Root opinions from the smart guys...

[Caeadas]

Attention: There is a massive, three post long walkthrough a few posts down. Please read it and tell me what you think. I intend to leave it here while i finish it, and then repost it in its own thread Saturday morning

With the recent influx of new people coming here I've considered making a in-depth walkthrough on how to do a basic root, rom and kernel install, along with nandroid backups, partitioning sd cards and flashing Odin. Since most of my experience is with ctmod I would probably use that. Obviously, it would link to all the relevant topics, with strong wording that people need to read those topics and to thank those people. And there would be the obligatory warnings about bricking your phones etc.

I would probably write up the first draft and post it here, so people could proof-read and comment on it without having to worry about newbies following it. And if anyone wanted to do a Cyanogenmod or any other rom/kernel setup that could be included as well.

Tell me what you think, I'd rather get my feelings hurt now than after i've typed for hours and pissed everyone off

 

[kevincott]

With the recent influx of new people coming here I've considered making a in-depth walkthrough on how to do a basic root, rom and kernel install, along with nandroid backups, partitioning sd cards and flashing Odin. Since most of my experience is with ctmod I would probably use that. Obviously, it would link to all the relevant topics, with strong wording that people need to read those topics and to thank those people. And there would be the obligatory warnings about bricking your phones etc.

I would probably write up the first draft and post it here, so people could proof-read and comment on it without having to worry about newbies following it. And if anyone wanted to do a Cyanogenmod or any other rom/kernel setup that could be included as well.

Tell me what you think, I'd rather get my feelings hurt now than after i've typed for hours and pissed everyone off

Was done before, http://androidforums.com/galaxy-pre...revail-all-things-root-0-3-a.html#post3311448 is the latest I know of.

Some material is dated though.

 

[wetbiker7]

If you would have asked for opinions from not-so smart guys, I'd have answered a minute ago.

 

[Caeadas]

Was done before, http://androidforums.com/galaxy-pre...revail-all-things-root-0-3-a.html#post3311448 is the latest I know of.

Some material is dated though.

Yeah, its dated, last modified Nov. 15th. There's been a lot of changes since then. Plus its mostly a list of links to other threads, I want to actually reproduce the instructions in a single post, so a person with a new phone has a single point to fall back on.

I'm not looking to make a huge comprehensive post on how to do everything from hacking prls to making custom themes. I just want to make a walkthrough that will give a new person a rooted phone with an up to date rom, the ability to backup and restore, and the ability to odin if needed. Then they have a good basis to start doing more complicated stuff and have a decent safety net.

 

[kevincott]

Yeah, its dated, last modified Nov. 15th. There's been a lot of changes since then. Plus its mostly a list of links to other threads, I want to actually reproduce the instructions in a single post, so a person with a new phone has a single point to fall back on.

I'm not looking to make a huge comprehensive post on how to do everything from hacking prls to making custom themes. I just want to make a walkthrough that will give a new person a rooted phone with an up to date rom, the ability to backup and restore, and the ability to odin if needed. Then they have a good basis to start doing more complicated stuff and have a decent safety net.

A Prevail specific guide would be appreciated. Every new user eventually sees numerous posts about rooting and starts asking questions.

http://androidforums.com/faqs/443075-root-terminology.html
http://androidforums.com/faqs/443432-what-root-being-rooted-mean.html

are also good in forum sources.

 

[jwh42000]

With the recent influx of new people coming here I've considered making a in-depth walkthrough on how to do a basic root, rom and kernel install, along with nandroid backups, partitioning sd cards and flashing Odin. Since most of my experience is with ctmod I would probably use that. Obviously, it would link to all the relevant topics, with strong wording that people need to read those topics and to thank those people. And there would be the obligatory warnings about bricking your phones etc.

I would probably write up the first draft and post it here, so people could proof-read and comment on it without having to worry about newbies following it. And if anyone wanted to do a Cyanogenmod or any other rom/kernel setup that could be included as well.

Tell me what you think, I'd rather get my feelings hurt now than after i've typed for hours and pissed everyone off

I'm already pissed off WTF?
I'm kinda in the middle between my body evolving into a floating brain and drooling all over myself

 

[wetbiker7]

I'm already pissed off WTF?
I'm kinda in the middle between my body evolving into a floating brain and drooling all over myself

Lol, it sounds like someone needs a vacation.

 

[jwh42000]

Lol, it sounds like someone needs a vacation.

