NookColor Root
This seemed to work for me and I wanted to share some non-developer directions for rooting my Nook Color (v1.2) henceforth known as NC.
For the most part I followed these directions: XDA-Developers but there are some parts to the those instructions that I found were confusing or not non-developer friendly.
You should have a PC available and a class 4 or higher microSD card. I used a class 10 8gig card.
First I had to download the files for the root:
ManualNooter (since my NC is running software version 1.2)
Clockwork (depending on your microSD card size, but at least 1gig)
WindowsImageWriter (to write the image file onto the microSD card)
Step 1:
Extract the WindowsIMageWriter using an extraction tool. I used 7-zip, a no-frills file extraction tool that works just fine with rar files. It should create a new folder called "win32diskimager"-xxx with "xxx" being additional information. The point is, if it extracted the rar file then you're doing just fine.
Extract the Clockwork version you downloaded.
Step 2:
Connected a formatted microSD card to your desktop computer. Do not use your phone or the NookColor, itself, as the connector, use instead a full-size SD adapter that can slide into the built-in card reader on your computer (like I did) or an external card reader that can handle the microSD or the full sized SD adapter.
Step 3:
Open the Win32DiskImager by opening the folder and double-clicking the application icon. A new window will open. Click the little file looking icon and search for the Clockwork image you downloaded. Next to the folder icon is a drive letter: click on the drive letter and choose the drive where your microSD card is plugged into your computer. In my case it was drive H, but could easily be another drive, so double check that the default is in fact the correct drive location.
When you are sure everything is A-okay, click WRITE on the bottom of the win32inagewriter's box. The file should write to the drive (hopefully the microSD card). It may take a few minutes to wrote, but shouldn't take more than five.
Once that is complete, drag and drop the un-zipped, or un-extracted, ManualNooter file onto the microSD card as well.
Step 4:
Ensure your NookColor is turned OFF and insert the microSD card (not the adapter) into the microSD card slot of the NC. The slot is located under the metal tab that says "Nook" near the hook-ring on the bottom-left (as you're facing the screen).
Power the NookColor on. You will (hopefully) see "Loading" with a couple of skulls on either side and then a text menu in orange. Using your NookColor's volume keys to navigate and the Nook button (looks like an n) to select:
Once the update has finished installing reboot the NookColor by using the menu and selecting the reboot option.
You need to choose the Zeam Launcher when the reboot begins.
At this point your NC should boot using different graphics and you will be prompted to login into GMail. Once you have logged into Gmail you see soft buttons for Android apps, Gmail, GTalk, the browser and Music.
You will also have some new buttons and status bar above the Nook button (n), from left to right: the reader, back and menu.
You are now rooted.
More in-depth directions can be found here and here.
If you would like to go further and install a custom ROM, specifically CyanogenMod7, follow these directions: http://mrm3.net/nook-color-how-to-install-cyanogenmod-7-1/
Turn the NookColor OFF.
On your PC, download the ROM you'd like to use, in this case, we're using CyanogenMod-7 and the gapps file as well.
Move both zipped files over to the microSD card.
Install the microSD card back into the NookColor and turn the power on. Remember to confirm each step as necessary.
Using the same skills you already have, navigate to install from SD card and select the CyanogenMod-7 zip and choose to install.
Once that is complete repeat the procedure for the Gapps zip file.
Luckily, all went well for you.
Use the NookColor's power button to go back one menu and go to Mounts and Storage. Choose format /cache (a little more than halfway down), choose that use the n button to select.
Use the power button again to choose Advanced and Wipe Dalvik cache.
Some people seem to be having a problem at this step: their NookColor's are freezing. Mine did as well. I took the microSD card out of the Nook and force-rebooted the Nook by holding the power button until the NookColor powered down. I gave it about a minute and turned it back on.
Upon boot-up I get a CyanogenMod screen, then a lot of forceclose notifications from Android. I turn the NookColor off and head back to the internet for some better directions. At this point I think I've FUBAR'd the native OS (the Nook's operating system) so there's no real going back.
Back to XDA- Developers!
Here, I find pretty much the same directions but with better links to downloads.
CyanogenMods (grab the latest one!) In my case: 245
The Google Apps file
There is something about overclocking the CPU but according to the webpage, after Cyanogen build 132 this kernel software will be in the ROM automatically so, as far as I know, there is no need to download and install it separately.
Move those files over to your microSD card just like you have with all other files, thus far. Load the microSD card back into the NookColor and boot.
Follow these directions:
Installing
1. boot with bootable sd (CWR_ext4_0.1 - ClockworkMod Recovery v3.0.0.6)
2. 'mounts and storage' --> format the
4. 'install zip from sdcard' --> 'choose zip from sdcard' --> select "latest_CM7_nightly.zip"
5. 'install zip from sdcard' --> 'choose zip from sdcard' --> select "gapps-gb-20110120-signed.zip"
6. 'install zip from sdcard' --> 'choose zip from sdcard' --> select "update-1100mhz-froyo_CM7-emmc-cwm.zip" [if desired]
7. 'mounts and storage' --> unmount sdcard --> remove sdcard
8. reboot
Still no luck.
Finally, I downloaded (apparently) the newest version of the Clockwork program: 3.2.0.1 and started from scratch. That's right, I formatted the microSD card and wrote the new image file, then copied the ManualNooter over.
I plugged the microSD card into the NookColor and and repeated the same steps as above. This time, however, I did not format the system /system, /data, /cache, nor did I take out the microSD card. Instead of rebooted and everything seemed to load fine.
So, now for the real test:
I powered the NookColor down, took out the MicroSD card and rebooted.
Everything seems to be working fine! (So far!)
Yay!
