/2018-Guide-to-Install-Ubuntu-desktop-13.04-on-Nexus-7-2012-and-Ubuntu-touch-15.04-on-Nexus-7-2013

2018 Guide to Install Ubuntu desktop 13.04 on Nexus 7 2012 and Ubuntu touch 15.04 on Nexus 7 2013

Guide to Install Ubuntu on nexus 7 2012/2013

Guide to Install Ubuntu desktop 13.04 on Nexus 7 2012(grouper) and Ubuntu touch 15.04 on Nexus 7 2013(flo,deb)
Updated : 2018/04/16

Install Ubuntu desktop 13.04 on Nexus 7 2012

1.Tools and system requirements

  • An Ubuntu machine
  • Micro usb cable
  • Nexus 7 2012 (wifi - grouper)
  • Fastboot and ADB
    $ sudo apt update
    $ sudo apt install android-tools-adb android-tools-fastboot
  • raring-preinstalled-desktop-armhf+nexus7.bootimg and raring-preinstalled-desktop-armhf+nexus7.img.gz from http://old-releases.ubuntu.com/releases/13.04/
  • extract the "raring-preinstalled-desktop-armhf+nexus7.img.gz" .Rename file "raring-preinstalled-desktop-armhf+nexus7.raw" to "raring-preinstalled-desktop-armhf+nexus7img".

or

  • A Windows machine
  • Micro usb cable
  • Nexus 7 2012 ver 1st gen nakasi(wifi - grouper)
  • Fastboot , ADB driver ,Android SDK
  • raring-preinstalled-desktop-armhf+nexus7.bootimg and raring-preinstalled-desktop-armhf+nexus7.img.gz from http://old-releases.ubuntu.com/releases/13.04/
  • extract the "raring-preinstalled-desktop-armhf+nexus7.img.gz" .Rename file "raring-preinstalled-desktop-armhf+nexus7.raw" to "raring-preinstalled-desktop-armhf+nexus7img".

2.Boot the device into bootloader

  • Completely turn off the device
  • Hold volume down button and press power button until screen light up
  • release power button
  • release volume down button after enter bootloader menu

3.Unlock bootloader

  • Connect nexus to PC via USB cable
  • Ubuntu
    $ fastboot oem unlock
  • Windows
    $ cd to-where-your-fastboot-file
    $ fastboot oem unlock

4.Flash image file

  • Ubuntu and Windows
    $ fastboot erase boot
    $ fastboot erase userdata
    $ fastboot flash boot raring-preinstalled-desktop-armhf+nexus7.bootimg
    $ fastboot flash userdata raring-preinstalled-desktop-armhf+nexus7.img
    $ fastboot reboot

5.Update sources.list to Trusty 14.04(optional)

  • in nexus7 , open file /etc/apt/sources.list in gedit
    $ sudo gedit /etc/apt/sources.list
  • replace "raring" with "trusty" , and "http://ports." with "http://old-releases.ports."
  • save the file
  • run
    $ sudo apt-get update
  • now you can install new software with "sudo apt-get install <package_name>"
    *Warning : do not run apt-get upgrade or apt-get dist-upgrade .Upgrade will brake wireless and graphic driver.
    *Any sources newer than 14.04 will not work

Install Ubuntu touch 15.04 Nexus 7 2013

1.Tools and system requirements

  • An Ubuntu machine
  • Micro usb cable
  • Nexus 7 2013(wifi-flo or lte-deb)
  • Fastboot and ADB
    sudo apt update
    sudo apt install android-tools-adb android-tools-fastboot
  • ubuntu-device-flash and phablet-tools packages
    $ sudo apt-get update
    $ sudo apt-get install ubuntu-device-flash phablet-tools
    *To install ubuntu-device-flash,you need to enable universe archive. open /etc/apt/sources.list and delete the '#' at the beginning of the line
    deb http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ xyz universe
    deb-src http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ xyz universe
    deb http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ xyz-updates universe
    deb-src http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ xyz-updates universe
    *xyz is your ubuntu codename
    *if phablet-tools cannot be found you can use the deb file in this repo.

2.Boot the device into bootloader

  • Completely turn off the device
  • Hold volume down button and press power button until screen light up
  • release power button
  • release volume down button after enter bootloader menu

3.Unlock bootloader

  • Connect nexus to PC via USB cable
  • run
    $ fastboot oem unlock

4.Flash image file

  • for wifi(flo) version
    $ sudo ubuntu-device-flash --server=http://system-image.ubports.com touch --channel=ubports-touch/15.04/devel --device=flo --bootstrap --wipe
  • for lte(deb) version
    $ sudo ubuntu-device-flash --server=http://system-image.ubports.com touch --channel=ubports-touch/15.04/devel --device=deb --bootstrap --wipe
    *devel channel can be replace with stable or rc

5.Enabling read-write mode

  • In Ubuntu pc
    $ phablet-config writable-image
    *Warning: Switching a device to read-write mode (and/or recovering from it) is an advanced feature and may result in complete data loss.It also disables automatic over-the-air delta updates. Accepting a full over-the-air update after making a device writable may undo changes you have made.

  • You can disable read-write and restore automatic over-the-air updates:
    $ adb shell rm /userdata/.writable_image