Lol Smiley didn't show. I don't really take much too seriously

Edit: On a side note, helping people is something I thoroughly enjoy, don't mind all the questions. Anyone who's been on here for any length of time can probably help with a lot of stuff. This is an excellent community

 

[wetbiker7]

Lol Smiley didn't show. I don't really take much too seriously

Edit: On a side note, helping people is something I thoroughly enjoy, don't mind all the questions. Anyone who's been on here for any length of time can probably help with a lot of stuff. This is an excellent community

I agree whole heartedly

 

[Caeadas]

WORK IN PROGRESS! PLEASE DON'T FOLLOW THIS YET IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU ARE DOING

Rooting the Prevail for Dummies! (A.K.A. How to make your phone not suck)

WARNING: Doing any of the stuff listed here is inherently dangerous to your phone. We are changing things that Samsung and Boost never intended us to change. While every effort has been made to ensure this stuff works, and lots of people have done this stuff repeatedly with no issues, bad things can happen once in a while. By doing anything to your phone, you accept responsibility for your actions. You break it, you bought it!

So, you've just bought yourself a Samsung Galaxy Prevail and ripped it out of its annoying plastic packaging, fired it up, and realized it's full of useless crap.(whaaa... two navigation apps?!?!?! Geo-cashing?!?) So after either seconds, or weeks, of google searching, you've made you way here and are wondering if you can do all the confusing and scary things. Well that depends... Do you have:

1. A Samsung Galaxy Prevail from Boost Mobile (if its not exactly that, go away)

2. A Windows-based PC (Sorry Mac users, get an iPhone and return to you walled garden)

3. An internet connection (umm...)

If you have all three things, some time, some patience, and the ability to read carefully, I can show you how to do a basic root, install a custom rom and kernel, and perform some basic actions. First things first...

Chapter zero: Back Up Your Phone

The majority of the things we are about to do will wipe everything off your phone, so it's important to back up and save often, preferably to your computer. Also, you can save your contacts and calendar directly to Google's servers by going to Settings/ Account and sync settings, clicking on your account, and making sure the respective boxes are checked

Also, at some point we will reformat the SD card, so make sure you save anything on there you may want, like music, ringtones, pictures, etc.

And if you have any apps that you want to keep data for, or would break your heart if they got reset, then it's time to do a backup of them. Several people have recommended MyBackup from the Google play store since it works on non-rooted phones.

Chapter one: All Hail Mighty Odin!

Odin (Return phone to Stock/Factory)

Odin is a recovery utility that is the first and last line of defense against making your phone into an expensive paperweight. With it, you can return most broken phones back to it's stock unrooted state. It's also the only reliable way to root your phone, so its important to know how to use Odin.

Step zero: Go to the Odin thread and read it all. Go now. I'll wait for you.

Step one: Download Odin from Odin (Return phone to Stock/Factory) to your computer and make sure to send some thanks that way. DO NOT USE ANY OTHER ODIN PACKAGES FROM ANY OTHER PLACE OR FOR ANY OTHER PHONE That's a good way of breaking things.

The most recent package is FA19 Gingerbread. I suggest grabbing both the Rooted Image with CWM5 by Koumajutsu, and the stock image just in case you ever need it. While a few people reported having decreased signal quality on FA19 and switched back to EJ06, many people including myself have not had any issues. Fortunately you can always switch back and forth with Odin. The rom we will be using works on both.

Step two: Unzip the rooted image archive into a new folder. Leave the stock one zipped up until you need it

Step three: Install SAMSUNG_USB_Driver_for_Mobile_Phones_x86.exe to your computer. These are the drivers for your phone. Install it as you would any other program. (click "next" until stuff does stuff)

Step four: Power off the phone, then hold the camera, volume down, and power buttons until it says "Downloading..." in yellow text.

Step five: Connect your phone to your computer with your handy-dandy USB cord. Give it a minute to make sure everything is communicating properly.

Step six: Open Odin Multi_Downloader_v4.43.exe from your folder. (Again, only use the version of Odin included with the zip) You should see a yellow box with "com port mapping" above it. Also make sure that "one package" is NOT checked.

Step seven: Click OPS, and select SPHM820.ops. Click Phone and select SPHM820_FA19_Rooted_PHONE.tar. Click PDA and select SPHM820_FA19_Rooted_PDA.tar. Leave the other ones blank. Those extra files are for fixing broken phones and should not be used.

This is what your window should look like (Click for large version):



Step eight: Make sure everything is set correctly, and hit Start. Now leave it alone. It will take a couple minutes, you will become concerned and want to mess with it. Resist the urge. Once the phone restarts, and Odin says Reset, the process is complete.

