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Galaxy Nexus (I9250) Installation

Warning: installing an operating system, such as Replicant, may void your device's warranty and will erase the data stored on the device.

Prerequisites

In order to install Replicant on your device, it is assumed that you have a computer running a GNU/Linux operating system and everything necessary to connect your device to the computer through USB available. Moreover, it is assumed that anyone performing the installation knows how to use command lines in a terminal and has basic knowledge about it.

Before the installation

Some preliminary steps may be necessary to achieve best compatibility with your device. These steps may require more advanced technical skills than the rest of the process: make sure you know what you are doing!

Saving the modified nv_data.bin

If your device was SIM-unlocked (using a code or another procedure), you must keep the nv_data.bin file from your current installation. Make sure ADB is running as root.

adb shell mount -o remount,rw /factory
mkdir galaxy_nexus_efs_backup && cd galaxy_nexus_efs_backup
adb pull /factory/
adb shell "cat /data/radio/nv_data.bin > /factory/nv_data.bin" 
adb shell "cat /data/radio/nv_data.bin.md5 > /factory/nv_data.bin.md5" 

This will create a copy of the contents of /factory in the galaxy_nexus_efs_backup directory. Keep these files around as a backup in case anything goes wrong with nv_data.bin.

Downloading the files

The first step in the installation process is to download and set up the files that will be used to install Replicant to the device. The files must be downloaded on your computer first.

1. Find out what the latest image is: check out the Last image part of the general table on GalaxyNexusI9250
2. Download all the files listed for the device (including the checksum and the signatures) on ReplicantImages for the latest image
2. Make sure you have added the Replicant release key to your GPG keyring
3. Check the signature of the files:

gpg --armor --verify path/to/replicant-6.0-maguro.zip.asc path/to/replicant-6.0-maguro.zip
gpg --armor --verify path/to/recovery-maguro.img.asc path/to/recovery-maguro.img

4. Make sure the check succeeds, do not install anything if it doesn't!
5. Check the checksum of the files:
sha256sum -c maguro.sha256

6. Make sure the check succeeds, do not install anything if it doesn't!

Installing fastboot

The fastboot tool is required to flash the recovery image to the device.
Instructions to install fastboot: ToolsInstallation

Copying the files to the device

There are two means of pushing the system zip to the device:
  • Using the storage of the device
  • Using the ADB tool to perform sideload

Using the storage of the device

1. Make sure the device is started up and has an Android system running
2. Connect the USB cable to both the computer and the device
3. Enable USB mass storage on the device
4. Mount the mass storage on the computer
5. Copy the replicant-6.0-maguro.zip file at the origin of the mass storage
6. Safely unmount the mass storage on the computer
7. Disable USB mass storage on the device

Installing ADB

Instructions to install ADB: ToolsInstallation

Preparing the device

The next step in the installation process is to prepare the device for fastboot mode.

1. Make sure the device is completely turned off and the USB cable is disconnected from the device
2. Start the device by holding the following key combination: Volume down, Volume up, Power
3. Hold the key combination until the device shows Fastboot mode
4. Connect the USB cable to both the computer and the device

Unlocking the bootloader

If this is the first time you are flashing an operating system to your device, you'll have to unlock it first. If this is not the case, you can skip that part.
Beware: all data stored on the internal storage will be lost during that operation.

1. Unlock the bootloader:

fastboot oem unlock

2. Confirm that you want to unlock the device (using the volume keys to navigate and the power key to select)

Installing the images

Now that both the computer and the device are set up, it is time to actually install the images to the device.

1. Install the recovery image to the device:

fastboot flash recovery path/to/recovery-maguro.img

2. Select recovery mode (using the volume keys to navigate and the power key to select)
3. Make sure the device reboots to recovery

Data wipe

A data wipe is necessary if you switch from the factory image or a different Android distribution to Replicant. You also need to do a data wipe when upgrading to a new major release (e.g. from Replicant 4.2 to Replicant 6.0). Only when updating to a new minor release (e.g. from Replicant 6.0 0001 to Replicant 6.0 0002), a data wipe is usually not required.

4. Select Factory reset
5. Select Wipe data (keep media)
6. Confirm the data wipe by selecting Yes
7. Press the back key (if necessary) to get back to the general menu

8. Select Apply update

Using the storage of the device

9. Select Choose from emulated
10. Select the system zip: replicant-6.0-maguro.zip
Note: if your device was running Android 4.2 and later, it may be located in the 0 directory
11. Confirm the installation

Using ADB sideload

9. Select Apply from ADB
10. Back to the host computer, load the system zip with sideload:

adb sideload path/to/replicant-6.0-maguro.zip

11. Make sure the file is being transfered

Completing the installation

12. Press the back key (if necessary) to get back to the general menu

If you did the data wipe after step 2, you will need to do a factory reset as well:
13. Select Factory reset
14. Select Full factory reset
15. Confirm the factory reset by selecting Yes
16. Press the back key (if necessary) to get back to the general menu

17. Select Reboot system now to reboot the device

Your device should now be running Replicant!

Updated by Wolfgang Wiedmeyer over 6 years ago · 19 revisions

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