to remove the ability to give root permissions.

As for rolling back to an earlier version of Android, Assuming you can find the right firmware for your phone, it requires reflashing the phone's memory which overwrites EVERYTHING. If you do that, you have permanently destroyed any hopes of retrieval. Although right now I doubt you're getting them back anyway.

Thanks a lot,
I tried running MiniTool Mobile Recovery for Android', and the same photos found by EasUS MobileSaver were found by MiniTool Mobile Recovery for Android'. The most strange is there are no photos listed under the 'camera' section in the results section of MiniTool Mobile Recovery for Android, although my photos taken by phone camera are the ones were deleted. There is no 'gallery' section in the results of MiniTool Mobile Recovery for Android'. However, some photos/pictures listed under the other picture apps' section in the results section by both software. Clicking on those other pictures apps' section let photos be shown/reviewed in very tiny view like thumbs. I don't think they were taken by the phone camera although they are personal photos(for human)

For rolling back to an earlier version of Android, as you said assuming I can find the right firmware for my phone, I would be saying:
1- my Phone model is Samsung Galaxy Prevail LTE(SM-G360P).
2- now issue if it requires reflashing the phone's memory which overwrites EVERYTHING.
3- I don't see that my Adroid version got updated at all although it is always connected to internet.
4- you think rolling to an earlier version of Android would be as the way of installing a fresh Windows installation on the PCs. I never ever that phones could be reinstalled a new version of Android version.

 

[Hadron]

Analogies with how Windows works rarely work with phones or tablets. Android devices store the system firmware in different partitions from the user software and data, and don't keep a lot of free space in those for older images that can be rolled back to (and on most devices there would be little space for the user if they did!). I've not modified a Samsung personality, so can't say how easy it would be to roll back, but as luna says it's likely to destroy any chance of recovering anything.

However, I think the question is moot. Since you provided the exact model number I looked it up, and it seems it was originally released with 4.4.4. That means that there will be no older version available for that phone, because they never existed in the first place.

 

[a cooperator]

Analogies with how Windows works rarely work with phones or tablets. Android devices store the system firmware in different partitions from the user software and data, and don't keep a lot of free space in those for older images that can be rolled back to (and on most devices there would be little space for the user if they did!). I've not modified a Samsung personality, so can't say how easy it would be to roll back, but as luna says it's likely to destroy any chance of recovering anything.

However, I think the question is moot. Since you provided the exact model number I looked it up, and it seems it was originally released with 4.4.4. That means that there will be no older version available for that phone, because they never existed in the first place.

Thanks a lot,
1- How did you decide that my phone was originally released with 4.2.2, and that means there will be no older version available for my phone? When looking up it with MODEL NUMBER "SM-G360P", I found three types of phones having the same Samsung Galaxy Prevail LTE(SM-G360P)? (screen shot below)
2- Also, I didn't find that statement saying phone was originally released with 4.2.2, and that means there will be no older version available for my phone.

3- Also, if I want to upgrade my Android version to a later version, then I can do that.

4-In general, do you think downgrade an Android version to an earlier version or upgrade it to a later version means that installing a new Android system version, and all what I need is to download the he right firmware for my phone from the manufacturer website. If so, then this means I can backup an existing Android system before installing a new one version of Android. So, if I want to restore that Android system I can do.

 

[lunatic59]

How did you decide that my phone was originally released with 4.2.2, and that means there will be no older version available for my phone?

Check this out. Samsung Galaxy Core Prime LTE SM-G360P Samsung has an annoying habit of making many versions of essentially the same phone. This phone was only called "Prevail" when sold by Boost Mobile, all the others seem to call it the "Core Prime". Anyway, you can see the release date and the Android version at launch. Since firmware is written SPECIFICALLY for each phone, there is no possibility of firmware existing for this phone prior to 4.4.4 ... anywhere, ever.

Also, if I want to upgrade my Android version to a later version, then I can do that.

Sure. I'm surprised you weren't prompted to upgrade long ago since this phone can officially go all the way to 5.1.1 (Lollipop).

If so, then this means I can backup an existing Android system before installing a new one version of Android. So, if I want to restore that Android system I can do.

Yes and no. Or maybe I should say no and yes. There are several good backup apps that will keep your data safe, but if I'm hearing you correctly, you want something called a Nandroid. That is only available through a custom recovery like TWRP and is essentially a complete image of your phone's file system at the point you run it. You can then save that monolithic file off the phone in case you ever need to revert back. The thing it, that to flash TWRP over the stock recovery, you have to unlock the bootloader. That by itself will factory reset your phone and erase all user partitions. It's a security policy that cannot be bypassed, so if you intend to do that, just understand that EVERYTHING on your phone will be gone.

