[GUIDE] Step by Step ROOT Nexus S via ClockworkMod Recovery image (i9020T only)

AllGamer · Jan 1, 2011

GRH78
Bootloader v.JK1
Baseband v.JK8

Yes, there are tons of guides out there, and even one click scripts that can ROOT the SNS (Samsung Nexus S) for you, but none of them go into enough detail for any of them to work properly.

Having many android devices working properly via ADB on your computer doesn't automatically guarantees it will see the SNS.

So, before jump to the exiting stuff of ROOTing the SNS, lets cover some basics to actually get you started and make sure you can actually ROOT the SNS, else all is in vain.

MOD EDIT: This guide does not apply to the AT&T/Rogers/Telus variants of the Nexus S (i9020A). For those models, please refer to this guide.

Part 1

Download Android SDK release 13 click the file name android-sdk_r13-windows.zip (34 MB) direct from Google, instead of wasting your time jumping through hoops and dodging pop up/flash ADs from those FileSharing places.

Note: from SDK release 14 onward, Google removed the fastboot command, you'll have to maker the fastboot command yourself if you want to use the latest version of the SDK
Turn Off your SNS
Make sure the SNS is connected to the PC via the USB cable
Boot the SNS into the Bootloader Interface, by holding Volume UP & Power button
it reads LOCK STATE - LOCKED
open Device Manager (or run devmgmt.msc) make sure you don't see this problem (windows failed to identify the SNS and install the correct drivers)
Do a right click and select Update Driver Software
Select Brose my computer for driver software
point it to where you downloaded the Android SDK (..\android-sdk-windows\google-usb_driver)
Make sure to CLICK "Let me pick from a list of device drivers on my computer"
Then from the list 3 choices select Android Bootloader Interface
If it's installed properly it should show up like this (reboot is not required)

NOTE: if you encounter problems like question marks, unknown drivers, or exclamation marks eve after you have installed the drivers, download and try the USBDeview 32/64 to remove and uninstall all the junk USB devices from your computer/registry

Now that the basic preparations are done, we can finally get to have fun with the SNS & hack away via ADB.exe / FASTBOOT.exe

Part 2

open a command prompt go to run & type CMD hit enter
switch to the directory where you downloaded & unzipped the ..\android-sdk-windows\tools
type fastboot oem unlock and hit enter
Then you will get this

Code:

fastboot oem unlock
                              ...

meanwhile on the SNS you'll see this screen
selecting YES will wipe EVERYTHING from the SNS, so make sure you have backed up everything you needed to safe before you continue.
use the Volume up/down keys to select and Power key to apply
you should see something like this after it's done

Code:

                              ... OKAY [435.433s]
finished. total time: 435.433s

now back on this screen you should read
LOCK STATE - UNLOCKED
Download the clockwork recovery recovery-clockwork-5.0.2.0-crespo.img image, and save it to the ..\android-sdk-windows\tools directory
renamed it to recovery.img
then type fastboot flash recovery recovery.img and hit enter
you should get something like this, if not your image is corrupted, download it again

Code:

  sending 'recovery' (3980 KB)... OKAY [  0.621s]
            writing 'recovery'... OKAY [  0.511s]
finished. total time: 1.132s

Then back on the SNS select Power Off (Reboot also works)
Power ON the SNS
...meanwhile the SNS is rebooting Download superuser from http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=682828
choose the Eclair/Froyo version
Mount the USB storage

droidmage said:

So all you guys who are having trouble getting root inside the rom, When your in recovery before you flash the superuser.zip file select -- mounts and storage -- then --mount /system -- then flash the .zip file and reboot

Click to expand...

Click to collapse
drag/drop the su-version#-signed.zip file into the root of the internal SD of the SNS
Power Off the SNS
Boot the SNS into the Bootloader Interface, by holding Volume UP & Power button
select Recovery
then it should boot into this screen, if not then repeat the steps to download the image
select install ZIP from sdcard (power button to apply)
select choose zip from sdcard (power button to apply)
select su-version#-signed.zip file you downloaded earlier, and apply it
select yes - install su-version#-signed.zip
confirm it says "Install from sdcard complete"
select go back
select reboot
done!

Enjoy your unlocked & rooted phone!

