Database Users

Rooting Help

I'm not all that savvy at rooting and messing with Androids. I have a rooted Inspire 4G, but the Nexus 7 is a whole different beast. Some of the methods and things I need to do are kind of confusing, and was hoping I could get some help on my most burning questions.
1. What is the best/safest/most reliable way to root the Nexus 7 at the moment? (I have the latest OTA update JR003D)
2. I have many games that I would like to keep the data for. Is there any way to root my Nexus 7 without wiping the tablet entirely? If necessary, what is the best way to back up app data or the entire tablet?
3. Is there any way I can root my device so that I can still receive OTA updates safely without losing root, or at least be able to get root back easily?
If there's some good answers, hopefully other people can benefit from this too. ^.^

1/2. I used this toolkit. Since most ways that root also have you unlock when you do that it will wipe the device. So if you have stuff on /sdcard Id suggest backing it up to your computer and copy over afterword.
3. If you want to stay OTA and keep root, then you will need to flash the stock recovery back (if you use that toolkit since it flashes Clockwork for you) and use voodoo ota rootkeeper. You can do this by
Download ota rootkeeper and backup your root
Download the system image from here
Extract the recovery.img and stick it in your fastboot folder
boot into fastboot and type fastboot erase recovery
type fastboot flash recovery recovery.img
wait for flash
type fastboot reboot-bootloader
reboot the tab, system update then go back into voodoo and restore root and done!! You can then reflash CWM if you want to go custom again in the future, but keep in mind you need to be on stock recovery to take OTA.

u should of just rooted it right out of box so u wouldnt have to lose any data etc... because u havent done anything on it yet.

yeah thats what I did. Saves the hassle.

Hi, and thanks for your instructions. They are very clear.
Do you recommend that I (typical owner) leave my stock recovery image in place for day-to-day use and switch to CWM only when I desire to reflash? How do you do it? Also, should I make a nandroid backup(s) or is that kind of a waste on my 8GB Nexus?
I am familiar with CWM for flashing and backing up (to rem. SD card) for my phone.
I'd like to ensure I'll receive notifications about Nexus 7 updates. At least for a while or until I decide on a custom ROM. If ever.
Again, many thanks.
Sent from my Nexus 7

NeoMagus said:
1/2. I used this toolkit. Since most ways that root also have you unlock when you do that it will wipe the device. So if you have stuff on /sdcard Id suggest backing it up to your computer and copy over afterword.
3. If you want to stay OTA and keep root, then you will need to flash the stock recovery back (if you use that toolkit since it flashes Clockwork for you) and use voodoo ota rootkeeper. You can do this by
Download ota rootkeeper and backup your root
Download the system image from here
Extract the recovery.img and stick it in your fastboot folder
boot into fastboot and type fastboot erase recovery
type fastboot flash recovery recovery.img
wait for flash
type fastboot reboot-bootloader
reboot the tab, system update then go back into voodoo and restore root and done!! You can then reflash CWM if you want to go custom again in the future, but keep in mind you need to be on stock recovery to take OTA.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I just followed the 1.5.2 tool kit to unlock, root and install CWM onto my N7.I would like to remove CWM and replace the stock recovery for OTA updates. I followed your instructions and extracted recovery.img from the nakasi JRN84D image. I installed the android SDk and the 4.1 toolkit but I cannot find the fastboot folder, I found the fastboot exceuter but no fastboot folder in sight.
Any tips?

You want it in the folder with fastboot.exe. On my PC this is in platform-tools

Hi SoHaunted. I haven't heard any reply to my own questions so maybe this thread has been buried in the deluge of Nexus 7 topics.
You might want to go to the Nexus 7 Development forum and look at the topic regarding Nexus Root Toolkit v1.5. It is a Windows program that really helps with the different rooting tasks. It installed CWM for me. I also used it to update to a newer version of CWM.