An official upgrade, OTOH, can be done 'in place' without disturbing your apps or data. It doesn't always go smoothly and a reset eventually becomes necessary, but it does give you the opportunity to back it up first.

Manufacturers never intended for customers to modify the phone's file system or partition structure, or roll back to previous versions (when available). That's why it's not easy, can be complicated, and in some cases, can't be done at all.

 

[a cooperator]

Sure. I'm surprised you weren't prompted to upgrade long ago since this phone can officially go all the way to 5.1.1 (Lollipop).



Yes and no. Or maybe I should say no and yes. There are several good backup apps that will keep your data safe, but if I'm hearing you correctly, you want something called a Nandroid. That is only available through a custom recovery like TWRP and is essentially a complete image of your phone's file system at the point you run it. You can then save that monolithic file off the phone in case you ever need to revert back. The thing it, that to flash TWRP over the stock recovery, you have to unlock the bootloader. That by itself will factory reset your phone and erase all user partitions. It's a security policy that cannot be bypassed, so if you intend to do that, just understand that EVERYTHING on your phone will be gone.

An official upgrade, OTOH, can be done 'in place' without disturbing your apps or data. It doesn't always go smoothly and a reset eventually becomes necessary, but it does give you the opportunity to back it up first.

Manufacturers never intended for customers to modify the phone's file system or partition structure, or roll back to previous versions (when available). That's why it's not easy, can be complicated, and in some cases, can't be done at all.

Thanks a lot,
I need to image the entire Android system, and not yet the data. So, a custom recovery like TWRP is an Android systems imaging app?

 

[lunatic59]

I sincerely hope you are not expecting a system image to somehow save your deleted images. It won't.

TWRP is a custom recovery. It has, as one part of it, the ability to make a nandroid backup.

Read up on both.

https://android.gadgethacks.com/how...only-custom-recovery-youll-ever-need-0156006/

Be advised that even just flashing TWRP will require you to destroy that which you're trying to save, so it's a dead end, catch-22.

 

[a cooperator]

I sincerely hope you are not expecting a system image to somehow save your deleted images. It won't.

Thanks a lot,
Of course, a system image will not do anything with the deleted photos since as you said they have no longer exist .

TWRP is a custom recovery. It has, as one part of it, the ability to make a nandroid backup.

Read up on both.

https://android.gadgethacks.com/how...only-custom-recovery-youll-ever-need-0156006/

Be advised that even just flashing TWRP will require you to destroy that which you're trying to save, so it's a dead end, catch-22.

As long as my photos have no longer exist, then no worries would be there since my phone has no much personal stuff. But, how to restore a Android system image?

 

[Daniel Fernandes]

I think I'm a bit late but did you backup your photos on cloud like G Drive? Did you share them to any one? (So, you can ask for them back) Also, here is a small trick that has worked for me many times:
- Open file manager and enable visibility of hidden files
- Go to DCIM>> .thumbnails
- If you are lucky, and if nothing on earth cleared your Gallery cache then BOOM! you got your pics back (I will not guarantee if it works, nor can I guarantee the quality, but it's worth a try since it has worked for me.)

 

[lunatic59]

But, how to restore a Android system image?

First you need to have a system image. This MUST be created on your phone and your phone only. Attempting to restore a system image (nandroid) from any other phone, even if it's the same model, won't work and can potentially permanently brick it.

You system image will be a single file and it must be either on an SD card, if your phone has a slot, or save to internal memory. You then launch TWRP recovery and go to backup and restore and select that file to restore. It will take up to 10 minutes to complete depending on the speed of your phone.

 

[a cooperator]

I think I'm a bit late but did you backup your photos on cloud like G Drive? Did you share them to any one? (So, you can ask for them back) Also, here is a small trick that has worked for me many times:
- Open file manager and enable visibility of hidden files
- Go to DCIM>> .thumbnails
- If you are lucky, and if nothing on earth cleared your Gallery cache then BOOM! you got your pics back (I will not guarantee if it works, nor can I guarantee the quality, but it's worth a try since it has worked for me.)

Thanks a lot,
Unfortunately, I have went to the 'ES File Explorer' since I don't have any File Manager, then I enabled 'show hidden files'. After that, I have moved to 'DCIM', and then to 'Thumbnails', finally, I didn't find any of my old deleted photos at all. I have followed the same procedure you have mentioned.

In fact, that phone on which photos were deleted belongs to my sister's daughter, who are not familiar with computing or mobile phones systems. Thus, she didn't enabled the backup and sync option for Google photo app.
when opening the Google photo with the gmail account created on that phone on which photos got deleted, I didn't see photos were listed since the 'backup and sync' option was turned off.

