Help Help fixing a VZW Galaxy Nexus that won't boot

[pschmutzler]

Last week, my unrooted, locked VZW G-Nex decided that it didn't want to boot up anymore. I had not downloaded any new OS updates or apps within about 2 weeks, so it seems as if it was a random stroke of fate.

It will either stick on the Google splash screen, or (if it boots to the OS) it will reboot endlessly after a few seconds. Also, using the hard reset in the bootloader does not work. It says that it works, but still has all of my data and settings when I can get into the OS for a few seconds.

I've tried following the steps found here to restore it to the factory image, but keep getting stuck.

After I have unlocked it and restart the bootloader, it comes back on re-locked.

I really don't care whether I use the factory image or something like Cyanogen, but can someone help me figure out where I'm going wrong? Thanks.

If this is the wrong place to post, my apologies. First post.

 

[Rukbat]

I'm making 2 assumptions here:

1) You never did anything to void the warranty.

2) The phone is still under warranty.

Bring the phone into Verizon, say "it stopped working" and let them worry about it.

 

[pschmutzler]

I'm making 2 assumptions here:

1) You never did anything to void the warranty.

2) The phone is still under warranty.

Bring the phone into Verizon, say "it stopped working" and let them worry about it.

#1 is correct. #2 is incorrect. Out of warranty by 5 months.

I do have the option of sending it to Samsung to be reflashed to it's stock image, but I'd rather avoid that hassle and time if possible. I understand that I may end up doing that anyway if fixing it myself is too complicated.

 

[Demache]

You could try the ODIN utility. It might be a bit excessive, but if this doesn't work, nothing will. This is the literal factory image (so you'll be all the way back on 4.0.2). But it should get the phone back in a bootable state.

Instructions and downloadables:
[HOW TO] Return to Stock Using Odin (VZW LTE ONLY)

 

[Digital Controller]

I would suggest trying to follows the Wuggs Root Toolkit to unlock and root the device, you will be able to put fastboot on the device and possibly push some factory images on the device.

 

[pschmutzler]

I would suggest trying to follows the Wuggs Root Toolkit to unlock and root the device, you will be able to put fastboot on the device and possibly push some factory images on the device.

Would that not require a PC though? I'm MAC only.

 

[pschmutzler]

You could try the ODIN utility. It might be a bit excessive, but if this doesn't work, nothing will. This is the literal factory image (so you'll be all the way back on 4.0.2). But it should get the phone back in a bootable state.

Instructions and downloadables:
[HOW TO] Return to Stock Using Odin (VZW LTE ONLY)

Unfortunately, looks like this requires a PC also, so no luck there for me.

My last attempts have gone something like this:

1 - Get to stock fastboot
2 - Unlock with fastboot-mac
3 - Flash clockwork mod recovery to device with fastboot-mac command
4 - Try to force reboot into that image on device
5 - Phone hangs on the Google splash screen with unlocked padlock icon at bottom.

I've tried using ADB commands to send the Cyanogen zip to the /sdcard directory in every place I can get to...no luck there either. Just won't succeed.

I finally got the phone booted into safe mode for a few minutes. I tried to do a hard reset in there, but it still crashed and restarted before it could complete.

I'm wondering if there's actually a hardware issue that's wreaking havoc on everything???

 

[Digital Controller]

Would that not require a PC though? I'm MAC only.

Well that stinks because I think it's Windows only.

You could try running that emulator of windows on your mac.

 

[jhawkkw]

Try flashing the factory image manually. That can be done no matter which OS you're using. This guide to help out:http://androidforums.com/android-sy...e-how-flash-nexus-factory-image-manually.html

 

[pschmutzler]

Try flashing the factory image manually. That can be done no matter which OS you're using. This guide to help out:http://androidforums.com/android-sy...e-how-flash-nexus-factory-image-manually.html

I actually tried that method already with no luck.

Thanks for all the tips. I decided today to just end the phone back to Samsung to see if they can reflash it back to stock. There's no cost to me, so that's the simplest route at this point.