Barnes & Noble now offers two versions of the NOOK Tablet. There’s the 16GB model with 1GB of RAM which has been available since November, and a new cheaper model with 8GB of storage and 512MB of RAM. Because of minor differences, it turns out you can’t use exactly the same tools to root the 8GB tablet as the 16GB… but now there is a way to root the new tablet.

NOOK Tablet 8GB root

Rooting an Android phone or tablet provides access to hidden files and settings, making it possible to run apps that require deep access to your file system or make dramatic changes to your device. For instance you can use apps such as Titanium Backup to backup or restore all of the apps on your device.

Xda-developer forum member jichuan89 has posted a tool that lets you root a new 8GB NOOK Tablet.

It builds on recently released tools that allow you to boot the tablet from a microSD card.

In a nutshell, you need to prepare microSD card by dumping the contents of jichuan89’s tool to the card, and then boot the tablet with the card insserted. You can find detailed instructions in the forum post.

When all is said and done, you should have a rooted NOOK Tablet with the Android Market installed. The tool will also add SuperUser to your tablet and install the HomeCatcher app which lets you use the “n” button on the tablet to launch third party home screen apps.

The toughest part of the process is probably formatting the SD card properly, and it should go without saying that attempting to root your tablet will void your warranty, so don’t expect any support from Barnes & Noble if anything goes wrong.

Update: Jichuan89 has released a disk image you can “burn” to your microSD card using Nookie. This should make the process a little simpler, although you’re still taking your warranty into your own hands if you try to root your NOOK Tablet.

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8 replies on “Root tool for the 8GB NOOK Tablet now available”

  1. The XDA post has now been updated with an SD card image that you can simply flash to your card without going through the partitioning stuff.

    1. Because Barnes & Noble sells you the tablet loaded with certain software and the company only supports the tablet as long as you do not attempt to remove that software or make serious modifications — which is exactly what you do if you try to root the tablet or circumvent the locked bootloader. 

      It’s sort of like expecting your TV manufacturer to provide support even after you open up the case and start ripping out wires that they never meant you to access. 

      1. Okay got it thanks! I’m willing to take the risk though because this thing is ridiculous out of the box as it is.

      2. Meh. Even with Samsung, the maker (contract manufacturer) almost never sells or represents the device to consumers. So it’s like expecting Apple to know how to reset the PROMs, though now they’re UEFI bootsectors, and media-native crypto is not going to mitigate requirement of that service. Oh snap, you are an editor; well, I’ll read here a bit and try not to ruin the tone of the place.

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