General Guide to Prevail and Repository

[kevincott]

The Samsung Prevail is an entry level Android 2.2 phone which fits well with the Boost CDMA network. Only capable of 3g speeds (CDMA), the Prevail has software limitations based on its low-end hardware. Many optional themes, apps and mods are available. Gingerbread 2.3.6 is now available on the Samsung Prevail.



Tips:

1. Tip developers whose products you use, encourage Bloodawn/Koumajutsu (among others) to keep developing.

2. Battery life is at a premium (some people have to recharge every 12 hours)

Turn off GPS, wi-fi, sync, Bluetooth as much as possible; there is a great stock widget for easy access. Watch for apps that update too often (email), kill background apps, low signals, aftermarket batteries - all drain batteries. You can easily get 1-3 days from a battery charge if you’re careful.
http://androidforums.com/galaxy-prevail-all-things-root/366397-battery-life.html#post2973864

3. Keep your battery cool; Prevail will reboot around 120 degrees.

4. Dalvik Cache is for speeding apps (.apk). It is good to occasionally clear (titanium backup) data as any necessary data will reload.

5. Read threads/posts (** FORUM SEARCH **) and test sufficiently; many question are already answered in posts or can be self-resolved by personal testing.

6. The Prevail has limited internal memory, transfer apps as possible to the microSD card, Titanium Backup works well.

7. Factory reset mode: Volume Up + Camera as you turn on the phone
7a. Download mode: (Odin): Volume down + Camera as you turn on phone
7b. Recovery mode: (also CWM): Volume up as you power on

8. Create a unique Gmail account to store contacts/calender and sync as necessary.

9. Direct number to Boost CS Representative: 877-438-8643

10. Restoring contacts (Gmail): You can restore contacts to a previous version



Tutorials:

Rooting Prevail: http://androidforums.com/galaxy-pre...revail-dummies-written-dummy.html#post4284980

Change your MSL and PRL: link

Backup SMS/MMS and Call Log with Titanium Backup: http://androidforums.com/galaxy-pre...utomatically-titanium-backup.html#post4112294

How to make backups and use them to your advantage: http://androidforums.com/galaxy-pre...kups-use-them-your-advantage.html#post4599676

Create an Infrastructure Network (instead of typical ad-hoc): http://androidforums.com/galaxy-pre...l-android-tablet-via-infrastructure-mode.html

Connecting Bluetooth: http://androidforums.com/samsung-ga...-galaxy-prevail-should-work-other-phones.html

Adding Corporate email: http://androidforums.com/samsung-galaxy-prevail/414334-work-email-my-prevail.html#post3212529

Installing Ubuntu For ARM On {GB} Galaxy Prevail In chroot Enviroment Using Windows 7

Adding VPN: http://androidforums.com/galaxy-prevail-all-things-root/398956-openvpn-anyconnect.html#post3218986

http://androidforums.com/galaxy-pre...tip-quick-baseband-switching.html#post4054132

Speeding up 3g speeds

Add to the limited internal storage: http://androidforums.com/galaxy-pre...de-how-improve-storage-space.html#post5111981

Boost Mobile automated MSL

Connecting Prevail to Windows 8



Mods:

http://androidforums.com/galaxy-pre...-1-recovery-prevail-hroark13.html#post5040243: GUI custom recovery tool

Root: Allows superuser access, necessary for many apps/mod: Rooting for Dummies

Study Guide to all things Root: http://androidforums.com/galaxy-pre...ide-galaxy-prevail-all-things-root-0-3-a.html

Link guide for rooted Prevail: http://androidforums.com/galaxy-pre...t-guide-updated-09-29-2012-a.html#post3528753

Odin: Recovery tool that can revert Prevail to stock if desired: http://androidforums.com/galaxy-pre...n-return-phone-stock-factory.html#post2953252

Return to stock or 'unbrick': http://androidforums.com/galaxy-pre...ow-unbrick-phone-please-read.html#post3068380

ClockWorkMod v5.0.2.7: ClockWorkMod: Highly recommended ROM tool.

