Nook Color powering off

[elphn1]

I am so glad to see that other people are having this issue! I thought it was just me.

My nook color is not rooted. Mine started turning off on its own a few months ago. Once it shuts off, it takes a few times of pressing the on/off switch to completely boot back up. I thought that maybe the 1.2 software update would fix my issue. Sadly, even after the update, it would still either just shut off, or ask me if I want to power off. Even if I choose "cancel" it would still shut down. When I would try to power it back on, I would not even get the the nook color splash screen before it would shut back off. After going through this about 3 times, it would finally boot all the way up. Sometimes I am just holding it while reading when it shuts off. Other times, it is when I lightly place it on a table or other flat surface. Battery life had nothing to do with it, since sometimes it was fully charged when it shut off. Yesterday, when it powered back on, it told me that it was resetting to the default, which means it is now back to the factory default software and set up. I am calling the customer service number when I get home tonight.

[Adryanna]

I have been having the same problem with my nook powering off and re-booting endlessly.  I thought it was some kind of problem with the new updates that would eventually work itself out.  Yesterday when I turned it on it had gone to its default settings and I lost everything on it.  I had to start from scratch again and re-install the updates.  I called support and explained what was happening to my nook and he had never heard of anyone having this issue.  He talked me thru the installation of the new updates (which I already knew, had done it once already) and that's it.  I got no explanation as to what was causing the problem or why.  If it persists, I'm going to the B&N store.

[salbenn]

I hope this helps! I also have had all the same problems with my NC. I am not rooted. It was driving me crazy tonight shutting itself off, not powering back on, freezing over and over again. I finally took my sd card out and now it is working perfectly on and off the net, plugged in or not. Hope it last.

[ferretladySS]

I have been having the same problem but it has never given me an option on if I wanted to power off or not. It just turns off and holding the power button doesn't turn it back on unless I try at least 3-4 times. It will power back on on it's own most of the time if I just leave it alone once it shuts down but that takes a few minutes. It makes no difference if I'm on the internet, playing a game, or reading. It only started doing this after I installed the update, so I thought it could be an update bug that needs to be worked out. I'm getting very annoyed with this but don't want to lose everything I have on my NC so am reluctant to return for replacement.

[nookfrustrated]

Same problem with mine - powering off on it's own. Installed the update at BN store, and downloaded Angry Birds game. Then the issues started. it constantly turns itself off whether reading a book, online, or playing a game. Yesterday it rebooted on its own, and the original new owner screen came up.I had to re-register, download the new version myself tonight. The angry birds game is on my shelf with books, and not with apps. My only option is to click "read" by it, and then it says the format can not be read.....frustrating! Anyone know how to reinstall a game?

[roustabout]

I wouldn't look for a fix if this was happening to you, I'd have BN replace the Nook.

The following is pure speculation

I think we're seeing descriptions of two different failures here, I think they're both hardware failures, and I don't think either is user-serviceable.

One, at the power switch. 

Two, at the leads from the battery.

The power switch and power contacts have been reported as flaky in a few posts I've seen.  And I'm not happy with the quality of that bit of the case assembly.  It's plastic on plastic, held in place by plastic, and you can feel the power button rock in and out at rest. 

I think the folks who are reporting that the dialog pops up on screen saying "do you want to power down?" and then having the device power down on its own are seeing a problem with the switch contacts.  They're getting a bogus press. 

The battery to device connection and the power button connection could either (or both) be responsible for the abrupt, no-warning, shutdown and restart. 

I'm suspcious of a separate battery lead problem one, from the instant shutdown behavior, and two, because I've pulled apart the nook and had a poke around recently.  The leads for the battery, the headphones/volume and the power switch are all of a type I've not seen before:  they are pushed into place from above rather than being slid into place.  Then, between those three connectors and the back cover of the Nook Color, three foam rubber pads are set down on top of the connectors. 

After taking the back off, it seemed that the goal was to provide resistance to the connectors popping out of place.

Yes, that's really what it looked like.

http://www.zdnet.com/photos/nookcolor-teardown/487636?seq=23&tag=photo-frame;get-photo-roto

There are two problems:  First, in a high-humdity environment, the pads reduce airflow and may enhance corrosion along the connections under them, which would lead to flaky audio, and possibly the battery even connecting/disconnecting or charging erratically.  Second, because the connections are basically pressed together rather than slotted in, if the foam gets misaligned or weakens with age, the contacts could simply begin working their way free of one another and the connections would start getting flaky. 

If those battery or power contacts were working free - hidden behind the back cover - you would see a properly charged NC begin to lose power and spontaneously restart. 

It does sound  like BN is good about replacing the NC when it does this, which is good. 

So, as I said, I wouldn't look for a fix if this was happening to you, I'd have BN replace the Nook.

(Yes, Sam I realize the syntax there doesn't actually apply to me since I've posted what translates as "hey, everybody, my warranty's void" plenty within earshot.   I'd tear apart the bad one and start making measurements to see if I couldn't improve the speaker and test my theory about conductivity in battery leads.) 

[de68ie]

Purchased nook Color last Week (5 days ago)..  Updated to 1.2 --Did the manual update, and FINALLY was able to get the update completed. 

I have had issues where nook went to sleep even while using (crosswords, reading, or Angry Birds). 

Automatically launched a reboot back to old system yesterday, and wiped out all my settings etc. (temporarily)  Finally got it setup again, and now, it randomly goes to sleep, reboots etc while fully charged. If it is not plugged into power or computer, will not get past the initial boot screen.  (I have to find a wifi spot that doesn't require login to complete the latest "setup")

I am quite tired of this.  Even when it's plugged in, I'm having issues with it turning to it's side and shutting off on me.

[bb62]

My Nook just started this last night. I can't get it to stay on.  I tried downloading the latest software version today and it's still doing the same things. My Nook is about 6 months old. Would love to know how to fix this. 

[DanRNJ]

It's still in warranty.  If you live close enough to a B&N store just take it in for a replacement.