NeoMagus said:
You want it in the folder with fastboot.exe. On my PC this is in platform-tools
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
thanks thats what I needed to know . 1 more thing, does the N7 have to be in bootloader mode before executing fastboot.exe or can it be on?
danny8 said:
Hi SoHaunted. I haven't heard any reply to my own questions so maybe this thread has been buried in the deluge of Nexus 7 topics.
You might want to go to the Nexus 7 Development forum and look at the topic regarding Nexus Root Toolkit v1.5. It is a Windows program that really helps with the different rooting tasks. It installed CWM for me. I also used it to update to a newer version of CWM.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's the program I used to obtain root and install CWM, What I want to do is remove CWM and replace it with the stock recovery for future OTA updates as I do not plan on installing any roms or kernels at this time, Stock JB is good for me.

SoHaunted said:
thanks thats what I needed to know . 1 more thing, does the N7 have to be in bootloader mode before executing fastboot.exe or can it be on?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It needs to be in the screen with the Android where it lists the info on the bottom and says start with the green arrow, after holding the volume buttons and power.
danny8 said:
Hi, and thanks for your instructions. They are very clear.
Do you recommend that I (typical owner) leave my stock recovery image in place for day-to-day use and switch to CWM only when I desire to reflash? How do you do it? Also, should I make a nandroid backup(s) or is that kind of a waste on my 8GB Nexus?
I am familiar with CWM for flashing and backing up (to rem. SD card) for my phone.
I'd like to ensure I'll receive notifications about Nexus 7 updates. At least for a while or until I decide on a custom ROM. If ever.
Again, many thanks.
Sent from my Nexus 7
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That method I posted was how to flash the stock recovery back to take OTA. If you are familiar with how to use CWM since you flashed it might as well just stick with it. Really only want to stay stock if you want the OTA's then just use rootkeeper

If I root

Right just a quick question if I root my nexus 7 just to use stick mount and a OTG cable and add removal. Will I still get the OTA updates from the big G.
I'm a compulsive ROM changer and I have never owed a full Nexus device and would just like to keep it pure Nexus so to speak but with Root.
Sent from Galaxy SIII using Tapatalk

Yes.
Yes, you'll still get OTA updates, but you'll lose root (I know 'cause my old Galaxy tab lost it when it got ICS), so if you want to keep root, use the Root Keeper app in the Play Store. I thing there are ways or apps that do this too, but I don't know.

You will get them but they wont update your nexus 7 because of a custom recovery
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2

E_Goldstein said:
You will get them but they wont update your nexus 7 because of a custom recovery
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ahhh that's what I thought
Sent from Galaxy SIII using Tapatalk

Ignore last poster.
You can still get your ota if you keep the stock recovery
You can still use a custom recovery for gaining root by doing fastboot boot recovery.img instead of fastboot flash recovery recovery.img
Doing it this way will give you a single boot into custom recovery while Leaving the actual recovery on your tab stock
Sent from my Nexus 7

E_Goldstein said:
You will get them but they wont update your nexus 7 because of a custom recovery
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's not true. You can root and still have stock recovery. In fact you'll have stock recovery unless you flash one manually. edit: or unless your root tool flashes the recovery.
And to the OP, yes, you sure can have root, and still have updates [but apparently not upgrades], I recommend that over unrooted stock, but I would definitely recommend a custom rom like Paranoid Android [CM10 based]. It lets you choose the layout [tablet and phablet] of any app.

Yes, you will keep root if here is an upgrade. You might not keep it going from 4.1 to 4.2 on the OTA because like then other guy said, he lost root after a big update. If you go from 4.1 to 4.1.1 you should be fine.
Sent from my SGH-T989 using xda premium

Then if this is true, that they will flash why for the past 2 weeks when people have asked the same question has everyone else said the same as i did??
You cant get a straight answer on this site now a days i wish it go back to 5 years ago. It was nice t be on here then
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2

