Install CyanogenMod 7 Android 2.3 Gingerbread ROM on Nook Color

76 Comments

1. Hey guys I have read almost all of the comments and I am afraid to try I bought the
   sindisk ultra android 16 gb with my luck its not the right one1 so I guess Im gonna chicken out maybe I’ll just go to B&N let them do it, then I cant blame my self !

   all Im wanting to do is upgrade my angry birds space lol and make my nook better

2. please help me if u can. follow the instruction and applied the rook however it will not connect to wifi please help!

3. No matter what I do, my nook won’t boot from the card. I’ve tried every step from above, but for some reason my sd card won’t recognize the cyanogenmod I’m writing onto it.

4. Does this guide work with stock 1.4.2? I tried a guide on youtube but my computer (Mac) had an error extracting clockwork. If anyone has any information about this please email me at milesnicholson98@gmail.com or say somthing in the comments.

5. Sir, I have deleted all the content in  boot, system, etc all partitions. Is there any way I can get things working because the clockwork recovery is still there in the system and it doesn’t begin any CM7 or CM9 installation and it wouldn’t let me install the default firmware as well. Please help me out.

6. for all the work you have to go through its just not worth the effort. first you get the op system on it and running.  then what, you cant get g-apps or market so you cant down load anything with out a bunch of work and head aches. and no one even knows what they are doing. just update your stock nook at B@N and down load a new browser dolphin, and some other cool tools and games and be happy if you only paid $169.00 for it as thats what i paid 3/3/12 at kmart. its blind and death so how much are you realy gaining? Acer is making the iconia tab and only a few hundred bucks. some of you paid that much for your e-reader so come on.

7. for all the work you have to go through its just not worth the effort. first you get the op system on it and running.  then what, you cant get g-apps or market so you cant down load anything with out a bunch of work and head aches. and no one even knows what they are doing. just update your stock nook at B@N and down load a new browser dolphin, and some other cool tools and games and be happy if you only paid $169.00 for it as thats what i paid 3/3/12 at kmart. its blind and death so how much are you realy gaining? Acer is making the iconia tab and only a few hundred bucks. some of you paid that much for your e-reader so come on.

8. Thank you so much for this tutorial!!!! This is exactly what I have been trying to find and figure out. The only thing that I would have to say is, If you are using a Windows OS you have to EXTRACT the clockwork-0.1-ext4.tar.gz file to change it to a .tar file and then EXTRACT that .tar file (which you just extracted) then you will have the .img file to write to SD

9. i had to use the froyo method just tp get froyo cm7 never worked

10. my nook does boot past the first screen

11. 1.  The instructions say “format /system” and similar without providing specific commands for doing this. The word “format” means different things if you are linux or windows or mac minded. Would it hurt to be explicit? Also, where are we supposed to find “Mounts and Storage”? Remember, not every reader has your knowledge and perspective about what is going on or what to do.

    2.  I consider myself pretty tech-minded and I’m completely confused after reading the entire thread several times. If parts of this thread — posting and comments — apply to specific editions of the CM7 download, then why not separate those chains under a suitable heading such as “CM7 as of some date” followed by appriated instructions and work-arounds.

    Better still, publish a page with current, known working details and downloads and work-arounds and include a link to a separate page(s) for other editions of the nightlies.

    Cheers,
    ~~~ 0;-Dan

12. 1.  The instructions say “format /system” and similar without providing specific commands for doing this. The word “format” means different things if you are linux or windows or mac minded. Would it hurt to be explicit? Also, where are we supposed to find “Mounts and Storage”? Remember, not every reader has your knowledge and perspective about what is going on or what to do.

    2.  I consider myself pretty tech-minded and I’m completely confused after reading the entire thread several times. If parts of this thread — posting and comments — apply to specific editions of the CM7 download, then why not separate those chains under a suitable heading such as “CM7 as of some date” followed by appriated instructions and work-arounds.

    Better still, publish a page with current, known working details and downloads and work-arounds and include a link to a separate page(s) for other editions of the nightlies.

