When you go to Settings, Device Info, About Your Nook, what software version is displayed?
Is it 1.1.5? I think that's the correct version for the US nook glow at this time. (and, are you in the US, and/or using a US model? the overseas models are different.)
One very quick thing you can try - after you back up your current, working but unhappy, device - is to download the OC kernel at this thread:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=34292271#post34292271
The 166 version of that kernel works on both the US and UK glow devices from what I've read, but this process is best known for US devices.
You can either use Clockwork to install it or - if you're comfortable with linux commandline tools and your device, while unhappy, is rooted and you have ADB installed - you can use this very fast technique based on
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=24168019&postcount=21
Be sure to name the file uImage.
from a command prompt on your computer:
c:\adb connect <nook-ip-address>
c:\adb push uImage /media
c:\adb shell
$
$su
#mkdir /media/boot
#mount -t vfat /dev/block/mmcblk0p1 /media/boot
#cp /media/uImage /media/boot
#umount /media/boot
#rmdir /media/boot
#rm /media/uImage
If all you need is a kernel, that kernel supports the Glow functionality.
You may need to replace more of your boot environment, though. If you do, it becomes important to know if you're using a US or UK glow.
I have made and tested an image of just the first partition of my NSTG (us version, running the overclock kernel) and am able to reboot properly after putting it on my device.
I made it by :
# dd if=/dev/block/mmcblk0p1 of=/media/part1.img bs=1M
and as a test, then did a
# dd if=/media/part1.img of=/dev/block/mmcblk0p1 bs=1M
both via ADB on my rooted device.
If you are rooted, this may be something you could try IF you're using the US release. If not, you could ask one of the folks with the UK release if they'd be willing to image their boot partition for you.
As far as I can see, that first partition image might reenable the glowlight part of your NSTG, but I'm not 100%. Before you go there, it's important to know what release of the software your recovery image was able to set up for you.