Mini Rooting the mini?

hecq · 11-24-2012, 05:35 PM

Hi,

Is rooting the Mini possible at all? Which procedure should I follow?

Thanks,

eXistenZ · 11-24-2012, 06:20 PM

As far ad I know, rooting is an android specific procedure, and kobo readers are not based on android, so no, it's not possible.

hecq · 11-24-2012, 06:42 PM

Hmmm, maybe I used the wrong term.

I meant is there any way to hack into the Mini and add some apps or maybe an alternative firmware or anything of the sort?

PeterT · 11-24-2012, 06:45 PM

The same processes should work that work on the Touch.

The main "trick" is using a file called "KoboRoot.tgz" to override existing files on the unit. Look at the threads here where people are working on a Weather plugin, or a general plugin for more info.

KevinShort · 11-24-2012, 06:56 PM

The Mini boots from an internal micro SD card, so the best way to get started hacking
would probably be to take that card out, make a backup, and then start modifying files.
You should be able to get telnet access by following the directions for the Touch.

hecq · 11-24-2012, 09:08 PM

I tried modifying this rcS file but I must be doing something wrong because nothing happens.

I added this

Code:

/mnt/onboard/run.sh &

line at the end of the rcS file, then repacked it, Kobo says upgrading etc.
Then I put the run.sh script with these two lines inside

Code:

 cp /etc/inittab /mnt/onboard
 cp /etc/inetd.conf /mnt/onboard

I put this run.sh script in the same directory as where eBooks etc go, and I copied it to .kobo as well, just to be safe.

And reboot and... I don't have these two inittab and inetd.conf files anywhere.

What am I missing?

hecq · 11-24-2012, 10:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KevinShort

The Mini boots from an internal micro SD card, so the best way to get started hacking
would probably be to take that card out, make a backup, and then start modifying files.
You should be able to get telnet access by following the directions for the Touch.

True, but I don't have the appropriate screwdriver and my Kobo is brand new, I'd rather not void the warranty.

KevinShort · 11-25-2012, 09:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hecq

I tried modifying this rcS file but I must be doing something wrong because nothing happens.

How did you get the rcS file? Did you do a factory reset and then grab it from
your Kobo after it downloaded the upgrade?

If you add the following line to rcS, does it create a text file on your Kobo?

Code:

echo hello > /mnt/onboard/hello.txt

hecq · 11-25-2012, 10:12 AM

It seems I was tired and I packaged the rcS file by doing

Code:

tar czf KoboRoot.tgz ./rcS

which of course wouldn't put the rcS file where it should because it didn't include the full path.

I repackaged it using

Code:

tar czf KoboRoot.tgz etc/init.d/rcS

and it now runs whatever I put in the run.sh script.

Roadbug · 11-25-2012, 09:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hecq

True, but I don't have the appropriate screwdriver and my Kobo is brand new, I'd rather not void the warranty.

I would not be so sure that your warranty covers a rooted e-reader...

psi · 11-27-2012, 06:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hecq

I tried modifying this rcS file but I must be doing something wrong because nothing happens.

I added this

Code:

/mnt/onboard/run.sh &

line at the end of the rcS file, then repacked it, Kobo says upgrading etc.
Then I put the run.sh script with these two lines inside

Code:

 cp /etc/inittab /mnt/onboard
 cp /etc/inetd.conf /mnt/onboard

I put this run.sh script in the same directory as where eBooks etc go, and I copied it to .kobo as well, just to be safe.

And reboot and... I don't have these two inittab and inetd.conf files anywhere.

What am I missing?

I'm running into the same problem. I got my KoboRoot.tgz file by doing the factory reset and update thing. I'm running windows, so I repackaged the archive after making the edits to rcS by making a tar file of the whole extracted folder and running gzip on that.

The update runs, but the files that were supposed to appear after the reset never do. I also included the line that's supposed to create a hello.txt file, no dice there either. I'm not entirely sure where the files are supposed to appear but I've looked everywhere.

hecq · 11-30-2012, 09:22 AM

You should check in your archive if the rcS file includes the whole path. No need to repackage the whole KoboRoot directory though, only the rcS file is enough.

psi · 12-01-2012, 06:10 PM

I checked again and the directory structure was wrong as you suggested. Everything had extracted to a directory called KoboRoot and I had made that into a tar file instead of the 5 directories inside it.

