yashsingh1/xdaforums huggingface dataset:
[Barnes & Noble Nook Tablet] rvr350:
I went into my local B&N store, and the first staff couldn't even tell me the spec on the NT, and the supervisor wasn't much knowledgeable about the device as well... In all fairness, i think most staffs are more accustomed to helping people customize their nooks, rather helping enthusiastic fellows hack their devices:)
[Barnes & Noble Nook Tablet] romified:
I was experimenting to see if there was a mystery button sequence to force a sd card boot. All I found was the factory reset option by holding now the "n" button while powering on, which I am sure is not such a mystery.
[Barnes & Noble Nook Tablet] beatlesfan01:
What I think is happening is that everyone is freaking out a little right now. I'll bet we get this figured out. It only shipped to most people today. We could start a money pot that goes to whom ever achieves root. I remember that happening with a phone before. It worked to.
[Barnes & Noble Nook Tablet] boomn:
The Fire uses the same OMAP4430 chip and there is a boot.img included along with other boot files in Amazon's source (unlike in the NT's source as far as I can see). Someone posted a system dump on the KF forum too. Would these be of any help in testing and comparing on the NT? Any risk in attempting to boot with the KF's boot.img?
[Barnes & Noble Nook Tablet] iamnarada:
Forgive my extreme noob question, but what happens if you change the name of the "boot.img" you've got sitting on the microSD card to what it was looking for? "factory-boot.img" or sumsuch?
[Barnes & Noble Nook Tablet] DarkDvr:
Try AndroXplor from Amazon market.

---------- Post added at 11:01 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:00 AM ----------

It'll most likely tell you that it's not signed properly.
[Barnes & Noble Nook Tablet] pokey9000:
It brings me into the standard OS, presumably because it's booting the same kernel and ramdisk, then using the rest of the partitions off emmc as usual.

To be clear this is on the sdcard formatted Nook Color style with the MLO and u-boot ripped from the factoryfs partition.
[Barnes & Noble Nook Tablet] pokey9000:
It seems to be signed correctly as with a missing or intentionally broken boot.img the sdcard boot hangs with a message complaining about the image being corrupted.

This didn't happen with the renamed boot.img from the internal flash.
[Barnes & Noble Nook Tablet] Loglud:
Pokey May I ask what you were trying to do with the usbboot tool?
[Barnes & Noble Nook Tablet] DarkDvr:
Yet it doesn't boot from it, it still boots from "installed" img right? That tells me that there's a flag that tells it not to boot from it, and that flag most likely an absence of either proper B&N factory signature or something else.

I bet you NT will happily boot from B&N original factory SD card with an img it recognizes..
[Barnes & Noble Nook Tablet] Entropy512:
Your $250 isn't quite "already spent" - you're within your return period.

I'm fairly certain you're going to see a lot of dual-core tablets at this price point hitting the market over the next few months - why reward bad behavior?
[Barnes & Noble Nook Tablet] pokey9000:
See if I could boot over USB, and failing that see if I could redirect the boot to suss out the boot order. This is how I originally discovered the Nook Color's SD boot.
[Barnes & Noble Nook Tablet] pokey9000:
You're exactly right, that's what's happening. There is a ROM in the OMAP that handles booting and the signature check, and if the security efuse is set it will expect that the initial loader (x-loader) is signed or it will attempt to boot from the next device in the boot list.

x-loader and u-boot further check for the signatures, and since they are signed themselves we can't modify them to not check. You can download the NT source and see for yourself. The calls that do the check aren't commented, but they all come from the ominously named omap_hs.h and are not found in denx.de u-boot or the KF's u-boot. If BN was nice enough to provide an x-loader with this check removed then all would be well again.
[Barnes & Noble Nook Tablet] Loglud:
Please try this. I have a feeling it could definatley be a problem.
[Barnes & Noble Nook Tablet] iamnarada:
Any word? Has anyone asked B&N directly, if it's locked or requires a signed image?
[Barnes & Noble Nook Tablet] pokey9000:
These commands do work successfully on the nook color's unlocked 3621. I did try these commands exactly on the NT (among others) and because security is on I can't convince it to boot anything else. It will always fall back to emmc.
[Barnes & Noble Nook Tablet] diamond_lover:
Mhh can you find something useful in the NT Source Files?
[Barnes & Noble Nook Tablet] pokey9000:
Yeah, the bootloaders won't boot unsigned kernels and ramdisks.
[Barnes & Noble Nook Tablet] zanderman112:
That is so depressing...