CM9: http://androidforums.com/galaxy-pre...lpha-updated-3-5-5-6-27-12-a.html#post4143691

CyanogenMod 7 Unofficial Beta 5 02/20/12

CTMod 3.75: A customization of Android that removes bloat and adds popular apps, results depend on version

187MoD-HoneyBread: A customization of Android 2.3.6 that removes bloat and adds popular apps.

LeWa OS Beta: http://androidforums.com/galaxy-pre...553002-rom-port-lewa-os-beta.html#post4416141

JoyOS Beta (iPhone simulation): http://androidforums.com/galaxy-prevail-all-things-root/558264-joymod-1-0-a.html#post4464047


Essential apps:

Titanium Backup: This is the must have app for anyone that is rooted! Backup, restore and freeze everything on your phone including system data, apps and app data, settings and lots more. Also converts system apps to user apps and reverse.

Koumajutsu's SD-Card Partition Tool for Prevail: http://androidforums.com/galaxy-pre...-card-partition-tool-prevail.html#post4541145

Amazon app market and Google app market; some apps are market exclusive: Popcap games are Amazon only.

Wireless Tether For Root Users: A simple app that enables wi-fi tethering: http://androidforums.com/galaxy-pre...1-wireless-tether-in-infrastructure-mode.html

Red Laser: Scans all barcodes; most apps won’t scan as the Prevail does not have an auto focusing camera. WILL work on Prevail but has to be installed from SD card. Need good lighting (no glare) and eventually your barcode will scan. Older version works with Prevail: RedLaser.apk

Angry Birds: Isn’t this the reason Android was created?




Account Payment (best deal known): $40 = $50 Boost credit: Prepaid Refill



Samsung Prevail USB Driver for Windows: http://dl.dropbox.com/u/12826399/SAMSUNG_USB_Driver_for_Mobile_Phones_x86.exe


Samsung Prevail FAQs: Samsung




Thanks: vce2005, Tim K, Lordvincent90, Khorosho, lily0615, Shabbypenguin,downthemachine, Interdepth, Caeadas, Hroark13, Redneckrebel, Bloodawn, Jerry in WA, ron580, Viet1982, Necrotoxin, Koumajutsu, The~Skater~187, 76ford90lx, jtaylor781, blovadova, 52mike, johnny424, psp_noob, kristopher5823, kolosus, wyelkins, wetbiker7 and New Optimus

 

[kevincott]

Posts/data seems to be very spread out.

Thought it would be good to consolidate.

 

[trenchkato]

nice work

 

[hroark13]

nice thread, was defiantly needed

 

[new optimus]

Nice kevin, covers the basics and shows the way to proceed.

 

[Shabbypenguin]

i hope this is moved so that i can be stickied

::cough:: i know kelmar is watching::cough::

 

[Steven58]

Hi guys,

I stuck the thread per New Optimus's request. Nice job, Kevin!

 

[kevincott]

I have been expecting replies about something I missed; hopefully this thread will keep common questions answered.

Have I missed something important?

 

[new optimus]

I have been expecting replies about something I missed; hopefully this thread will keep common questions answered.

Have I missed something important?

I guess the only thing I can see might be

http://androidforums.com/galaxy-prevail-all-things-root/366397-battery-life.html#post2973864

 

[hate]

Question relating to Red Laser.... What barcodes are you referring to? Because I've always used Barcode Scanner for things like getting URLs when I am downloading APKs and never had any problems.But since I've seen it mentioned on here in several threads I tried Red Laser out... and it refused to scan anything.

 

[new optimus]

Question relating to Red Laser.... What barcodes are you referring to? Because I've always used Barcode Scanner for things like getting URLs when I am downloading APKs and never had any problems.But since I've seen it mentioned on here in several threads I tried Red Laser out... and it refused to scan anything.

