On Sunday 6 July 2014
Disclaimer
Quote:
| I am not at all responsible for any damage to your device but I can provide confirmation for this method to be working. If you are held in any issues during this guide, I will certainly not replace your device but will give my best shot to help you, recover it. You should be aware that rooting or going custom voids your warranty. |
- At least 60% of battery to ensure no random shutdowns due to low battery.
- Backup your storage manually. Also your text messages and contacts using some backup app.
- Install Google and Samsung USB drivers from here
- A compatible USB data cable for undisturbed connection between PC and device.
- Enable USB Debugging in your device’s settings [Settings > Developer Settings > USB Debugging].
- A PC with Windows OS.
- Download Required files
- Extract the downloaded NexusS_files.zip to the desktop. So now you will have a folder named "NSFiles" on your desktop which beholds all the needed files during the process.
Please make sure to follow every single instruction mentioned during the guidelines. This will resist you from any mishaps during the process. Lets begin!
Unlock Bootloader
NOTE: Unlocking the bootloader will erase all the data on the phone as well as SD storage. So be sure to back everything up.
- Reboot your Nexus S into bootloader mode by pressing volume up + power buttons simultaneously until you see the bootloader screen.
- Connect your device to the PC via the USB data cable.
- Open the extracted folder "NSFiles" that we have have on the desktop. On an empty space inside the folder, press shift and right click and then select "Open command prompt here". This will execute a new CMD window which is already cd'ed to the folder's location.
- Type in CMD:
- Code:
fastboot oem unlock - You will now receive a message on the screen. Use the volume keys to highlight "Yes" and select it using the power button.
- Your bootloader is now unlocked.
- Highlight and select "Reboot" to reboot your device.
- You have successfully unlocked your Nexus S bootloader.
Installing Custom Recovery
- Reboot your phone into bootloader mode by pressing volume up + power buttons altogether.
- Connect it to the PC via USB data cable.
- While in the "NSFiles" folder on your desktop, press shift + right click on an empty space and go to "Open command promopt here". This will execute a command window which is already cd'ed to your current location.
- To Install ClockworkMod touch 6.0.1.0
Type in CMD:Code:fastboot flash recovery CWM-T.img - To Install ClockworkMod non-touch 6.0.1.0
Type in CMD:Code:fastboot flash recovery CWM.img - To Install TWRP 2.3.1.0
Type in CMD:Code:fastboot flash recovery TWRP.img - The CMD prompt will indicate when the flashing is complete, it barely takes a few seconds.
- Do not exit the bootloader mode, since this is the way to boot into recovery.
- Now to boot into your new custom recovery, highlight "RECOVERY" and select it using the power button.
Rooting the Nexus S
If you plan to use the stock (factory) ROM, it is preferable to root. Otherwise, all the Custom ROMs out there already have root access.
The mentioned process is recommended to carry out using ClockworkMod Recovery.
- Download the latest SuperSU flash-able root package. [Chainfire's SuperSU Thread]
- Power off your device and boot into the bootloader mode by pressing volume up + power buttons simultaneously until you see the bootloader screen. Highlight"RECOVERY" using the volume buttons and select it using the power button.
- Now, your Nexus S is in recovery mode.
- Go to "mounts and storage" > scroll to the very last and select "mount USB storage".
- This will mount your device's storage to the PC.
- Drag the downloaded "CWM-SuperSU-v0.98.zip" to the root of your storage.
- Select "unmount" to exit the USB storage mode.
- Go to "install zip from sdcard" > "choose zip from sdcard" > select the "CWM-SuperSU-v0.99.zip" you placed in the storage and flash it.
- Once flashed, select "reboot system now"
You now have your device rooted. You can officially declare yourself as the true master of your device.
Install Custom ROMs
Installing a ROM is quiet a simple process, you can say that it is the easiest of all.
- First, you need to choose a suitable ROM that meets your requirements.
- Once you have chosen, download the ROM's .zip (flash able zip file) as provided by the Author/ Developer .
- Also make sure to download specific Gapps and other add-on if provided by the developer himself. [If not, download generic Gapps from here]
- Put the downloaded files to your SD storage either by using USB mass storage directly or by mounting USB storage in recovery mode.
- Reboot your Nexus S into Recovery mode. Power off your device and boot into the bootloader mode by pressing volume up + power buttons simultaneously until you see the bootloader screen. Highlight"RECOVERY" using the volume buttons and select it using the power button.
- Using CWM:
wipe data/factory reset.
Go to "mounts and storage" > "format /system".
Go to "install zip from sdcard" > "choose zip from sdcard" > select your ROM .zip file that you placed in step #6. Flash it.
Gapps are the next to be flashed just after flashing the ROM. So, flash Gapps following the same way as the ROM. further if your are provided any add-on in a flash able zip format you can flash it the same way after flashing the ROM and Gapps successfully.
Once everything has flashed successfully, select "reboot system now".
- Using TWRP:
Go to "Wipe" > "System" and "Factory Reset".
Go to "Install" > choose the ROM .zip file and flash it.
Gapps are the next to be flashed just after flashing the ROM. So, flash Gapps following the same way as the ROM. further if your are provided any add-on in a flash able zip format you can flash it the same way after flashing the ROM and Gapps successfully.
When flashed, go to "Reboot" > "System".
Your phone will now boot into the custom ROM.
Install Custom Kernels
- Download the flashable zip package of your desired Custom Kernel.
- Connect your device to PC via USB cable in USB Storage Mode.
- Drag the downloaded kernel zip package to the root of your device's storage.
- Disconnect the device from PC.
- Power off, now press the volume up button and the power button altogether until you see the bootloader screen. Use the volume keys to highlight "Recovery" and select it using the power button.
- Your device shall now be in recovery mode.
- Flash using CWM:
"advanced" > "Wipe Dalvik Cache"
"install zip from sdcard" > choose zip from sdcard" > now browse and select the kernel zip package that you placed in your storage root during step #3.
Select "Yes".
Your Kernel will now flash to your OS and replace your current kernel.
When it has successfully flashed, select "reboot system now".
- Flash using TWRP:
"Wipe" > "Dalvik Cache"
"Install" > now browse and select the kernel zip package that you placed in your storage root during step #3.
Your Kernel will now flash to your OS and replace your current kernel.
When it has successfully flashed, go to "Reboot" and select "System".
You now have Custom Kernel installed on your Nexus S.
NOTE: Before choosing any Custom Kernel, do verify that the Kernel is meant to be flashed on your present Android OS version.
Congratulations! You shall now enjoy the full packed potential of your wonderful Nexus S.
If you have got any questions/ queries or you're stuck anywhere in the mid process, comment here. I will try my best and provide you an helping hand.
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