 

[Caeadas]

Chapter two: Clockworkmod

ClockWorkMod v5.0.2.7 for Samsung Prevail SPH-M820

Now after all those minutes of work, we've got ourselves a phone that looks remarkably similar to what we had before. Only real difference is now there's a one-eyed android in our app drawer named Superuser. If we wanted to, we could stop here and delete the stupid stuff boost forced upon us. But we're not. We have yet to play with the other powerful tool in our toolbox, Clockworkmod. This recovery utility allows us to install roms and kernels, make backups, create partitions, all directly on the phone. And the best part is, we've already installed it!

In this section we will make a backup of the phone, repartition the SD card, and install a custom rom.

How to do a CWM Backup

Step zero: Go read the Clockworkmod thread listed above, and send some thanks their way.

Step one: Power off the phone, then hold the Volume Up and Power buttons to boot into recovery mode. You should see a blue text menu. Use your Volume up and down keys to scroll, camera button to select, and the back softkey to go back.

Step two: Select "Backup and Restore" and then select "Backup". Now leave the phone alone again for a few minutes and let it finish.

Step three: Connect the phone to the computer with the usb cable. In Clockworkmod, select, "Mounts and Storage", then "Mount USB Storage". This is the same thing as putting the phone in usb storage mode through the normal phone interface.

Step four: On your computer, either click on the Autorun prompt that normally accompanies hooking up a removable drive, or go to the new drive in My computer. Go to the clockworkmod/backup folder, and save the folder inside to your computer. It's named in the format of YYYY-MM-DD.HR.MN.SC, or year-month-day.hour.minute.second.

Once the backup is securely stored away on your computer, feel free to unmount USB storage and return to Clockworkmod's main menu

How to Partition the SD card

Our custom kernel/rom we will be using has a handy feature that lets us turn a part of our SD card into internal memory. Since the phone itself barely has 200mb, this allows us to store tons more stuff. But first we must dedicate a piece of the card for that purpose.

PARTITIONING THE SD CARD WILL ERASE EVERYTHING ON IT! If you listened to me earlier, you will have already backed it up, but just to be safe...

Step one: Back up your SD card to the computer if you have not done so.

Step two: Boot into Clockworkmod Recovery using Volume up and power button

Step three: Go to "Advanced" and "Partition SD card". You will be presented with some choices of different size SD-ext partitions. Now it's time to make some decisions. If you are the kind of person that has to download every app imaginable, you will probably want to dedicate more space. But for normal people on the included 2gb SD card, 512mb should be enough to install a couple dozen apps.

Step four: Select 0mb for the swap file size. WARNING: Once you hit select on 0mb, the process will start and your SD card is getting erased. Leave it alone, it will take a minute to finish

 

[Caeadas]

Chapter three: CTmod with Koumakernel

CTmod by Bloodawn Featuring KoumaKernel, by Koumajutsu

CTmod is only the most recent of a long line of stock based roms for the Prevail. Its updated regularly, uses a lightning fast launcher, fully optimized stock apps, and includes many of the different tweaks and updates available. One of the biggest upgrades is Koumakernel, with its tons of fixes and its integrated Apps to SD support, plus overclocking.

Please note that while CTmod currently contains the most up-to-date version of Koumakernel, they may not update at the same time, so be sure to watch both topics. Also, the two are not tied to each other, there are several different alternative roms and kernels.

Installing a Rom and/or kernel with Clockworkmod

Step zero: Go read through the two threads listed above, and show them some thanks while you make backups as usual.

Step one: Download the most recent version of CTmod, and Koumakernel if its updated. Place the zips on the SD card through USB storage.

Step two: Boot into Clockworkmod Recovery if you are already not there. Select "Install Zip From SD card", then "Choose Zip From SD card", Then select the CTmod.zip, and it will pop up a long list of NO's with a "yes - Install CTmod.zip". WARNING: Installing roms will wipe the phone. Select Yes, and leave it alone until its done.

Step 2.5: If your rom already contains the kernel you want, skip this step. Otherwise, flash the kernel zip in the same way as the rom. Always make sure to flash kernels after roms.

Step three: Reboot the phone normally, using the Reboot option of Recovery Sometimes the phone will reboot back into recovery mode, just select reboot again. The initial two bootups will take some time, just be patient. Eventually you will reach a bare home screen with a couple icons and the CTmod logo.

Step four: The white checkerboard icon in the middle is the app drawer. Go there and open settings, then CTmod settings, then Koumakernel settings, making sure to click "allow" when the superuser prompt pops up. You will have three options: None, Data, and SSM. For our basic setup, we will be clicking Data.

Step five: Reboot the phone. If you hold the power button down a moment, it will pop up a much larger list of shut down options than on the stock phone, including Recovery and Download mode. For now, just hit Reboot. Again, it may take a while to load up.

