How to Make a Nook Color Run Android

Prepping the Card

1. Connect the microSD card to your computer using your preferred method -- card slot, USB adapter, etc. -- and check that it has no data currently stored on it. If it does, back up any data you wish to keep on a different storage device and format the memory card.

2. Download the latest CyanogenMod 7 installer image at crimea.edu/~green/nook/generic-sdcard-v1.3.img.gz and unzip it using your preferred archiving program.

3. Burn the contained disc image file to the microSD card using a disc-authoring program like WinImage.

4. Download a Nook Color CM7 build. Choosing a release classified as 'stable' is probably your best bet.

5. Open the microSD card as a file folder and drag the Nook Color CM7 build zip file to the main folder on the card. Do not unzip it; you'll need the file as is.

Integration with Nook Color

6. Shut down your Nook Color.

7. Insert the microSD card into the microSD slot on the Nook Color.

8. Start up your Nook Color. A penguin will appear in the upper-left corner and a large quantity of code will process before the Nook Color shuts back down.

9. Start the Nook Color back up. It should now be running Android 2.3, minus Google Apps which includes the Android Market.

Installing Google Apps

10. Run the Nook Color with CM7 as directed above and set up Wi-Fi from the settings menu. Check that it's configured to connect to your home network.

11. Power down the Nook Color and remove the microSD card.

12. Connect the card to your computer and download the Google Apps pack for CM7. Move it onto the card's main folder as you did the CM7 Build file beforehand. Check that it isn't unzipped, and is exactly as it was when you originally downloaded it.

13. Re-insert the microSD card into the Nook Color.

14. Restart the Nook Color in Recovery Mode to add Google Apps. Then follow the on-screen instructions to install Google Apps.

Recovery Mode

15. Power down the Nook color.

16. Press and hold down the 'N' Nook key and the power button for roughly six seconds, and then release them. Timing is critical for this to work. If it fails, simply let CM7 boot up as it would normally and move on to Step 3.

17. Press and hold the power button on the home screen until a menu appears with the 'Reboot' option. Select it, followed by 'Recovery' and 'OK.' If either recovery method has worked, a penguin will appear in the upper-left corner after the Nook Color reboots, before the screen again goes blank and the unit powers down.

18. Start the Nook Color back up to successfully complete the recovery necessary to install Google Apps.