    Cheers,
    ~~~ 0;-Dan

13. Worst guide ever!!!

    I get a black screen after the cyanogen logo and i cannot fix it 🙁 I tried flashing other roms and its the same 🙁

14. FYI, I got the black screen until I tried installing without the optional overclock kernel.

15. I followed these instructions and am in a loop when I rebooted. I see the green Cyanogen arrow logo, it says loading, it goes dark, and it repeats. What can I do to recover?

    Thanks,
    Jim

16. I don’t get step 10: I format the sd card on the computer, and then burn it with the recovery image file so I can use the sd card on the nook and reboot the system; problem is, it then goes to the clockworkmod recovery menu!

    Thanks in advance for any ideas.

    • …and if I take the sd card out, and reboot the nook, the screen goes black…

    • I’ve installed the custom FroYo on the Nook Color, and then I used the link below to install Gingerbread; my NC now works like a charm.

      http://www.the-ebook-reader.com/nook-color-cm7.html

17. I did this last weekend. There’s no need to install the custom kernel, since the default kernel included with the latest nightlies is overclockable. In fact, the latest nightly won’t boot if you install the kernel linked to here. Fortunately, the Nook will self-recover from the boot loop this gets you into and you can easily try again.

18. worked first time

    thanks!

19. I must be doing something wrong. I followed these instructions to a T (including NOT formatting /boot). Reboot and I get the CM flash screen and the blank. Nothing. Every couple of minutes, the CM flash screen again and nothing. OK, I assumed I messed something up. So I restored. Method 1 above didn’t work, so went with the nookie froyo method 2. That worked, so I’m ready for go number two. I download the latest nightly (134). Follow instructions carefully and … nothing again, just the CM flash screen then black. Maybe it’s the nightlies, so I download the latest stable update-cm-7.0.3-encore-signed.zip. Follow instructions, no joy, just a flash of CM logo and then blackness.

    Can anyone point me to what is going wrong here?

    • Has anyone gotten this to work when you get the Cyno upload screen than the black screen? This is pretty frustrating. Been messing with it for 2 days now.

20. Yeah… so even with the corrections my nook is stuck on the loading screen…. I… can’t. #day17ofhackingthisnook

21. Inconceivable bad guide to upgrading your Color Nook to CM7. Riddling with mistakes (even after the “corrections”) that border on malicious incompetence. Stay the heck away from this rubbish and stick to XDA and other sites that have more than a theoretical inkling of what they are talking about. This cut and paste job badly cobbled together from actual knowledgeable sources will leave you bricked or worse.

22. I am having the same issues as the last few comments. Going to try the last stable install.

23. Some help please!

    I’m trying to install CM7 on my stock nook which had previously been running 1.2 release.

    I downloaded all the necessary files

    CM7 (nightly 108), GA, and overclock kernal

    And followed the procedure. In the process, i was reading ahead, and somehow got confused with the “IMPORTANT UPDATE” section. I just quick read “format boot” and did that first thing. Right after i did that, i realized my mistake.

    Anyways, i followed through, and of course it didn’t work. Device loads startup screen for Cyangen, but then goes to a blackscreen (screen is lit, it’s just lit black).

    So, to reset and go back to beginning, followed “IMPORTANT UPDATE” to restore the boot partition, and get back to stock 1.0.1 release. This time, when it booted, it get get the default firmware spash screen (N, with “contains adobe reader technology” screen, and it stays there. Never advancing.

    So, i follow “UPDATE 2” and install nookie froyo via the link to download the SD image. Success!!! it loads, and i’m back in business.

    Now, i go back to the beginning, and start all over again. This time, i don’t format boot (just cache, system, data) and apply the CM7 and google apps. I also did the overclock. Removed the sdcard, reboot.

    Now i’m getting the same problem i originally had. CM7 logo on boot, then blackscreen.

    I started thinking this might be a nightly build problem, so i moved to 110. reformat system, data, and cache, reimage with 110, and install GA. No overclock this time.

    Same thing. I then repeat, with the 7.0.3 from stable build. Again, no overclock. Same thing.

    Anyone have any ideas?

