Nexus 7 won't load

[thestrangebrew1]

When I turn my n7 on all I get is the android with the red triangle over it and underneath it says no command. I'm unable to anything with it. When I press power & volume up all it does is dim the screen/undim it.

From what I've been reading, I think I need to load a recovery image, but when I try to load it, I'll either get a DLL error, or in command prompt it'll give me an error saying the image can't be loaded.

The DLL error is frustrating because its in the sdk\tools folder, I can see it & I've tried setting environmental variables in control panel to the DLL path & I still can't get my system to see it. Any help would be appreciated. I'm gonna try posting in the xda forums if I can't get help here I figd I'd try here first.

 

[Fardringle]

If your backup image isn't working, you can try a factory reset. This will erase EVERYTHING on the tablet so while it will probably fix the issue, it may not be the first option if you have data on the tablet that you don't want to lose.


* Press and hold Power until the device powers on, then immediately press and hold Volume Down (while still pressing Power). You will see the word Start with an arrow drawn around it.
* Press Volume Down twice to designate Recovery mode.
* Press Power to restart into Recovery mode. You will see an image of an Android robot with a red exclamation mark.
* While holding down Power, press Volume Up.
* Use the volume keys to scroll to "wipe data/factory reset" and press Power to select it.
* Scroll down to "Yes - erase all user data" and press Power to select it.

 

[thestrangebrew1]

If your backup image isn't working, you can try a factory reset. This will erase EVERYTHING on the tablet so while it will probably fix the issue, it may not be the first option if you have data on the tablet that you don't want to lose.


* Press and hold Power until the device powers on, then immediately press and hold Volume Down (while still pressing Power). You will see the word Start with an arrow drawn around it.
* Press Volume Down twice to designate Recovery mode.
* Press Power to restart into Recovery mode. You will see an image of an Android robot with a red exclamation mark.
* While holding down Power, press Volume Up.
* Use the volume keys to scroll to "wipe data/factory reset" and press Power to select it.
* Scroll down to "Yes - erase all user data" and press Power to select it.

I'll give this a shot but tbh I've tried every combination I can think of pressing with the power & volume buttons & nothing happens. unless its a timing issue on my part. Thanks, I'll post back this evening.


Edit: while on and I plug in my device, windows doesn't do anything, even with the Google USB drivers installed from the sdk.

 

[lopri]

For whatever reason you cannot get into the stock recovery (the process Fardringle outlined) with any sort of power connected. Try again with no cables attached.

 

[thestrangebrew1]

For whatever reason you cannot get into the stock recovery (the process Fardringle outlined) with any sort of power connected. Try again with no cables attached.

I've tried with/without cables trying to get into recovery over the weekend. For some reason it just won't work. Only thing it does is power + volume up, it'll dim/undim the screen. power + volume down did nothing. I'm thinking I have somehow lost the boot loader and its not doing anything now. Most instructions tell you to enable debugging but I can't even get to the x logo thing.

 

[lopri]

Have you gotten to see the stock recovery at all? It looks like this. (I used the Nexus 4 but it's the same in the N7) It is quite tricky and can take several tries on the N4 but it's pretty straight forward on the N7. Of course if you have installed custom recoveries you may not see this.

 

[thestrangebrew1]

Nope its a black screen aside from the android laying down. It was rooted running cwm (don't remember which version) then my daughter started playing a game. the game froze so I powered it down & now I can't do anything with it.

 

[lopri]

What is the Windows OS you're connecting your phone to? Does it correctly recognize "Android ADB Interface..." in Device Manager? If the answer is no, you may have to clean up the Windows' USB drivers. Also it doesn't hurt to try different cables just in case.

 

[thestrangebrew1]

What is the Windows OS you're connecting your phone to? Does it correctly recognize "Android ADB Interface..." in Device Manager? If the answer is no, you may have to clean up the Windows' USB drivers. Also it doesn't hurt to try different cables just in case.

Using windows 8. Haven't looked for adb interface in dm, & I installed the Google USB drivers from the sdk & it still didn't pick up the device. I'm going to try the drivers directly from Asus to see if windows will pick it up but I'm not sure what good this will do.

 

[lopri]

One way to check Windows drivers is a toolkit. -> http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1766475

In the following screen, click on "Full Driver Installation Guide - Automatic + Manual." Then go straight to "Step 3" and do run "Full Driver Test."

 

[lopri]

With the tablet connected, Device Manager should show something like this.