Sent from my Samsung Legendary 4G, a Universe UTES phone, running "two.three.five"
[Barnes & Noble Nook Tablet] ylexot:
Droid X (and I think every Moto device after that) has a locked bootloader. It has never been cracked. However, that doesn't mean that you can't do anything with it. It can still be rooted and ROM'd. The catch is that the ROMs need to built off of the OEM kernel.

So, a locked bootloader is not the end of the world.
[Barnes & Noble Nook Tablet] diamond_lover:
Doh!

There's a way to have adb?

---------- Post added at 08:52 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:51 PM ----------

You're right, I have a Motorola Defy and with the 2ndInit hack we can install everything. I don't know if it could be applied here.

BTW what happen if you press home+power during boot? I never had a Nook, and I just find this:

// Check master clear button press combination (power+home)

// note that home button is inverted

if ((gpio_read(HOME_BUTTON) == 0) &&

(pwron & STS_PWRON) != STS_PWRON) {

printf("Master Clear forced, booting into recovery\n");

write_bcb(&master_clear_bcb);

return RECOVERY;

}

[...]

switch(get_boot_action()) {

case BOOT_SD:

setenv ("bootcmd", "setenv setbootargs setenv bootargs ${sdbootargs}; run setbootargs; mmcinit 0; fatload mmc 0:1 0x81000000 flashing_boot.img; booti 0x81000000");

setenv ("altbootcmd", "run bootcmd"); // for sd boot altbootcmd is the same as bootcmd

break;

case RECOVERY:

setenv("bootcmd", "mmcinit 1; booti mmc1 recovery");

break;

case BOOT_EMMC:

setenv("bootcmd", "mmcinit 1; booti mmc1 boot");

break;

case INVALID:

default:

printf("Aborting boot!\n");

return 1;

}​
[Barnes & Noble Nook Tablet] ugothakd:
Maybe a stupid question, but why NOT use kexec?
[Barnes & Noble Nook Tablet] zanderman112:
Good to see you here
[Barnes & Noble Nook Tablet] ugothakd:
Apparently you told Apro, and Apro told me. lol
[Barnes & Noble Nook Tablet] DarkDvr:
I believe I speak for everyone here when I say we have full faith in you guys =)

You can hack this puppy! =)
[Barnes & Noble Nook Tablet] pokey9000:
No reason it shouldn't work.

For me, it's too much trouble for a $250 tablet.
[Barnes & Noble Nook Tablet] diamond_lover:
I see that need a kernel compiled with kexec, but we have no adb/root/recovery... how can we apply that?
[Barnes & Noble Nook Tablet] ugothakd:
Good point...sorry I don't actually have the device, just brainstorming.
[Barnes & Noble Nook Tablet] xopher.hunter:
I really want this for its 1gb ram but without good development I'm going to have to get the kindle fire, plus its cheaper :-)
[Barnes & Noble Nook Tablet] nycbjr:
So in essenece, the boot loader is locked and encrypted?

I wonder if Thor's itsmagic from the a500 could be used.. Someone PM him!
[Barnes & Noble Nook Tablet] diamond_lover:
I don't have the device too :D
[Barnes & Noble Nook Tablet] jay_ntwr:
Well, that sucks. THANKS for trying though. I was looking forward to the Nook Tablet because the Color has been so much fun to play with.
[Barnes & Noble Nook Tablet] discothan:
The NT source code was released. Trying to validate the source, but you could get it here.

api.viglink.com/api/click?format=go&drKey=1359&loc=http%3A%2F%2Fxdaforums.com%2Fshowthread.php%3Ft%3D1352158&v=1&libid=1321651386451&out=http%3A%2F%2Fimages.barnesandnoble.com%2FPResources%2Fdownload%2FNook%2Fsource-code%2Fnook_tablet_1-4.tar.gz&ref=http%3A%2F%2Fxdaforums.com%2Fforumdisplay.php%3Ff%3D1397&title=%5BREF%5D%20Nook%20Tablet%20Source%20Code%20-%20xda-developers&txt=DOWNLOAD%20&jsonp=vglnk_jsonp_13216513906701
[Barnes & Noble Nook Tablet] diamond_lover:
If you search just a little bit you can find that in various post.

---------- Post added at 10:27 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:26 PM ----------

And in WIKI!
[Barnes & Noble Nook Tablet] discothan:
Trying to give the troops more hope!
[Barnes & Noble Nook Tablet] eatmybiglazer:
Anything useful here?

I am wondering if they stripped adb, renamed and did god knows what with it, then repackaged it up.