Barcode scanner, used for store upc codes, with no ability to auto focus it will not scan those, I believe they are called 3d codes. the QR and other such are called 2d and they will scan just fine.

Not sure why your scan would not work. move forward and back small amounts?

 

[hate]

it was a few weeks back. i'm positive i did try moving phone back and forth. nothing happened like how on barcode scanner red dots flash automatically. tried pressing the button with the same results. i only use scanner on 2d codes anyways. but thank you for explaining.

 

[kevincott]

Question relating to Red Laser.... What barcodes are you referring to? Because I've always used Barcode Scanner for things like getting URLs when I am downloading APKs and never had any problems.But since I've seen it mentioned on here in several threads I tried Red Laser out... and it refused to scan anything.

I have scanned both type of barcodes with Red Laser repeatedly.

Due to the non autofocusing camera, Red Laser can be touchy. Make sure lighting is good with no glare and eventually it will scan.

 

[nit4hm]

I just wanted to add that I just figured out in order to sync my prevail to my computer, I have to use my SD adapter and put my sd card into the computer (laptop, i don't know for a pc) and it synced my music and when i put the card back into the phone everything was on there...but I guess you cant' link directly to phone with the cord, even though my settings were not set on charge only. anything to add?

 

[kevincott]

I just wanted to add that I just figured out in order to sync my prevail to my computer, I have to use my SD adapter and put my sd card into the computer (laptop, i don't know for a pc) and it synced my music and when i put the card back into the phone everything was on there...but I guess you cant' link directly to phone with the cord, even though my settings were not set on charge only. anything to add?

I personally don't sync things like music; I delete songs I don't listen to and this would reinstall.

I only sync things like calender with Google email - easier to type entries on keyboard.

Anyone else have sync comments?

 

[new optimus]

I personally don't sync things like music; I delete songs I don't listen to and this would reinstall.

I only sync things like calender with Google email - easier to type entries on keyboard.

Anyone else have sync comments?

Im with you on this, the only thing I sync is my gmail, contacts you know.

and at that I keep that off until or unless im using it.

As to the other poster that cant connect with phone, have you installed the samsung mass storage drivers?

 

[kevincott]

Added link to instruction for corporate email.

Thanks 76ford90lx.

 

[76ford90lx]

Added task killer and link to instruction for corporate email.

Thanks 76ford90lx.

The link to those instructiuons got me curious so I checked out the Q&A page for the Galaxy Prevail on Samsungs website. (where those instructions came from) Here it is just for kicks or what not.

http://www.samsung.com/us/support/allQuestion.do?prd_mdl_name=SPH-M820

I willing to bet that is in the instruction manual, but im still to lazy to take it out of the wrapper

 

[kevincott]

Added Samsung website FAQs

 

[kevincott]

Added VPN and return to stock/'unbrick' tutorial.

 

[agadida]

You should add next to the cwm that Rom Manager is not the same thing and will mess the phone up. New people are getting confused and just going ahead trying to use Rom Manager for backing up and stuff. I know when I first went to try cwm out i thought it was Rom Manager. Thankfully I got too confused and just ended up asking if there was a difference.

 

[kevincott]

You should add next to the cwm that Rom Manager is not the same thing and will mess the phone up. New people are getting confused and just going ahead trying to use Rom Manager for backing up and stuff. I know when I first went to try cwm out i thought it was Rom Manager. Thankfully I got too confused and just ended up asking if there was a difference.

added

 

[thebeerholder]

So... I've tried to root my phone like seven times now and it still won't go.. Any idea what the problem is? I have the driver installed and everything, but it just won't go! It said it can't find the device? fml

 

[kevincott]

So... I've tried to root my phone like seven times now and it still won't go.. Any idea what the problem is? I have the driver installed and everything, but it just won't go! It said it can't find the device? fml

When I rooted my phone, I followed directions implicitly and waited appropriate time.

Some root attempts fail due to impatience of the end user. Don't freak out, some steps take 5 minutes beofre you see the next described step take place.

 

[kevincott]

added cost-effective account payment