Just wanted to document MY experience into rooting and playing with the Nook Color. I recently bought a refurbished one from Barnes and Noble's website. I don't really know much about technology but I can follow directions... so here goes!
Repartitioning
My Nook Color had the blue dot next to the barcode so I wanted to repartition it. I bought a 16gb Sandisk MicroSDHC. Although Staples' website does not sell class 4 cards, my card is a class 4. This is the "Mobile microSDHC card" and the adapter is sold separately.
Based off this guide: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1094371
1. I did not have ClockworkRecovery installed on my Nook, and I wanted to boot it off a microSD. To get it onto the card, I had to download win32.
Use this website to download win32: https://launchpad.net/win32-image-writer/+download
I created a folder on my desktop called "win32", you can name it anything you want. Just unzip the file into the folder.
Version .01Win32 Binaries of ImageWriter worked for me. I have a Windows Vista laptop (if that makes any difference). I did download another version that did not work on my computer. I kept getting error messages that said my disk did not have enough space.
2. Download the correct img file from this site: http://mrm3.net/nook-color-updated-clockwork-recovery-bootable-sd/
I downloaded the 1gb file that is FOR blue dot Nook Colors. It is a zip file, once you unzip it, moved it onto the desktop.
2. Follow this guide to get ClockworkRecovery booting off the card: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WOLaYp_P9xI
Or.. continue reading. Open the folder you created with the unzipped win32 file. Click on "Win32DiskImager"
Next to the search bar, click on the icon that looks like "..." select the img file you downloaded in step 2 then select "Save". Under Device, the letter should be the same as what you see under "Computer". For example, when I click on Computer, my SD card's drive is (F:), and so under Device, I will select (F:).
Click "Write" and wait. Once complete, you have now successfully put ClockworkRecovery on your microSD.
3. Go back to xda-developer's guide. Download ONE of the repartioniong install guide. I downloaded the custom option.
In addition, download from the link in step 2 in xda's guide.
Leave both files zipped, then drag them into the drive for your microSD (In my case, it's the (F:) drive).
4. Remove microSD from computer. Power off the Nook if you haven't done so already and put the microSD card into the slot.
5. Turn on Nook, and you should see a screen that says "Loading" with skulls.
6. Turn Nook to view it in landscape. Use the volume button to navigate, the home screen for "enter" and the power button for "back".
7. Scroll down to "Install from SD card" and you want to install the repartition zip file FIRST. Once you select it, a bunch of words will start appearing on the lower left.
8. Once complete, go back a couple pages until you can install the reformat zip file. In xda's guide, it said "mandatory REBOOT", which I tried to do. My screen was frozen on the Nook logo, so I had to turn it off and back on. I pressed a couple buttons until I saw the black screen with the orange words on it again. My assumption is.. if it's back on the black/orange screen, you should be able to complete the steps to install the reformat file.
9. I'm not even sure if you can power off the nook when ClockworkRecovery is running. I pushed the back/power button until the screen went dark, then removed the microSD. Then I turned it back on and had to re-register the Nook. I checked the specs: 4.2gbs of available storage instead of the 1gb I had before doing this. To check specs, just click on "settings" then "device info".
Good luck!
