Database Users

What's the easiest way to root and install a bootloader right now?

I'm coming from a Kindle Fire. My Nexus 7 arrived today in Mexico, purchased on eBay
With the Kindle Fire there was a DOS-based Windows tool to enable root and install FireFireFire and TWRP.
I'm going to use the stock ROM for a while and see how it works. I feel no need to use a custom ROM with it.
I found Nexus Root Toolkit and Google Nexus 7 Toolkit on ht development forum. Which one are you guys using and why?
As recovery, do you recommend CWM over TWRP? TWRP worked very well with my Kindle Fire.
Thanks.

ajua said:
I'm coming from a Kindle Fire. My Nexus 7 arrived today in Mexico, purchased on eBay
With the Kindle Fire there was a DOS-based Windows tool to enable root and install FireFireFire and TWRP.
I'm going to use the stock ROM for a while and see how it works. I feel no need to use a custom ROM with it.
I found Nexus Root Toolkit and Google Nexus 7 Toolkit on ht development forum. Which one are you guys using and why?
As recovery, do you recommend CWM over TWRP? TWRP worked very well with my Kindle Fire.
Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Personally I don't use any of the Toolkits. I used fastboot commands to unlock the bootloader and flash a custom recovery.
As for recovery, its personal preference. I recently changed from CWM to TWRP on my Nexus 7 and Galaxy Nexus as I didn't really like the new "blobs" process of backing up roms on CWM.

Nexus 7 toolkit. It wont even take u 5 mins to get it rooted and have a bootloader installed

ajua said:
I found Nexus Root Toolkit and Google Nexus 7 Toolkit on ht development forum. Which one are you guys using and why?
As recovery, do you recommend CWM over TWRP? TWRP worked very well with my Kindle Fire.
Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Google Nexus 7 Toolkit works fine Although I'd recommend learning how to use ADB & Fastboot - they're incredibly useful.
As it's a Nexus device, unlocking your bootloader and installing a custom recovery is really simple: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1741395.

ajua said:
I'm coming from a Kindle Fire. My Nexus 7 arrived today in Mexico, purchased on eBay
With the Kindle Fire there was a DOS-based Windows tool to enable root and install FireFireFire and TWRP.
I'm going to use the stock ROM for a while and see how it works. I feel no need to use a custom ROM with it.
I found Nexus Root Toolkit and Google Nexus 7 Toolkit on ht development forum. Which one are you guys using and why?
As recovery, do you recommend CWM over TWRP? TWRP worked very well with my Kindle Fire.
Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
fragje said:
Nexus 7 toolkit. It wont even take u 5 mins to get it rooted and have a bootloader installed
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
theres no need to install a bootloader since theres one already on the device, thats why it boots up. what you need is a custom recovery. easiest way is fastboot. laziest way is a root toolkit. but the easiest way to mess up your device is through a root toolkit too.

Thanks for the answers. I have some experience as I rooted and flashed my Kindle Fire multiple times.
I guess I will have a go at the toolkits first and install TWRP (I already know how to use it). About ADB and Fastboot, I have little experience using them via command-line, but will keep in mind the suggestion to root and install a custom recovery manually.

ajua said:
Thanks for the answers. I have some experience as I rooted and flashed my Kindle Fire multiple times.
I guess I will have a go at the toolkits first and install TWRP (I already know how to use it). About ADB and Fastboot, I have little experience using them via command-line, but will keep in mind the suggestion to root and install a custom recovery manually.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just a hint, there's currently a bug in bootloader where you can't get into recovery without the tablet being connected to a PC, some roms let you reboot directly and that works but if your device can't boot its a invalid thing to say
Sent from my Jelly Nexus S

[Q] Nexus 7 (4.1.2) can't root

Hi I have a Nexus 7 version (4.1.2 OTA).
I wanted to ask what the deal is or what I'm doing wrong. I purchased the full version of Nexus ToolKit 7. According to the instructions I made the unlocked bootloader and I wanted to root but each attempt failed.
I do not know what I could do wrong when root is fully automated.
PS: I also tried to reflash Stock Rom (4.1.2)
I enclose a picture attachments with an error message

IAmNice said:
usb debugging on? Have you checked that?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi. Yes mam (usb debugging on) have a look to the attachment.
Toolkit me boot into fastboot then reboot then for something to fastboot loaded and back to android and trying to upload the files but nothing superuser is not recorded because of (read-only file system).
have a look on the attachment is there to see everything ...

yep same issue here - problem with the forum regs is unless you have enough posts you can't actually address the issue to the appropriate person can you? Anyway, able to unlock but then is unable to root and rest due to a permissions problem. have tried as administrator but of coure this doesn't make any difference.