E_Goldstein said:
Then if this is true, that they will flash why for the past 2 weeks when people have asked the same question has everyone else said the same as i did??
You cant get a straight answer on this site now a days i wish it go back to 5 years ago. It was nice t be on here then
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
OK let me give you the full breakdown which should hopefully make things easier to understand for everyone
[RECOVERIES AND OTA UPDATES]
in order to flash a manufacturer OTA update you must have the stock recovery on your devices Recovery Partition
you can still use a custom recovery via fastboot boot recovery.img as this doesnt touch your physical recovery partition
by doing fastboot boot clockworkrecovery.img you can then install your su binaries to get root
[OTA UPDATES AND KEEPING ROOT]
there are 2 different types of OTA updates
Incremental and Full System Updates
[INCREMENTAL UPDATES]
an incremental update will just update files on your system partition, as a stock rom doesnt have SU binaries, a incremental update will never
touch them and thus root will not be affected
[Full System Updates]
a full system update will erase and flash a completely new system partition, as such all data on the system partition is replaced including SU binaries so with this type of update Root will be lost
even after a full system update it is easy enough to just fastboot boot clockworkrecovery.img and reflash the su binaries again afterwards so nothing is ever truly lost
hope this is slightly educational for some of you

[Q] Iam not able to install a custom recovery

Hey, just got my N4 yesterday.
I rooted my device today.
I also wanted to install a custom recovery like cwm or twrp.
But everytime it comes up with the android figure and a red warning.
Seems that every tool kit like the 1.6. nexus root toolkit or the Google Nexus 4 ToolKit is not able to install/flash a recovery.
Am i doing anything wrong?

Toobie said:
Hey, just got my N4 yesterday.
I rooted my device today.
I also wanted to install a custom recovery like cwm or twrp.
But everytime it comes up with the android figure and a red warning.
Seems that every tool kit like the 1.6. nexus root toolkit or the Google Nexus 4 ToolKit is not able to install/flash a recovery.
Am i doing anything wrong?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What you are doing wrong is using a toolkit. Follow these instructions. http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2018179

I use mskip's Nexus 4 Toolkit without any issues. So far I've used it to root, install clockworkmod recovery and flash the stock image after messing up a build prop edit. Saved me a lot of headaches as I haven't used adb or fastboot commands in over a year, don't even have the sdk installed any more. This is the first phone since I got my Incredible in 2010 that I actually wanted to put a custom recovery on and play with.
Here are some basic questions. Did you unlock your boot loader? Do you have usb debugging enabled? Does your device show up when when your plugged in and booted up into fastboot? Do you have the correct drivers installed? Which recovery are you trying to install and did you try the other one available? Did you use the toolkit to root and did it work?

Toobie said:
Hey, just got my N4 yesterday.
I rooted my device today.
I also wanted to install a custom recovery like cwm or twrp.
But everytime it comes up with the android figure and a red warning.
Seems that every tool kit like the 1.6. nexus root toolkit or the Google Nexus 4 ToolKit is not able to install/flash a recovery.
Am i doing anything wrong?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
After you root the device using the toolkit, it is easiest to download ROM Manager or Goo.im from the Play Store to install your custom recovery.
As Ed Daddy said, it's best to use ADB, however, it would save you some times and a few headache if you could just go ahead and download ROM Manager. Sometimes people forget there are *really easy* ways to do stuffs.

KyraOfFire said:
After you root the device using the toolkit, it is easiest to download ROM Manager or Goo.im from the Play Store to install your custom recovery.
As Ed Daddy said, it's best to use ADB, however, it would save you some times and a few headache if you could just go ahead and download ROM Manager. Sometimes people forget there are *really easy* ways to do stuffs.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
While I agree there are "really easy" ways to do things, I was trying to point him in the direction of learning.
Obviously since they don't know how to flash a recovery, they probably aren't familiar with much else.
Learning how to do things properly never hurt anyone.
Sent from my Nexus 4

Toobie said:
Hey, just got my N4 yesterday.
I rooted my device today.
I also wanted to install a custom recovery like cwm or twrp...
...Am i doing anything wrong?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
El Daddy is correct.
Toolkits are silly on Nexus devices, for Nexus the simplest way is flashing via faboot. At the very least take the time to learn from the guide that El Daddy provided a link to. With that knowledge you'll be able to resolve issues like this and help others who get stuck.

