Sticky thread for Nook Color rooting instructions.

Page 4 - Seeking answers? Join the AnandTech community: where nearly half-a-million members share solutions and discuss the latest tech.

poofyhairguy

Lifer
Nov 20, 2005
14,612
318
126
I'm currently running Nookie Froyo, special instructions for reflashing to CM7?

Hmmm... Well be sure to use a ext4 image on the SD card:

http://tsunade.net/nookdev/clockwork/0.1-ext4/

Then you can either chose to flash a compete ROM (probably recommended):

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=954902

Or flash a nightly:

http://mirror.teamdouche.net/?device=encore

And the CM7 GAPPS:

http://wiki.cyanogenmod.com/index.php?title=Latest_Version/Google_Apps

You are probably going to have to wipe system and data in clockwork before you flash a new ROM, so backup your apps beforehand in Titanium.

You picked a good time to get into CM7. Turns out I was wrong about B&N- they like us hackers. They released the source for their kernel a few days ago, and I am expecting a CM7 build with working sleep to hit the net this weekend!
 

poofyhairguy

Lifer
Nov 20, 2005
14,612
318
126
Almost as soon as I posted that last post a new test build hit the net based on B&N sources:

http://kan.gd/gnk

It has working sleep, but not bluetooth (as the devs are redoing bluetooth from scratch) and it lacks an overclock kernel option.

So most people should stick to tech most recent Phiremod (it has everything but sleep working). I personally can't wait to flash this ROM and try out the future of the Nook Color!
 

Geekbabe

Moderator Emeritus<br>Elite Member
Oct 16, 1999
32,199
2,452
126
www.theshoppinqueen.com
Almost as soon as I posted that last post a new test build hit the net based on B&N sources:

http://kan.gd/gnk

It has working sleep, but not bluetooth (as the devs are redoing bluetooth from scratch) and it lacks an overclock kernel option.

So most people should stick to tech most recent Phiremod (it has everything but sleep working). I personally can't wait to flash this ROM and try out the future of the Nook Color!

My primary reason for switching to CM7 is working,solid bluetooth
 

poofyhairguy

Lifer
Nov 20, 2005
14,612
318
126
Yeah, I recommend Phiremod right now. It is built on a really stable base with the best bluetooth we have so far. Plus all its other improvements make it a smooth ROM. Only thing missing is an overclock kernel. If you want that flash the 24th emmc kernel after the Phiremod ROM:

http://nook.handhelds.ru/dalingrin/kernels/test_builds/

Mine runs at 1.3GHZ smoothly. It is worth a shot- I have not heard of it bricking any Nooks.

EDIT: Here is the best honeycomb theme:

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1041588
 
Last edited:

Geekbabe

Moderator Emeritus<br>Elite Member
Oct 16, 1999
32,199
2,452
126
www.theshoppinqueen.com
Yeah, I recommend Phiremod right now. It is built on a really stable base with the best bluetooth we have so far. Plus all its other improvements make it a smooth ROM. Only thing missing is an overclock kernel. If you want that flash the 24th emmc kernel after the Phiremod ROM:

http://nook.handhelds.ru/dalingrin/kernels/test_builds/

Mine runs at 1.3GHZ smoothly. It is worth a shot- I have not heard of it bricking any Nooks.

EDIT: Here is the best honeycomb theme:

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1041588

Yeah, I want to try to get a stable, working keyboard solution, sort of the poor person's version of the Transformer

BTW,you are so helpful, such an asset to the community here, thank you!
 

poofyhairguy

Lifer
Nov 20, 2005
14,612
318
126
Yeah, I want to try to get a stable, working keyboard solution, sort of the poor person's version of the Transformer

The best bluetooth keyboard I have found for the Nook Color is the new two battery Apple Wireless Keyboards. I have also had success with a bluetooth GPS and a Wiimote, yet I must note that the range of all these devices is very limited.

To get bluetooth working, turn it on right after you boot the system (it won't turn on after a couple minutes running). If it doesn't work the first time, do a hard reboot where you hold down the power button for five seconds. Then it should work. That always works for me.

As far as being a poor person's Transformer- with recent development improvements (such as the 1.3GHZ overclock) I have quadrant scores well beyond my friend's Xoom. I think a big issue now is that many programs are not designed for multi-core on ARM, so a faster single core in the Nook beats out slower dual cores of stock Tegra 2 devices.

All I ask of my Nook is to get me to the Tegra 3 timeline, where tablets finally will have "enough" power for things the Nook can't do (like run straight Ubuntu).