I remember having had to disable driver signing on my Windows 8 system. But it sounds like you were able to run ADB before, so I am not sure about it.

 

[thestrangebrew1]

Ran the toolkit and checked for drivers but there wasn't one located in the w8 pc. I installed the sdk on a w7 laptop and plugged in my device and still no drivers were installed. I'm completely stumped and this is very frustrating. I think I'm ending up with a $199 paperweight since it's rooted and my warranty is pretty close to expired, if not expired already (I pre-ordered when it first came out). I appreciate the help and if anyone's got more suggestions I"m all ears.

Edit: Is there a way to install the asus drivers without the device plugged in or recognized?

 

[thestrangebrew1]

Bit of an update although not sure its anything meaningful, but I noticed that while my device was plugged into the laptop, and the device ran out of juice, windows started looking for apx drivers and reported that the drivers were nit installed correctly. Only then would the n7 show up in device mgr under other devices. But it still won't install the adb drivers. To remove the apx driver error I have to reinstall sdk stuff.

 

[bupkus]

my warranty is pretty close to expired, if not expired already (I pre-ordered when it first came out).

Your warranty ends one year from the day it was delivered to your home.

 

[gorcorps]

This may sound stupid, but have you tried fully charging it from the wall? I only say this because when my nexus 7 was completely drained it did some really weird stuff that made me think it was broken already. But once I got it to charge it was fine. I've had multiple android devices and none of them behave like that when they're drained.

 

[jiffylube1024]

Since the nexus 7 was released around the end of July last year, you should still have warranty. Give asus support a call and try to obtain an rma. I had to rma two different nexus 7's that died on me and wouldn't turn on. In my experience, 2 of 4 nexus 7's I owned or bout for people crapped out within a few months - it frustrated me so much! It's a bit of a buggy product - why are you being so defeatist? Why not try to get an rma?

 

[thestrangebrew1]

Sorry been busy but problem still exists. I've tried plugging it in and charged fully but still can't do anything. As far as warranty, it was rooted when it locked up. I think it was running cwm, which would void the warranty anyways right?

 

[gorcorps]

Sorry been busy but problem still exists. I've tried plugging it in and charged fully but still can't do anything. As far as warranty, it was rooted when it locked up. I think it was running cwm, which would void the warranty anyways right?

If you can't even boot it, they won't know it's rooted. I also don't know if the Nexus warranties are as strict about that as the other guys.

 

[thestrangebrew1]

If you can't even boot it, they won't know it's rooted. I also don't know if the Nexus warranties are as strict about that as the other guys.

Thanks. I just called them & the tech admitted it was a strange issue. She said they'll submit an rma req & should receive an email. I have 79 days on my warranty so its good news so far.

 

[gorcorps]

Good luck. It'kl also be nice to hear if their CS department is good to deal with. Did you call Asus?

 

[thestrangebrew1]

No I called Google Play directly. Their CS is really good. I'm hoping they do an advanced RMA and ship the device prior to rec'ing mine. They did this last time when the speaker went out on my 1st N7.

 

[lopri]

While you are waiting - have you tried Google USB drivers? Make sure to uninstall anything Android related first in Device Manager.

 

[thestrangebrew1]

While you are waiting - have you tried Google USB drivers? Make sure to uninstall anything Android related first in Device Manager.

Yea I tried installing those several times. Tried installing ASUS drivers, as well as Samsung drivers (I read somewhere that some have had luck with their drivers for some reason). I contemplated borrowing my friends N7 and plugging it into my pc and go through the process of installing the sdk and drivers to make sure I was doing it correctly, but I fig'd I'd call Google to see if my warranty was still active and try to get an RMA. Still waiting for an email from them.

 

[thestrangebrew1]

Quick question. The padlock symbol when I boot the defective unit is unlocked (not the lock screen but right when I turn on the device). Does an unlocked bootloader void warranty? Ive seen some reports that devices have been repaired and sent back unlocked & some reports saying it may void warranty. Obviously I cant flash back to stock so Im a little comcerned about sendimg it back.

 

[Oyeve]

Quick question. The padlock symbol when I boot the defective unit is unlocked (not the lock screen but right when I turn on the device). Does an unlocked bootloader void warranty? Ive seen some reports that devices have been repaired and sent back unlocked & some reports saying it may void warranty. Obviously I cant flash back to stock so Im a little comcerned about sendimg it back.

Throw in microwave for 3 seconds. Then send in for switch.