How to Do a Complete Wipe (Software Update & Factory Reset) on Your Nook Color ?

There are two part to the complete Wipe of Nook Color which might be required by the users for several reasons. For example, a user might need to follow this whole procedure if he wants to upgrade to recent 1.2 firmware update from B&N or just simply wants to reset his Nook Color.

First part involves the re-imaging of the system partition (software update), while other part involves a procedure to clear the data to do a factory reset. Note that both steps are required to do a complete wipe.

Software Update (Step 1)

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Alternative 1:

Step 1: Turn off your Nook Color if it is On.

Step 2: Turn it on by tapping the Power button.

Step 3: When you see the message “Welcome to the future of reading” appearing on screen, quickly hold the power button down to interrupt the boot process.

Step 4: If the boot animation on-screen does not appear, add a one (i.e. +1) to your interrupted boot count.

Step 5: If you see that boot animation appeared!, you need to reset the interrupted boot count is to zero and start all over again.

Step 6: Repeat from step 3 until your failed boot count reaches 8. At this point, the nook will re-flash its /system partition. You will see the process on the right.

Alternative 2:

If you have working adb installation your computer then you can go to where adb.exe is installed and type the following commands in the shell:

adb shell 
echo -n -e "\x08\x00\x00\x00" > /rom/devconf/BootCnt
reboot

 

Factory Reset (Step 2)

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Step 1: Make sure that Nook Color is powered off then hold down the n button (home) and Power Button until the NOOK Color turns on back.

Step 2: You will be prompted with a Factory Reset dialog.

– Press POWER key to Exit.

– Press HOME key to continue.

Step 3: Press n button (home).

Step 4: You will be prompted to confirm.

– Press POWER key to Exit

– Press HOME key to continue

Step 5: Press n button (home).

Step 6: You will see a Clearing Data dialog shows up. NOOK Color will reboot after the completion.

Note that for the factory reset alternatively you can also use the “Erase & Deregister Device” option in the “Device Info” of the “Device Settings” section.