Install CyanogenMod 12.

1 on Barnes & Noble Nook HD

or Nook HD+ in Five Easy Steps

A tutorial for beginners

September 25, 2015

@PeteInSequim
Table of Contents
Introduction..................................................................................................................................1
Author's Notes.............................................................................................................................2
Warning.......................................................................................................................................2
Names and acronyms (Skip this and go straight to the instructions).........................................3
Equipment and utilities needed (Skip this and go straight to the instructions)...........................5
Step 1: Download files to your preparation computer.................................................................6
Step 2: Prepare the bootable microSD card...............................................................................8
Step 3: Boot to CWM, then backup and clear the existing system...........................................10
Step 4: Install the zip Files from the microSD...........................................................................11
Step 5 (Optional): Install a preferred GApps package..............................................................13
Things You Should Know..........................................................................................................15
About recovery utilities...................................................................................................15
About backups................................................................................................................15
About GApps..................................................................................................................16
About TWRP version 2.8.7.4..........................................................................................16
About installing future CM-12.1 ROM or GApps revisions............................................17
About installing future TWRP revisions..........................................................................19
Problems you might encounter.................................................................................................20
Failure to boot from the microSD card...........................................................................20
Unexpected reboot after shutdown................................................................................20
Credits.......................................................................................................................................21
Reference Information...............................................................................................................21

i
Introduction
This document will guide you through the steps of installing a pure modern version of the
Android operating system on your Nook HD or Nook HD+ tablet. The installation is done from
a bootable microSD card using the ClockWorkMod recovery utility to install the contents of zip
files. This straightforward method does not require ADB or rooting the Nook. The result is
CM-12.1 installed with basic Google apps and your choice of TWRP or CWM for your resident
recovery utility.

Don't like to read instructions? Prefer to figure out the details yourself?
Use this fast track guide with download links.

Or skip this and move on to the next page for the detailed guide (recommended).

1. Download the four needed files for your specific Nook model.
Choose either TWRP or CWM resident recovery utility.

Files 1, 2, and 3 for Nook HD (Hummingbird):

Roshal archive file to make the bootable microSD card for Hummingbird only
TWRP resident recovery utility zip file for Hummingbird only (recommended) or
CWM resident recovery utility zip file for Hummingbird only
CM-12.1 zip file for Hummingbird only

Files 1, 2, and 3 for Nook HD+ (Ovation):

Roshal archive file to make the bootable microSD card for Ovation only
TWRP resident recovery utility zip file for Ovation only (recommended) or
CWM resident recovery utility zip file for Ovation only
CM-12.1 zip file for Ovation only

File 4 for either Nook HD or Nook HD+:

GApps zip file for either Hummingbird or Ovation

2. Prepare the bootable microSD card.

3. Boot to CWM from the microSD card, then backup and clear the existing system.
4. Install the zip files, possibly postponing GApps due to CWM issue.
5. Postponed GApps Package installation using resident TWRP.

Page 1 of 21
Author's Notes
This document was written by a geriatric senior for an audience of geriatric seniors who lack
technical knowledge and experience but are able to follow instructions. Bright young Android
enthusiasts please bear with us; old men need Android toys too.
This document was complied from many articles and discussions on Internet pages. Some of
these were hard to find and all were hard to understand. I didn't invent this stuff, and it is not
easy to discover who did. It is the compounded work of highly skilled anonymous individuals
who are willing to share their discoveries with anyone interested. We are all grateful for them,
so please visit the Credits for a closer look.
This document contains hyperlinks which are clickable in most, but not all PDF readers. Text
forms of the URLs are placed below most links for convenient copy and paste.

@PeteInSequim

Warning
Replacing an operating system can be risky. Mistakes or uncertainties might cause
something to go wrong causing grief, extra work, and expertise to recover. An
external backup is essential if you wish to revert to your original operating system.
Your settings, credentials, and other data on your Nook will be lost in the process and
must be re-entered. Your user-installed apps will be lost and must be re-installed. In
the worst case you might brick your Nook (make it behave like a brick, though not
nearly as heavy). Sometimes a bricked device cannot be restored to normal
performance. You and you alone are responsible for any outcome, so follow the
instructions to the letter and proceed with care.

When replacing an Android ROM there are opportunities for mistakes that can
ruin your day, or longer. This document may seem overly verbose, but is purposely
this way to keep you out of trouble.

If you are unfamiliar with the rudiments of custom ROM installation, please read and
understand these instructions several times before you begin the procedure. Post
questions if you must, but do not proceed until you clearly understand everything.