BTW,you are so helpful, such an asset to the community here, thank you!

Thank you very much. I am happy to be a part of a community that I hold with such regard. As far as I am concerned the Anandtech forums IS technology. I am just doing my part to spread the news about such a great device!
 
Last edited:

poofyhairguy

Lifer
Nov 20, 2005
14,612
318
126
A few updates:

1. For those who like CM7 but want to keep around a stock OS "just in case" here is a way setup a SD card to boot the stock OS:

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1061523

2. Secondly, the stock 1.2 not only has been rooted but it also has been hacked to have market access. This is great for those who like the default OS, but want more apps:

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1054027

3. After being dormant for months, there is work on a new Honeycomb port. This new port is based on the final SDK so eventually it should run Transformer and Xoom apps (the ones that aren't tied-at-the-hip to Tegra). Best part is this port has brought out the developer deeperblue that originally hacked the Honeycomb on the Nook Color. Right now its a rough ROM (no sound, tons of FCs, etc.) but it is something to watch:

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1062626
 

gorcorps

aka Brandon
Jul 18, 2004
30,739
452
126
A few updates:

1. For those who like CM7 but want to keep around a stock OS "just in case" here is a way setup a SD card to boot the stock OS:

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1061523

2. Secondly, the stock 1.2 not only has been rooted but it also has been hacked to have market access. This is great for those who like the default OS, but want more apps:

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1054027

3. After being dormant for months, there is work on a new Honeycomb port. This new port is based on the final SDK so eventually it should run Transformer and Xoom apps (the ones that aren't tied-at-the-hip to Tegra). Best part is this port has brought out the developer deeperblue that originally hacked the Honeycomb on the Nook Color. Right now its a rough ROM (no sound, tons of FCs, etc.) but it is something to watch:

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1062626

I want to update to 1.2 and re-root... but I hate having to set everything up again. Is there anything I can do to backup and store the apps, settings, saves I have now and then reload them in one shot? I know I can backup my entire rom right now, but that'll reload the whole thing. I just want to reload program data pretty much.
 

poofyhairguy

Lifer
Nov 20, 2005
14,612
318
126
Why would I hate? The Transformer is a really cool device, and is a real value at its price point.

I get where you are coming from- when the Nook Color hit the market there was nothing close to it for six months, but now with options such as the Transformer there is some value in the Android tablet market outside of the Nook. A big deal is the lack of Honeycomb source that has kept the Nook locked in the "cell-phone OS" category.

Enjoy your new tablet, and find a good resting place for your Nook! Mine is totally turning into my Mom's ereader once Tegra 3 tablets hit.
 

Geekbabe

Moderator Emeritus<br>Elite Member
Oct 16, 1999
32,199
2,452
126
www.theshoppinqueen.com
Why would I hate? The Transformer is a really cool device, and is a real value at its price point.

I get where you are coming from- when the Nook Color hit the market there was nothing close to it for six months, but now with options such as the Transformer there is some value in the Android tablet market outside of the Nook. A big deal is the lack of Honeycomb source that has kept the Nook locked in the "cell-phone OS" category.

Enjoy your new tablet, and find a good resting place for your Nook! Mine is totally turning into my Mom's ereader once Tegra 3 tablets hit.

I actually like the 7 inch form factor of the Nook, I also am curious to see how far the devs can go with it. I'll most likely hold onto it to tinker with as such things excite me. When I'm done I'll sell it to another hardware lover at a very fair price, share the love:)
 

poofyhairguy

Lifer
Nov 20, 2005
14,612
318
126
A new test build of CM7 is on the net and its awesome! The developers are amazing!

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=960537

Direct link:

http://kan.gd/i7f

One note: it does not work with the dual booting eMMC bootloader, nor does it work with bootloaders that say "Touch the Future of Reading." If your bootloader doesn't say "Read Forever," flash this first:

http://www.mediafire.com/?zyg5yrc6ucqcie7

Be sure to do this on boot:

Disable sleep when connected to usb. Goto Settings->Applications->Development->Stay Awake

This build has working sleep, much better bluetooth, and working everything else. Basically the only thing it lacks is the 1.3 GHz overclock, but this build at 925mhz still seems very snappy.

Worth using, can be flashed over regular CM7.
 

masterxfob

Diamond Member
May 20, 2001
7,366
3
81
A new test build of CM7 is on the net and its awesome! The developers are amazing!