24. I downloaded the 4gb clockwork and when i extracted the image file it says its file size is 0 and wont allow me to write the image on to the sd card using windisk imager

25. I installed everything as described above (did not format \boot) and I can only boot to the Clockwork Recovery Screen. When I take the SD card out it just crashes and won’t boot. Tried it a second time with no luck. I am very new to this, but was very careful to follow the instructions to a T. I installed the stable version of CM7.

    Anyways, I’d love some help. Thanks.

26. Hi tikkun

    use the stable version of the OS, update-cm-7.0.3-encore-signed.zip, that should get ya back up and running. The good thing is you can try over and over, ur Nook isn’t dead, just confused

    • Poor Nook is still confused. I loaded 7.0.3, but I got the same result. Going to try to load it without the overclocking and google apps and see if one of those is what’s killing me.

    • Loaded with just 7.0.3, and still blank screen after the CM logo. I’m using a Windows7 Fat32 MicroSD after loading the software. Could that be the issue? I should mention that there is no difference when the SD is present or not present. Running out of ideas.

27. Help! I followed the instructions above to the letter, and at the final step, rebooting, I saw the CyanogenMod logo appear, and then after a period of apparent inactivity, it shut down. I restarted to the same result. Help?

    • I repeated the process, and got the same result – brick. The only difference is the screen stays lit, but dark.

28. I followed the requirements, went through your original instructions (not the updates) and my Nook is running CM7 like a charm. Thank you so much, Haroon!

29. Correct, the Nook recognizes the MicroSD card every time. However, I have noticed that some times the menu in the ClockWorkMod shows a “return to the previous menu” but most of the time that option isn’t present. Maybe the MicroSD environment is bad because of an error in the ClockWorkMod image, I’m using the 2GB image.

30. The Nook recognizes the MicroSD card, but won’t boot from it after following the directions above. Any thoughts?

31. OK, I’ve got everything back up and running. I recreated my SD card from scratch one more time to ensure the problem wasn’t with the card. Sadly, I wasn’t able to use any of the nightly’s on my Nook…all of these failed:
    cm_encore_full-80.zip
    cm_encore_full-86.zip
    cm_encore_full-85.zip
    cm_encore_full-84.zip
    cm_encore_full-83.zip
    cm_encore_full-82.zip
    cm_encore_full-80.zip

    cm_encore_full-78.zip through cm_encore_full-63.zip, are all File Not Found on the server.

    However update-cm-7.0.3-encore-signed.zip worked and my Nook came back to life.

32. I used the latest nightly and am having problems getting the nook to boot. The green CM7 splash screen appears and them…nothing. I can go back to an earlier version and all is ok. Am I doing something wrong? I used the above instructions to the letter. Any help would be appreciated

33. I updated my nook last week. CyanogenMod-7-05162011-NIGHTLY-encore!?
    It’s been working great. Bluetooth, YouTube, no problems. My only issue is I can’t make the USB connection with my PC. It shows that I have a USB connection but I get no message to mount SD storage!?

34. I updated my Nook tonight using the nightly cm_encore_full-80 and it bricked the device. I attempted several times to use cm_encore_full-80 and it failed every time. I backed down one version to cm_encore_full-78 and it loaded with no issues. I recreated my BOOT MicroSD card and had the same results again: cm_encore_full-80 fails and cm_encore_full-78 worked.

    • I am having the same problem. Did you have to go back to stock Nook before the 78 version worked?

35. I’ve installed the Cyanogenmod 7 into my nook, got the apps store up and running. Its pretty awesome, but I can’t use my dropbox, or read the files in the emmc because it keeps saying “sd card not mounted” or something. I’m fairly new at this and I don’t know if i should use this clockwork mod or partition my drive or something. What should I do?
    I mounted the thing into an sd card and my nook boots up like normal when i take it out..

36. Installed CM7 Android 2.3 Gingerbread successfully onto my Nook Color this evening. Everything runs well except the Youtube app won’t work at all and I couldn’t watch any online videos (the video won’t load). Is there any fix? Thanks for any advice.

