Well. Before you get all comfortable setting this bad boy up, I will warn you this, unlocking the bootloader will erase the entire device. So if you're going to do that, wait before gettin' too deep.
First and foremost, if you've never completely set up ADB and Fastboot, and put them in your system path,
Once you've got you ADB and Fastboot all set up. You're gonna download 2 files:
One, a recovery...I prefer , but you can use or . Save ONE of these to your desktop. It's a personal preference thing, I don't think one is any more special than the other. But remember TWRP and CWM are NOT cross compatible. So you kinda gotta pick one and STICK with it.
Second, the , the EASIEST way to gain root access.
Then, follow these steps:
Be booted up into normal Android, once you install the Android SDK, you should also have installed (with it) the USB drivers. Otherwise, Google N7 drivers, that's not hard to dig up. Plug in N7, ensure your computer see it. Make sure you have Security>Unknown Devices and Developer Options>USB Debugging ticked. (If you're on Android 4.2.2 you need to make sure you enable Developer Options, and that involves going to About Device and clicking on Android Version [I think] 6 or 7 times until it tells you you're a developer!) Open a CMD prompt.
This should start the ADB deamon, and it SHOULD return some ID number when you run the devices cmd. If it does not, then your PC isn't seeing your device, so go back and check drivers. Next, we'll go into the bootloader and unlock.
Device should reboot to the bootloader. Now let's get it unlocked:
It will now warn you that unlocking your BL will set your house on fire, etc etc etc. Just agree. Again, this WILL wipe the device.
Once this step is done, go ahead and let it reboot and settle down, reset everything up. Re-enable USB debugging and Unknown devices (anyone who's been around Android for more than 4 minutes knows they hace to have these things checked, but just a reminder because unlocking resets these 2 things.) It's at this point, you can go ahead and take the SuperSu root zip and pop it somewhere on your SD card. Then, back to the BL we go.
I like to start a new ADB deamon when my device has been reset like that. Now, we will flash your custom recovery. you will type the command below, then DRAG the .img of your choice INTO The cmd window and press enter. It will then flash.
Then, we'll reboot your bootloader
Now, use your volume keys and move up or down til you select "Recovery". Then press the power button to reboot into recovery.
Once you're in recovery, you will go through the normal buttons to flash a zip, find the "SuperSu Root Zip" you put on your SD earlier. Flash that. This will root your N7. Then continue to reboot, follow any directions the recovery may have for you on it's first reboot into system, sometimes it asks you if you need to over write certain files.
Once you reboot, you will unlocked, root and on the custom recovery of your choice. Any problems...PM me.
Cheers!