NexusTropers said:
Hi I have a Nexus 7 version (4.1.2 OTA).
I wanted to ask what the deal is or what I'm doing wrong. I purchased the full version of Nexus ToolKit 7. According to the instructions I made the unlocked bootloader and I wanted to root but each attempt failed.
I do not know what I could do wrong when root is fully automated.
PS: I also tried to reflash Stock Rom (4.1.2)
I enclose a picture attachments with an error message
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can try flashing CWM recovery and installing Superuser from there.
Download Superuser and copy it to your /sdcard
Flash CWM recovery
Install Superuser from CWM
????
Profit.

try:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1796109

comminus said:
You can try flashing CWM recovery and installing Superuser from there.
Download Superuser and copy it to your /sdcard
Flash CWM recovery
Install Superuser from CWM
????
Profit.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks comminus - but I think that if we could do this then we wouldn't be using the tool kit.

bazabaza said:
Thanks comminus - but I think that if we could do this then we wouldn't be using the tool kit.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Why not try before you give up? Nothing I suggested is even remotely challenging.
With your tablet booted normally plug it in to your computer and copy the superuser zip in my previous post to the Download directory on your Nexus 7 from Windows.
Judging by the first provided screenshot I can see that option 6 in that toolkit is for flashing recovery. Why not try that?
As far as how to install the zip from ClockworkMod (CWM), there are literally hundreds of threads and YouTube videos that will show you what to do. The better option is to spend a few minutes (literately. It only takes a few minutes.) to learn some basic fastboot commands. If you're willing to learn there are many people who will help.

comminus said:
Why not try before you give up? Nothing I suggested is even remotely challenging.
With your tablet booted normally plug it in to your computer and copy the superuser zip in my previous post to the Download directory on your Nexus 7 from Windows.
Judging by the first provided screenshot I can see that option 6 in that toolkit is for flashing recovery. Why not try that?
As far as how to install the zip from ClockworkMod (CWM), there are literally hundreds of threads and YouTube videos that will show you what to do. The better option is to spend a few minutes (literately. It only takes a few minutes.) to learn some basic fastboot commands. If you're willing to learn there are many people who will help.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thx you for your post
But in the Nexus7 ToolKit can be done but is ClockworkMod must first rename (recovery restore files) but with da only when I have ROOT.
And why unnecessary to install CWM and resolve other problems I'll eat a connection. If "simply" can I ROOT who create me rich enough.

NexusTropers said:
Thx you for your post
But in the Nexus7 ToolKit can be done but is ClockworkMod must first rename (recovery restore files) but with da only when I have ROOT.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Choose #1 in your first screenshot.
After you install CWM make sure you boot recovery before a standard boot. On rebooting from CWM it will say something like "ROM may flash stock recovery on boot." and prompt with yes or no. Choose yes - this renames /system/recovery-from-boot.p and prevents the ROM from restoring stock recovery.
NexusTropers said:
And why unnecessary to install CWM and resolve other problems I'll eat a connection. If "simply" can I ROOT who create me rich enough.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm not really sure what you're trying to say...

I tried quite a few times to root my Nexus 7 with the Nexus 7 toolkit, it hung every time when it was supposed to be installing SuperSU and BusyBox. Every time the last message I saw was "adbd already running as root", and it would just hang there. Everything else appeared to work properly. The only tool I was able to successfully use (more than once) was the Nexus Root Toolkit from Wugfresh http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1766475. You may want to try that tool.

comminus said:
Choose #1 in your first screenshot.
After you install CWM make sure you boot recovery before a standard boot. On rebooting from CWM it will say something like "ROM may flash stock recovery on boot." and prompt with yes or no. Choose yes - this renames /system/recovery-from-boot.p and prevents the ROM from restoring stock recovery.
I'm not really sure what you're trying to say...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1. THX u i try it.
2. AH sorry translator make crazy text.
homerbrew said:
I tried quite a few times to root my Nexus 7 with the Nexus 7 toolkit, it hung every time when it was supposed to be installing SuperSU and BusyBox. Every time the last message I saw was "adbd already running as root", and it would just hang there. Everything else appeared to work properly. The only tool I was able to successfully use (more than once) was the Nexus Root Toolkit from Wugfresh http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1766475. You may want to try that tool.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oki THX u i try this tool...