For the most part I followed these directions: XDA-Developers but there are some parts to the those instructions that I found were confusing or not non-developer friendly.
You should have a PC available and a class 4 or higher microSD card. I used a class 10 8gig card.
First I had to download the files for the root:
ManualNooter (since my NC is running software version 1.2)
Clockwork (depending on your microSD card size, but at least 1gig)
WindowsImageWriter (to write the image file onto the microSD card)
Step 1:
Extract the WindowsIMageWriter using an extraction tool. I used 7-zip, a no-frills file extraction tool that works just fine with rar files. It should create a new folder called "win32diskimager"-xxx with "xxx" being additional information. The point is, if it extracted the rar file then you're doing just fine.
Extract the Clockwork version you downloaded.
Step 2:
Connected a formatted microSD card to your desktop computer. Do not use your phone or the NookColor, itself, as the connector, use instead a full-size SD adapter that can slide into the built-in card reader on your computer (like I did) or an external card reader that can handle the microSD or the full sized SD adapter.
Step 3:
Open the Win32DiskImager by opening the folder and double-clicking the application icon. A new window will open. Click the little file looking icon and search for the Clockwork image you downloaded. Next to the folder icon is a drive letter: click on the drive letter and choose the drive where your microSD card is plugged into your computer. In my case it was drive H, but could easily be another drive, so double check that the default is in fact the correct drive location.
When you are sure everything is A-okay, click WRITE on the bottom of the win32inagewriter's box. The file should write to the drive (hopefully the microSD card). It may take a few minutes to wrote, but shouldn't take more than five.
Once that is complete, drag and drop the un-zipped, or un-extracted, ManualNooter file onto the microSD card as well.
Step 4:
Ensure your NookColor is turned OFF and insert the microSD card (not the adapter) into the microSD card slot of the NC. The slot is located under the metal tab that says "Nook" near the hook-ring on the bottom-left (as you're facing the screen).
Power the NookColor on. You will (hopefully) see "Loading" with a couple of skulls on either side and then a text menu in orange. Using your NookColor's volume keys to navigate and the Nook button (looks like an n) to select:
- install zip from SD card, then in the next menu
- choose zip from SD card, then in the next menu
- choose the ManualNooter file and then press the Nook button, n.
Once the update has finished installing reboot the NookColor by using the menu and selecting the reboot option.
You need to choose the Zeam Launcher when the reboot begins.
At this point your NC should boot using different graphics and you will be prompted to login into GMail. Once you have logged into Gmail you see soft buttons for Android apps, Gmail, GTalk, the browser and Music.
You will also have some new buttons and status bar above the Nook button (n), from left to right: the reader, back and menu.
You are now rooted.
More in-depth directions can be found here and here.
If you would like to go further and install a custom ROM, specifically CyanogenMod7, follow these directions: http://mrm3.net/nook-color-how-to-install-cyanogenmod-7-1/
Turn the NookColor OFF.
On your PC, download the ROM you'd like to use, in this case, we're using CyanogenMod-7 and the gapps file as well.
Move both zipped files over to the microSD card.
Install the microSD card back into the NookColor and turn the power on. Remember to confirm each step as necessary.
Using the same skills you already have, navigate to install from SD card and select the CyanogenMod-7 zip and choose to install.
Once that is complete repeat the procedure for the Gapps zip file.
Luckily, all went well for you.
Use the NookColor's power button to go back one menu and go to Mounts and Storage. Choose format /cache (a little more than halfway down), choose that use the n button to select.
Use the power button again to choose Advanced and Wipe Dalvik cache.
Some people seem to be having a problem at this step: their NookColor's are freezing. Mine did as well. I took the microSD card out of the Nook and force-rebooted the Nook by holding the power button until the NookColor powered down. I gave it about a minute and turned it back on.
Upon boot-up I get a CyanogenMod screen, then a lot of forceclose notifications from Android. I turn the NookColor off and head back to the internet for some better directions. At this point I think I've FUBAR'd the native OS (the Nook's operating system) so there's no real going back.
Back to XDA- Developers!
Here, I find pretty much the same directions but with better links to downloads.
CyanogenMods (grab the latest one!) In my case: 245
The Google Apps file
There is something about overclocking the CPU but according to the webpage, after Cyanogen build 132 this kernel software will be in the ROM automatically so, as far as I know, there is no need to download and install it separately.
Move those files over to your microSD card just like you have with all other files, thus far. Load the microSD card back into the NookColor and boot.
Follow these directions:
Installing
1. boot with bootable sd (CWR_ext4_0.1 - ClockworkMod Recovery v3.0.0.6)
2. 'mounts and storage' --> format the
- /system
- /data
- /cache
4. 'install zip from sdcard' --> 'choose zip from sdcard' --> select "latest_CM7_nightly.zip"
5. 'install zip from sdcard' --> 'choose zip from sdcard' --> select "gapps-gb-20110120-signed.zip"
6. 'install zip from sdcard' --> 'choose zip from sdcard' --> select "update-1100mhz-froyo_CM7-emmc-cwm.zip" [if desired]
7. 'mounts and storage' --> unmount sdcard --> remove sdcard
8. reboot
Still no luck.
Finally, I downloaded (apparently) the newest version of the Clockwork program: 3.2.0.1 and started from scratch. That's right, I formatted the microSD card and wrote the new image file, then copied the ManualNooter over.
I plugged the microSD card into the NookColor and and repeated the same steps as above. This time, however, I did not format the system /system, /data, /cache, nor did I take out the microSD card. Instead of rebooted and everything seemed to load fine.
So, now for the real test:
I powered the NookColor down, took out the MicroSD card and rebooted.
Everything seems to be working fine! (So far!)
Yay!
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