There is a NookSDK here:

https://nookdeveloper.barnesandnoble.com/tools-services/nook-tablet-sdk.html

I am at work and I am unable to check it out currently, but hopefully it's an idea. I know the bootloader is locked, so was the Thunderbolt's IIRC. I'll do some digging and see if there is anything useful (HTC != B&N, but who knows at this point)
[Barnes & Noble Nook Tablet] dkb218:
A solution will present itself... Give it time. Root shall be achieved.
[Barnes & Noble Nook Tablet] azshorty2003:
And then my purchasing one will be confirmed. :-) very excited to see this opened up. Want a new toy already.
[Barnes & Noble Nook Tablet] eatmybiglazer:
Who is actively working on this? Is there an IRC where I can participate and contribute?
[Barnes & Noble Nook Tablet] aludal:
If I get it right, it's OMAP4430's M-Shield security at work. Too much trouble to try and use known exploits on a $250 tablet? Well, that might be an intent of original M-Shield designers. For me, it means it might be inordinately complicated, but not completely impossible, I guess. Some variant of 2nd-init and hijack might be probably made to work -- as soon as SD card remains a "legit" boot/recovery device.

Sure, I might be wrong, but pokey9000, please, can you re-consider and just go after a $199 BB Playbook, instead of B&N NT for $249.

BB Playbook will be available for just $199 at Staples, or for $200 at Office Depot on Black Friday. Or for $198 Canadian today, if you can be there in time (not that it's needed though). Sure, nobody broke in into BB PB yet, but for $199 one gets a full tablet as opposed to these crippled e-readers.
[Barnes & Noble Nook Tablet] CASHMON3Y:
Not to sound like a broken record of everyone else here, but is the general consensus that this tablet will be a PITA to do anything worthwhile with? Just wondering so I can return it for the KF...
[Barnes & Noble Nook Tablet] captcarl:
Thanks Pokie9000

i just attempted to cancel my preorder due to ship today - which still says not shiped and ordered an Acer Iconia Tab A100 with all of the hardware in place and due for a ICS upgrade in January.

Captn
[Barnes & Noble Nook Tablet] fattire:
linuxjacques in irc just confirmed that modified modules do load, meaning kexec is theoretically possible.
[Barnes & Noble Nook Tablet] zanderman112:
So, people are just gonna give up instead of working cause "a $250 tablet isn't worth it?"

Laaame.
[Barnes & Noble Nook Tablet] Loglud:
Ok.

Guys first of its barley day 0 and people are calling it quits. I'm sure not the exploits have been tried. This thread should be devoted more to research of the topic not to the death. For those of you that have the NT wait for your exchange period. I'm going to pick one of up tonight, and work on it all next week. I hate when people think its the death of a device when one person raises a flag (no offence at all pokey9000 Thanks for all your work.) I just read that someone found out that modified modules do one meaning that we might be able to overwrite their bootloader (which makes it convenient that we have the source).

Give it time for goodness sakes, any one whom has worked on these devices know it takes time (Entropy, and his incredible efforts on the Infuse CM port)
[Barnes & Noble Nook Tablet] pokey9000:
Some people are just gonna give up because this stopped being fun. I'd be glad to bill you hourly to work on this in my free time.
[Barnes & Noble Nook Tablet] microlith:
This. I've already scratched my Nook Tablet reservation because I have no interest in battling a vendor for control over something I've paid for. Instead, however, I shall redouble my efforts relating to my Nook Color, as that at least will not fight me.
[Barnes & Noble Nook Tablet] MonkeysInACan:
Thats grest news!! Can we get the info for the irc you guys are using so others can join in?
[Barnes & Noble Nook Tablet] gharlane00:
Someone from the community will probably soon get their hands on one of the bootable SD cards that the B&N techs use to reimage a hosed up NT. There is a good chance that poking into the image will provide a way in.
[Barnes & Noble Nook Tablet] eatmybiglazer:
*Grabs ski mask*

Be right back.
[Barnes & Noble Nook Tablet] DarkDvr:
Let's try to keep a positive attitude here.

If this tablet isn't worth it for you to spend your time on - that's fine, we respect that, but there's no need to bring everyone else down.

Someone, someday, will hack it, and it will be the cheapest, most awesome ICS-running tablet ever. That's my belief and I'm sticking to it =)
[Barnes & Noble Nook Tablet] zenaxe:
+1. Officially dropped it from my wish list until it's rooted and running market (if ever). There are too many of the prior generation full Android tablets dropping into the $300 price range to warrant fussing with this thing for a $50 savings.

I want a tablet running an OS that can run Kindle and Nook readers plus all the goodies. No point in compromising. Both the Kindle Fire and NT are starting to look like they're not worth the effort (unlike the NC).