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=960537

Direct link:

http://kan.gd/i7f

One note: it does not work with the dual booting eMMC bootloader, nor does it work with bootloaders that say "Touch the Future of Reading." If your bootloader doesn't say "Read Forever," flash this first:

http://www.mediafire.com/?zyg5yrc6ucqcie7

Be sure to do this on boot:

Disable sleep when connected to usb. Goto Settings->Applications->Development->Stay Awake

This build has working sleep, much better bluetooth, and working everything else. Basically the only thing it lacks is the 1.3 GHz overclock, but this build at 925mhz still seems very snappy.

Worth using, can be flashed over regular CM7.

nice! gonna have to flash to this version. what's the working range of BT now? any word on a working BT mic?
 

poofyhairguy

Lifer
Nov 20, 2005
14,612
318
126
The range of bluetooth is greatly improved. I am away from my home so I don't have my entire set of bluetooth devices to test, but my bluetooth GPS now pairs from 2 feet away (used to have to sit right behind Nook) and works from 5-6 feet. My Retro Wii controller that use to sync from a foot and work within 6 feet now syncs within 6 feet and works within 12+ feet (I ran out of space to test). I would compare this to how my wife's iPad 2 works with these devices, but it thinks its too good for such things.

I don't have mine on me, but I bet bluetooth headsets don't work as that would require a lot of alsa hackery outside what was done for bluetooth. Worth a test though.
 

MagickMan

Diamond Member
Aug 11, 2008
7,460
3
76
Well, my Samsung stereo headset works with mine under 7.02, albeit the range is only ~2ft, if that means anything.
 

poofyhairguy

Lifer
Nov 20, 2005
14,612
318
126
Big update today. Dalingrin, the main developer, has outdone himself. First is a new test CM7 build with better touchscreen responsiveness:

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=960537

Direct link:

http://kan.gd/iue

Be sure to disable sleep when USB is plugged in like my above post states. Also I find battery use is best when you flash a ROM when the Nook's battery is full. If you were using non-CM7 as your OS (like Froyo, Pherimod, etc.) then wipe everything (after backup), if you are using CM7 wipe cache.

Plus here is a new overclock kernel!!!

http://nook.handhelds.ru/dalingrin/kernels/2.6.32/051311/

Note its max is 1.2GHz, as 1.3Ghz is unstable on the new kernel. For me though the overall improvements in the new kernel has meant that games run faster than with the old 1.3Ghz kernel with less heat (yay!).

Another cool thing is the Market Nook app now reads magazines. So unless you very badly need the kids read to me books, there is no advantage to stock over CM7 anymore.

Finally if you want Netflix on your Nook, do this (taken from xda forum, thanks Paul22000):
1. Root Explorer -> system -> Click "Mount R/W"

2. Long press build.prop -> Copy -> Paste (for backup purposes)

3. Long press build.prop -> Open in Text Editor

4. Change the two bolded lines

ro.product.model=HTC Vision
ro.product.manufacturer=HTC


5. Save

6. Reboot

7. Open Netflix and enjoy!

Note: Netflix will eat your battery like a wolf eats a steak. To improve the quality of the stream, seek back to the beginning when starting a movie after seeking forward.

This means that we now have one build with everything- Netflix, Hulu, Overclock, Sleep, Bluetooth, etc. The future development seems to be an eventual market app to help with the Nook Color's low volume, so the project isn't going stale. Enjoy!
 
Last edited:

AnMig

Golden Member
Nov 7, 2000
1,760
3
81
Thank you poofyhairguy, I find it a lot easier to follow updates on my nook color by watching this thread.

Quick question though about #4, I am assuming change one line into the other (HTC Vision--->HTC)

4. Change the two bolded lines

ro.product.model=HTC Vision
ro.product.manufacturer=HTC




Any permanent fix for hulu or do you need to keep on re-doing the hack after reboot, any automated script for HULU?
 

poofyhairguy

Lifer
Nov 20, 2005
14,612
318
126
Change both lines from what they are to what I posted. Hulu trick gets messed up at reboot (or upgrades to newer versions of Flash), but the new sleep mode means less power downs.

Edit: There is complicated fix:


forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=13713649&postcount=57
 
Last edited:

AnMig

Golden Member
Nov 7, 2000
1,760
3
81
Lost my wireless when I updated cm7 2.632, wiped cache and davlick commingle from cm7 7.01. Had to restore a back up.

Will try to redownload again

Never mind,PEBKAK, downloaded the wrong version combined with the of kernel.

Everything working now, nice to have working sleep.
 
Last edited: