after keeping the nexus 7 stock and slave to google, on a hot California summer, I finally decided to void it's warranty by attempting to root, multi boot rom and run Kali Linux on it. These are my notes and google search results.
IMPORTANT: Read each Phase (more than once if necessary) completely before you take any action. Take note of the GREEN updates, they are the ones that actually worked. Each Phase is a work in progress, and are my notes to remind me where I left off. So please pardon the mess.
My number 1 advice on following the instructions: Read each step a few times, every letter and every word - including the pop-up windows from the tools when running the actual steps.
Note: be thankful to the guys who already did the leg work to deliver you the step-by-step instructions. the very least you can do is read everything they wrote down, plus you'll be doing yourself a favor by doing so.
PHASE 1: Root your Nexus
The text only instructions are below. The original post/link above has screenshots included. Remember to read the instructions carefully.
Step 1: Enable USB
Debugging
You
need to allow the toolkit to make a connection to your Nexus, so you'll need to
enable USB Debugging. Simply go into Settings -> Developer Options -> USB Debugging.
If you
don't see Developer Options, don't worry. Go
into Settings -> About Device and
tap on Build Number about 7 times. You'll see a toast
notification pop up letting you know that you're a developer. Then simply go
back and you'll see "Developer options."
Step 2: Download
& Install the WugFresh Nexus Toolkit
If you
don't know, this kit is a Godsend—it literally does all of the heavy lifting
for us. Head over to the WugFresh website and grab
the latest version of the Nexus Root ToolKit, which has
been updated with KitKat 4.4.2. compatibility.
You can
also grab the direct download here.
Whenever you run the app, make sure to right-click on the icon and select
"Run as administrator".
Step 3: Back Up Your
Nexus
The
first step to rooting is unlocking the bootloader, which I'll get into a little
later. Unfortunately, that process means that you'll need to wipe the data on
your device. If you're not interested in starting fresh, the WugFresh toolkit
has you covered.
Select
"Backup" from the left-most panel, then select the items you want to
back up. In general, I only backup SMS and call logs because apps and contacts
are restored once you sign in with your Google account.
Unfortunately,
app data is not restored automatically, so if you've
got a great high score in Flappy Birds that
you'd be sad to lose, you may want to back up your apps using the toolkit. Just
select "Create Android Backup File," either under "Backup All
Apps" or "Backup Single App."
Step 4: Set Up the
Toolkit
When
you initially launch the toolkit, you'll need to provide some basic
information. Choose the specific Nexus device and build you have. If you're not
sure what you input here, just select Auto Detect Device + Build.
Next,
you'll need to install the proper drivers for your device, if you didn't
already do so through the backup process. All you do is select Full Driver Installation Guide and follow the
simple instructions.
After
going through the driver installation, Unlock your
device to make rooting possible.
Unlocking
will wipe the device.
Step 5: Root Your
Nexus 7
Finally,
you're ready to root. Check the Custom Recovery option
to also apply TWRP custom recovery to your device, then click Root to initiate the process.
With
the custom recovery, you will have an extra step that includes tapping your
screen a few times, but it's easy to follow with WugFresh. After the program
runs its course, your device will be unlocked and rooted and will reboot.
Step 6:
Make Sure You're Rooted
An
easy way to make sure the WugFresh toolkit worked and your Nexus 7 is rooted is
to download the free Root Checker app
from Google Play. Just open the app, select Verify Root, and
wait for the results.
PHASE 2: Install MultiRom Manager & Quickboot
Now that your tablet is rooted you need to install MultiRom Manager. What this does is it allows you to put multiple roms on your tablet without ever harming your stock (internal) android rom. This is a great tool and all of us who use it really owe the developer a lot of credit...
There is a very easy way to install MultiRom Manager. The developer of this program has created an app that you can download from the Google Play Store to install it easily and successfully.
Open up the Google Play store and do a search for "multirom manager". Download it, open it up, grant it root permission and run the app. The app will do all of the hard work for you and it will install MultiRom for you. Once it is done reboot your tablet. Since your stock rom won't have the reboot option i recommend downloading "quickboot" from the Google Play Store. This app requires root access but it will allow you to quickly reboot your tablet, boot into recovery, or boot into the bootloader.
When you are booting up after installing multirom you need to click on your tablet as MultiRom is counting down. The only Rom that will be listed is "internal" (because you haven't installed any other roms) go ahead and boot into "internal" by clicking on the boot button.
IMPORTANT NOTE: it is very important to boot your internal (stock rom) at least one time before you flash/add another ROM with multirom manager. MAKE SURE YOU DO THIS!
PHASE 3: Install a custom additional Roms
Use the Quick Boot app that WugFresh loaded during the Phase 1 to boot into "Recovery Mode". Now in recovery manager which works hand in hand with MultiRom you are going to want follow these steps:
1. Hit the Advanced button
2. Hit the MultiRom button
3. Add Rom
4. Select "Add Zip". Choose the cm-11-20131213-bruce2728-odexed-flo.zip file to flashed.
5. Once that is done flash the zip by sliding the bottom button from left to right.
Okay now after you flash the zip you should see "ZIP FLASHED SUCCESSFULLY".
