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I could use some help with my nexus 7

I've tried to flash custom ROMs on my nexus 7, 3 times now, each time has the same result. I flash the ROM, then the Gapps and wipe data/cache. What happens afterwards is an endless boot cycle and a frozen bootloader (after rebooting into bootloader pressing up and down do nothing, neither does power button.) So i pull the battery and reboot into bootloader, now it works. This time it is a little different. Usually I can go into CMD and re flash stock, fallowing the instructions on this forum. This time when I try the command "adb reboot bootloader" I get "Failed to find device",even tho my computer recognizes it as an "Android ADB Interface." So I decided to try and re install my ADB drivers and I get "Failed to handshake device' or something along those lines.
My bootloader also reads a little differently than usual so I'll list the information below, it might be helpful.
"Product name - grouper
Variant - not defined yet
HW version - ER3
Baseband version - N/A
Signed - not defined yet
Lock state - unlocked'"
So I'm stuck with a nexus 7 in bootloader and my computer is not able to connect to it. Any help would be nice. I've already tried fallowing the returning to stock guide 3 times so please don't give me a bunch of **** about that.
Help would be nice, information/instructions would be amazing. Please help.

CptHoovsen said:
Help would be nice, information/instructions would be amazing. Please help.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
After you boot into the boot loader, Windows sees the device name as Grouper - and there is no Windows driver for Grouper.
Try to find a Linux system to connect with. Linux is much less picky about device names.

[Q] New Nexus 7, Win 7, Nexus 7 Toolkit can't boot into Fastboot, "Too Many Links"

[Q] New Nexus 7, Win 7, Nexus 7 Toolkit can't boot into Fastboot, "Too Many Links"
SOLVED!
So I went ahead, tried flashing the stock recovery, no joy (no recovery menu at all - just a bad-android image). After a while, tried flashing CWM touch (via Toolkit) - and now it's working. So, everything seems good now.
----------------
UPDATE 5 - PARTIALLY SOLVED:
So, after the last couple of things, I began to suspect bad hardware, as I alluded in those updates. And I was right.
But... it wasn't the hardware you might have thought.
It was...
(this is embarrassing)
The USB cable.
Yes, the USB cable. It was the wild variations in recognizing the fastboot mode that made me suspicious. Replaced the USB cable with another one and... stability, achieved. Unlock, root, recovery program and SU program all went without a hitch. In fastboot mode, for the first time, the device serial number shows.
HOWEVER - things are not perfect. The recovery mode from the bootloader still gives the bad-android icon.
I just used the toolkit to reflash stock recovery back to the device. This completed rapidly, without error. I then tried the recovery option in the bootloader, but again, no joy.
So at this point, I point a finger partly at the tools used to flash this - they claim there is no problem, yet the flash doesn't take at all, and no error is given. As a sometimes firmware developer, I'm used to flash being followed up by a checksum or other test to verify success of the flash. Is that not being done (shame, if not). If it is, then apparently the flash works, but the software being flashed doesn't? The stock recovery???
Any ideas on how to get this back? I just did the full unlock, which wiped all user data, and proceeded from there. I now have a solid connection, but don't really know how to get things back.
Perhaps I need to manually reinstall 4.2.2?
----------------
UPDATE 4:
So, on a lark, from fastboot in Android, I selected the "Recovery" option - it starts to boot that, then gives the Android with red triangle and exclamation point. So, looks like the recovery was toasted.
This was a brand new device earlier today. It has been completely wiped twice, and none of this has gone away. Seriously: bad device?
-----------------------
UPDATE 3:
So, I thought I'd try the direct approach, as outlined here:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1741395
Device is in Fastboot, Device Manager shows it as ok.
I run fastboot flash recovery <file> -- and IMMEDIATELY get "fastboot has stopped working" - that's right, a hard crash in fastboot. And this is repeatable.
Am I wrong in thinking this looks more and more like a driver problem? I note that fastboot is recognized as a device maybe half the time - the other half, it gets an exclamation point in Device Manger. All I do then is restart the bootloader using the bootloader menu, and usually it fixes right up. But that's obviously a huge red flag, as the device should be recognized every time.
Is this a defective Nexus? The only thing that seems dicey is anything relating to fastboot/bootloader (which is, however, unlocked - or at least it says it is).
----------------
UPDATE 2: Using the "restart bootloader" in fastboot results in slightly worse non-recognition of the device. When I do that, I get a straight "USB Device Not Recognized" from windows - the device manager doesn't even show "Android Phone" as a class of device in this case.
---------------------
UPDATE 1: I found the thread talking about missing entries in the INF file. I added these, and got a somewhat, but not entirely, stable recognition of the Nexus 7 when in fastboot mode. Basically, sometimes it is recognized, other times it is not. By "recognized", I mean that the Windows Device Manager shows the device as "Android Bootloader Interface", with no indication of a problem (which it only does in fastboot mode - it shows as a composite ADB device when booted normally).
However - it seems it fails to recognize fastboot about half the time, although it seems that that is related to reboots - that is, a fresh boot, then going to fastboot through adb seems to work. But restarting fastboot manually fails to be recognized (Windows shows a bang by the "Android Bootloader Interface", and says the device "failed to start").
So, using 4.3.5 Nexus 7 toolkit, I tried to unlock the bootloader. Windows recognized fastboot mode, but the process errored out anyway, after maybe 15 seconds, saying "Too Many Links" - the same error as before.
Again, brand new 32gb wi-fi-only Nexus 7, with 4.2.2 update and the most basic configuration only (dev mode, usb on, etc.)
Any ideas?
-------------------------------------------------------
ORIGINAL
So this is a new, out of the box nexus 7. The only setup has been to connect to wifi, update to 4.2.2, and enable developer mode and USB debugging.
Running latest paid-for toolkit - Update 29 Feb 13, version 4.3.5
Just about everything requires the insecure fastboot, but every time I try any operation that attempts it, I get:
Booting into fastboot mode
downloading 'boot.img' ...
FAILED <status read failed <Too many links>>
I basically can't do anything - in this case, I was trying to backup.
It is being done on 64-bit win7 system that had drivers, and worked for another nexus 7 a couple months ago. But, just to be safe, I uninstalled the drivers, rebooted, and installed.
However, I see this on the home page of the toolkit:
FASTBOOT MODE [If serial shows, drivers are installed]
List of Devices attached
ADB Mode
List of devices attached
<numeric code> device
From this, it seems I should expect the word "serial" to show up if the drivers are installed?
I then unplugged the Nexus, refreshed the menu, and both Fastboot and ADB show no devices.
I then plug in the nexus - I get the usual two tone "device attached" sound, no warning or error message from Windows.Checking the Windows device manager, I see a section "Android Phone" with the entry "Android Composite ADB Interface". There are no unknown devices, which would seem then that drivers are working.
So, another refresh of the main menu, and again, I see, under ADB MODE, a single device ID number, and the word "device".
I don't know what to make of this. Apparently, per the "if serial shows" message in the main menu, drivers a NOT installed. But according to Windows, they are.
This perhaps matches the fastboot failure.
Should I see "serial"?
In any case, what do I do to get the drivers to work properly if they aren't?
And if they ARE working, then what is wrong with fastboot?
At this point, I think the toolkit is broken, and worked a couple months ago.

