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Root Imaging N7

whs37

Android Enthusiast
The wife got me a Nexus 7 and the first thing I want to do is to image the system as it is out of the box. Although I can do anything with a PC, I know absolutely nothing about Android.

From reading up on the subject it appears that one cannot image the system without first rooting it. I am afraid I would brick it already then. I also read that Nandroid is the best backup program but that does not work in the N7.

I am also not clear to where to backup since there is no SD card. I would hate to use the 'cloud'.

What is the expert advice.
 
A nandroid is a complete system backup. That is exactly what you are looking for.

I would suggest using wugs nexus root toolkit to root the device and install a custom recovery. That recovery will allow you to make a nandroid.

The nandroid will get saved to your internal storage, but you can easily transfer this file to your computer to free up room and for safe keepibg
 
Thank you for your answer. Now I have to figure out what the individual steps are and where to find those products. Is there a more detailed guide somewhere ?? Would be nice if there was a guide like the one I once made for imaging on the PC.

And when transferring the image file to the PC, how does this work with the Linux file format which is neither Fat32 nor NTFS. And the day one has to recover, how does this work with the file on the PC.

Sorry for all the questions, but I am really still lost in the matter.
 
The nandroid will get saved to your internal storage, but you can easily transfer this file to your computer to free up room and for safe keepibg

I bought an otg cable for my N7 and a dedicated 32g usb stick that I use for my nandroid and titanium backups. I use twrp as my custom recovery (used to use cwm) and can backup/restore straight to/from the usb stick.
 
Thank you for your answer. Now I have to figure out what the individual steps are and where to find those products. Is there a more detailed guide somewhere ?? Would be nice if there was a guide like the one I once made for imaging on the PC.

And when transferring the image file to the PC, how does this work with the Linux file format which is neither Fat32 nor NTFS. And the day one has to recover, how does this work with the file on the PC.

Sorry for all the questions, but I am really still lost in the matter.

My apologies for not linking the toolkit. Once you download and run the toolkit, you set up the drivers (which it walks you through step by step), and then simply click root and check the box to flash a custom recovery.

Nexus Root Toolkit v1.5.5 | WugFresh

Note that unlocking the bootloader will perform a factory reset. Thats why its best to unlock it as soon as you get it. You can then root at any point without losing data.

The other option is to do it all manually. You may be more comfortable with this.

Nexus 7 Hacking
 
I bought an otg cable for my N7 and a dedicated 32g usb stick that I use for my nandroid and titanium backups. I use twrp as my custom recovery (used to use cwm) and can backup/restore straight to/from the usb stick.

How did you format the stick - or was no formatting necessary. I may use a 60GB SSD that I have lying around. All my big sticks are USB3.
 
My apologies for not linking the toolkit. Once you download and run the toolkit, you set up the drivers (which it walks you through step by step), and then simply click root and check the box to flash a custom recovery.

Nexus Root Toolkit v1.5.5 | WugFresh

Note that unlocking the bootloader will perform a factory reset. Thats why its best to unlock it as soon as you get it. You can then root at any point without losing data.

The other option is to do it all manually. You may be more comfortable with this.

Nexus 7 Hacking
Thank you very much for the additional info. I will try my luck. I guess I shall first get an OTG cable to use the USB stick as backup device as thecdn suggested.
 
That should work just fine, but I would suggest doing the root sooner rather than later because as I mentioned anything you do on the tablet before rooting it will be wiped clean by the factory reset.

Its just as easy to do the backup normally and then transfer it over to your computer/usb

In will admit its not as fun/cool as using otg though ;)
 
That should work just fine, but I would suggest doing the root sooner rather than later because as I mentioned anything you do on the tablet before rooting it will be wiped clean by the factory reset.

Its just as easy to do the backup normally and then transfer it over to your computer/usb

In will admit its not as fun/cool as using otg though ;)
I understand. I shall do it as soon as the wife lets me unbox the N7. She still wants to wrap it and put it under the Christmas tree, LOL

In the meantime I am trying to get myself up to speed. This is a whole new world for me.
 
I understand. I shall do it as soon as the wife lets me unbox the N7. She still wants to wrap it and put it under the Christmas tree, LOL

In the meantime I am trying to get myself up to speed. This is a whole new world for me.