Now what you want to do is hit the back button till you get to the main recovery page.
08/24/2014 UPDATE: NOTE: I have not successfully installed a rom on my device - it keeps FAILING. Research and testing is currently in progress. Stay tuned.
08/25/2014 Update: upon reading the FAIL message closely, it said that the CM11 version I was trying to load was for a FLO (Nexus 7 2013 - 2 cameras) device while my Nexus 7 was a GROUPER (Nexus 7 2013 - 1 camera). I'm going to try and load the latest GROUPER CM11 I can find and cross my finger. Here's the CyanogenMod 11 Grouper Link -
https://download.cyanogenmod.org/?device=grouper&type=stable
09/06/2014 Update: Sorry for the long delay on updates. The Grouper ROM works for my Nexus 7 (with 1 camera). I've since also flashed the ROM with the PA-Google Apps. You will need this to be able to get to Google Play.
PA-GOOGLE APPS
https://www.androidfilehost.com/?w=files&flid=15800
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2397942
Next step adding Google Apps from TWRP recovery manager:
1. advanced
2. multirom
3. list rom
4. now that you have flashed CM11 you should see a ROM under "internal". Remember "internal" is your stock rooted nexus 7 rom. click on the new rom you just installed.
5. click flash zip.
6. navigate to where you downloaded the pa-gapps.zip file, and pick it.
7. slide the button to flash the zip.
HIT THE BUTTON TO REBOOT YOUR SYSTEM.
Okay so now that your Nexus 7 is rebooting you need to tap on your device to stop the countdown from MultiRom. There will be 2 choices on the list 'internal' and the ROM you just added. You want to select your newly added rom and tap it again to boot it.
NOTE: The 'internal' rom is your clean stock factory rooted rom. To go back to it, you'll need to reboot again and choose it at the multiboot screen.
SET UP YOUR DEVICE and make sure GOOGLE PLAY STORE IS RUNNING CORRECTLY:
IMPORTANT TIP: if the google play store stops working try rebooting your system. If that does not work and your google play store is giving you an error 920 code then you need to close the google play store. go to settings -> apps -> all apps. Click on Google Play and wipe data and cache. After that you need to click on GMAIL and wipe data and cache.
WIPING THE CACHE and DATA on GMAIL will fix problems with the GOOGLE PLAY STORE especially error code 920.
PHASE 4: Install Kali Linux
As always: MAKE SURE YOUR TABLET IS PLUGGED IN TO POWER ESPECIALLY FOR THIS STEP!
1. Download the KaliPwnPad: Go to http://w11.zetaboards.com/Pwnie_Express/topic/8951376/1/ and spend some time to search for the latest and greatest version available. The actual version I used is from this download link - https://mega.co.nz/#!aZ5THSxL!PFuyV1Z7Vb-QgmhYF5a7CgMukI1JAGIUkEo972KEgiE
2. After you get the file, boot back up into recovery. Pick the your new rom and basically perform the same "flashing" steps you did as installing the PA-Google Apps.
In Recovery go to -> ADVANCED -> MULTIROM -> LIST ROMS -> SELECT your ROM -> ADD ZIP.
Navigate and select the kali pwn pad file that you downloaded earlier.
WARNING: this file will take about 30 minutes to flash. you are going to want to keep and eye on this file. if at all possible do not let TWRP time out and turn off the screen. You can avoid TWRP turning off your screen from an idle timeout by clicking on your tablet's screen once a minute. I know it may seem like a lot but it is best and easier to avoid the screen from turning off from an idle timeout. If your tablet does turn off from an idle time out if you are on POWER you should be able to turn the screen back on by just clicking on the power button and swiping the bottom of your tablet from left to right to unlock it.
Okay now that KaliPwnPadv0.5 is flashing you will just have to wait for it to finish...
It does take about 30 minutes for this big file to flash. Now you will see the progress bar filling up. When the progress bar is full don't worry that the zip isn't done flashing. It may take 5-7 minutes after the progress bar is full for the zip file to finish flashing.
Caveats:
-The error "unable to load ramdisk" and the top screen which said "Error: unable to flash zip". Don't worry this will not affect your system.
-Once the file finished regardless if you got "zip file flashed successfully" or "unable to load ramdisk" error you will need to reboot your tablet.
3. Let's light this candle!
- Boot into the ROM you flashed KALI in
- Start your Terminal Emulator
- On the prompt, type "SU"
- Get the party started by typing "bootkali"
PHASE 5: USB Drivers and ALFA
09/06/2014 Update: I have recently ordered the cables I need to get the external Wifi connected to the Nexus. I also have not really flashed the kernel to add the drivers. I'll continue this project when the required materials arrive.
