Recent Changes - Search:
Project /

Rooting

Notes about rooting Nooks

Nook Soft Touch
Nook Color
Nook Tablet
Nook HD+

Nook Soft Touch

2013-xx-xx Sometime early in 2013 I rooted the Soft Touch so that I could install Opera Mini. It worked and I'll write up the details later, if I remember them.

Nook Color

2013-xx-xx I rooted my NC once before using CWM (ClockWorkMod) as installer and backup, and CM7 (CyanogenMod) as new kernel/system on a removable SD card, sometime in early 2013. It worked, mostly, but in the end I returned to just the normal Nook-iness. If my memory serves me, I had trouble installing apps.

2014-03-07

I'm ready to try again. I read up on the latest, as best as I could determine, on the XDA-Developers site. Here are links to stuff:

SD-based CM7

I started with the SD-card-based CM7 setup. In this case, the nook is not rooted at all. This setup provides a way to boot CM7 from the miniSD, leaving the onboard flash completely untouched. This provides for a 'dual-boot' situation: 1) I can boot from the stock firmware by removing the miniSD and booting, or, 2) insert the miniSD and boot into CM7.

Following the instructions, I downloaded:

Once downloaded, I imaged the installer to an 8GB miniSD card, and copied the CM7 kernel/system:

  • gzip -d < generic-sdcard-v1.3.img.gz | dd of=/dev/sdc
  • removed miniSD card and re-inserted
  • mount /dev/sdc1 /mnt/test
  • cp cm-7.2.0-encore.zip /mnt/test/cm_encore_full_7.2.0.zip (must be named cm_encore*.zip for the installer to work with the image)
  • umount /mnt/test

Now, we're ready! Time to reboot the nook with it!

  • Full-power-off of the nook (press and hold power button)
  • Watch the installation messages occur as the miniSD partition is resized and then the kernel/system image installed to it.
  • After the unit powers itself off, power up. It's now running CM7 from the miniSD!

From the home page, press the 'menu' soft button and select 'Settings'. A few configuration settings that need to be changed:

  • Wireless & networks
    • Select WiFi network(s) and enter security key(s)
  • CyanogenMod settings
    • Application settings
      • Allow application moving -> check
    • Tablet Tweaks
      • Choose unhide button -> Home
  • Applications
    • Unknown sources -> check
    • Development
      • Device hostname -> (any desired name, e.g., 'nook-color-jb')
  • Date & time
    • Automatic -> uncheck
    • Select time zone -> Mountain Time
    • Automatic -> check

Rooting onboard system

References:

Followed the instructions and downloaded these files:

Then I imaged an 8GB miniSD card and copied the rooter over:

  • unzip -p 1gb_clockwork-3.2.0.1-eyeballer.zip | dd of=/dev/sdc
  • removed miniSD card and re-inserted
  • mount /dev/sdc1 /mnt/test
  • cp manualnooter-5.08.20.basic.zip /mnt/test
  • umount /mnt/test

Ready for the rooting!

  • Full-power-off of the nook (press and hold power button)
  • Boot to CWM (Volume Up/Down to navigate menu, Home to select, Power to go back)
    • BACKUP the system!
    • Install from ZIP
  • Remove miniSD
  • Reboot

Welcome to a rooted Nook Color! Some commentary:

  • Home screen has forgotten all of my previous books
  • Home screen image no longer sizes to fit (no big deal)
  • Pressing 'home' button brings up selection menu:
    • Home Catcher allows:
      • Zeam Launcher
      • Softkeys
      • Nook Home
    • Android 'Home" goes to Nook Home

First thing, go to NookColorTools and uncheck, then re-check the Allow Apps checkbox. Now should be able to install extra apps. I was successful installing:

  • Free42
  • FileManager
  • Opera Classic 12

I was not able to install:

  • Opera 16
  • Opera 20
  • Opera Mini

In these cases after downloading and selecting the file from the notifications list, or navigating with FileManager, then choosing Package Installer, it gives "There is a problem parsing the package.", and if I navigate to them using the Library applet, I get "The NOOK cannot read this file. It may be an unsupported format." Maybe can't run on this CPU version? Thought the Nook Color had a v7 ARM CPU.

2014-06-19 I rooted Rebecca's NC using the same process as I did for my own. I used the same mini-SD card, booted into CWM, did a backup (which probably is incomplete due to lack of space on the mini-SD, though it never errored out), and installed the rooting ZIP file. That's it, all done! I installed:

  • Free42

Nook Tablet

2014-10-18

References:

Followed the instructions and downloaded these files:

Using Puppy Linux as a platform for preparing the mini-SD card, I performed the following:

  • unzip -p SD_ROOT_NT16or8gbV4_7.zip XXXXimg | dd of=/dev/sdd
  • ejected the mini-SD from PC platform

On the Nook Tablet:

  • fully powered-off Nook Tablet
  • inserted mini-SD into Nook Tablet and powered-up
  • used ClockWorkMod to install the rooting ZIP
  • (did NOT backup the system because of limited space on the mini-SD image)
  • powered-off Nook Tablet
  • removed mini-SD card
  • powered-up Nook Tablet
  • Installed the following:
    • Opera Classic 12
    • Free42
    • Garmin Pilot (wants to register)
    • Rhythm Software File Manager

Nook HD+

2013-09-24

I rooted the HD+ using CWM and ManualNooter 5.08.20.basic. This went smoothly as I recall and I have had no difficulties since. The B&N Nook home screen, apps and sync'ing still work as they should, but I now have the ability to install my own apps (APKs). I have since installed:

  • Opera Mobile 16 (really nice browser!)
  • Free42 (HP-42 scientific RPN calculator)
  • Terminal
  • Telnet client
  • File Manager
  • (and others...what are they?)

2015-05-31

I deregistered and reset the device, in order to experience the process again. Luckily I had saved local copies of the tools:

  • NookHDplus-bootable-CWM-6028-for-stock-4GB-rev4-(05.15.13).zip
  • NookHD-HDplus-Universal-Root-rev3-(09.10.13).zip
  • NookHD-HDplus-Extras-rev3-(05.06.13).zip

The process is:

On a PC

  • unzip the first file (producing a .img file)
  • Write image to a mini-SD card (at least 4GB); I used dd on a Linux box
  • eject card and reinsert to reload the imaged SD card's new partition table
  • copy (without unzipping) the two .zip files to the root of the mini-SD card
  • eject the mini-SD card

on the Nook HD+

  • power-off the Nook completely (press and hold power button)
  • insert mini-SD card
  • power up the nook (it will show cryanoboot logo)
  • use volume up and down buttons to move selection, power to backup, n-button to select
  • backup the device (not necessary really, but safety first!)
  • install each .zip file
  • power down
  • remove mini-SD card
  • reboot

At this point the Nook HD+ is rooted and I installed the same apps as before after copying them to the SD-card. Of course, once the Rhythmsoft File Manager is installed, it can be used to copy files/apps over the network and the SD-card is no longer necessary.

Restarting Garmin Pilot demo
  • Reset Device
    • Deregister and Erase Device (this wipes the app 'registry' DB, with Garmin's demo dates)
    • Reregister device with B&N just as if out of the box
    • Power off completely
  • Root Device
    • Insert 32GB miniSD card
    • Power up
    • Install both ZIP files, rooter first, then extras
    • Power off completely
    • Remove miniSD card
  • Install Apps
    • Power up
    • Insert miniSD card
    • Navigate to FileManager app and open
    • Navigate to /mnt/externalSD
    • Install
      • AndroidAssistant
      • FileManager
      • Free42
      • MPDroid
      • Opera
      • GarminPilot
  • Configure as desired