    • Thx for an amazing guide!

      I’ve found that Youtube won’t work either.

      In addition, has anyone else found that setting the screen lock doesn’t work (never prompts for the 4-digit code)?

    • Actually, figured out the screen lock issue, didn’t know had to tweak it in additional CyanogenMod settings. 🙂 Can’t figure out Youtube issue though…

    • test ignore

37. Hi
    Does anybody know if i have to install all the nightlies to get all the fixes OR can I just install the latest nightly and that would cover everything. Thanks

38. Installed nook color with cyanogenmod 7 nightly #31 into internal memory. Youtube app playback video is choppy. All video playack are choppy on web browser and also with movies that i put on SD card. Any suggestion. Thanks.

    • Unfortunately, we aren’t aware of any list of changes for the CM7 nightly builds. These builds are made automatically using whatever code has been changed by the developer each day…and as those aren’t necessarily final changes, it’ll be hard for them to maintain such change logs each day I suppose. Not 100% sure on this though, I could be wrong.
      And regarding the video playback issue, that *might* be due to some glitch in the particular nightly you installed. Can you try updating to a later nightly to see if the problem persists?

    • Thanks Haroon, I installed RC4 over the weekend and it the all video playback problems are fix.

39. How can you find out what each nightly fix for the nook color.

    • This tutorial was exceptional. This was so successful. Thank you very much.

40. I was looking for the nook file on CM7’s link and could not find one. Am I missing something or is “inc” the nook download?

    • ‘Encore’ is the code name for the Nook Color and the link provided directly lists all the nightly builds for encore. CyanogenMod team always uses internal code names of the devices for naming their ROMs and that confuses the hell out of us at times too.

    • Thanks Haroon. I am now on nightly 31 and it is working great. The only thing that does not seem to be working is the sync between the nook and the pc via usb and a few apps.

41. Thank you HittingSmoke, it helps a lot, though recovery-clockwork-3.0.0.5-nookcolor.img did not work for me, (maybe working for other people but not sure). After writing image SD card sees itself unformatted, so copying the next two zip files becomes impossible (when you drop any file you are prompted as “the drive is not formatted. Do you want to format?” ). Does this mean recovery-clockwork-3.0.0.5-nookcolor.img there is corrupt? This file seems to be too small in size in the first place(about 1 MB).

    • Thanks Haroon for updating the guide and for reaching out to those of us who have had trouble. I’m having the same problem as @wmbt now with recovery-clockwork-3.0.0.5-nookcolor.img. When I insert the SD card with the burned image, my computer (MacBook Pro w/ internal SD card slot) gives me an error that says it’s not recognized by the Mac, and asks if I want to eject, ignore or initialize. I did not have this trouble with the 4gb (size of my card) Custom ClockworkMod Recovery with ext4 support that I used for the initial run-through of this guide and am wondering if I can/should use that to install both .zips (repartition-boot-with-stock.zip and nook-complete-restore-1.0.1.zip.) from step 2 of the update? What do you think? Anyone able to help me and @wmbt with this problem?

    • I just did this test with another SD card and am getting the same error when I insert the burned SD card into the computer. The error reads: “The disk you inserted was not readable by this computer” with the options to initialize, ignore or eject the disk.

      This thread (http://discussions.apple.com/message.jspa?messageID=11456424) recommends I use Apple’s Disk Utility to repair the drive but I think it’s talking more about hard drives and thumb drives than SD cards. Also the “First Aid” options in Disk Utility all seem to be greyed out so it’s not really an option.

      Any ideas?

    • I have included an additional update (Update 2, in the end) for those of you who can’t get the version of ClockworkMod recovery posted by HittingSmoke working. Regarding formatting the SD card again to be able to use it, you can try the SDFormatter tool from http://www.sdcard.org/consumers/formatter_3/ but it will require a Windows computer. In case you use a Mac (as in your case, Alex…not sure about what wmbt is using), you can perhaps do this step using a friend’s computer that runs Windows?
      PS: SD cards use flash memory and are essentially the same as thumb drives, just in a different form factor. You can use Apple’s disk utility if it provides an option to format it. Though I haven’t used the utility (not a Mac user) so I can’t be sure whether it has such an option or not. Hope it helps.

