How to Hack the Novel - Zip File - Hack-the-Novel1.zip

I'm not going to tell you how to root your Novel. It's not that hard, but most users won't want or need to do so. All I'm telling you how to do is install a second home screen so you can use the Novel as a tablet.

This process has several steps. Only the first one is tricky; the rest are straightforward.

What You need

The ability to use the command line to enter instructions on your computer

Your Novel (you might want to charge it first)

A Windows PC (instructions were tested only on WinXP)

Step Zero

First I have to ask if you have already installed a driver for the Novel (on your computer). If you have then you'll have to uninstall the driver.You need a specific device driver for this to work.

If you're not sure whether you installed a driver then (as a test) plug your Novel in to your computer. If you are prompted to install a driver, go on to step one. Otherwise you need to find out how to unstall the driver.

Step One

Unzip the ZIP file you downlaoded with these instructions.. Plug in your Novel to your computer. When you are asked for a driver, tell it to look in the folder you just unzipped. If your computer finds and installs the driver, great. If it can't find the driver then please visit SlateDroid and we'll help you troubleshoot.

Step Two

Is your Novel still plugged in? Good. Click "Install Volume Buttons Hack". This will modify the 2 volume buttons so one will act as the Menu button and the other will act as the Back button. You have to hack the buttons otherwise your Novel will be useless.

When it's done, what does the screen say? If the second line from the bottom says Success, good. Go on to step three. If it says failed then please visit SlateDroid and we'll help you troubleshoot.

Step Three

Is your Novel still plugged in? Good. Click "Install Panda Home". This will install a second Home Screen that you will use to replace the slow-ass one provided by Pandigital. You have to install Panda Home otherwise you will not be able to run other apps.

When it's done, what does the screen say? If the second line from the bottom says Success, good. Go on to step four. If it says failed then please visit SlateDroid and we'll help you troubleshoot.

Step Four

Is your Novel still plugged in? Good. Click "Reboot the Novel". Wait a moment. Okay, you can unplug it now. When you see a screen that looks like the following, select 91PandaHome.

P.S. At this point you probably want to install apps. The best way to do this (for me, at least) is on the command line. Copy the file you want to install to this folder you're working in. BTW, I included some of the reading apps I like in the ZIP file. Open a command prompt and navigate to this folder. Type in this command:

adb install (file_you_want_to_install)

If that doesn't work then please visit SlateDroid and we'll help you troubleshoot.

Credit

meth - original work on the USB driver

clockworx - volume button hack

Nate the great (me) - this set of instructions