Actually I unlocked my bootloader, rooted the device. Using normal OTA 4.2.1
But it seems that every toolkit cannot flash the recovery.
I will try it now with using adb commands...

All the toolkits are are scripts that run the fastboot and adb commands for you, they're nothing complicated and IMO from someone with experience I prefer using them now as I no longer have the sdk installed. Gave up on custom ROMs, my own and others, a long time ago.
---------- Post added at 08:32 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:29 PM ----------
Toobie said:
Actually I unlocked my bootloader, rooted the device. Using normal OTA 4.2.1
But it seems that every toolkit cannot flash the recovery.
I will try it now with using adb commands...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Actually it's fastboot not adb that you use to flash recoveries, two different animals. and to the poster recommending ROM Manager, its kind of borked right now and I wouldn't use it to flash anything.
Edit: spoke too soon on ROM Manager looks like Koush updated it and it appears to be working properly. This was the first app I ever bought back in 2010 when I first rooted my Eris and couldn't get clockworkmod recovery to install, the moderators at the time recommended ROM Manager to me to get it installed as nothing else worked.

Yeah, but both didn't work.
I used now the adb commands on my one, still remembering them from my Nexus One, and see it works

For sure fastboot and adb will work. I used it very recently when my n4 updated. Just make sure to download the latest cwm. Had a boot loop the first time as I used an old one. Hehehe
Edit: actually not sure if it was the old fastboot files or cwm that caused the error. Anyway I updated my sdk so everything works well
Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 2

Actually all the tools booted the phone fine in the fastboot mode, telling me flashing the recovery is fine.
But every time i wanted to reboot in the recovery i got this android roboter with the red alarm...
with the normal adb commands everything was really fine!

You're getting that because flashing custom recovery alone without modifying a file or two generates stock recovery every after a reboot. Go to your /system folder and look for recovery-from-boot.p and rename that to whatever you like then flash the custom recovery again
Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 2

thephantom said:
You're getting that because flashing custom recovery alone without modifying a file or two generates stock recovery every after a reboot. Go to your /system folder and look for recovery-from-boot.p and rename that to whatever you like then flash the custom recovery again
Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sounds great, will try that.
Thank you.

[Q] Help update to stock 4.2.2 from custom rom 4.2.1

Hi
First of all, this is don't habitual for me since I used to read related post (and more if an update has just arrived) but I just could not find an specific instructions (sorry if I am being too demanding) to go from custom 4.2.1(PA) to stock and finish with rooted 4.2.2, there are a lot of several procedures or recommendations to perform the update :S
well this is what I have planed
- return to stock 4.2.1 (using nexus toolkit)
- download and flash manually the update to 4.2.2 (first try to use the ota update option)
- get root... how??? lol
- restore my apps/data
Since I will return to stock I think I will lose root, that is ok but only if i can root the nexus again, Will I be able to get root on 4.2.2? or I have to root in 4.2.1 and keep it (in some way) at the time I update to 4.2.2
Srryforbad/basicenglish:silly:

Rooting every nexus is the same. Flash/boot a custom recovery and flash supersu.zip. it doesn't matter what OS version its on.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk HD

Pirateghost said:
Rooting every nexus is the same. Flash/boot a custom recovery and flash supersu.zip. it doesn't matter what OS version its on.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk HD
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ok, I think I have missing that simple thing...
I don't have to worry about get the bootloader locked again therefore I just have to flash a recovery and SU when I have my N7 on 4.2.2, but...flash from... bootloader I guess, well, I will check that.
Thanks!