I'm also having this same problem but here's my story:
Using the Nexus 1.5.4 Toolkit, I Unrooted + Flashed jzo54k, success. I locked OEM, success. I unlocked again, success. Then I ran the root process again, and it keeps freezing at the android recovery screen. Following the prompt in the toolkit, I walked away for a few hours hoping time would resolve the issue.
If you're wondering why I unlocked + rooted, and decided to unroot, lock, unlock, and root again, its because I'm super-noob to anything android related after version 1.5, I wanted to learn the processes after I found out I was having troubles with certian things after my Nexus 7 updated from 4.1 to 4.1.2

I am having the same issue as you. 4.1.2 is not rooting for me. I can't install CWM or TWRP because it needs to rename recovery files, and to do that you need to be rooted. If I boot in recovery I always get stock

Having the same issue with a stock 4.1.2. I can unlock no problem but I cannot get it rooted. Everything appears to have worked, but it is not rooted. If I revert back to 4.1.1 I can unlock, root, etc. without issue. I was able to root 4.1.1 and use the root keeper app to then update to 4.1.2 and I was rooted still. However, it would not let me install CWM or anything. ROM Manager says it was installed, but booting to recovery always too me to stock.
Any ideas?

Can you point me into the direction to downgrading?
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda app-developers app

MetalMadness said:
Can you point me into the direction to downgrading?
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I used Nexus Root Toolkit v1.5.4 and selected the "Flash Stock + Unroot" option. When prompted I choose the default 4.1.1 option and away it went.

To root my 32Gb on 4.1.2 I had to unlock the boot loader, flash the boot loader back to version 3.34, and then I successfully rooted using the nexus 7 toolkit.

hundred_miles_high said:
To root my 32Gb on 4.1.2 I had to unlock the boot loader, flash the boot loader back to version 3.34, and then I successfully rooted using the nexus 7 toolkit.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Winner winner! I was just reading THIS which is exactly what you suggested. I just tried this and can confirm that it did work.
Thanks!

hundred_miles_high said:
To root my 32Gb on 4.1.2 I had to unlock the boot loader, flash the boot loader back to version 3.34, and then I successfully rooted using the nexus 7 toolkit.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Indy1204 said:
Winner winner! I was just reading THIS which is exactly what you suggested. I just tried this and can confirm that it did work.
Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks. I did this earlier and it didnt work, but I checked boot instead of flash
FLASH THE OLDER BOOTLOADER DON'T BOOT IT!!!

[Q] Can anyone please answer this? May have screwed up badly.

In short, I rooted my nexus 7 and downloaded twrp today. I've never rooted anything before but I successfully rooted and installed twrp to my nexus. Along the setup of flashing a rom in twrp, I accidentally deleted everything. The only things I can access is the Google screen with the unlock icon and twrp. My computer is recognizing the nexus as an unspecified android device. Is there any way to flash the original stock rom because now I'm stuck with a brand new nexus that can't do anything? Please help!

bosox617 said:
In short, I rooted my nexus 7 and downloaded twrp today. I've never rooted anything before but I successfully rooted and installed twrp to my nexus. Along the setup of flashing a rom in twrp, I accidentally deleted everything. The only things I can access is the Google screen with the unlock icon and twrp. My computer is recognizing the nexus as an unspecified android device. Is there any way to flash the original stock rom because now I'm stuck with a brand new nexus that can't do anything? Please help!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1907796
or.. nexus7 toolkit then install driver then click 9, download stock image, flash stock image wait for it to finish

bosox617 said:
In short, I rooted my nexus 7 and downloaded twrp today. I've never rooted anything before but I successfully rooted and installed twrp to my nexus. Along the setup of flashing a rom in twrp, I accidentally deleted everything. The only things I can access is the Google screen with the unlock icon and twrp. My computer is recognizing the nexus as an unspecified android device. Is there any way to flash the original stock rom because now I'm stuck with a brand new nexus that can't do anything? Please help!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I had to do the same thing the other day. I used the method ngoralph just mentioned. Easy peasy. Also after you use option 9 you may want to just go ahead and use option 8. Yes it installs CWM but you can just flash TWRP afterwards if you prefer.

Option 9 worked perfectly. Did not screw up the second time. Thanks for all your help!

bosox617 said:
Option 9 worked perfectly. Did not screw up the second time. Thanks for all your help!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Good to hear. Nothing with Android is ever truly messed up if you can get to fastboot mode. Oh and I'm not sure if you have done so or not but if you donate a couple of bucks to the dev of the Toolkit it unlocks the kit update option. There is a much newer kit version out that adds options.

