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Root How to MANUALLY re-root after an OTA update

Rxpert83

Rxpert83

Dr. Feelgood
It seems like we have a lot of people who are dependent on wugs toolkit to root their devices. Wugs toolkit is great, and I would highly suggest that people use it to root their device, but when you take an OTA you are normally unrooted. You then have 2 options. You can either use the any version in the wugs tookit, or just do it manually. Remember, Nexus devices are always rootable! Worry about whether you can root or not shouldn't be a reason not to take an OTA

Even if wugs is working fine, everyone should have a basic understanding of how to use fastboot. It'll save your rear some day.
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This looks long, buts its just the initial setup

If you aren't familiar with doing things from fastboot, chances are the first thing you are going to need to do is properly setup the folders to carry out the fastboot flash command. This setup is going to take the most time and after you have it all set up its very quick to do after that.

Setting up ADB:
1) Download the mini-SDK here and move it to something like C:\Android\platform-tools
our forums' mini-sdk

It contains:
adb.exe - Windows adb utility
fastboot.exe - Windows fastboot utility
fastboot-windows.exe - Windows fastboot utility
AdbWinApi.dll - adb link library for Windows
AdbWinUsbApi.dll - adb link library for Windows

2) Download your recovery & superuser files
I would highly suggest twrp. You can get it from here. As you may have guessed, you want the fastboot version :)


Su files:
For android 4.1-4.2.2:
https://dl.dropbox.com/u/63060876/Nexus 7/Root_Files.zip
It contains a busybox.zip, su.zip and permrecovery.zip unzip the folder you downloaded, but leave the 3 files inside of it zipped up


Su app For android 4.3+:
http://download.chainfire.eu/345/SuperSU/UPDATE-SuperSU-v1.51.zip




3) Put the recovery.img you just downloaded into your fastboot folder. For me it is in C:\Android\platform-tools. Also, transfer the 3 SU files you just downloded on the tablet.

To simplify things, I would also suggest renaming the long recovery name to recovery.img


4) Install recovery

a)Plug your tablet into your computer and reboot into bootloader/fastboot. If you dont know how to do this you hold power+volume up+volume down.

b)Once there, we need to open up a command prompt in the location where your sdk-tools are. If you are in windows 7 you can just shift+right click to select "open command prompt from here"
opencommandprompt.png


Or, you can navigate manually by using the command cd to change directory

manualcmd.png


c) Now that you are in fastboot and have the terminal in the right location, you just use the following command to install recovery.

Code: 
 fastboot flash recovery recovery.img
***Note: if you did not rename the recovery, you'll have to type in the full name of the file instead of recovery.img

Congrats, you now how your custom recovery back. Reboot into it

5) Flash SU files
In recovery, flash the 3 SU files you've downloaded earlier.
To do this, select install, then navigate to where you placed the 3 files. Select the first file, then hit add more files to que, then add the 2nd and 3rd in the same manner. Then swipe to flash. after the install finishes, its a good idea to do the wipe dalvik cache and cache option, and then reboot into system

Reboot, done
 
Great write up! I definitely agree with you on how our community should have a better understanding of doing this (and anything else, if necessary) manually.
 
I'm about to go ahead and do this but I had a quick question. Just, you know, because I'm an idiot.

I'm pretty certain this is true but all my data stays intact right? All apps etc.

Secondly, the tools I have for root on my N7 are supersu. Should I remove these or can I just go ahead and do exactly as you described in the tutorial and carry on using supersu?

Thanks.
 
Good tutorial.

I've already got SU and the SU binary installed, so do I have to re-flash it? Also, if my device is kind of half rooted so would it be better to factory reset first and then reboot?
 
boomer84 said:
I'm about to go ahead and do this but I had a quick question. Just, you know, because I'm an idiot.

I'm pretty certain this is true but all my data stays intact right? All apps etc.

Secondly, the tools I have for root on my N7 are supersu. Should I remove these or can I just go ahead and do exactly as you described in the tutorial and carry on using supersu?

Thanks.
Click to expand...

Welcome to the forums!! :D

Yes, all data will remain intact. This does not factory reset the device.

This uses the exact same files that wugs toolkit would flash to your device. So you will still have supersu. Just continue exactly as described :)
sleezecheeze said:
Good tutorial.

I've already got SU and the SU binary installed, so do I have to re-flash it? Also, if my device is kind of half rooted so would it be better to factory reset first and then reboot?
Click to expand...

You are probably just missing busybox then. You can either just install it from the market or flash the 3 files from recovery.

