If you have been an avid follower of Android news, you may have come across the phrase “root” used so often amongst android fans.
Android is basically a Linux Operating System rewritten for mobile devices. OEMs basically prevent users or applications from having administrative privileges on the system. The reason for this blockage is to protect users from running harmful software on their phone and to place restrictions on d amount of customization that can be done.
With the release date for the Galaxy Nexus still unavailable, the hacker community haven’t been sleeping. There is already a “How to” tutorial on how to root the Galaxy Nexus.
MoDaCo ‘s Paul O’Brien has put together “Superboot,” which is a computer program that installs a custom boot image onto your device (or device-to-be). Superboot makes rooting the Galaxy Nexus as easy as double clicking some buttons. No need to mess with codes, ADB or any other processes that may intimidate the common user.
How to root the Galaxy Nexus
Note: This is done at your own risk. We are not liable for any damage to your device.
1. Download Superboot – The superboot image is also ‘insecure’, allowing you to use ‘adb remount’ as well as having full ADB root access to your device until such time as you reboot after running this process (it’s a non permanent ADB root as it’s a ‘fastboot boot’ and not a ‘fastboot flash’).
2. Extract the Superboot zip file on your computer
3. Put your device in bootloader mode –Turn off the phone then turn on with the ‘volume up’ and ‘volume down’ buttons both pressed to enter the bootloader
4. Plug your device into your computer
5. WINDOWS –double click ‘install-superboot-windows.bat’ MAC –Open a terminal window to the directory containing the files, and type ‘chmod +x install-superboot-mac.sh’ followed by ‘./install-superboot-mac.sh’ LINUX –Open a terminal window to the directory containing the files, and type ‘chmod +x install-superboot-linux.sh’ followed by ‘./install-superboot-linux.sh’
6. Congratulations, your Galaxy Nexus should be rooted!
Paul also notes: If you are using a retail Galaxy Nexus, you may need to unlock the bootloader first, using ‘./fastboot-windows oem unlock’ (or the appropriate version for your machine). Note that the OEM unlock sequence wipes your device.
If this works for you, don’t fail to spread the good news.