[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.

Help: Lost Root after 4.2.2 Upgrade

I upgraded to 4.2.2 and it seems I have lost my Root Access. I has SuperSU Pro with OTA Survival mode on installed as a system app before the upgrade but it seems it did not keep Root access. I used Root Checker and it's telling me I am not rooted. I am still seeing the unlock Icon at boot so I assume my boot loader is still unlocked.
Is there an easy way to get my Root access back?
Thanks.

Hey I had the same happen to me, ended up having to fastboot flash recovery to get twrp back and then downloaded the supersu recovery bootable zip and flashed supersu back. Don't forget to update your SDK tools with SDK manager before you flash twrp because 4.2.2 has this added security prompt thing when you connect your tablet it will appear offline in cmd, when you update sdktools and enter adb devices in cmd it will appear offline, check your tablet it will ask you to allow adb. Hope this helps.
Before trying all this maybe try installing busy box, I dunno I'm a bit of a noob
Sent from my Nexus 7 using XDA Premium HD app

Thanks for your reply. I will try to follow the steps you outlined however, most of what you said is new to me. I initially rooted my device with the Nexus 7 Toolkit so it was a fairly simple procedure. I have never used the SDK or twrp are there any tutorials on how these work on 4.2.2? Also they will probably update Nexus 7 toolkit to support 4.2.2 eventually, so if I can't figure out the steps indicated I may have to wait.
Another noob question: After the update I can still open busybox and SupeSU, how come these apps still run if I am no longer rooted?
gastonwalpole said:
Hey I had the same happen to me, ended up having to fastboot flash recovery to get twrp back and then downloaded the supersu recovery bootable zip and flashed supersu back. Don't forget to update your SDK tools with SDK manager before you flash twrp because 4.2.2 has this added security prompt thing when you connect your tablet it will appear offline in cmd, when you update sdktools and enter adb devices in cmd it will appear offline, check your tablet it will ask you to allow adb. Hope this helps.
Before trying all this maybe try installing busy box, I dunno I'm a bit of a noob
Sent from my Nexus 7 using XDA Premium HD app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

hey man yeh i didnt get how i still had supersu but i definitely wasnt rooted. its all a bit complicated aye, basically you need to download the andriod sdk bundle [now called adt bundle] for whatever you have eg. windows 7 32/64, and the jdk java development kit, look for guides on these, there two youtubers who have helpful channels: driodmodderx and wwjoshdew. also search threads here. you want your device to be recognized by the comp, sdk and jdk do this. twrp is a custom recovery that you can use to flash roms zips etc, you use your comp to send this custom recovery to your device. i would have stayed on 4.2.1 because i dont think you can use custom roms on 4.2.2 bootloader, still 4.2.2 is very smooth, i like it.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using XDA Premium HD app

gastonwalpole said:
Don't forget to update your SDK tools with SDK manager before you flash twrp because 4.2.2 has this added security prompt thing when you connect your tablet it will appear offline in cmd, when you update sdktools and enter adb devices in cmd it will appear offline, check your tablet it will ask you to allow adb.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Boy did your post make me happy! I had the exact same problem. Managed to install 4.2.2 with modified OTA update (original was failing due to some discrepency in GoogleCalendar.apk) but even though I had SuperSU in survival mode, I lost my root. I've been trying all afternoon to connect via adb to my Nexus and just couldn't - it was always offline.. I tried 3 different computers and my SGNII phone (which worked) but N7 just wouldn't stop being offline...
I hope this is the solution! Thanx a BUNCH!
One question - my bootloader is unlocked telling by the icon on boot "google" screen - will I lose my apps and data after "re-rooting" that is, after flashing custom recovery and SuperSU?
THANX!!!!!!!!!!!!!

you won't lose anything by flashing recovery or su

I just checked the Nexus Root Toolkit site and he says he'll have a new version out very soon that will root 4.2.2 so sit tight, we'll soon be able to root again Just fire up the program from time to time and it should automatically update when it's ready.

burnitdown said:
you won't lose anything by flashing recovery or su
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Great, managed to do it, everything fine. Thanx again!

SimonP2 said:
I just checked the Nexus Root Toolkit site and he says he'll have a new version out very soon that will root 4.2.2 so sit tight, we'll soon be able to root again Just fire up the program from time to time and it should automatically update when it's ready.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
And if you can't wait, the workaround is there on http://www.wugfresh.com/nrt/ under IMPORTANT NOTICE.