Page 2 of 21
Names and acronyms (Skip this and go straight to the instructions)

Hummingbird and Ovation

The respective code names for the 7-inch Nook HD (BNTV400) and the the 9-inch Nook HD+
(BNTV600).

Emmc (Embedded MultiMedia Card )

Emmc is a flash memory device that constitutes the Nook's non-volatile internal secondary
storage. This storage area is compartmentalized into partitions. Of these, your CM-12.1
installation will involve partitions /system, /data, /recovery, and /cache.

ROM (Read Only Memory)

Historically speaking, read-only memory is a form of memory that is permanently written once
by a manufacturing process and can never be changed, thus the term firmware. In Android
terms, ROM refers to the Android operating system image that is occasionally written by
flashing into internal emmc memory. This ROM is read at boot time and shadowed to RAM
from which it is executed. A better acronym might be RMM (Read Mostly Memory).

RAM (Random Access Memory)

Random access memory is a readable and writable form of volatile memory (contents lost
when power is lost). The contents are accessible on word boundaries, which for modern
systems are usually four or eight bytes. Access times are very short, making RAM the
standard primary storage in modern computers.

Flash
Flash is a non-volatile form of memory (contents retained without applied power). Embedded
systems, such as the Nook tablets, use flash with NAND type cells for secondary storage.
Writing to flash memory (flashing) involves storing a sequence of bytes and reading involves
fetching a sequence of bytes. NAND flash memory is not suitable for random access
operation, so stored programs cannot be executed from it in place. It is, however, ideal for
quickly fetching an entire program image and shadowing it into RAM for execution.

Image
An image is a byte-by-byte pattern of data. As considered in this document an image is
program code or data to be installed into secondary storage. The image file, with other files
to support its installation, is often delivered compressed into a single zip file.

/sdcard
The partition of the Nook's internal emmc storage that is devoted to the user's general
purpose storage needs. It is not really a Secure Digital card.

/external_sd
The Nook's removable microSD card storage. It really is a Secure Digital card.

Page 3 of 21
CM-12.1
CyanogenMod version 12.1 is the operating system to be installed on your Nook. This
version installs Android 5.1.1, also known as Lollipop.

Recovery
In computing terms, recovery is the process of recovering and/or replacing data that has been
lost from non-volatile storage. Installing the components of a new operating system is a form
of data recovery.
In Android terms, a recovery utility is a software tool to help with the recovery process. This
utility is not an app but a self-contained program with its own operating system. It is resident
on the /recovery partition of the Nook's internal emmc storage but can also be booted from a
microSD card. The two prominent recovery utilities considered in this document are TWRP
and CWM.

TWRP and CWM

Team Win Recovery Project is a recovery utility with touch graphic user interface.
ClockWorkMod is a recovery utility with a text user interface. CWM has long been the
mainstay Android recovery utility, but it is no longer maintained so it will fall from use.

GApps
Google Apps is a collection of Android apps created and maintained by Google. GApps is
offered in various package sizes from minimal to extensive content. All packages include the
Google Play Store app, with which additional apps can be installed as needed.

SOURCE
root
root is the user name or account that by default has access to all commands and files on a
Linux (Unix) system. Android is based on the Linux kernel.

SOURCE
Android Debug Bridge (ADB)
Android Debug Bridge (adb) is a versatile command line tool that lets you communicate with
an emulator instance or connected Android-powered device. It is a client-server program that
includes three components:

A client, which runs on your development machine. You can invoke a client from a shell by
issuing an adb command. Other Android tools such as the ADT plugin and DDMS also create
adb clients.

A server, which runs as a background process on your development machine. The server
manages communication between the client and the adb daemon running on an emulator or
device.

A daemon, which runs as a background process on each emulator or device instance.

Page 4 of 21
Equipment and utilities needed (Skip this and go straight to the instructions)
Your Nook HD or HD+ with fully charged battery.
A Linux or Windows computer with an SD card reader to download files and prepare a
bootable microSD card for the installation.
A Class 4 or higher microSD card with an adapter for the preparation computer's SD
card reader/writer. Minimum capacity is 1 gB but 4 gB or larger will accommodate
backup files that will be needed if you ever wish to restore the original operating
system, apps, and data. Save this microSD card as a rescue tool in case the Nook
ever fails to boot normally.
A utility to format the microSD card to a single-partition FAT32 file system and make it
bootable. Linux computers support this with the gparted partition editor. For Windows,
download and install MiniTool Partition Wizard Free.
A utility to extract the contents of a compressed Roshal archive file (.rar extension).
For a Linux computer use the archive manager, which might request to install a
supplemental unrar client. For a Windows computer, download and install 7-Zip or
WinRAR.