I'm incredibly disappointed in B&N (although not surprised), I had kind of thought they had achieved an enlightened self interest that few companies posses wrt to open/unlocked systems.
[Barnes & Noble Nook Tablet] pixelbat:
I think what's fun is subjective. To some people the challenge is fun.
[Barnes & Noble Nook Tablet] DarkDvr:
I suggest we try to keep this thread clean for devs to talk about actually hacking it.
[Barnes & Noble Nook Tablet] ugothakd:
It's all going on on irc I'm sure.

I think this is pretty fun. Especially if it gets kexec, I might HAVE to buy it lol
[Barnes & Noble Nook Tablet] beatlesfan01:
Where is the irc? Anyone know lol?
[Barnes & Noble Nook Tablet] azshorty2003:
Quitters aren't the kind of developers I want working on it anyway. I want someone who cares and will stick with it.
[Barnes & Noble Nook Tablet] jgaf:
irc.freenode.net #xda-devs

Nothing going on right now
[Barnes & Noble Nook Tablet] zanderman112:
Thanks.

Wish i had some knowledge to put forth to help this situation :/
[Barnes & Noble Nook Tablet] beatlesfan01:
Yeah, same here. I don't know much beyond flashing zips and metamorph lol.
[Barnes & Noble Nook Tablet] zanderman112:
I can make small mods, like build.prop edits.

And i make themes for the Samsung Epic 4G(as seen in my sig on the pc), so i can edit a framework. And with that, i can edit updater-scripts to do what i need them to do.

Sounds like a lot, but it really isnt. :/

My work(for those on the app, that might now be interested lol)

Froyo:

Sculpted

http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=1338357

Epi-Sense

http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=1266569

Blazing Blue Flame

http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?p=18409986

Gatorade:

http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=1230334

Orange Eternity

http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=1190536

Gingerbread:

Epic 4G odex theme guide

http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=1345264

Green Glow

http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=1344720
[Barnes & Noble Nook Tablet] Entropy512:
This is why I've chosen not to purchase the device... I split my development time between multiple devices (Infuse, Tab 10.1, Galaxy S II) already, the Nook Tablet was in the "hack toy" category - if I could really make it sing, I'd recommend it to friends and family as a cheap tablet.

The problem is that in the past, when to get a half-decent device you HAD to accept a locked bootloader, bypassing bootloader locking made sense. Now - the market is going to be getting flooded with cheap dual-core tablets over the coming months, many of which are likely to be locked. For example, right now the Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus is only $100-150 more than the Nook Tablet with a significantly more powerful processor (the Exynos is a beast), and from a company with a history of being developer-friendly. For those differences (corporate attitude, slightly more performance, a fully unlocked device) - $100-150 is worth it.

When I mentioned the Galaxy Note, that was an extreme example - that's just HOW disinclined I am to muck about with modern locked bootloaders these days.

In the past, messing with locked bootloaders was an interesting challenge - but as they become more difficult to bypass and more alternatives show up, locked devices receive far less attention.

As to the "quitters aren't the kind of developers I want working on it" comment - that would be a valid observation if it were merely about time, but it is about time AND money - Why pay $250 for a device that will consume an extremely large chunk of time compared to the amount of benefit that spent time will obtain? Why pay $250 and spend tens of hours for the chance to MAYBE bypass the bootloader lock when I can spend another $100 or so and have a 100% unlocked device?
[Barnes & Noble Nook Tablet] dermotti:
Dunno, im pretty happy with the nook as-is. Great screen and great chassis. Most the other tablets feel cheap to me (other than the galaxys and the ipad). I really dont feel like spending $150 more. I mean damn i only spent $500 for my m11x alienware, spending $350+ on a tablet seems ridiculous.

That being said im worried B&N will somehow lock out side loaded apps. Which would destroy my dreams.

\

The only real downer for me right now is only having access to 1gb memory.

Sadly tho, i do agree with the above poster, if he has to spend 10+ hours working to unlock a tablet, he might as well goto work and get 10 hours of pay, which would make up the difference in teh costs of the tablets easily.
[Barnes & Noble Nook Tablet] e.mote:
>As to the "quitters aren't the kind of developers I want working on it" comment - that would be a valid observation if it were merely about time, but it is about time AND money

Not if you aren't the one doing the work. :)

What you're saying is fine--for yourself--but hacking is justifiable in and of itself, ie it has an intrinsic worth, whether it be for self-satisfaction or challenge or knowledge or whatever. Once you need to cost-justify the time spent, then it becomes a job, and nobody here gets paid.