Once your phone reboots you should be done. Start installing apps just as you would normally, they will automatically go where they need to with no widget issues. Once you get everything how you like it, that would be a good time to do another clockworkmod backup.

Chapter four: Extras

Koumakernel contains support for overclocking, based on the work of Trenchkato and his Katokernel. Overclocking is outside the depth of this walkthrough. Go there and read if you would like to know more, and show him some thanks.

Koumakernel also contains what Kouma calls the Super Secret Mod, or SSM. It mounts the data folders to the SDcard differently which can improve performance, but requires a more complicated method of partitioning the SDcard. Go read the koumakernel thread if you want to learn more.

Google Play store won't show your purchased apps when you initially log into your account. I find that going through the whole login process, letting the store update and accepting the agreement, loading all the way into the homepage of the store, then rebooting the phone, will fix it.

If you use Titanium Backup, Do not use it to restore system data between different versions of roms. It tends to mess up the buttons and screw things up in general

Make sure to go visit the All Things Root Sticky guide if you want to learn more about what you can do with your rooted phone, and Kevinkotts General Guide to the Prevail

Chapter five: Thanks!

This is by no means a comprehensive list, tons of people have put forth their time, effort, and a phone to test on. Thanks for helping forge the path we all stroll down now.

hroark13, who brought us Odin and Clockworkmod, along with Cyanogenmod7 and many other roms and kernels that contributed to the development of what we have now.

Shabbypenguin, who was one of the original devs and worked on the first popular rom and kernel for the Prevail.

Bloodawn for CTmod, it's awesome.

Koumajutsu for Koumakernel and HalfAssRom, and for having a proper american muscle car.

Trenchkato for bringing Overclock support to the prevail.

Johnny424 for his continuing work on Cyanogenmod 9.

Mavrikmeercat for finding and collecting many of the performance tweaks we use.

ron580 for the networking speed tweaks.

And thanks to everyone else that had something to do with something, but i couldn't find. Just let me know if i missed you, and i'll fix it

 

[Caeadas]

well there it is, the first draft. I'm definitely not shakespeare.

Other than me trying to odin my prevail with files from a Samsung Admire, and accidentally formatting the SD card with my most recent backup on it, wasn't too bad. Was better than watching daytime TV i suppose.

TO-DO:

Redo the odin picture with actual prevail files
Add the disclaimers
Include everyones names that need thanking

 

[jwh42000]

Lookin good so far. Have a few things noteworthy

1)
A)Google is supposedly working on cloud storage for non-rooted users.
Note: have not confirmed this just what I've read...
By having the box checked for applications to automatically sync, if you get a new device or wipe it, its set up to automatically restore apps and settings after you sign in to Google. You're supposed to sign in and then just sit it down and leave it alone for a while its "automatic"
However this will NOT restore app data. The feature is there but app developers have to take advantage of it.
B) Once you have added your Google account, go into Play Store
Hit menu
Press my apps
Fling screen to left to bring up every app you had ever installed. Once again will NOT restore app data.

2) Nandroid Browser. Allows you to restore nandroid backups as you please, from single apps to whole folders AFTER completing complete back up in Clock Work Mod.

3) The one package option has only been applicable to the Clock Work Mod 5.0.2.7 Odin image so far, I have only seen it checked opening odin when I had installed the CWM image the time before.

You could have the whole ejo6, for example, as one package (I believe, might have to ask Kouma on that one), but for convenience its split up.

As far as I know Odin only works for Samsung phones. Everyone else has access to ROM Manager though. There is another backup utility called AmenRa but its not compatible with the Prevail either.

The last resort restore for just about all brands is Jtag which requires soldering to the circuit board

 

[Caeadas]

Lookin good so far. Have a few things noteworthy

1)
A)Google is supposedly working on cloud storage for non-rooted users.
Note: have not confirmed this just what I've read...
By having the box checked for applications to automatically sync, if you get a new device or wipe it, its set up to automatically restore apps and settings after you sign in to Google. You're supposed to sign in and then just sit it down and leave it alone for a while its "automatic"
However this will NOT restore app data. The feature is there but app developers have to take advantage of it.

I know google drive is coming out, but i didn't hear about app sync. that would be handy

B) Once you have added your Google account, go into Play Store
Hit menu
Press my apps
Fling screen to left to bring up every app you had ever installed. Once again will NOT restore app data.

Yeah I touched on that a little at the bottom, but I wrote under the assumption that people will at least know how to use the phone in its normal state. If people don't know how to use the market, they really don't need to mess with roms

2) Nandroid Browser. Allows you to restore nandroid backups as you please, from single apps to whole folders AFTER completing complete back up in Clock Work Mod.