Page 5 of 21
Step 1: Download files to your preparation computer.
Except for GApps, these files have been compiled specifically for your Nook model
and cannot be used for other devices. Attempting to install a zip file on the wrong
model can damage your Nook. Make your selection carefully.

1a. Download files to build a bootable microSD for your Nook model.

For the 7-inch Nook HD (Hummingbird)

CREDITS
Download file to make bootable microSD for 7-inch Nook HD (Hummingbird).
http://forum.xda-developers.com/attachment.php?s=125ac5a1d88f023a4a7a44c78ea05e5b&attachmentid=2849339&d=1405272427
File name is NookHD-bootable-CWM-6046-for-emmc-BOOTFILES-rev0-(07.13.14).rar

For the 9-inch Nook HD+ (Ovation)

CREDITS
Download file to make bootable microSD for 9-inch Nook HD+ (Ovation).
http://forum.xda-developers.com/attachment.php?s=125ac5a1d88f023a4a7a44c78ea05e5b&attachmentid=2849345&d=1405272710
File name is NookHDplus-bootable-CWM-6046-for-emmc-BOOTFILES-rev0-(07.13.14).rar

1b. Download the resident recovery zip file for your Nook model.
Choose TWRP (recommended) or CWM. Download both if you are undecided. If you plan to
use a tk_gapps or open_gapps package you must choose TWRP for resident recovery.

For the 7-inch Nook HD (Hummingbird)

Download file for resident CWM on 7-inch Nook HD (Hummingbird). CREDITS

http://forum.xda-developers.com/attachment.php?s=125ac5a1d88f023a4a7a44c78ea05e5b&attachmentid=2849342&d=1405272605
File name is NookHD-CWM-6046-for-internal-memory-rev0-(07-13-14).zip

Download file for resident TWRP on 7-inch Nook HD (Hummingbird). CREDITS

https://notredame.app.box.com/s/26a4bygh9vbaw7jjq08xr5evomvaw5ww/1/3332708110
File name is twrp-2.8.7.4-hummingbird.zip (version may differ)

For the 9-inch Nook HD+ (Ovation)

Download file for resident CWM on Nook 9-inch HD+ (Ovation). CREDITS

http://forum.xda-developers.com/attachment.php?s=125ac5a1d88f023a4a7a44c78ea05e5b&attachmentid=2849350&d=1405272804
File name is NookHDplus-CWM-6046-for-internal-memory-rev0-(07-13-14).zip (version may differ)

Download the TWRP file for resident installation on a 9-inch Nook HD+ (Ovation). CREDITS

https://notredame.app.box.com/s/26a4bygh9vbaw7jjq08xr5evomvaw5ww/1/3332706778
File name is twrp-2.8.7.4-ovation.zip (version may differ)

Page 6 of 21
1c. Download the CyanogenMod CM-12.1 zip file.
CyanogenMod.org has not yet released an official CM-12.1 zip file for the Nook HD or Nook
HD+. Thankfully one Nook-owning Android researcher periodically offers unofficial releases.

For the 7-inch Nook HD (Hummingbird)

CREDITS
Download UNOFFICIAL CM-12.1 file for 7-inch Nook HD (Hummingbird).
https://notredame.app.box.com/s/26a4bygh9vbaw7jjq08xr5evomvaw5ww/1/3332708110
File name is cm-12.1-20150921-UNOFFICIAL-hummingbird.zip (build date may differ)

For the 9-inch Nook HD+ (Ovation)

CREDITS
Download UNOFFICIAL CM-12.1 file for 9-inch Nook HD+ (Ovation).
https://notredame.app.box.com/s/26a4bygh9vbaw7jjq08xr5evomvaw5ww/1/3332706778
File name is cm-12.1-20150921-UNOFFICIAL-ovation.zip (build date may differ)

1d. Download a GApps package compatible with Android 5.1.1.

New to GApps? What you should know before choosing a package.

If you choose tk_gapps or open_gapps you must choose TWRP for your resident recovery.