However, when opening the Drive.Google.com, fortunately, the gmail account associated with Google Drive has been still signed in to. Thus, launching that Google Drive redirected me to the Google Drive associated with the gmail account added to the phone of my sister's daughter.
When checking the Google Drive backups, I found backups for that device on the Google Drive, it is named with 'SM-G360P backup', when clicking on it, I see it elongated, and see ' App data, Device settings. When clicking on 'Data app', I go this screen shot.




However, I don't know how to restore those backups shown on the Google Drive associated with the gmail account for my sister's daughter to this phone to see if the backups could have the old deleted photos.
Must I uninstall the Gallery app, and reinstall it in order to be asked if I want to restore the backup saved on the Google Drive. I, myself, don't know how to restore any backups saved on Google Drive, exept for backups for WhatsApp saved on the Google Drive, I could restore them by uninstalling and resintalling the Whatsapp.

 

[a cooperator]

First you need to have a system image. This MUST be created on your phone and your phone only. Attempting to restore a system image (nandroid) from any other phone, even if it's the same model, won't work and can potentially permanently brick it.

You system image will be a single file and it must be either on an SD card, if your phone has a slot, or save to internal memory. You then launch TWRP recovery and go to backup and restore and select that file to restore. It will take up to 10 minutes to complete depending on the speed of your phone.

Thanks a lot,
1- If I have made an Android system image for my existing Android version, Kitkat, 4.2.2. Then, save it in a safe place on my phone internal memory, or even move it by cutting it and paste to my PC. Then, wiping the entire partitions of my phone with TWRP to wipe all of the existing firmware files for my phone. and give me a clean slate. Then I would do a clean re-install of my firmware.
2- From where can I download the my firmware which is called Kitkat '4.2.2'. When moved to my msf website, I didn't find any downloads of firmware.

Thus, at any case, I want to backup my old backup, I can have it in handy.

 

[Hadron]

Thanks a lot,
1- How did you decide that my phone was originally released with 4.2.2, and that means there will be no older version available for my phone? When looking up it with MODEL NUMBER "SM-G360P", I found three types of phones having the same Samsung Galaxy Prevail LTE(SM-G360P)? (screen shot below)
2- Also, I didn't find that statement saying phone was originally released with 4.2.2, and that means there will be no older version available for my phone.
View attachment 125084
.

Been offline for a couple of days, so probably a bit late to reply now, but I used the model number and the same link luna provided to find the original OS version. But I never said anything about 4.2.2, I said 4.4, which the gsmarena page said was the original version for that phone and your original post said you had now.

Re never receiving an update, are you still using it on the same carrier it was sold through? Carrier-branded handsets often have to be on the original network to receive updates (I'm told - I've never bought a carrier-branded smartphone myself).

 

[a cooperator]

Been offline for a couple of days, so probably a bit late to reply now, but I used the model number and the same link luna provided to find the original OS version. But I never said anything about 4.2.2, I said 4.4, which the gsmarena page said was the original version for that phone and your original post said you had now.

Re never receiving an update, are you still using it on the same carrier it was sold through? Carrier-branded handsets often have to be on the original network to receive updates (I'm told - I've never bought a carrier-branded smartphone myself).

Thanks a lot,
I am not sure if you mean with "I am still using it on the same carrier it was sold through" with using my phone with the same SIM which came with it. If so, I would be dying that my phone didnt come with any SIM at all. However, it was an US phone as told by the a representative of Samusung tablet customer support team in the Middle East thruohg a live chat. They realised that my phone was an US phone from checking my given MEID.
But anyway, I am surprised about what that does with receiving or not receiving updates.
However, I am using a Yemeni SIM on it. And the cellular network type I am using is CDMA. The phone has only single CDMA SIM.

But I am surprised about what that does with receiving or not receiving any updates.

 

[Hadron]

I'm not sure what a "CDMA SIM" is, since the cellular technology that Americans call "CDMA" doesn't use SIMs. However, a CDMA phone will need a SIM if it uses LTE, or for use on a GSM network (which includes "WCDMA", which is the 3G technology used by GSM networks. This alphabet soup is almost designed to be confusing!).

However, it might explain the lack of updates. A US carrier handset, i.e. one sold originally through a US carrier, usually has its software modified by the carrier. This means that the carrier in question are responsible for the final approval of and distribution of updates (basically they take the manufacturer's update, add junk apps and a locked bootloader, sometimes remove features that may save you money, and then push the update to your phone. That may be slightly cynical, but it's a pretty fair description of the process). But because it is them pushing out the update, my understanding is that you get notified of it when you are connected to their network. So if you only ever use it elsewhere you won't get updates on such a phone.