Ah, then you've got plenty of time :)

Might I suggest a little reading when you get a chance then. It should catch you up to speed on rooting terms, different things you can do with root capabilities, and whether or not rooting is for you.

http://androidforums.com/faqs/443432-what-root-being-rooted-mean.html
http://androidforums.com/faqs/443075-root-terminology.html
http://androidforums.com/faqs/617220-youve-went-rooted-phone-now-what.html

Personally, rooting is absolutely worth it for the ability to make nandroids. It seems like this is your primary interest as well, but thats just the tip of the iceberg my friend. Nexus devices are one of the easiest to root, and have great developer support as well.
 
Ah, then you've got plenty of time :)

Might I suggest a little reading when you get a chance then. It should catch you up to speed on rooting terms, different things you can do with root capabilities, and whether or not rooting is for you.

http://androidforums.com/faqs/443432-what-root-being-rooted-mean.html
http://androidforums.com/faqs/443075-root-terminology.html
http://androidforums.com/faqs/617220-youve-went-rooted-phone-now-what.html

Personally, rooting is absolutely worth it for the ability to make nandroids. It seems like this is your primary interest as well, but thats just the tip of the iceberg my friend. Nexus devices are one of the easiest to root, and have great developer support as well.

X2!
 
Yeah, I don't stop reading these days. This Android is really fascinating. My head is already spinning - which I guess is normal for a 75 year old. And all of that in a foreign language (I am German). Fortunately over 50 years of computer background help a bit. I was a developer of operating systems for 35 years at IBM. Maybe in a couple of years I can assist poor souls like I am now.

And thanks again for your continued support.
 
No problem. If you have anything you aren't quite sure of, feel free to ask. This forum is full of very knowledgeable and helpful people.
 
I understand. I shall do it as soon as the wife lets me unbox the N7. She still wants to wrap it and put it under the Christmas tree, LOL

In the meantime I am trying to get myself up to speed. This is a whole new world for me.
I was in the same position s you, i waited a few days to root and didnt do a backup, or the backup i did do failed, it wasnt a big deal but if i had to do it over i would root before i even tought about anything else, i installed a rom because i had good lck with it on a phone, bugless beast and everthing is now great, i was on here constntly for a week getting help and now i just come here to browse and see if i am missing anything new, my nexus rocks...have fn, the nexus rocks
 
No problem. If you have anything you aren't quite sure of, feel free to ask. This forum is full of very knowledgeable and helpful people.
I am sure I will be back. And you are right, this is a great forum with a lot of nice and helpful people. If you ever have a Windows problem, let me know. Maybe I can return the favor.
 
noobie here! i too have a new nexus 7 - android ver 4.2 build # JOP40C i used the Wug's Nexus Root Toolkit v1.5.5 [Updated 11/04/12] now im rooted! although i didn't flash the custom recovery... hmmm, should i have???

correct me im wrong on this assessment ---- since i think i'd almost always be on my computer (laptop actually) if i need to try a rom/kernel/theme/etc, there's really not much of a need to have a permanent custom recovery on my tablet right???

i feel like it's kind of different compared to having a custom recovery on a phone (i have motorola triumph) in which in some instances (mostly away from the computer) i need to retort back to an old rom coz say for example i needed its working camera (coz the current rom isnt working).
 
I don't see any reason why you wouldn't want the custom recovery. The stock recovery has one job, installing otas. However, Google provides its OTAs that you can download and flash from custom recoveries without modification... That's pretty neat :)

I vote for having twrp. You get all the other recovery benefits and can still get the latest updates if you stay on Tue stock Rom
 
I don't see any reason why you wouldn't want the custom recovery. The stock recovery has one job, installing otas. However, Google provides its OTAs that you can download and flash from custom recoveries without modification... That's pretty neat :)

I vote for having twrp. You get all the other recovery benefits and can still get the latest updates if you stay on Tue stock Rom

I second that vote. Being able to flash ROMs and mods, and being able to make and restore from nandroids is one of the main attractions to rooting for me.
 
I have the same question about imaging a Nexus 7. However these tablets will be using at a University and we do not want to lose the warranty so I can not root the devices. Any ideas?
 
I have the same question about imaging a Nexus 7. However these tablets will be using at a University and we do not want to lose the warranty so I can not root the devices. Any ideas?

I think that you could restore factory image as stated in the Nexus 7 root guide. As long as you are the only user then just restore it before you return it. No one will know.
 
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