Here are some prominent GApps packages (build dates may differ):
Download tk_gapps-modular-pico-5.1.1-20150920-signed.zip. (recommended) CREDITS

https://www.androidfilehost.com/?w=files&flid=31528
Download open_gapps-arm-5.1-pico-20150924.zip.
http://opengapps.org/
Download Mini-gapps+5.1.x-2015-06-27.zip. CREDITS
https://www.androidfilehost.com/?fid=24052804347765530

There are many other GApps packages to choose from, such as these:
http://opengapps.org/ (choose the ARM platform for Android 5.1)
http://forum.xda-developers.com/android/software/tk-gapps-t3116347
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=59691695&postcount=3

OPTIONAL: To assure that your GApps file is as expected and error-free, compare the
presented md5 sum with one you calculate from the file when it arrives. The md5sum utility
is native on Linux systems. For Windows use Microsoft File Checksum Integrity Verifier or
MD5 & SHA Checksum Utility.

Page 7 of 21
Step 2: Prepare the bootable microSD card.

2a. Extract the files from the downloaded Roshal archive (.rar) file.
Extract only the .rar file. The .zip files will be used as is so do not extract them.

Linux computer: Right-click on the file name and select Extract Here .

Windows computer with 7-Zip installed: Right-click on the file name, hover over the 7-Zip
line in the menu that appears, then select Extract files . A dialog box will appear, suggesting
a path and folder name for the extraction. Accept this and click OK .
The result of the extraction will be a folder with the same name, but without the .rar
extension, containing the files MLO , kernel , ramdisk , u-boot.bin , and uImage .

2b. Format the microSD card and make it bootable.

Remove all existing partitions from the card and create a single primary FAT32 partition for
the entire card capacity.

Linux computer: Place the card in the reader and launch the gparted partition editor from a
command line as super user. sudo gparted
Select the microSD card from the offered choices.
Partition menu > Unmount all existing partitions.
Partition menu > Delete all existing partitions.
Partition menu > New : Create new primary FAT32 partition using all available
space. Leave Free space preceding , New size , Free space following , and Align to
unchanged. Add a Label if you wish; one good choice would be Hummingbird or
Ovation as appropriate.
Click the green check mark to apply these pending operations.
Partition menu > Manage Flags : Tick the boot flag.
The microSD card is now ready. Leave it in place for the file copying step.

Windows computer with MiniTool Partition Wizard installed: Place the card in the reader
and launch the Wizard.
Select the microSD card from the offered choices.
Delete all existing partitions.
Create a new primary FAT32 partition with default cluster size.
Right-click on the partition and select Set Active to make it bootable.
Click Apply to perform these pending operations.
The microSD card is now ready. Leave it in place for the file copying step.

Page 8 of 21
2c. Copy the five extracted files to the microSD card.
Order is important. The MLO file is the primary boot loader so it must be the first file copied
onto the freshly-formatted microSD card.
Copy (drag and drop) the MLO file onto the microSD card. The remaining files ( kernel ,
ramdisk or ramdisk.cwm , u-boot.bin , and uImage ) can then be copied individually in any
order or as a group.

2d. Copy the zip files to the microSD card.

You can copy multiple recovery or GApps files and decide later which one to install.
1. Copy your preferred recovery zip file (the CWM-6046-for-internal-memory file or the
TWRP file). Copy them both if you are undecided. You can decide later which to
install. If you plan to use tk_gapps or open_gapps you must copy the TWRP file.
2. Copy the CM-12.1 UNOFFICIAL zip file.
3. Copy one or more GApps files.

2e. Optionally copy this instruction document's PDF file to the microSD card.
If you save the microSD card as a recovery tool it might be helpful to have these instructions,
and the included download links available for easy reference. You will need to install a PDF
reader app from the Play Store to view the instructions with your Nook.

2f. Eject (unmount or safely remove) the microSD card from the computer.

The hard part is now done! You are ready to begin the installation.

Page 9 of 21
Step 3: Boot to CWM, then backup and clear the existing system.
The Nook should be off when installing the microSD card.

3a. Install the microSD card in the Nook and power-up.

EMMC CWM-based recovery v6.0.4.6

- reboot system now
- install zip
- wipe data/factory reset
- wipe cache partition
- backup and restore
- mounts and storage
- advanced
This is the CWM entry menu.
Use the Nook's buttons to navigate.
Volume Down button moves selection down.
Volume Up button moves selection up.
Power button moves to the previous menu.
Nook Home button enacts the selection.

3b. Backup the existing system and data to the microSD card.

EMMC CWM-based recovery v6.0.4.6 Backup and Restore

- reboot system now - backup to /sdcard
- install zip - restore from /sdcard
- wipe data/factory reset - delete from /sdcard
- wipe cache partition - advanced restore from /sdcard
- backup and restore - backup to external_sd
- mounts and storage - restore from external_sd
- advanced - delete from external_sd
- advanced restore from external_sd
- free unused backup data
- choose default backup format

3c. Remove the existing system, user data, and installed apps.

