[International / GSM] [HOW TO] Root the GSM/HSPA+ Samsung Galaxy Nexus

[Needz_Android]

also, do you have to have any special settings checked on your phone before rooting? like debugging or anything like that?

 

[nj02vette]

Thanks, FedEx screwed up my shipment so my phone won't be here until Monday.

That sucks. But I know how you feel. I was one of those that sat around all Saturday waiting for my DInc to show up, and never checked the updated tracking. Got delivered on Monday, and sig required so back to the store.

I almost had to order the GNex online, but timing worked out that I could pick it up.

does this process include unlocking the bootloader?

Yes. Others answered that correctly.

I'm a dumbass.

LOL,

 

[nj02vette]

also, do you have to have any special settings checked on your phone before rooting? like debugging or anything like that?

Only for the manual methods when you have to push the superuser files to the phone.

With my method above (which is just a conglomoration of the manual and superboot methods), nothing needed to be set.

 

[Needz_Android]

Only for the manual methods when you have to push the superuser files to the phone.

With my method above (which is just a conglomoration of the manual and superboot methods), nothing needed to be set.

okay cool. so you used the "2nd" method in the OP?

 

[tluley51]

Wishing there was an easier way like on my locked Droid X...Don't really understand why there isn't a true 1 click root method, but I guess after it only being 24 hours old I should just shut my mouth and wait and see if one comes out.

 

[gallandof]

Just to verify as I have been having issues rooting this device. Do I need to fastboot first then root? i've been trying the "1 click" superboot, and it just wont succeed just hangs at the "waiting for device" prompt. I believe the drivers are installed properly.

 

[Deleted User]

Wishing there was an easier way like on my locked Droid X...Don't really understand why there isn't a true 1 click root method, but I guess after it only being 24 hours old I should just shut my mouth and wait and see if one comes out.

Okay, so here's the deal:

1 click root methods only work when someone finds a vulnerability in the OS to exploit. In reality, it's really not the method that's ideal because it means that another app - a malicious app - can gain root access to your phone.

I'm sure there will be a vulnerability discovered in ICS to gain root through a one click method. However, it's a brand new OS, so nobody has found those vulnerabilities yet. Also, people are much less focused on finding it, because the only two ICS phones right now have unlocked bootloaders, so they don't need one click methods.

That's why there are no one click methods yet.

 

[Deleted User]

Just to verify as I have been having issues rooting this device. Do I need to fastboot first then root? i've been trying the "1 click" superboot, and it just wont succeed just hangs at the "waiting for device" prompt. I believe the drivers are installed properly.

Yes. You must unlock the bootloader using the fastboot commands prior to running the Superboot script.

 

[fran1r]

Wow, was this easy. Honestly, not a single hiccup.

.....
Went into device manager and pointed the unidentified device to the C:\Gnex directory and it installed and recognized the drivers.

From C:\Gnex prompt ran "fastboot devices" and the phone was recognized.

From C:\Gnex prompt, ran "fastboot oem unlock". This presented an option on screen that asked for confirmation of unlock. Volume keys to move selection, power to select. Selected to unlock, and it was done in a matter of seconds. (No waiting for 5+ minutes).

From C:\Gnex prompt, ran "fastboot boot boot.superboot.img". It ran and the Google logo with unlock padlock showed up for a minute. Then it booted for another minute. I did the activation screen and backup assistant.

After all was said and done, I'm unlocked and rooted. Woot! Total time including gathering all the drivers, 10 min.
Rebooted just to be sure, and everything is still there. I'm not sure what I did that worked for me and others are having trouble with, but if I can help, let me know.

For some reason, the formatting of this post is messed up.

Had questions. Googled and figured it out.
Got Superuser!

Thanks so much.

 

[woodstorm]

Awesome job. Was getting a little confused with all the different methods. Thanks

 

[Needz_Android]

Had questions. Googled and figured it out. Hopefully almost done.

Thanks.

damn i wish you didn't edit your post. you had good questions about the C:\nexus thing. i was confused by that and was hoping for an answer

 

[fran1r]

damn i wish you didn't edit your post. you had good questions about the C:\nexus thing. i was confused by that and was hoping for an answer

I can tell you what I did. I put the mouse on c:\Nexus, held down shift and right clicked. Then I selected open command prompt here.
Then I typed in all the stuff, one thing at a time.

 

[Needz_Android]

I can tell you what I did. I put the mouse on c:\Nexus, held down shift and right clicked. Then I selected open command prompt here.
Then I typed in all the stuff, one thing at a time.

so did you successfully unlock and root?

 

[William T Riker]

Just to verify as I have been having issues rooting this device. Do I need to fastboot first then root? i've been trying the "1 click" superboot, and it just wont succeed just hangs at the "waiting for device" prompt. I believe the drivers are installed properly.

If you are getting waiting for device the fastboot driver isn't installed you can verify by typing fastboot devices. Use the naked Samsung driver or when ur sitting in fastboot on your computer go into the device manager and find Android 1 with a yellow exclamation and update the driver with the USB zip in the op

 

[fran1r]

so did you successfully unlock and root?

I did indeed!

 

[Needz_Android]

where do you get the naked drivers? are they not the same ones on samsungs webite? Samsung

 

[nj02vette]

I can tell you what I did. I put the mouse on c:\Nexus, held down shift and right clicked. Then I selected open command prompt here.
Then I typed in all the stuff, one thing at a time.

Sometimes I may go a little too fast. Easiest way to get to command prompt in Windows is Start and then type "cmd". Then use does commands to get to the correct folder.

 

[nj02vette]

okay cool. so you used the "2nd" method in the OP?

Combo of 2nd and 3rd methods with another section for using different drivers and their installation.

 

[William T Riker]

where do you get the naked drivers? are they not the same ones on samsungs webite? Samsung

Its in the first post under Windows USB drivers , naked samsung 1.7 driver

** Heres a link if you cant find it

 

[Needz_Android]

njo2vette can you tell me where to get the samsung drivers?

 

[Needz_Android]

thanks i got them.

what do you mean here: "Went into device manager and pointed the unidentified device to the C:\Gnex directory and it installed and recognized the drivers."

 

[EraserXIV]

After you accept the unlock terms, the phone will reboot and start a factory reset. You'll see the boot animation for a long time, then it will reboot and you'll see it again for a shorter time. Do not confuse this with a bootloop and get all nervous. Instead wait it out, please do not pull the battery. Took about 7-8 minutes in my case but eventually, you should end up at the Google setup screen.

What are the consequences of pulling the battery? I'm an idiot and freaked out while it was booting and pulled the battery. But when I put the battery back in and restarted again I was more patient and it booted up fine. I've been chugging along fine for the past 24 hours or so, but I'm wondering if I should be worried something may have been affected.

 

[Needz_Android]

Sometimes I may go a little too fast. Easiest way to get to command prompt in Windows is Start and then type "cmd". Then use does commands to get to the correct folder.

okay how do i get to the c:\gnex command prompt when i have the command prompt open?

 

[Needz_Android]

when i run cmd its path is at c:\documents and settings\

how do i get it to c:\gnex

 

[Needz_Android]

I can tell you what I did. I put the mouse on c:\Nexus, held down shift and right clicked. Then I selected open command prompt here.
Then I typed in all the stuff, one thing at a time.

for some reason i don't have this option when i hold shift and right click