[GUIDE] ADB Explained : Installation & Basic commands

avi

Moderator
Staff member
Jan 27, 2011
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What is adb ?
adb stands for Android Debugging Bridge which comes with Android SDK when we install. It is a development tool which allows you to control and interface with your Android device.

In layman language, we will be using adb to perform copy, move, install apk operations on Nook Color internal storage.

Read more about adb from here.

Installation :
Thanks to XDA member thecubed who created simple installation package for adb.

Download Link - Click Here

1. Download it from above link
2. Make sure your Nook Color is unplugged.
3. Right click on downloaded package and run it as Administrator [if required]
4. Allow the package to extract to C:/ drive
5. Follow on screen simple instructions

Source - XDA thread - Link

Connecting Nook Color
Just plug your NC, Windows will start searching for drivers, tell it not to search over Windows Update instead search from computer for proper drivers.

When all drivers are installed, open command prompt [ Start > cmd ] and type :

Code:
adb devices

If you see your devices serial no., congrats, you're done !

adb Over WiFi
I hate cables. I transfer files to my Nook Color SD card over WiFi, then why not adb?

Simple. adb Wireless App, comes to rescue.

1. Go to Market, search for adbWireless [Alternative - ADB over WiFi] and install.
2. Open adbWireless app and tap on that big green button.
3. Your screen should like below :

screenbn.jpg


4. Now in your computer, open command prompt and type the address shown in app. Ex :

Code:
adb connect 192.168.1.106:5555

Voila ! your NC is connected now.

Basic Commands :
Following are the basic commands which we usually use :

pull - to copy file/dir from Nook Color to computer
push - to copy file/dir from computer to NC
delete - delete file/dir from NC
install – install apps on NC [either on SD Card or internal storage]
reboot - reboot your NC

In command prompt, just type adb list of all commands will show up.

Illustrations :
Pull :
The following command, copies the file avi.apk and saves it as file.apk under Android Tools directory.

Code:
adb pull /system/avi.apk file.apk

Push :
The following command will copy avi.apk file as fun.apk, from Android tools folder to /system

Code:
adb push avi.apk /system/fun.apk

Delete :
The following command removes file avi.apk

Code:
adb shell rm /system/avi.apk

Install :
adb can also be used to install apks. Place the downloaded apks in C:/ drive. for eg, I have placed angrybirds.apk in C:/ drive of my computer. To install it, just run the following command.

Code:
adb install angrybirds.apk

By above command it will install to internal storage. You can also install to SD card by -s switch.

Code:
adb install -s angrybirds.apk

Illustrative screenshot :

nookapk.jpg


Reboot :
The following command will reboot your Nook Color

Code:
adb shell
su
reboot

Quick tips :
1. The commands are case sensitive.
2. Using adb you will be accessing system files, play commands safely or else you might end up making your device unusable.
3. This guide is written assuming you have not installed Android SDK. If you have already installed SDK, then you have to install Driver Only pack from here
4. Make sure you have not installed adbWireless app or disable it otherwise.
5. If you're having trouble connecting it over USB, try the same with WiFi.
6. Knowledge of Unix commands will be quite helpful
 
Last edited:

Fuganater

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Staff member
Feb 8, 2011
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I'm curious... why do this when you can easily load apk's via a file explorer?
 

avi

Moderator
Staff member
Jan 27, 2011
425
65
You can do that. But adb has got more higher powers than File Explorer. Also adb comes to rescue for people who cannot install apps from SD.* Using adb you can take copy of apks, install custom roms and do lot other things, this post is just to give intro.

*happened with me once. Even that check > uncheck method also didn't worked.
 

suefourmet

Member
Jan 14, 2011
58
0
I am trying to follow these directions using ADB wireless to
see if I can get MY APPs to show up in Market on my
HCv.4 2nd edit installed internally.

No problem with the Wireless so far, but I don't know how to
get the "unzip gapps" to work. When I try the script below, I get "unzip is not recognized
as an internal or external command, operable program or batch file."

I'm thinking that the problem is that I need to put that zip file someplace where the computer can find it, but am not sure about unzipping before starting the script. (I hope this makes sense.)

Thanks.

unzip gapps-gb-20110120-signed.zip
adb remount
adb push system/app/GoogleServicesFramework.apk /system/app
adb shell chmod 6755 /system/app/GoogleServicesFramework.apk
adb push system/app/Vending.apk /system/app
adb shell chmod 6755 /system/app/Vending.apk
adb push system/app/Talk.apk /system/app
adb shell chmod 6755 /system/app/Talk.apk
adb push system/app/GoogleContactsSyncAdapter.apk /system/app
adb shell chmod 6755 /system/app/GoogleContactsSyncAdapter.apk
adb reboot
 

avi

Moderator
Staff member
Jan 27, 2011
425
65
It is not the problem with ADB in anyway, it's with Windows. By default you cannot unzip any files using command prompt in Windows.

Now try this, unzip the files using WinZip or similar utility and try installing apks.
 

feverhost

Super Moderator
Staff member
Nov 26, 2010
868
48
ADB was very useful when I nearly bricked my Augen Gentouch78....
 

suefourmet

Member
Jan 14, 2011
58
0
Okay, Avi,

But here is the part that I don't understand.. Where do I unzip this file to? What location? And how do I point the adb to the correct location in order to proceed?

Thanks,

Sue
 

avi

Moderator
Staff member
Jan 27, 2011
425
65
From you're running adb command, there you have to extract them.

Didn't get it ? here it goes :
-copy the zip file to C drive and extract the files. You should see apks now in C drive.
-now Start > cmd > type cd /
-you should see C:/ prompt :

$cmd.JPG

-now run adb command :)
 

suefourmet

Member
Jan 14, 2011
58
0
YESSS! Thanks, Avi. That was exactly the small piece of information that I couldn't quite remember how to do. I ran the script, but unfortunately, I still am not getting Myapps when I go to Market. I guess I'll just keep reading the HC forums to see if someone else is having the same problem and knows what else I can try. ( I actually can live quite easily without Myapps working, but I thought it was worth a try to use the adb commands.)

Sue
 

avi

Moderator
Staff member
Jan 27, 2011
425
65
Welcome :)

Now coming to your another issue of myapps , how about installing new version of Market ?
 

suefourmet

Member
Jan 14, 2011
58
0
The older version of Market didn't work, either, so I guess I'll just have to be content with using AppBrain if I want to see my list of apps. I love using HC, though and can't wait until the real thing gets released.:)

Thanks again,

Sue

UPDATE: I finally found a thread over on XDA that had a solution that worked for me. I don't know how to link to that particular thread, sorry. The OP was RAZIR (I think.)

Sue
 
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