EMMC CWM-based recovery v6.0.4.6 Confirm wipe of all user data?

THIS CAN NOT BE UNDONE.
- reboot system now
- install zip - No
- wipe data/factory reset - Yes Wipe all user data
- wipe cache partition
- backup and restore
- mounts and storage
- advanced

Return to the CWM entry menu (Power button) when the wipe completes.

Page 10 of 21
Step 4: Install the zip Files from the microSD.
The menu examples show files for Nook HD+ (Ovation). File names, dates, and versions
may change. Your screens may differ from the examples.

4a. Select the microSD as the source of the zip files.

EMMC CWM-based recovery v6.0.4.6 Install update from zip file

- reboot system now
- install zip
- wipe data/factory reset
- wipe cache partition
- backup and restore
- mounts and storage
- advanced
- choose zip from /sdcard
- choose zip from /external_sd
- choose zip from last install folder
- install zip from sideload
- toggle signature verification

4b. Install your preferred resident recovery utility.

Choose TWRP (recommended) or CWM. If you wish to install a tk_gapps or open_gapps
package you must install TWRP. CWM cannot install these sophisticated packages.

Choose a zip to apply

/external_sd/
1
- clockworkmod/ (this appears only if you made a backup)
- Mini-gapps-5.1.x-2015-06-27.zip (build date may differ)
- NookHDplus-CWM-6046-for-internal-memory-rev0-(07-13-14).zip
- cm-12.1-20150921-UNOFFICIAL-ovation.zip (build date may differ)
- tk_gapps-modular-pico-5.1.1-20150920-signed.zip (build date may differ)
- open_gapps-arm-5.1-pico-20150924.zip
- twrp-2.8.7.4-ovation.zip (version may differ)

4c. Install CM-12.1

Choose a zip to apply

/external_sd/ 2
- clockworkmod/ (this appears only if you made a backup)
- Mini-gapps-5.1.x-2015-06-27.zip (build date may differ)
- NookHDplus-CWM-6046-for-internal-memory-rev0-(07-13-14).zip
- cm-12.1-20150921-UNOFFICIAL-ovation.zip (build date may differ)
- tk_gapps-modular-pico-5.1.1-20150920-signed.zip (build date may differ)
- open_gapps-arm-5.1-pico-20150924.zip
- twrp-2.8.7.4-ovation.zip (version may differ)

Page 11 of 21
4d. Install your preferred GApps package
Most GApps packages can be installed by CWM but the more sophisticated tk gapps
(recommended) or open gapps packages cannot. If you wish to install one of these you
must postpone to Step 5. Otherwise you may continue here with some other package.

Choose a zip to apply

/external_sd/ 3
- clockworkmod/ (this appears only if you made a backup)
- Mini-gapps-5.1.x-2015-06-27.zip (build date may differ)
- NookHDplus-CWM-6046-for-internal-memory-rev0-(07-13-14).zip
- cm-12.1-20150921-UNOFFICIAL-ovation.zip (build date may differ)
- tk_gapps-modular-pico-5.1.1-20150920-signed.zip (build date may differ)
- open_gapps-arm-5.1-pico-20150924.zip
- twrp-2.8.7.4-ovation.zip (version may differ)

4e. Power down the Nook and remove the microSD card.

EMMC CWM-based recovery v6.0.4.6 Advanced Menu

- reboot system now - reboot recovery
- install zip - power off
- wipe data/factory reset - wipe dalvik cache
- wipe cache partition - report error
- backup and restore - key test
- mounts and storage - show log
- advanced

CWM is unaware of the CM-12.1 approach to root security. If you see this message, select
No and press the Nook Home button.

Root access possibly lost. Fix?

- No
- Yes Fix root (/system/xbin/su)

4f. Remove the microSD card.

Almost done! Your Nook is now enhanced with pure Android 5.1.1.
Proceed to Step 5 if you postponed installing the GApps zip file.

Page 12 of 21
Step 5 (Optional): Install a preferred GApps package
If you postponed installation of a GApps package in Step 4d you may install it now or at some
future time. You will use the resident TWRP discovery utility that you installed in Step 4b.

New to TWRP? What you should know before starting.

You will need the preferred GApps zip file that is on your installation microSD card. At this
point the Nook power must be off and the microSD card must be removed so it will not
intercept the boot process.

5a. Boot your Nook to TWRP.