AllGamer · Jan 1, 2011

NOTES:

It's normal to lose the recovery after the reboot, the steps to flash the CW recovery needs to be repeated every time you want to access the CW recovery.
This is due the build in protection in 2.3
As some one pointed it out on another topic, the good thing about this is that you'll never lose the stock recovery of 2.3, thus minimizing the chance of a bricked phone.

If you want to the CW recovery to remain permanently, you'll need to rename /etc/install-recovery.sh to something thing else

To simplify things with the Command Line, it's best to copy and paste the contents inside ..\android-sdk-windows\platform-tools to ..\android-sdk-windows\tools
that way you'll have all the necessary files in the same location to prevent errors

MIRROR:
since CW website seems to be down, here's a mirror for the Image file.
download the 7zip attachment, unzip and flash recovery.img (recovery-clockwork-5.0.2.0-crespo.img)

lordjone · Jan 1, 2011

Good guide but i have a question,
didn't you miss the step about renaming the install-recovery.sh script
that reflash recovery if crc is wrong?

Cubfan185 · Jan 2, 2011

Thank you sir, I was hoping for a good step-by-step guide for us first-timers.

sinatosk · Jan 2, 2011

Nice guide.

The only thing that's making me hesitate to do root on my NS is reversing the whole process...

stock recovery for example. I know someone made a backup of it but some people are stating odd results of using that backed up stock recovery... wifi broke, missing apps, mobiles stuck on EDGE...

I'll wait until google releases a firmware that contains everything

AllGamer · Jan 2, 2011

Cubfan185 said:
Thank you sir, I was hoping for a good step-by-step guide for us first-timers.

thank you, that was the idea.

many of the GUIDEs we have here are usually aimed at people that already knows what to do, which usually leaves out all the 1st time owners of the phone.

AllGamer · Jan 2, 2011

it's fairly simple, the instructions are as simple as this
http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=884097

and you can choose any stock ROM to flash back

sinatosk said:
Nice guide.

The only thing that's making me hesitate to do root on my NS is reversing the whole process...

stock recovery for example. I know someone made a backup of it but some people are stating odd results of using that backed up stock recovery... wifi broke, missing apps, mobiles stuck on EDGE...

I'll wait until google releases a firmware that contains everything

Cubfan185 · Jan 2, 2011

Alright, just did it successfully. I had a few problems when installing the SDK and using fastboot. The recovery image must have been corrupt a few times for me. I had to take the battery out because it was stuck at the Google screen. My heart skipped a beat at that point, I didn't want to brick anything. Also had to put a required .dll file in the tools directory and the drivers were giving me problems, but got it all figured out. Thanks again.

Edit: Any reason why root required apps are saying they don't have root access?

KidYing · Jan 2, 2011

Will Google definatly release a full restore firmware of the current ROMS, something simular to an HTC RUU, or is it just something we're hoping they'll do?

onicrom · Jan 3, 2011

silly question... which fastboot binary did you use? the one from the htc developer site?

AllGamer · Jan 3, 2011

onicrom said:
silly question... which fastboot binary did you use? the one from the htc developer site?

it is included in the Android SDK 2.3 ... read the step by step guide again

jvblack82 · Jan 3, 2011

Great guide, I'm new to the SDK and adb and fastboot so this helped a lot. My phone crashed last night and I had to completely restore it. Biggest upset is I was racing my girlfriend to beat Angry Birds Seasons and now my save games are gone. Along with other app data and all my settings.

So the Nexus S is stock what I root phones to get to. I love the pure Google experience. Never had one completely crap out crash though.

I followed your guide to the tee and got it what I thought would be rooted. When I get to the end though I boot up and the ClockworkMod ROM Manager v3.0.0.2 says "You must root your phone for ROM Manager to function. Superuser was not found at "/system/bin/su" or "/system/xbin/su". Also Superuser app says there is an update available, then tries to install and says it can't. So it puts the update zip on my root of my storage. I boot into CMR and try to install that and it errors saying it's not there. But it is when I look is mass storage mode from my computer.

I boot into clockwork mod recovery just like your guide says the bootloader says unlocked. I don't get it. What did I miss? Only reason I want to root is to use Titanium backup. I really wish google had a better backup system for app data but they don't... yet. So I don't want what happened last night to happen again.