No need to factory reset
 
I don't seem to see a topic about this yet... but once I update to 4.2.2 can I use the Nexus Root Toolkit version 1.6.2 to root it? Do I just use the "Any Build" option, or does the 4.2.1 option work?

Thanks!
 
Be warned that one of the new things is a more secure adb (meaning you need to allow access on the device before it will work)
 
PlayfulGod said:
most likely the good old fashion fastboot recovery and then flash the su/superuser/su zip will work. No silly toolkit needed. ;)
Click to expand...

Ah, thanks. So I should be able to go into my custom recovery and just flash the SU zip?

I'm looking for alternatives to installing the ADK and all that stuff. Thanks!

edit:

Hmm, guess not. I try to go into the TWRP recovery after updating to 4.2.2 and it gives me the red exclamation point Android guy... guess I'll have to wait until the root toolkit is updated.
 
By taking the update, you re-installed the stock recovery so twrp isn't installed. If you phone is still rooted, you can install twrp again by downloading the goomanager app and using the install openrecoveryscript option in it.
 
jhawkkw said:
By taking the update, you re-installed the stock recovery so twrp isn't installed. If you phone is still rooted, you can install twrp again by downloading the goomanager app and using the install openrecoveryscript option in it.
Click to expand...

Looks like it isn't rooted. So I'll just wait to see if the toolkit gets updated soon.

Thanks.
 
rubejb said:
Looks like it isn't rooted. So I'll just wait to see if the toolkit gets updated soon.

Thanks.
Click to expand...

all you need is the adb and fastboot files for your os (assuming windows) in the same directory with the img files or the android tools installed and path set, which you said you were trying to avoid. Personally I think any android user should at least have android tools installed. Any toolkit is just including them with it and the use of hindering learning anything. ;)

But thats whats great about android, so many options for everyone. ;)
 
Rxpert83
you deserve a GOLD metal thanks for the tutorial
you saved MY @ss......

I can't pound the thanks button enough or the like button ... > insert two thumps up

Just installed Voodoo OTA rootkeeper I hope this helps for next time ;)
 
r_hippy said:
Rxpert83
you deserve a GOLD metal thanks for the tutorial
you saved MY @ss......

I can't pound the thanks button enough or the like button ... > insert two thumps up

Just installed Voodoo OTA rootkeeper I hope this helps for next time ;)
Click to expand...

No problem:) I'm just glad I can help.

I would leave those files/folders you setup for the fastboot commands in place. It'll save you again some day ;)

And thanks for posting, knowing it helped you helps keep me motivated :D
 
Rxpert83 said:
No problem:) I'm just glad I can help.

I would leave those files/folders you setup for the fastboot commands in place. It'll save you again some day ;)

And thanks for posting, knowing it helped you helps keep me motivated :D
Click to expand...
I know it will...
I did use updated files like the recovery and adb / fastboot etc..
but all the same worked a treat..
I owe you
 
PlayfulGod said:
all you need is the adb and fastboot files for your os (assuming windows) in the same directory with the img files or the android tools installed and path set, which you said you were trying to avoid. Personally I think any android user should at least have android tools installed. Any toolkit is just including them with it and the use of hindering learning anything. ;)

But thats whats great about android, so many options for everyone. ;)
Click to expand...

Yeah, I know. I'm just feeling REALLY lazy at the moment. I'd rather spend all the time posting to forums and trying to find ways around it instead of taking the 5 minutes to install the ADK and all that. :)

Maybe I'll do it some time today. I think part of it is that I really don't use root for much on my N7, basically just the Sixaxis app, but I rarely use it.
 
On a somewhat related topic...

Would there have been a way to keep root when I was installing the 4.2.2 update? Like could I have gone into the custom recovery I had installed and flashed the official update without loosing root?

Thanks.
 
Ok guys im merging all these threads about either rooting or keeping root with an ota. if any questions please don't hesitate to ask here. :)
 
Thanks for the instructions, I appreciate it.
I have followed all of the instructions, by-the-numbers,
but I have to be honest, I don't know what you mean by this statement:

"Congrats, you now how your custom recovery back. Reboot into it" :rolleyes:

When I rebooted my N7, it just returned back to the state it was before
I started the instructions to manually root. After having nearly bricked a few android devices in my day, I am at least glad that I have this. :)

But I still would like to know if I missed a step. What say you?
 
Shutting the tablet down and then holding Power +volume up + volume down will get you to boot loader,and from boot loader you use volume up/down to navigate to recovery and power to select it.

Sorry that wasn't in the instructions, it needed to be. :o It also shows just how important it is to be able to do these things manually. Without the toolkit way too many people would be lost
 
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