Press and hold the Nook Home button.
Press and hold the Power button.
Keep both buttons pressed until a second or two after the cyanoboot universal
bootloader presents, then release both buttons.
If your button timing is accurate the Nook will soon present the TWRP splash screen for about
4 seconds, then the Team Win Recovery Project control panel will appear. Avoid tapping
when the splash screen is in view. Why?
If you hold the buttons too long (the Power button in particular) the Nook will power down. If
you don't hold them long enough the Nook will boot into CM-12.1. Try again in either case.

5b. Install the microSD card.

When the card is installed, tap the Install button on the TWRP control panel. The Install Zip
screen will appear.

5c. Select the microSD card as the file source.

Tap the Select Storage button, then select Micro Sdcard and tap OK. A list of files on the
card will appear. If you don't see the files, select Internal Storage and then again select
Micro Sdcard .

5d. Select the GApps package you wish to install.

Tap the file name for the GApps package. If you are satisfied with the selection drag the
Swipe to confirm slider and the installation will begin.

5e. Power-down the Nook.

When the installation completes, use the Android back triangle to tap your way back to the
TWRP control panel. Tap the Reboot button , and on the Reboot menu tap the Power Off
button.

Page 13 of 21
5f. Remove the microSD card.
You are now ready to prepare your Nook for use. If you installed a tk_gapps package the files
tk_gapps_debug_logs.tar.gz and tk_gapps_log.txt have been placed on the microSD card.

5g. Power up the Nook.

The setup wizard will lead you though the preparations. Your Nook will soon be ready to use
and enjoy. The first boot of CM-12.1 after installation will take a long time as the Davlik cache
is developed. Subsequent boots will be much quicker.
The Android 5.x opening screen shows a tiny padlock icon at the bottom center. Swipe this
icon upward to unlock. Later you can define a swipe pattern for greater unlock security.

Done! But don't make any user interface changes for a while.
CM-12.1 is far from stable so revisions are to be expected over coming months.
You may wish to periodically install some of these revisions, which is easily
done in a few minutes. For this reason you should resist making any changes
to the user interface, such as themes, wallpaper, icons, sounds, boot
animations, etc.
If you make such changes you must perform a full wipe and factory reset before
installing any CM-12.1 revision. This means you will have to set up your Nook
again and restore all of your apps and data.

Page 14 of 21
Things You Should Know

About recovery utilities.

A recovery utility is a tool to help repair operating system failures that disable your device. It
is self-contained and operates independently of an operating system, therefore it can be used
to replace a defective operating system with a new one. A recovery utility can also create
backups of your data files and restore from them. Two recovery utilities are available for your
Nook HD or HD+; CWM (ClockWorkMod) and TWRP (Team Win Recovery Project). Of
these only TWRP is actively supported, and is therefore recommended.

Reboot to recovery.
The ability to reboot from CyanogenMod into the recovery utility is disabled by default. It can
be enabled in the Developer options settings, but this is hidden by default. Follow this
procedure to reveal it and enable reboot into recovery.
Open Settings and scroll down to the System section.
Tap About tablet .
Locate the Build number field in the About tablet parameters.
Tap the Build number field seven times to reveal Developer options .
In Settings > System , tap the newly visible Developer options field to open.
Locate and enable the Advanced reboot setting.
Now the reboot action will offer a selection menu that includes Recovery .

Power-on boot to recovery.

It is also possible to boot directly into the resident recovery utility (CWM or TWRP) from
power up.
Press and hold the Nook Home button.
Press and hold the Power button.
Keep both buttons pressed until a second or two after the cyanoboot universal
bootloader presents, then release both buttons.
If your button timing is accurate the Nook will soon present the TWRP splash screen for about
4 seconds, then the Team Win Recovery Project control panel will appear. Avoid tapping
when the splash screen is in view. Why?
If you hold the buttons too long (the Power button in particular) the Nook will power down. If
you don't hold them long enough the Nook will boot into CM-12.1. Try again in either case.
About backups.
Backups are very important and can be created in a variety of ways. Consider using your
recovery utility, a USB connection to your desktop computer, or one of the many splendid
backup apps and cloud services. Enough said.

