Table of Contents
Google Nexus 7
I don't take any responsibility for bricked or destroyed hardware. Also, some actions described here may void your warranty. You have been warned!
All information here is related to 2012 version of Google Nexus 7 manufactured by ASUS and how to do various things with, or to, it from GNU/Linux. 99% of information here can be found on intranets. These are, pretty much, personal notes. Respect to all those people for all work they've done!
Speaking of which, here are some links:
- unlocking boot loader by grey_olli
- replacing recovery image by grey_olli
- rooting nexus 7 summary by dmmarck with links to guide and video. Beware, though, as it has obfuscated links for non-registered users(which I think, sucks)
Hardware
Detailed information about hardware can be found at wiki. I see no reason to duplicate this information.
- CPU - Nvidia Tegra 3 T30L ARM Cortex-A9, quad-core, 1.2GHz
- GPU - Nvidia ULP GeForce, twelve-core, 416MHz
Unlock boot loader and root
I didn't put this under How to for couple reasons - it would be lost there and unlocked boot loader is building block for pretty much everything.
Unlock boot loader
Unlocking boot loader will wipe all your data. Therefore, you're advised to backup your data before proceeding further.
- you need Android SDK to get
adb
andfastboot
. Look foradt-bundle-linux-x86_64
. Note, however, despite it's 2013, “compat” libs are still required by 64bit version(what a shame!). This is covered by installingia32-libs
on Ubuntu. I don't know about other distros. - enable USB debug mode by:
- go into Settings → About tablet and click on Build number seven times
- go into Settings → Developer options and enable USB debugging
# ./adb devices
List of devices attached 015d46d948101e11 device
# ./adb reboot-bootloader
or, I guess, this would do too: power off Nexus 7, hold simultaneously buttons Volume Down, Home and Power# ./fastboot oem unlock
- press Power button to unlock boot loader
Replace recovery image
- enable USB debugging, if you haven't already
# ./adb devices
# ./adb reboot-bootloader
# ./fastboot devices
- if it doesn't list your Nexus 7, you can't continue- download clockworkmod recovery image here - based on version of Nexus 7 you have, choose either WiFi or GSM
# ./fastboot flash recovery <path_to_image>
# ./fastboot erase cache
- use Volume Down/Up buttons to choose Recovery mode and Power button to boot into recovery mode
- once in ClockworkMod
- go into mounts and storage and mount /system
- also, I think I had to format /cache partition(?)
- go into backup and restore and backup and “create image zip”
- you get get these files off the device by
# ./adb pull <remote_file> <local_file>
- highly recommended for later use, resp. restore - you'll be asked on exit whether to install ClockworkMod permanently or not - yes, to keep; no, to use only once. This can be reversed via backup/image(?)
Get root
- boot into ClockworkMod recovery image
- get SuperSU
- push SuperSU on Nexus 7, eg.
# ./adb push <path_to_SuperSU> /sdcard/
- in ClockworkMod,
install zip
→choose zip from sdcard
and locate SuperSU - reboot device and you should have SuperSU icon in your menu
How to ...
Enable developer menu
- Go to Settings → About tablet
- Click on Build number seven times
Enable USB debugging
- Go to Settings → Developer options
- enable USB debugging
Change USB connection type
- Go to Settings → Storage
- open USB computer connection menu(three vertical dots in the right top corner of the screen)
- choose either MTP or PTP mode
Transfer files between 'droid and Linux
I've been using go-mtpfs to transfer files between 'droid and Linux.
Alternatives to 'droid