Root Nook Refurb old SN but FW 1.4.3

jmbrowning · 11-25-2010, 02:39 AM

I got myself a Nook3G refurb with an older SN 100227 and I opened it to confirm that it has the socketed flash microSD card instead of soldered, but oddly it comes with FW 1.4.3 installed. I tried hard resetting the device thinking that it might comeback with an older firmware, but it still comes back 1.4.3.

So, now I am trying to figure out how to best root this strange thing. NookDevs, bless em, like most coders know how to write code, but documentation stinks.

Can I still edit init.rc with FW1.4.3 as seen here? This seems to be the method I understand the best to root if it still works (firmware doesn't check hash for config files).

If I download the 1.0.0 firmware as outlined here, can I simply write it to the internal microSD card (after backing up the original 1.4.3 firmware) and then reinstall the firmware by doing the hold power down for 12 seconds six times in a row? This would save me the trouble of installing APK's but I guess I'd have to do that eventually anyways as some installed apps are out of date. Is the hardware change they refer to in this page strictly how the internal flash memory is installed (socketed microSD vs soldered)? BTW, does anybody have an MD5 for the original 1.0.0 firmware (didn't Ronald Reagan say trust but verify those sneaky russkies?

)

The other option is to spoof barnesandnoble with a fake DNS server and have the reader download the rooted firmware as an update. Only problem here is that it is only listed as having worked with 1.4.2 and I can't confirm that it has worked for 1.4.3. This is probably the most elegant solution as it doesn't require me to tear into the reader again. The only thing that would make it more elegant would be to have the init.rc already edited (instead of downloading and then editing) and to host both the rooted firmware and poisoned DNS on a static IP, so that NookRoot could be done online by changing the DNS on the router to the spoofing DNS (I suspect that this would violate most ISP TOS however).

Well, thanks in advance to any and all who have already figured this one out.

jmbrowning · 11-25-2010, 05:14 PM

Method 1 (Removing the uSD card and editing init.rc) works for sure. It was fun touring the Nook filesystem over a WiFi link.

I will try the softroot method later to see if that works.

chas0039 · 11-26-2010, 11:00 AM

Thanks for all the work and confirming that a few 1.4.3 firmwares are actually older socketed hardware. I have suspected this for a while and, with the update of the 1.5 firmware across the board, it means that opening the Nooks will be the only reliable method of determining whether you have a socketed, easy softroot version, or wired, hard softroot version.

This is the third "old" serial with 1.4.3 and I am beginning to suspect that the 1.4.3 is a weird update for older socket units.

jmbrowning · 11-26-2010, 12:04 PM

Method 2 "Softroot" works just fine. I think the serial number range rather than the firmware is a more reliable indicator of how to root the reader, but seeing the socket is believing.

Shades · 11-27-2010, 08:17 AM

Refurb Nooks, like all electronics after getting fixed, will carry the newest firmware that is available to the factory that fixed it. The factory fixes the object and loads it with the newest stuff they have before shipping it. (This pertains only to electronics fixed by the manufacturer).

chas0039 · 11-27-2010, 08:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shades

Refurb Nooks, like all electronics after getting fixed, will carry the newest firmware that is available to the factory that fixed it. The factory fixes the object and loads it with the newest stuff they have before shipping it. (This pertains only to electronics fixed by the manufacturer).

You are missing the point. Refurbished nooks have been reported with 1.4, 1.4.1, and 1.4.3 firmware. None of these can be considered the "current" firmware as each appears to be associated with specific hardware. Just recently, the assumption was that anything newer than 1.4 was always on hardware that used the newer non-socketed internal chip. This is not the case, which causes the problem we are talking about.

tweaker · 12-06-2010, 10:43 PM

I have a refurb WIFI/3G with serial number 1000xxx and firmware 1.4.3

what is the best method to root this?

I would like to root it and have the 1.5 (or rooted equivalent).

I am new to this, so I appreciate detailed instructions.

Also, If I upgrade to stock 1.5, will it be harder to root, or downgrade if neccesary??

Thanks !!!

bigbrothad · 12-07-2010, 01:13 PM

I also have a refurb Nook s/n < 10031 with 1.4.3 fw. Can it be easily rooted? If so, which method do I use.

What size torx bit do I need to open the back cover to check for the microsd slot?

jmbrowning · 12-09-2010, 01:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigbrothad

I also have a refurb Nook s/n < 10031 with 1.4.3 fw. Can it be easily rooted? If so, which method do I use.

What size torx bit do I need to open the back cover to check for the microsd slot?

Softroot with 2.5.1. Will come with a broken APDFViewer.
The small one that fits. Frankly, I dont bother to check numbers and sometimes just use a phillips if it fits.

jmbrowning · 12-09-2010, 01:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tweaker

I have a refurb WIFI/3G with serial number 1000xxx and firmware 1.4.3

what is the best method to root this?

I would like to root it and have the 1.5 (or rooted equivalent).

I am new to this, so I appreciate detailed instructions.

Also, If I upgrade to stock 1.5, will it be harder to root, or downgrade if neccesary??

Thanks !!!

I had no problems using Softroot 2.5.1

jmbrowning · 12-09-2010, 01:09 PM

The refurbs that I got were all "high" firmware models with 3G and "low" serial numbers. The first refurb I got, I took the trouble to take apart to look at the socket. I realized that the serial number (and thus the hardware revision) is what determines Softroot compatibility rather than the firmware. I softrooted it from 1.5.0 without trouble.

I didn't even bother taking apart the other refurbs (1.4.3) and just ran 1.0.0 on the Nook drive and then bravo_update-251.dat (renamed to just bravo_update.dat) on the external uSD card (standard Softroot). It worked just fine.

YMMV, of course.