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About GApps.
GApps (Google Apps) is a collection of Android apps created and maintained by Google.
GApps packages are assortments of these apps provided by entrepreneurial volunteers. The
packages are specific to the Android version in use but not to the device model.
A GApps package is a zip file containing the assortment of apps and installation support
software developed by the provider. There are several providers of GApps packages to
choose from.
GApps providers usually present a chart showing the content of each package they offer.
Here is one such provider. Click here and scroll down to GAPPS PACKAGE COMPARISON.
All GApps packages include the Google Play Store app, so choose one of the smaller
packages (pico, nano, or micro) to avoid loading apps that you don't want. For example,
your Nook doesn't have a camera or GPS, so it would be pointless to install apps that require
these features. Additional apps from the Play Store can be installed later as needed.
The tk_gapps and open_gapps packages cannot be installed by CWM but can be installed
later by the resident TWRP recovery. If you choose tk_gapps or open_gapps you must
choose TWRP for your resident recovery utility.

About TWRP version 2.8.7.4.

Wait for the splash screen to fade. At launch TWRP presents a splash screen for about 4
seconds. Taps on this screen will prematurely activate buttons on the main control panel that
is waiting to appear after the splash screen fades, resulting in an unexpected presentation.
Keep the read-only status. The first launch of TWRP after it is installed presents a query
before the control panel appears. You must choose whether to leave the system partition in
its normal read-only mode, or to allow it to be modified. You should tap the Keep Read Only
button. More about this
Ignore the future query check box. The query screen presents a check box to suppress
future presentations of the query, but future presentations will be suppressed whether or not
you check this box.
How to make selections. Simple TWRP selections are done with a tap. To defend against
irreversible actions by accidental taps, critical selections are enacted by sliding a swipe icon
from left to right. The swipe graphic can be a bit touchy. Drag it across at a modest speed
and don't release until it reaches the end of its slot. A fat finger works better for this than a
slender stylus tip.
Be sure the microSD card is selected. If the microSD card is mounted after boot, TWRP
may not become aware of it. During the installation procedure you must tap a radio button to
select which storage element ( Internal Storage or Micro SDcard ) contains the zip file or
image file to be installed. If the microSDcard button is already ticked the contents might not
be presented. You must tap Internal Storage and then tap Micro SDcard .
Navigating backward. Use the Android back-triangle below the screen to navigate
backwards through historic TWRP screens.

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About installing future CM-12.1 ROM or GApps revisions.
Your Nook is now prepared to directly download new release zip files and install them with the
resident TWRP recovery utility. Generally there is no need for partition wipes if what you will
install is a close relative of what is already in place. For these simple cases existing ROM or
GApps packages can be over-written with a new ones. This is called a dirty install; your
apps and data will not be lost and there will be no need to repeat the tablet setup.
But there are prerequisites for more complex situations. Installation zip file packages contain
supporting scripts to detect and avoid problems before flashing the image into place. A
GApps installation script, for example, must first remove the obsolete apps before installing
the revised apps. If the existing package is not an an ancestor of the new package, it might
have been installed in some way that will not be properly detected by the newcomer and
artifacts might remain. Follow these rules to avoid problems.

Rule 1. If your installation involves only new releases of the same CM-12.1 version and/or a
GApps package from the same provider as the installed package, there is no need to wipe
any partitions.

Rule 2. Perform partition wipes for these cases:

a) If you are changing to a different GApps provider (from tk_gapps to open_gapps for
example) you must wipe the System partition.
b) If you have made user interface changes (theme, colors, wallpaper, boot animation,
sounds, etc.) you must wipe both the Data and System partitions.
c) If you are significantly changing the ROM (from CM-12.1 to CM-12.2 for example) or the
ROM provider (from UNOFFICIAL to OFFICIAL for example) you must wipe both the Data
and System partitions.

Rule 3. If in doubt, wipe both the Data and System partitions.

Consequences of wiping partitions.

If you wipe the System partition the Android operating system and Gapps will be lost. You
must install a CM-12.1 ROM, and a GApps package if you plan to make use of any Google-
provided apps. Your settings, messages, contacts, etc. and all user-installed apps will be
preserved.
If you wipe the Data partition (factory reset) your settings, messages, contacts, etc. and all
user-installed apps will be lost. The Android operating system and GApps will remain but the
tablet setup must be repeated and your user-installed apps must be re-installed.

Consequences of wiping caches.

There is no undesirable consequence to wiping the cache. In fact there could be a benefit, for
after long-term use the cache can become overly polluted. It should always be wiped before
booting a new ROM installation.
Though there is some controvery about it, wiping the Davlik cache is probably not harmful. It
is essential though to do so before booting a new ROM installation.