After fixing that problem and running the update, I'm now getting a different problem. After the restart, the loading screen with the smiling kobo and animated boxes just displays endlessly.

11-24-2012, 05:35 PM	#1
hecq Enthusiast Posts: 28 Karma: 10 Join Date: Nov 2012 Device: Kobo Clara HD	Rooting the mini? Hi, Is rooting the Mini possible at all? Which procedure should I follow? Thanks,

11-24-2012, 09:08 PM	#6
hecq Enthusiast Posts: 28 Karma: 10 Join Date: Nov 2012 Device: Kobo Clara HD	I tried modifying this rcS file but I must be doing something wrong because nothing happens. I added this Code: /mnt/onboard/run.sh & line at the end of the rcS file, then repacked it, Kobo says upgrading etc. Then I put the run.sh script with these two lines inside Code: cp /etc/inittab /mnt/onboard cp /etc/inetd.conf /mnt/onboard I put this run.sh script in the same directory as where eBooks etc go, and I copied it to .kobo as well, just to be safe. And reboot and... I don't have these two inittab and inetd.conf files anywhere. What am I missing? Last edited by hecq; 11-24-2012 at 09:18 PM.

11-25-2012, 10:12 AM	#9
hecq Enthusiast Posts: 28 Karma: 10 Join Date: Nov 2012 Device: Kobo Clara HD	It seems I was tired and I packaged the rcS file by doing Code: tar czf KoboRoot.tgz ./rcS which of course wouldn't put the rcS file where it should because it didn't include the full path. I repackaged it using Code: tar czf KoboRoot.tgz etc/init.d/rcS and it now runs whatever I put in the run.sh script. Last edited by hecq; 11-25-2012 at 10:46 AM.

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11-24-2012, 06:20 PM	#2
eXistenZ Connoisseur Posts: 86 Karma: 17618 Join Date: Nov 2010 Device: Kobo GLO	As far ad I know, rooting is an android specific procedure, and kobo readers are not based on android, so no, it's not possible.

11-24-2012, 06:42 PM	#3
hecq Enthusiast Posts: 28 Karma: 10 Join Date: Nov 2012 Device: Kobo Clara HD	Hmmm, maybe I used the wrong term. I meant is there any way to hack into the Mini and add some apps or maybe an alternative firmware or anything of the sort?

11-24-2012, 06:45 PM	#4
PeterT Grand Sorcerer Posts: 12,154 Karma: 73448616 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Toronto Device: Nexus 7, Clara, Touch, Tolino EPOS	The same processes should work that work on the Touch. The main "trick" is using a file called "KoboRoot.tgz" to override existing files on the unit. Look at the threads here where people are working on a Weather plugin, or a general plugin for more info.

11-24-2012, 06:56 PM	#5
KevinShort Addict Posts: 348 Karma: 209937 Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Virginia, US Device: Kobo Wifi, Kobo Glo	The Mini boots from an internal micro SD card, so the best way to get started hacking would probably be to take that card out, make a backup, and then start modifying files. You should be able to get telnet access by following the directions for the Touch.

11-30-2012, 09:22 AM	#12
hecq Enthusiast Posts: 28 Karma: 10 Join Date: Nov 2012 Device: Kobo Clara HD	You should check in your archive if the rcS file includes the whole path. No need to repackage the whole KoboRoot directory though, only the rcS file is enough.

12-01-2012, 06:10 PM	#13
psi Junior Member Posts: 8 Karma: 4264 Join Date: Nov 2012 Device: Kobo mini	I checked again and the directory structure was wrong as you suggested. Everything had extracted to a directory called KoboRoot and I had made that into a tar file instead of the 5 directories inside it. After fixing that problem and running the update, I'm now getting a different problem. After the restart, the loading screen with the smiling kobo and animated boxes just displays endlessly.