For this method we are going to use Paul O'Briens Superboot.
Superboot is a boot.img that when booted, will root your device the first time you boot (installing su and the superuser APK). No need to flash any partitions, no need to mess around with ADB, no messing with the contents of your data partition, no overwriting the shipped ROM on your device, just boot the boot image using the instructions below and you're done!
...evostance- xda
BEFORE WE BEGIN
DOWNLOAD THE FOLLOWING:
Download the latest version of Superboot: [Only registered users can view links. ]
Download USB drivers: [Only registered users can view links. ] (If Needed.. If you get <waiting for device> you might need the USB drivers)
This Guide is For Windows/PC Users (For Mac... See the end of the guide)
***** WARNING: Before you begin... Unlocking the bootloader wipes the entire phone, including the internal storage. So back up any pictures, videos, music, etc... to your computer before you begin. ***** NOW LETS GET STARTED STEP: 1) Extract the contents of the above zip file. (SUPERBOOT)
2) Open the r3-galaxynexus-superboot folder you just extracted and select all of the files. (Ctrl + A)
3) Right click to Copy the files.
4) Open the C: drive of your computer. Right click to create a new folder and name it "root". Open the folder and PASTE the files in it that you just copied.
5) Open Command Prompt from the start menu on your computer. Use the search field if you need to.
6) From your phone... go to > Settings > Developer Options > Turn on USB Debugging.
7) Power your device off.
8) Connect your phone to your computer.
9) Put the device into bootloader mode by holding downVol Up + Vol Down + Powerand release when you see this screen.
10) Go to the Command Prompt Window and type the following: (Hit enter after each line)
Code:
cd C:/
Code:
cd root
11) Unlock your bootloader by typing this: ***This Will Wipe Your Device | Make A Backup of Anything Important If You Need To***
Code:
fastboot-windows oem unlock
12) You should get a warning on your phone. Use the volume keys to select an option, and press the power button to confirm it. (Select YES )
13) Your bootloader should now say that it is unlocked at the bottom.
14) To root your device, go back to the root folder that you created earlier on your C: drive and double click: install-superboot-windows.bat
15) When completed... you should see this screen:
16) After seeing the Google unlock screen for a few minutes, your phone should eventually power itself back on. Don't freak out and think it's frozen... it may take a good 5-10 minutes to power up off of the Google screen. ***If the Google screen goes into a bootloop... Whatever you do.. DO NOT pull the battery immediately... it will soft brick the phone. Try unplugging the USB Cable or hold the power button until the phone powers on and off. If you do end up having to pull the battery... wait at least 5-10 minutes while on the Google screen before you do so*** (more info on troubleshooting this can be found in the first 7 pages.)
Congrats... You Are Now Rooted with an Unlocked Bootloader. Now go have some fun!
CREDITS SuperBoot: Paul O'Brien Info: Evostance (XDA)
For MAC Users The instructions are the same as for PC... you just need to change the command codes. Replace the PC codes with the following: Step 5 from above:
Code:
cd C:/
Code:
cd root
Step 6 from above:
Code:
./fastboot-mac oem unlock
Also... From Step 9 above: Choose "install-superboot-mac.sh" That's All...
If you're having problems with the Drivers or the device not being recognized... Go to Device Manager on you computer and do the following.
* In fastboot mode, this is how your device may show up... with a yellow exclamation point (Unknown Device).
* Right click on the unknown device and select "Update driver software". Brings this up.... select "Browse my computer for driver software"
* That then brings up the following. Select "Let me pick from a list of device drivers on my computer"
* That then brings up the next step screen. scroll down until you see "SAMSUNG Android Phone". If you do not see this, you have not installed the driver.
* After selecting that, then select "SAMSUNG Android ADB Interface".
* Then select "Yes" to update that driver.
DONE.. your device is now recognized in fastboot mode!
Last edited by Cyber Warrior; 01-23-2012 at 02:56 PM.
Fantastic! This wont stop OTA updates from coming right?
EDIT: Just checked and OTA will be ok. Awesome write up. I never had to unlock a bootloader before. This will be the first time, but Sammys are fairly simple
Last edited by Terrigno; 12-16-2011 at 07:27 AM.
Reason: Added information
Everytime I get to the last Command Prompt, It always says waiting for device. I dont get it. I have the Samsung Drivers installed, USB installed and did everything else. When I notice that I plug the usb in before I put the phone in fastboot mode, It makes the studder step sound of the USB inserted on the computer. Instead of the full Sound a USB connection makes. Can anyone help me with this?
Everytime I get to the last Command Prompt, It always says waiting for device. I dont get it. I have the Samsung Drivers installed, USB installed and did everything else. When I notice that I plug the usb in before I put the phone in fastboot mode, It makes the studder step sound of the USB inserted on the computer. Instead of the full Sound a USB connection makes. Can anyone help me with this?
download the drivers, then click on the start menu, then right click on my computer, then click on manage from the drop down list, then in the window that pops up on the left hand side click on device manager. look for something that has a yellow "!" by it and right click on it and go to properties. then in 1 of those tabs (I believe it's the first 1) click on update driver. then click browse my computer for driver software. then click "browse" and find the folder where is the drivers are located and click next. you'll probably get a message saying that windows cannot determine the source the driver you sure that you want to install it and you'll want to click yes. directions just be following prompts. that's what works for me hope this helps.
i'm not getting the unlock boatloader screen. when i plugged in my phone before i booted up it said installing drivers but nothing happened, i got an error
Everytime I get to the last Command Prompt, It always says waiting for device. I dont get it. I have the Samsung Drivers installed, USB installed and did everything else. When I notice that I plug the usb in before I put the phone in fastboot mode, It makes the studder step sound of the USB inserted on the computer. Instead of the full Sound a USB connection makes. Can anyone help me with this?
Well I used this method to unlock the bootloader but I had the same problem with the waiting on device message. I had to manually go into the windows device manager and update the driver...then navigate to the driver. For some reason it was using the wrong driver even though I had installed it. Maybe you are having the same problem?
And for a question of my own. If i used this method to unlock the bootloader only, can I just skip to step 14 to root the phone or do I need to use another method to get root.
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