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Steps to install ROM or GApps revisions.
Preliminaries:

Using your Nook, download the new zip files. They will land in the Download folder. Then
reboot to the recovery utility (here's how). The TWRP entry screen will appear.
1. Tap Wipe and then Advanced wipe . Check items to wipe per Rules 1 through 3.
If Rule 1 applies, no wipes are required. Return to the entry menu and skip to Step 5.
If Rule 2a, 2b, or 2c applies check System .
If Rule 2b or 2c applies check Data .
If Rule 3 applies check both System and Data .
2. Swipe the control to perform the wipe. Return to the entry menu when the wipe
completes.
3. Tap Install . The Install Zip screen will appear.

4. Tap Select Storage , then select Internal Storage and tap OK .

5. In the column of folder names on the left, select Download . The folder contents will
appear.
6. Select the zip file you wish to install. If you are installing both a CM-12.1 ROM and a
Gapps, always select the ROM first. A new screen will appear showing the selected
zip file.
7. On this new screen is a button to install additional zip files. Tap this button if you have
additional files to install; new CM-12.1 and new GApps for example. When all files
have been selected swipe the control to confirm the flash.
8. When the installation completes, perform a wipe of the Davlik and the cache.
9. Tap the Reboot System button. Your upgraded Nook will boot to the new CM-12.1
and/or GApps. This initial boot sequence will take longer than usual as the Davlik
cache is initialized. If you wiped the data partition in Step 1 you will be led through the
setup procedure and must re-install your apps.

After your installation is complete you can use TWRP or the File Manager app to delete the
downloaded zip files and the TWRP installation log from the Download folder.

Alternately you can download the files with your desktop computer, connect your Nook with its provided
cable to a USB port on the computer, and copy the files to the Nook's Download folder.
Or you can copy the files to your original installation microSD card and install them from External Storage.
Boot to TWRP before you mount the microSD card, otherwise the card will intercept and launch CWM.

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About installing future TWRP revisions.
New TWRP revisions are periodically available as zip files from @amaces which you can
download and install the same way as described above for new CM-12.1 and GApps zip files.
There are no wipe requirements for installing TWRP revisions.
Alternately, revisions are occasionally available as image files from the upstream TWRP
developer for hummingbird or for ovation. Your resident TWRP recovery utility can install
either .zip or .img files.

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Problems you might encounter

Failure to boot from the microSD card.

It has been reported that some Nooks have trouble booting from a properly prepared microSD
card, but will eventually boot after several tries. Investigate the condition of the microSD card
if the failure is persistent.
To be bootable:
The microSD card must have a single primary FAT32 partition that preferably occupies
the entire available capacity
This partition must be flagged as bootable. If you prepared the microSD card on a
Linux computer using gparted the partition's boot flag must be set. If you prepared the
microSD card on a Windows computer using MiniTool Partition Wizard the partition
must be set active.
When adding files to the empty partition it is critical to copy the MLO file to it first. This
is the primary boot file that is vectored by its position on the partition, not by its name.
If you suspect a mistake was made while preparing the microSD card you must
carefully repeat Steps 2b through 2f.

Unexpected reboot after shutdown.

The unofficial 20150921 (or later) build of CM-12.1 seems to have no significant problems,
though it is possible that some might eventually be discovered.
There is one problem that might occur on shutdown. In approximately half the shutdown
events the tablet will reboot about 10 to 20 seconds later. If you notice the reboot begin,
press and hold the power button to force a shutdown.
This is probably not a problem with CM-12.1. It has been noticed with CM-11, and is often
reported for other devices running various stock Android versions.
In fact, it has been noticed with a shutdown from directly-booted resident TWRP recovery
when CM-12.1 had not been launched at all.

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Credits
Contributions from the following were indispensable in compiling this document.
Many thanks to the authors and developers. And very special thanks to @amaces for
providing unofficial compilations of CM-12.1 and TWRP. There would be no CM-12.1
for the Nook tablets without these files.
Source of boot files for microSD card (@leapinlar, @emote, et. al.)
Source of zip files for resident CWM (@leapinlar, @emote, et. al.)
Source of zip files for resident TWRP (@amaces)
Source of zip files for CM-12.1 (@amaces, @Hashcode, @verygreen)
Source of tk_gapps-modular-pico-5.1.1-20150920-signed.zip (@TKruzze, @osm0sis)
Source of Mini-gapps-5.1.x-2015-06-27.zip (@RolanDroid)

Reference Information
TWRP: The complete guide to using recovery on Android
TWRP 2.8.7.X features
TWRP for Nook HD
TWRP for Nook HD+
Open GApps FAQ
Introduction to edify updater script (@kurotsugi)
editing updater-script for noobs (@pitchblack5691)

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