Important: this article is not released under a Creative Commons license and may not be copied or redistributed in any form. Please use our contact page to get in touch with us if you wish to reproduce the article.

Ubuntu Core in a Nexus 7:Part 2...... How to install a 13.04 daily image?


Howard Chan's Gravatar

Howard Chan
published Dec. 6, 2012, 5:09 a.m.


If you want Ubuntu Core 12.10 image in a Nexus 7 that is very easy: Unlock the bootloader, install the "Ubuntu Nexus7 Installer" and follow the instructions. However, the problem arises: How to install Ubuntu Core 13.04 in a Nexus 7?

If you have been paying attention to cdimage.ubuntu.com, you should see a new folder called "daily-preinstalled". Click it, then click the "current" folder, then you see the images specialized for the Nexus 7.

Here are the standard installation procedures:

  1. Install the Ubuntu Nexus7 installer. To do so, type (in a terminal):

    sudo add-apt-repository ppa:ubuntu-nexus7/ubuntu-nexus7-installer

    sudo apt-get update

    sudo apt-get install ubuntu-nexus7-installer

  2. Unlock the bootloader by follwing these instructions:

    a. Reboot the Nexus 7 device into the Android boot loader. To do this, first power down the device in the normal fashion (hold down the power button, then select power off and wait a few seconds). From the off state, hold the volume down button and press the power button. Continue holding the volume down and power buttons until you see the boot loader UI.

    b. Plug in the micro-cable to connect your Nexus 7 and your computer. Open a terminal and type sudo fastboot devices to confirm that the device is recognized.

    c. Unlock the bootloader by typing sudo fastboot oem unlock and then follow the on-screen instructions.

    d. After finishing, just press the power button, or type sudo fastboot reboot-bootloader.

  3. Download the .img.gz and .bootimg from http://cdimage.ubuntu.com/daily-preinstalled/current/

  4. Gunzip the .img.gz file.

  5. Attach the Nexus 7 to the computer in flash mode and make sure it is identified properly using the command in step 2b.

  6. Type the following:

    sudo fastboot erase boot

    sudo fastboot erase userdata

    sudo fastboot flash boot /path/to/*.bootimg

    sudo fastboot flash userdata /path/to/unzipped/*.img

    sudo fastboot reboot

Now you got Ubuntu Core in your Nexus 7!!!

Next part: How to return back from Ubuntu to Android!