Help and Advice for First Time Attempt at Rooting

[Buckaroo9]

Hello XDA community, I am a 100% new noob who is interested in getting started with rooting. I am going to get right to the point with what I am working with, what I have done, and what I need some help with. May my journey with lovely pictures be a helpful guide for all those who follow me (I find it is easier to understand things with lots of images).

1. Used this thread to begin my journey on rooting an old Nook HD tablet.
2. Started with a factory reset but it automatically updated according to my settings page, so one of my question is; does it matter what software version my device is running before I root it?
3. Followed instructions in PeteInSequim guide and created an 8 GB Micro SD Card with all the files.
   • Green = CM-12.1_Installation_20150925 Instructions PDF
   • Light Blue = Files from NookHD-bootable-CWM-6046-for-emmc-BOOTFILES-rev0-(07.13.14)
   • Red = CyanogenMod 12.1 (No official release on their website)
   • Orange = ClockworkMod_Recovery (Couldn't find website for other versions)
   • Yellow = TWRP Recovery (They may have a newer version)
   • Purple = TK-GAPPS (Which I downloaded the STOCK package, and am not sure if that is compatible)

This is what I have done so far, and would like advise on what I should do before I advance, specifically around the TWRP VS. CWM with relation to the GAPPS packages. In the tutorial (PDF), I believe they use the CWM to install TWRP, I think TWRP is better and is the only of the two who will support my GAPPS package, but would like someone to help clarify so I don't make a permanent mistake. Also, should I use newer versions of anything? Should I even be attempting CM-12.1 if it is not officially supported? I don't want to have to keep making changes and not changing backgrounds or settings... should I go for the more stable CM-11, if so would I have to completely change my process?

Thanks for the help,
Buckaroo9

I'm a bit lazy when it comes to installing incremental releases, so I prefer to do simple "dirty installs". This means re-flashing without wiping the old installation, which can be done in seconds with no consequences.

But a dirty install will probably fail if you have made user-interface changes, even if you try to reverse out those changes before flashing. You can still install revisions any time you wish, but you must do the wipes first. This means you will have to go through the set-up procedure all over again, which takes a lot longer than a dirty install.

CM-12.1 for our Nooks should eventually be offered among the official nightly releases, and hopefully a milestone release now and then. I might consider UI tweaks after installing one of these, then settle down for a long quite period of no more updates.

If a stable CM-12.1 ever happens, we'll all be installing CM-13 by then.

PeteInSequim

Could you please explain this concept slightly more to me? How much would I be able to change and what would the consequences be? If I make changes would I always have to do a clean wipe, would that mean I would have to not make changes and constantly wait for updates? This uncertainty is kind of pushing me away from rooting...

 

[digixmax]

...
This is what I have done so far, and would like advise on what I should do before I advance, specifically around the TWRP VS. CWM with relation to the GAPPS packages. In the tutorial (PDF), I believe they use the CWM to install TWRP, I think TWRP is better and is the only of the two who will support my GAPPS package, but would like someone to help clarify so I don't make a permanent mistake.

The files you got look right, although I'd recommend using the smaller micro or even nano GApps packages as you can always add more apps later on.

Just use CWM to flash TWRP first, then boot to TWRP to wipe /data and flash CWM and GApps.

Also, should I use newer versions of anything? Should I even be attempting CM-12.1 if it is not officially supported? I don't want to have to keep making changes and not changing backgrounds or settings... should I go for the more stable CM-11, if so would I have to completely change my process?
...

CM12.1 for the HD/HD+ is not officially supported and, more importantly, is no longer enhanced/maintained (its original developer has recently moved onto CM13). I've been using CM12.1 for about a month now: the apps' performance can be noticeably more snappy but not consistently so, on the downside couple of apps/features that used to work on CM11 no longer work.

If you're looking for a reasonably newer but stable CM version, I'd suggest you try CM11 (either M12 snapshot or one of the recent "nightly" releases).

 

[Buckaroo9]

Just use CWM to flash TWRP first, then boot to TWRP to wipe /data and flash CWM and GApps.

Is there any reason TWRP can't flash itself?

I'd recommend using the smaller micro or even nano GApps packages as you can always add more apps later on.

Is there any downside to using a larger GApps, and if I can always add more, does that mean I can mix and match, are the essentially just packages of Apps that I am side-loading?

If you're looking for a reasonably newer but stable CM version, I'd suggest you try CM11 (either M12 snapshot or one of the recent "nightly" releases).

I am definably leaning towards more stable, but in your opinion, what features would I loose from CM12 (Android 5.0 Lollipop)? Someone made a good point that, the most advanced, newest, and coolest software will always be unstable. You have to trade off the cutting edge for reliability and support.
As a new member to rooting, I think I may start with more stable things, and then work my way up.

 

[digixmax]

Is there any reason TWRP can't flash itself?

The TWRP flashable zip file you have contains a TWRP image that is compiled for internal EMMC. Once installed, it can be used to flash CM, GApps, or another version of CWM or TWRP to replace itself.

To flash from SD you need to find and use a TWRP recovery image that is compiled for SD.

Is there any downside to using a larger GApps, and if I can always add more, does that mean I can mix and match, are the essentially just packages of Apps that I am side-loading?

You can use a Zip archive program like 7-zip to open up and browse the content of these GApps zip packages to see and compare their particular mixes of apps.

I am definably leaning towards more stable, but in your opinion, what features would I loose from CM12 (Android 5.0 Lollipop)?

This depends on your particular use and choice of apps for the tablet, but as examples, the Hulu app and USB Host feature which work on CM11 don't work on CM12.1.