If I've misunderstood something I'm sure someone will correct me, but that's what I've seen said here many times.

 

[a cooperator]

I'm not sure what a "CDMA SIM" is, since the cellular technology that Americans call "CDMA" doesn't use SIMs. However, a CDMA phone will need a SIM if it uses LTE, or for use on a GSM network (which includes "WCDMA", which is the 3G technology used by GSM networks. This alphabet soup is almost designed to be confusing!).

However, it might explain the lack of updates. A US carrier handset, i.e. one sold originally through a US carrier, usually has its software modified by the carrier. This means that the carrier in question are responsible for the final approval of and distribution of updates (basically they take the manufacturer's update, add junk apps and a locked bootloader, sometimes remove features that may save you money, and then push the update to your phone. That may be slightly cynical, but it's a pretty fair description of the process). But because it is them pushing out the update, my understanding is that you get notified of it when you are connected to their network. So if you only ever use it elsewhere you won't get updates on such a phone.

Thanks a lot,
If you didn't understand my wordings, what I meant with CDMA SIM had the phone I have not getting updates has only one SIM slot, and it is only designed to cellular network types, CDMA.
In Yemen, only one network carrier uses CDMA, which is Yemen Mobile. And there are three other network carriers using GSM. So, inserting a CDMA SIM (Yemen Mobile) into SIM slot will be the only option. But, do you really think my phone doesn't get updates due to using it in some place out of the US. I even see it isn't being registered and whenever trying to register it I was asked to first create a US Samsung account which requires me to type in a US zip code and mobile phone.

 

[a cooperator]

Your problem starts with the version of Android being later than 4.4.2 which is when the system/user volumes became virtualized as opposed to static volumes. While this provided a much more efficient use of total memory on an Android device, it did present the problem of mounting those volumes as traditional storage. So any recovery program that relies on a traditional storage model is not going to be able to read the file sectors on a virtual volume in flash memory. The reason why something like MobiSaver found things was because it was looking for things in hidden folders and app caches. This is most likely why it found some thumbnails of your deleted photos, because deleting the photo won't automatically delete the thumbnail or the app cache, especially if you've viewed the image in multiple apps.

AFAIK, The USB mass storage device class (also known as USB MSC or UMS) is a set of computing communications protocols defined by the USB Implementers Forum that makes a USB device accessible to a host computing device and enables file transfers between the host and the USB device.

However, from your sayings that unfortunately, Android disabled USB Mass storage with version 4.4.2. I became asking myself why Hard Disks, MicroSD Cards .etc connected into a PC's USB port are still connecting as mass storage and can sill be mounted as an unique lettered volume. However, devices (mobile phones) after Android having Android versions 4.4.2 or later are not connecting as mass storage and cannot be mounted as an unique lettered volume when connected to a PC's USB port.

 

[a cooperator]

I'm not sure what a "CDMA SIM" is, since the cellular technology that Americans call "CDMA" doesn't use SIMs. However, a CDMA phone will need a SIM if it uses LTE, or for use on a GSM network (which includes "WCDMA", which is the 3G technology used by GSM networks. This alphabet soup is almost designed to be confusing!).

Thanks a lot,

AFAIK,
The International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) number is a unique identification or serial number that all mobile phones and smartphones have. It is normally 15 digits long. The IMEI number can be found on the silver sticker on the back of your phone, under the battery pack, or on the box your phone came in.
For instance, My Samsung Galaxy Prevail LTE 8GB (Boost Mobile) has
IMEI number removed



A mobile equipment identifier (MEID) is a globally unique number identifying a physical piece of CDMA2000 mobile station equipment. The number format is defined by the 3GPP2 report S.R0048 but in practical terms, it can be seen as an IMEI but with hexadecimal digits.
For instance, my Samsung Galaxy Prevail LTE 8GB (Boost Mobile) has
MEID number removed (screen shot below)




The latter one, "MEID", can be got by dialing *#06#. And I see that the MEID of my 'Samsung Galaxy Prevail LTE 8GB (Boost Mobile)' is a 14-digit number.
Removed

On the other hand, the IMEI of 'Samsung Galaxy Prevail LTE 8GB (Boost Mobile)' can be got from the settings of phone and can be a 15-digit number.
Removed
P.S. to register my product (mobile phone) hoping to get the updates after that, I was asked to either enter serial number or IMEI removed. For SN, I've never ever seen it anywhere on my phone.