Thanks in advance,
JB
Nexus S, stock rom just want root access for backup.

sinatosk · Jan 3, 2011

AllGamer said:
NOTES:

It's normal to lose the recovery after the reboot, the steps to flash the CW recovery needs to be repeated every time you want to access the CW recovery.
This is due the build in protection in 2.3
As some one pointed it out on another topic, the good thing about this is that you'll never lose the stock recovery of 2.3, thus minimizing the chance of a bricked phone.

Hmmm I miss this post. Does this happen with 2.3.1 aswell and root will still be on after reboot?

If so. I'm rooting RIGHT NOW!!!

Thank-you

edit: I did some searching and found the answer

... there is a file at "/etc/install-recovery.sh". that restores your recovery back to stock upon reboot while still retaining root ( 2.3 and 2.3.1 ). As stated previously... you simply re-flash the recovery to get to the recovery again

AllGamer · Jan 3, 2011

sinatosk said:
Hmmm I miss this post. Does this happen with 2.3.1 aswell and root will still be on after reboot?

If so. I'm rooting RIGHT NOW!!!

Thank-you

edit: I did some searching and found the answer ... there is a file at "/etc/install-recovery.sh". that restores your recovery back to stock upon reboot while still retaining root ( 2.3 and 2.3.1 ). As stated previously... you simply re-flash the recovery to get to the recovery again

yes, i actually like it this way, it keeps your original safe

AllGamer · Jan 3, 2011

Titanium Backup and few other apps are why i ROOT the phone as well.

after you fastboot over the CW recovery image and rooted, were you able to install Super User?

there is another trick, you can Install Super User first from Market

then repeat the steps to fastboot the clock work recovery image and get root access

jvblack82 said:
Great guide, I'm new to the SDK and adb and fastboot so this helped a lot. My phone crashed last night and I had to completely restore it. Biggest upset is I was racing my girlfriend to beat Angry Birds Seasons and now my save games are gone. Along with other app data and all my settings.

So the Nexus S is stock what I root phones to get to. I love the pure Google experience. Never had one completely crap out crash though.

I followed your guide to the tee and got it what I thought would be rooted. When I get to the end though I boot up and the ClockworkMod ROM Manager v3.0.0.2 says "You must root your phone for ROM Manager to function. Superuser was not found at "/system/bin/su" or "/system/xbin/su". Also Superuser app says there is an update available, then tries to install and says it can't. So it puts the update zip on my root of my storage. I boot into CMR and try to install that and it errors saying it's not there. But it is when I look is mass storage mode from my computer.

I boot into clockwork mod recovery just like your guide says the bootloader says unlocked. I don't get it. What did I miss? Only reason I want to root is to use Titanium backup. I really wish google had a better backup system for app data but they don't... yet. So I don't want what happened last night to happen again.

Thanks in advance,
JB
Nexus S, stock rom just want root access for backup.

Cubfan185 · Jan 3, 2011

Followed the guide to a T as well and did not get root access. But unlocking the bootloader, installing the SDK and learning about fastboot and such was very helpful. Using that, I used the automated batch file posted in this topic http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=882333 and it worked.

ykphuah · Jan 3, 2011

What to do if my Device Manager showed Android 1.0?

AllGamer · Jan 3, 2011

ykphuah said:
What to do if my Device Manager showed Android 1.0?

you select the correct driver to install the ABD support or Bootloader support, depending in which screen you have the phone on

just review the step by step guide, it is mentioned there

knytphal · Jan 3, 2011

sinatosk said:
Nice guide.

The only thing that's making me hesitate to do root on my NS is reversing the whole process...

stock recovery for example. I know someone made a backup of it but some people are stating odd results of using that backed up stock recovery... wifi broke, missing apps, mobiles stuck on EDGE...

I'll wait until google releases a firmware that contains everything

If you're running 2.3.1 all you need to do to get back to stock recover is reboot the phone, because /etc/install-recovery.sh runs every boot and checks to see if the recovery is stock or not...if not it flashes it for you. So unless you've renamed the /etc/install-recovery.sh file you can easily get stock recovery.

sinatosk · Jan 3, 2011

knytphal said:
If you're running 2.3.1 all you need to do to get back to stock recover is reboot the phone, because /etc/install-recovery.sh runs every boot and checks to see if the recovery is stock or not...if not it flashes it for you. So unless you've renamed the /etc/install-recovery.sh file you can easily get stock recovery.

... yeah I know. Made a post earlier today about it in this thread...

[GUIDE] Step by Step ROOT Nexus S via ClockworkMod Recovery image (i9020T only)

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