42. I should have read the comments first. I followed this step and bricked my nook – not it does not boot at all. Haroon Q. Raja you should be careful with what you write.

    • We all do try our best to be careful with what we write and apart from some rare typing or link pasting mistakes (we’re only human), there aren’t usually any major issues with our posts. This issue here wasn’t caused by our carelessness but rather due to a change made to the nightly builds after we posted this guide. The guide has been updated to reflect those changes.
      PS: Your device hasn’t really been bricked; it’s just missing the boot partition and you can easily get it back using the instructions posted above.

43. This guide is broken and bricks the Nook. The problem is, it tells you to format /boot when you should NOT format boot.

    If you have the black screen because of following this guide, here’s how to fix it:

    Download a Clockwork Recovery 3.0.0.5 img and follow the same method of putting it on the SD card as above, using Win32 Disk Imager.
    http://mirror1.kanged.net/recoveries/recovery-clockwork-3.0.0.5-nookcolor.img

    Next, download:
    http://www.etoile-laconnex.com/nook-complete-restore-1.0.1.zip
    and
    http://www.multiupload.com/VEJFMO05BV

    Copy them both to the SD card that you made with Win32 Disk Imager.

    Put in the SD card and hold the power button until it boots into recovery again.

    Under Mounts and Storage, format /boot, /system, /data and /cache

    Using the “Install zip from sdcard” option, flash “repartition-boot-with-stock.zip” THEN “nook-complete-restore-1.0.1.zip”

    Take out the SD, reboot and you’ll be back to a working stock Nook.

    After that, follow this guide:
    http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=11535969&postcount=151
    And you will have a working CM7 install on your Nook Color.

    Note: Do NOT use your Nook to format the SD card after installing CM7. There’s a bug and it will format /boot instead, returning you to the black screen problem and you’ll have to repeat the process.

    • Thank you HittingSmoke for the guide to restore my NC. I will give this a try now. So to properly install CM7 onto my NC, I can follow the guide above and skip the part that states “formate boot”, correct? Thanks again.

    • Thank you HittingSmoke, it helps a lot, though recovery-clockwork-3.0.0.5-nookcolor.img did not work for me, (maybe working for other people but not sure). After writing image SD card sees itself unformatted, so copying the next two zip files becomes impossible (when you drop any file you are prompted as “the drive is not formatted. Do you want to format?” ). Does this mean recovery-clockwork-3.0.0.5-nookcolor.img there is corrupt? This file seems to be too small in size in the first place(about 1 MB).

    • Thank you HittingSMoke, for helping out the users who had issues with the method posted in the guide. At the time of publishing it, the instructions were correct. However, the CyanogenMod 7 team later decided to stop including the /boot partition with the more recent nightly builds, hence the bricking issue. I have updated the guide to include the instructions you provided here to revert back to stock, giving you full credit for it.
      The guide is no longer broken and should work for everyone now (at least until they decide to no longer include another partition in the more recent nightly builds perhaps, heh.)

44. I’m having the same problem as Qaseem. Could anyone please help us?

    Thanks!

    • Still no success. Another thing to point out on this post is that the link to the overclocked kernel is not a valid link. It asks for a WordPress login which is not all that helpful.

      Is there anyone who has read this post who can help us figure this out? What about the author? Haroon?

      Thanks!

    • The bricking issue was due to changes made in the latter CyanogenMod 7 nightly builds after the time of writing this guide. Please refer to the update added to the end of the guide for those details.
      Regarding the the kernel’s link, it has been edited and should work now. I had mistakenly inserted the link for editing the attachment rather than that for viewing it.

45. My nook died after I did all the process. I mean its not turning on without the SD Card. And with the SD card it boots to the Clockwork recovery.

    What to do please help.

46. Am I missing something or what? Step 2 says “browse to select the image file extracted in Step 2”. I’m confused.

    • I meant ‘the image file extracted in the requirements section’. Thank you for pointing it out.