I've not seen that before, i'll look into it. Thanks

3) The one package option has only been applicable to the Clock Work Mod 5.0.2.7 Odin image so far, I have only seen it checked opening odin when I had installed the CWM image the time before.

You could have the whole ejo6, for example, as one package (I believe, might have to ask Kouma on that one), but for convenience its split up.

As far as I know Odin only works for Samsung phones. Everyone else has access to ROM Manager though. There is another backup utility called AmenRa but its not compatible with the Prevail either.

The last resort restore for just about all brands is Jtag which requires soldering to the circuit board

I think when i fixed my nephew's Admire that we ended up using one-package because the original pre-rooted image did not work, and i ended up re-reading thru the entire topic to make sure i was supposed to use one package. We eventually had to flash back to stock, then re-flash the root image again. I'm still convinced that there's some Odin config settings hiding on my computer, since it pointed me to admire folders when i was making my screenshot even though i was in the new prevail folder. I think i'll just make it clear in the next screenshot which setting to have unchecked and which to leave checked.

Thankfully I never intended to actually press start, that would have been really tragic

 

[jwh42000]

I think when i fixed my nephew's Admire that we ended up using one-package because the original pre-rooted image did not work, and i ended up re-reading thru the entire topic to make sure i was supposed to use one package. We eventually had to flash back to stock, then re-flash the root image again. I'm still convinced that there's some Odin config settings hiding on my computer, since it pointed me to admire folders when i was making my screenshot even though i was in the new prevail folder. I think i'll just make it clear in the next screenshot which setting to have unchecked and which to leave checked.

Thankfully I never intended to actually press start, that would have been really tragic

Oooohhh yeah Odin mess ups are really bad.
There's a thread floating around where a guys battery fell out while flashing with Odin. Amazingly it still works but he has no download mode at all!
I have definitely learned to take my time and verify correct images, correct folder and in a locked room lol.
The way I understand it, the app sync option is already there and usable. I dunno on that one

Good job all around so far!

You leaving the guide in this thread or moving it once its refined? Anything I can do to help let me know

Like to see it sticky after its done

 

[Caeadas]

Oooohhh yeah Odin mess ups are really bad.
There's a thread floating around where a guys battery fell out while flashing with Odin. Amazingly it still works but he has no download mode at all!
I have definitely learned to take my time and verify correct images, correct folder and in a locked room lol.
The way I understand it, the app sync option is already there and usable. I dunno on that one

Good job all around so far!

You leaving the guide in this thread or moving it once its refined? Anything I can do to help let me know

Like to see it sticky after its done

I modified the OP, I'll leave the walkthrough here while i change things and add stuff, and then if nobody objects, I'll make a new thread either friday night or saturday morning

I just finished making the Odin screenshot after like three tries. First, i ended up sticking admire files in it AGAIN (they got deleted immediately after if saw it), then i realized the filenames was too long and was cutting off the end of the .tar files, so I had to rename my folder from "Odin Prevail Files" to "Q"

 

[wetbiker7]

@ Caeadas. I think that I've found something that you might want to add to your post about backing up apps for non-rooted phones that cannot use Titanium Backup. Check out MyBackUp or MyBackUpPro. Here's the link to the Pro version.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.rerware.android.MyBackupPro&hl=en

 

[jwh42000]

@ Caeadas. I think that I've found something that you might want to add to your post about backing up apps for non-rooted phones that cannot use Titanium Backup. Check out MyBackUp or MyBackUpPro. Here's the link to the Pro version.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.rerware.android.MyBackupPro&hl=en

Good job man its legit! I hit Google hard last night but not the damn play store lol

 

[Caeadas]

So some idiot neighbor of mine is trying to steal cable service and is throwing static in our neighborhood's network, causing it to repeatedly shut down. Hopefully it will clear up soon, and i can stay online for more than a few minutes. I hope they go to jail for interfering with a public utility...

Walkthrough is on temporary standby

 

[Caeadas]

Finally... So after a couple of days of screwy internet, and fixing stuff around the house, I guess I've finally got it finished.

I went through the all things root guide and found every person that i felt contributed to the direct performance of the phone. I'm sure I missed people, but if i included every person that I felt helped, it would be the size of the original post. Sorry anyone that feels left out.

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE give me some feedback, and be honest. I'd rather do this right and not make anyone angry, than to post it and risk it getting locked or deleted because someone got mad about something


In other news, they haven't found the idiot that was messing with the cable. They think someone was using hacked equipment to steal cable and was putting a ton of static in the line. Which really sucks, since i got beta keys to Ghost Recon Online and didn't get to play much this weekend.