All information here is related to 2012 version of Google Nexus 7 manufactured by ASUS. I don't take any responsibility for bricked or destroyed hardware. Also, some actions here may void your warranty. You have been warned!

99% of information here can be found on intranets. These are, pretty much, personal notes. Respect to all those people for all the work!

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)

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

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.

<note important>Unlocking boot loader will wipe all your data. Therefore, you're advised to backup your data before proceeding further.</note>

• you need Android SDK to get adb and fastboot. Look for adt-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 installing ia32-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 Volume down and Power buttons
• # ./fastboot oem unlock
• press Power button to unlock boot loader

• 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(?)

1. Go to Settings → About tablet
2. Click on “Build number” seven times

1. Go to Settings → Developer options
2. enable “USB debugging”

1. Go to Settings → Storage
2. open “USB computer connection” menu(three vertical dots in the right top corner of the screen)
3. choose either MTP or PTP mode