Learn the manual way of doing it and don't rely on toolkits. There are many tutorials walking you through the entire process
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk HD

SLver said:
ok, I think I have missing that simple thing...
I don't have to worry about get the bootloader locked again therefore I just have to flash a recovery and SU when I have my N7 on 4.2.2, but...flash from... bootloader I guess, well, I will check that.
Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
To elaborate on Pirateghost's points...
After flashing the 4.2.2 update... you will lose your recovery (CWM or TWRP)... but getting your recovery back is also part of how you (re)gain root.
As I have posted elsewhere...
Rooting is really simple.
(You will need an unlocked bootloader for this).
Get a custom recovery .img for your device...
Either CWM - http://www.clockworkmod.com/rommanager
...or TWRP - http://www.teamw.in/project/twrp2/103,
...it matters little which...
-----------
fastboot flash it.
-----------
Get Chainfires SU .zip package here http://download.chainfire.eu/310/SuperSU/UPDATE-SuperSU-v1.04.zip
Flash it using the custom recovery you've just fastboot flashed..
Reboot... and you're rooted.
-----------
...and that's it basically... you have root, a custom recovery from which you can flash ROMs, perform nandroid backups, etc.
But fastboot is the key... learn how to use it, and you will never need to be reliant on anybodies toolkit.
Rgrds,
Ged.

Nexus 7 2012 stuck in safe mode

When I restart Nexus 7 it always boot up to safe mode. Tablet first shows bootloader menu and when I choose to start, it boot in to safe mode. It looks like volume down button is always pressed on but it don't work - does nothing in bootloader menu, and in safe mode.
I don't use it for some days. I don't remember the tablet being flooded or hit. It just appears. First I thought that it was caused by some bug in LineageOS. I made factory reset, and when it does nothing I set u Android 5.1 again but that also didn't work.
Do you have any idea why this is happening?

You mean you are always booting into recovery when starting up the device? This may happen if there is no valid boot.img / system.img installed. How did you install the current system on your device? Do you have an unlocked bootloader? Do you have the latest bootloader (4.23) installed on your device?

AndDiSa said:
You mean you are always booting into recovery when starting up the device? This may happen if there is no valid boot.img / system.img installed. How did you install the current system on your device? Do you have an unlocked bootloader? Do you have the latest bootloader (4.23) installed on your device?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Last thing I did is option Flash Stock + Unroot in Nexus Root Toolkit.
Yes I have bootloader 4.23.

Sorry, but I don't know what the toolkit is doing and whether everything went as expected .. that's the disadvantage of using toolkits.
Best would be to learn how to install and to use fastboot and after that you can decide either to flash stock factory image again or to upgrade to one of the custom ROMs available for the Nexus 7.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using XDA Labs

AndDiSa said:
Sorry, but I don't know what the toolkit is doing and whether everything went as expected .. that's the disadvantage of using toolkits.
Best would be to learn how to install and to use fastboot and after that you can decide either to flash stock factory image again or to upgrade to one of the custom ROMs available for the Nexus 7.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using XDA Labs
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think you don't understand me. Nexus Root Toolkit have nothing to do with this. It works 3 years with my Nexus 4 and 1 year with Nexus 7. This problem appeared long after installation of LineageOS.
Ok, I installed Android 5.0 manually and I still have this problem.

Did you notice any error messages while flashing the stock image? Did you do a factory reset after returning to stock?
I am still thinking that your bootloader is closed and you are not really flashing / changing the ROM, but flashing fails and you are remaining in the same state as before. Just as an idea ...
Sent from my Nexus 7 using XDA Labs

I would do one step at a time assuming fastboot and adb work. Search for adb minimal. Download stock zip to same directory. Run fastboot oem unlock. Unzip stock zip and try running flash-all.bat it flashes compatible bootloader and stock zip. If that doesn't work img files are inside stock zip and can be flashed separately.
Sent from my Nexus 6 using Tapatalk

Sorry for leaving you like that.
I took the risk and ordered flex cables with volume buttons. Now the tablet works fine. I'm sorry for the trouble.