Boot loader unlock for dummies?

**Brooke** · 12-16-2011, 11:56 AM

There is a thread - can't find it now - with a link to instructions for unlocking. It involves first dl-ing to the PC. After that, I'm stuck. Instructions look simple enough, but their steps don't seem to match what I'm seeing.

Is there a -real- dummies version? Better yet, anyone in the North SF Bay Area want to give hands-on help?

TIA

**Andrew Ruffolo** · 12-16-2011, 11:59 AM

Originally Posted by Brooke

There is a thread - can't find it now - with a link to instructions for unlocking. It involves first dl-ing to the PC. After that, I'm stuck. Instructions look simple enough, but their steps don't seem to match what I'm seeing.

Is there a -real- dummies version? Better yet, anyone in the North SF Bay Area want to give hands-on help?

TIA

I can give you help remotely using logmein

**davey11** · 12-16-2011, 12:00 PM

[GUIDE] How To Unlock Bootloader and Root Verizon Galaxy Nexus

**Brooke** · 12-16-2011, 12:04 PM

Originally Posted by Andrew Ruffolo

I can give you help remotely using logmein

I may take you up on that. Happy to make a donation if we do it. Would like to do it myself, though ...

**Andrew Ruffolo** · 12-16-2011, 12:06 PM

Originally Posted by Brooke

I may take you up on that. Happy to make a donation if we do it. Would like to do it myself, though ...

Nah, I don't do this for money. I'd walk you through it though if you want. Make sure the drivers install properly. When you boot into fastboot mode, your computer will need a driver installed first (may fail first time, mine did).

**moondrius** · 12-16-2011, 12:06 PM

It is really simple. Make sure you have the Android sdk setup as well as fastboot in the folder with adb and follow those directions.

The only issue I had was getting fastboot drivers that worked. I was able to boot into the bootloader using adb but fastboot oem unlock was not working. These drivers work for both adb and fastboot.

Once you have the sdk, fastboot and the drivers set up its as easy as "adb reboot bootloader" and "fastboot oem unlock"

**Brooke** · 12-16-2011, 12:09 PM

Originally Posted by davey11

[GUIDE] How To Unlock Bootloader and Root Verizon Galaxy Nexus

To get Wallet and Teathering, do I need to root? Any downside to rooting?
Does asking these questions mean I shouldn't be trying? Lol. Seriously, I'm relatively techy for an old guy ...

**llasch** · 12-16-2011, 12:11 PM

Guys....I need help, forgive me if this is so rudimentary to you it makes you queasy. I have never rooted a phone and and not really sure what it does. Does anyone have a link or enough time to explain to me what it is exactly (including ROMs...clueless on those too). I need some informative reading and would rather trust someone on here than googling it. I jail broke my iPod touch a few years ago...is that similar? Sorry for the nub'ness

**JoeUserTX** · 12-16-2011, 12:11 PM

It actually is very simple. Like what has been mentioned, the only real challenge was getting the Nexus to communicate with the proper USB driver. The xda-developers.com link mentioned has the necessary USB driver, so you're covered there.

Just remember to NOT panic and think that the colored blocks animation is stuck and looping (and yank the battery)! It's normal, and takes a few minutes to fully wipe and unlock. Also, back up any photos or emails that you want to keep, as unlocking will wipe the phone as if you were doing a fresh unboxing (that is why it is recommended to do this before heavily configuring your phone after unboxing).

Edit: "Rooting" and "Unlocking" are not the same thing. You unlock the phone so that you can then root, if you desire to later. Root allows you access to fully control your phone, its operating system (ROMs), and everything else (including bricking it, if you're not too careful). Also, rooting voids your Verizon warranty, whereas unlocking does not (correct me if I'm wrong, anyone).

**charveldude** · 12-16-2011, 12:14 PM

I couldn't get my PC (Win 7) to load Samsung's USB driver, so I never got very far when I tried last night. I was able to download the proper driver but couldn't install it, for some reason. Because of that, my PC wouldn't recognize the GN in fastboot mode.

**Andrew Ruffolo** · 12-16-2011, 12:19 PM

If you are having trouble with the drivers,

**charveldude** · 12-16-2011, 12:30 PM

Originally Posted by Andrew Ruffolo

If you are having trouble with the drivers,

PdaNet wouldn't finish installing on my PC, because I couldn't install that pesky Samsung USB driver.

**BriMcFly88** · 12-16-2011, 12:54 PM

I am somewhat familiar with this process, having done this before.

HOWEVER, it's been 18 months... and I have a new laptop. Problem is that I can't get the usbwin (or whatever it's called) to work on my 64bit windows 7 machine. So when I go to control panel/devices and try to select the driver, it fails.

Any suggestions?