If you have a "high" serial number (> 1003*), you will have to do a bit more fiddling and perhaps even drop down to a lower firmware than 1.5.0. For more details on this, RTFM at nookdevs.com

11-25-2010, 02:39 AM	#1
jmbrowning Nook 3G SN100227 FW1.4.3 Posts: 11 Karma: 10 Join Date: Nov 2010 Device: Nook refurb FTW!	Root Nook Refurb old SN but FW 1.4.3 I got myself a Nook3G refurb with an older SN 100227 and I opened it to confirm that it has the socketed flash microSD card instead of soldered, but oddly it comes with FW 1.4.3 installed. I tried hard resetting the device thinking that it might comeback with an older firmware, but it still comes back 1.4.3. So, now I am trying to figure out how to best root this strange thing. NookDevs, bless em, like most coders know how to write code, but documentation stinks. Can I still edit init.rc with FW1.4.3 as seen here? This seems to be the method I understand the best to root if it still works (firmware doesn't check hash for config files). If I download the 1.0.0 firmware as outlined here, can I simply write it to the internal microSD card (after backing up the original 1.4.3 firmware) and then reinstall the firmware by doing the hold power down for 12 seconds six times in a row? This would save me the trouble of installing APK's but I guess I'd have to do that eventually anyways as some installed apps are out of date. Is the hardware change they refer to in this page strictly how the internal flash memory is installed (socketed microSD vs soldered)? BTW, does anybody have an MD5 for the original 1.0.0 firmware (didn't Ronald Reagan say trust but verify those sneaky russkies? ) The other option is to spoof barnesandnoble with a fake DNS server and have the reader download the rooted firmware as an update. Only problem here is that it is only listed as having worked with 1.4.2 and I can't confirm that it has worked for 1.4.3. This is probably the most elegant solution as it doesn't require me to tear into the reader again. The only thing that would make it more elegant would be to have the init.rc already edited (instead of downloading and then editing) and to host both the rooted firmware and poisoned DNS on a static IP, so that NookRoot could be done online by changing the DNS on the router to the spoofing DNS (I suspect that this would violate most ISP TOS however). Well, thanks in advance to any and all who have already figured this one out.

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11-25-2010, 05:14 PM	#2
jmbrowning Nook 3G SN100227 FW1.4.3 Posts: 11 Karma: 10 Join Date: Nov 2010 Device: Nook refurb FTW!	Method 1 (Removing the uSD card and editing init.rc) works for sure. It was fun touring the Nook filesystem over a WiFi link. I will try the softroot method later to see if that works.

11-26-2010, 11:00 AM	#3
chas0039 Sceptic Posts: 573 Karma: 73436 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: The Lake Device: rooted Nooks, retired. JetBook Lite, Kindle 3, 4, Kobo Nia, Libra H2O.	Thanks for all the work and confirming that a few 1.4.3 firmwares are actually older socketed hardware. I have suspected this for a while and, with the update of the 1.5 firmware across the board, it means that opening the Nooks will be the only reliable method of determining whether you have a socketed, easy softroot version, or wired, hard softroot version. This is the third "old" serial with 1.4.3 and I am beginning to suspect that the 1.4.3 is a weird update for older socket units.

11-26-2010, 12:04 PM	#4
jmbrowning Nook 3G SN100227 FW1.4.3 Posts: 11 Karma: 10 Join Date: Nov 2010 Device: Nook refurb FTW!	Method 2 "Softroot" works just fine. I think the serial number range rather than the firmware is a more reliable indicator of how to root the reader, but seeing the socket is believing.

11-27-2010, 08:17 AM	#5
Shades Zealot Posts: 118 Karma: 1246392 Join Date: Nov 2010 Device: OnePlus 5T + @Voice, Nook 1st Ed.	Refurb Nooks, like all electronics after getting fixed, will carry the newest firmware that is available to the factory that fixed it. The factory fixes the object and loads it with the newest stuff they have before shipping it. (This pertains only to electronics fixed by the manufacturer).

12-06-2010, 10:43 PM	#7
tweaker Junior Member Posts: 9 Karma: 100 Join Date: Dec 2010 Device: nook	I have a refurb WIFI/3G with serial number 1000xxx and firmware 1.4.3 what is the best method to root this? I would like to root it and have the 1.5 (or rooted equivalent). I am new to this, so I appreciate detailed instructions. Also, If I upgrade to stock 1.5, will it be harder to root, or downgrade if neccesary?? Thanks !!!

12-07-2010, 01:13 PM	#8
bigbrothad Member Posts: 22 Karma: 20 Join Date: Dec 2010 Device: nook	I also have a refurb Nook s/n < 10031 with 1.4.3 fw. Can it be easily rooted? If so, which method do I use. What size torx bit do I need to open the back cover to check for the microsd slot?

12-09-2010, 01:09 PM	#11
jmbrowning Nook 3G SN100227 FW1.4.3 Posts: 11 Karma: 10 Join Date: Nov 2010 Device: Nook refurb FTW!	The refurbs that I got were all "high" firmware models with 3G and "low" serial numbers. The first refurb I got, I took the trouble to take apart to look at the socket. I realized that the serial number (and thus the hardware revision) is what determines Softroot compatibility rather than the firmware. I softrooted it from 1.5.0 without trouble. I didn't even bother taking apart the other refurbs (1.4.3) and just ran 1.0.0 on the Nook drive and then bravo_update-251.dat (renamed to just bravo_update.dat) on the external uSD card (standard Softroot). It worked just fine. YMMV, of course. If you have a "high" serial number (> 1003*), you will have to do a bit more fiddling and perhaps even drop down to a lower firmware than 1.5.0. For more details on this, RTFM at nookdevs.com

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