[Nexus S General] AllGamer:
GRH78

Bootloader v.JK1

Baseband v.JK8

Yes, there are tons of guides out there, and even one click scripts that can ROOT the SNS (Samsung Nexus S) for you, but none of them go into enough detail for any of them to work properly.

Having many android devices working properly via ADB on your computer doesn't automatically guarantees it will see the SNS.

So, before jump to the exiting stuff of ROOTing the SNS, lets cover some basics to actually get you started and make sure you can actually ROOT the SNS, else all is in vain.

MOD EDIT: This guide does not apply to the AT&T/Rogers/Telus variants of the Nexus S (i9020A). For those models, please refer to this guide.

Part 1

Download Android SDK release 13 click the file name android-sdk_r13-windows.zip (34 MB) direct from Google, instead of wasting your time jumping through hoops and dodging pop up/flash ADs from those FileSharing places.

Note: from SDK release 14 onward, Google removed the fastboot command, you'll have to maker the fastboot command yourself if you want to use the latest version of the SDK

Turn Off your SNS

Make sure the SNS is connected to the PC via the USB cable

Boot the SNS into the Bootloader Interface, by holding Volume UP & Power button

it reads LOCK STATE - LOCKED

open Device Manager (or run devmgmt.msc) make sure you don't see this problem (windows failed to identify the SNS and install the correct drivers)

Do a right click and select Update Driver Software

Select Brose my computer for driver software

point it to where you downloaded the Android SDK (..\android-sdk-windows\google-usb_driver)

Make sure to CLICK "Let me pick from a list of device drivers on my computer"

Then from the list 3 choices select Android Bootloader Interface

If it's installed properly it should show up like this (reboot is not required)

NOTE: if you encounter problems like question marks, unknown drivers, or exclamation marks eve after you have installed the drivers, download and try the USBDeview 32/64 to remove and uninstall all the junk USB devices from your computer/registry​

Now that the basic preparations are done, we can finally get to have fun with the SNS & hack away via ADB.exe / FASTBOOT.exe :)

Part 2

open a command prompt go to run & type CMD hit enter

switch to the directory where you downloaded & unzipped the ..\android-sdk-windows\tools

type fastboot oem unlock and hit enter

Then you will get this

fastboot oem unlock
...

meanwhile on the SNS you'll see this screen

selecting YES will wipe EVERYTHING from the SNS, so make sure you have backed up everything you needed to safe before you continue.

use the Volume up/down keys to select and Power key to apply

you should see something like this after it's done

... OKAY [435.433s]
finished. total time: 435.433s

now back on this screen you should read

LOCK STATE - UNLOCKED

Download the clockwork recovery recovery-clockwork-5.0.2.0-crespo.img image, and save it to the ..\android-sdk-windows\tools directory

renamed it to recovery.img

then type fastboot flash recovery recovery.img and hit enter

you should get something like this, if not your image is corrupted, download it again

sending 'recovery' (3980 KB)... OKAY [ 0.621s]
writing 'recovery'... OKAY [ 0.511s]
finished. total time: 1.132s

Then back on the SNS select Power Off (Reboot also works)

Power ON the SNS

...meanwhile the SNS is rebooting Download superuser from http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=682828

choose the Eclair/Froyo version

Mount the USB storage

drag/drop the su-version#-signed.zip file into the root of the internal SD of the SNS

Power Off the SNS

Boot the SNS into the Bootloader Interface, by holding Volume UP & Power button

select Recovery

then it should boot into this screen, if not then repeat the steps to download the image

select install ZIP from sdcard (power button to apply)

select choose zip from sdcard (power button to apply)

select su-version#-signed.zip file you downloaded earlier, and apply it

select yes - install su-version#-signed.zip

confirm it says "Install from sdcard complete"

select go back

select reboot

done!

Enjoy your unlocked & rooted phone! :D