It's premature to write off the NT. It certainly does have appeal, which means there'll be other devs along who take a different view (or different measuring stick to time-cost) than you do. We hope for those devs.

BTW, I disagree with your assessment of the "flood of low-cost tablets" heading our way. But that's for another thread.
[Barnes & Noble Nook Tablet] fattire:
try #nookcolor
[Barnes & Noble Nook Tablet] zanderman112:
I asked a question there and got no responses. after an hour I left. It had 81 people in it too.

Sent from my Samsung Legendary 4G, a Universe UTES phone, running "two.three.five"
[Barnes & Noble Nook Tablet] Drewmungus:
We could try try spamming Barnes and Nobles facebook and other sites to get them to unlock the bootloader. It already worked once for us HTC boys.
[Barnes & Noble Nook Tablet] robertely:
Yea....i'm in there at the moment.

---------- Post added at 05:19 AM ---------- Previous post was at 05:17 AM ----------

Oh...I am so down for that. I'll start the whining about the 1gb cap.

-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-

http://www.facebook.com/barnesandnoble?sk=wall

Ha.
[Barnes & Noble Nook Tablet] e.mote:
The Nook Tablet-vs-Kindle Fire is getting some press in the tech blogs. Some of these blogs do shows (Engadget, The Verge, et al). It may catch a blogger's interest to suggest them inviting the CEOs/CIOs of both Amazon and B&N onto the same show and have a verbal shootout, so-to-speak. If the host is sympathetic to the cause, rooting can be a topic.

Even if we can't get the B&N dudes to change their mind, at least it'll be good to learn of their thinking in locking down the NT. And may be they'll in turn listen to our POV. A bi-lateral exchange, eh?

In any case, always good to talk to the bigwigs directly, other than from the dumpster diving & stalking routine.

So, who here can bend an ear of an Engadgit/Virgie blogger?
[Barnes & Noble Nook Tablet] conundrum768:
Any way that we can raise awareness of this issue and make people care about it (even those who don't own or plan on owning a NT have a interest in making as much hardware as possible open and hackable).

It wasn't too long ago that HTC caved on a locked bootloader policy after they drew the boisterous ire of the modding community (http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/26/htc-officially-dissolves-locked-bootlader-policy/).

Now, the number of people concerned about B&N's approach to the NT is significantly smaller than those concerned about a sweeping HTC change; however, getting the info and community's attitude out in these tech blogs could be very helpful.

It's much easier to change a policy before release than it is afterwards (at least, in a way that produces real results) but don't let that stop you from sending emails and letters to B&N, post on the Facebook page, post on the tech blogs, return your NT and tell them that what they supplied isn't what you thought you were buying.
[Barnes & Noble Nook Tablet] Drewmungus:
So it begins MUHAHAHA!!!
[Barnes & Noble Nook Tablet] fiveoneooo:
I dont know a thing about rooting the nook tablet and such, but i know that my computer programmer friends make 60K+ bare minimum and most 80k+, why would they deal with a locked bootloader for more than an hour when that same amount of time at work would get them better hardware with an unlocked bootloader. I understand the hope that not all of us make this kind of cheddar but most these guys do so good luck getting them to waste their time which is more valuable than mine(/ours) working on something that they dont have to if they spend a couple more bucks and jump ahead

It breaks down to this 250 + 10 or more hours work (at 50-60 an hour) or 500 for a better hardware unlocked tablet. The net cost is lower for a tablet that cost even twice as much.

Of course this data relates to employed computer scientist and programmers and not so called "amateurs" who do this for fun
[Barnes & Noble Nook Tablet] zguy30:
I totally agree pretty happy I can side load apps and to be honest I really like the device sure it wiuld be great to have custom roms but it won't be the end of the world. I propose we setup a fund for the guy or gal that roots this sucker if everyone chips in a buck or two it may be the added incentive for a talented dev to take up the challange

Just my two cents.

gtiguy
[Barnes & Noble Nook Tablet] silvere2:
Your argument is based on the false assumption that time spent not rooting a device would instead be used making a wage of some sort, when in reality the time spent is usually leisure time when the programmer would not be making money anyway. There is something to be said in being the first to root something, there is the community aspect of spending leisure time doing something one likes to do with like minded individuals, there is the admiration one gains from the community when one breaks the code, there is the satisfaction one gains in breaking it themselves, and the knowledge they gain in the process. If rooting is something that someone likes to do (which I assume for most people this is the case, otherwise they wouldn't be here), trying to crack the nook tablet is one of the BEST uses of leisure time.