No, you should not see "serial". Your devices serial number should be displayed under whichever path is valid at that time. If you are in the bootloader, your device serial number should be under "fastboot". If you are booted normally, your device serial number should be under "ADB".
I used this guide:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1741395&highlight=guide

Erik.Leach said:
No, you should not see "serial". Your devices serial number should be displayed under whichever path is valid at that time. If you are in the bootloader, your device serial number should be under "fastboot". If you are booted normally, your device serial number should be under "ADB".
I used this guide:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1741395&highlight=guide
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've since figured that out. There was nothing at all, when in fastboot mode, only ADB. But then I found the thread describing two missing INF entries. I added those, updated the driver, and now the fastboot mode (which wasn't even recognized by windows) is now ok in the Device Manager. However, in the main menu, it shows, literally, "??????????" instead of a serial number - that is, there are question marks instead of serial number, Following that, a few spaces and then "fastboot".
Apparently, there are still inadequacies in the driver as relates to very, very new models running 4.2.2 (which this is).

BTW, I do believe I read somewhere that the stock recovery initially comes up with just the android on his back with the warning sign. You then have to hold power and tap volume up or something like that and the recovery menu becomes visible. I could be wrong, I know I had to do this on my old GNex, and those were the steps that worked.

Erik.Leach said:
BTW, I do believe I read somewhere that the stock recovery initially comes up with just the android on his back with the warning sign. You then have to hold power and tap volume up or something like that and the recovery menu becomes visible. I could be wrong, I know I had to do this on my old GNex, and those were the steps that worked.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Interesting. I did re-flash the stock recovery, and could get that without the android image.

stickplayer said:
Interesting. I did re-flash the stock recovery, and could get that without the android image.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That may have been a GNex thing that I am remembering. Either way, I'm glad you got everything all straightened out. :good:
I'm still kinda new at this stuff too, but if you need any more help, feel free to hit me up. Even if I don't know the answer to the question, I'll help you find it.

Erik.Leach said:
That may have been a GNex thing that I am remembering. Either way, I'm glad you got everything all straightened out. :good:
I'm still kinda new at this stuff too, but if you need any more help, feel free to hit me up. Even if I don't know the answer to the question, I'll help you find it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks! Next is trying to put 4.x on a Samsung Vibrant.

[Q] I have a broken N7.

*** Returned my N7 (2012) as faulty and swapped with a 2013. Thread Ended. ***
I've been having trouble with my N7 (2012) for a while now.. Ever since the 4.3 update.. Slow response, hangs, and so on.
The latest 4.3 update would not install. Just a lying down droid with '!'.
My tablet was rooted using Wugfresh toolkit and was perfect before 4.3.
So i thought i'd go back to the start and use the toolkit to go back to root and flash stock+unroot.
Went through all instructions, it got to the part where it says ' You tablet will now reboot a few times. Please wait.'
Waited for 30 mins and nothing..
Now got a tablet with the google name and the unlock symbol. Options available are start, bootloader, recovery, off
All bring back to same screen.. Bootloader option displays -
Fastboot mode
PRODUCT NAME - tilapia
VARIANT = tilapia
HW VERSION - PR
BOOTLOADER VERSION - 4.13
BASEBAND VERSION - 1231_0.18.0_0409
SERIAL NUMBER - 015d88ffa8540a1c
SIGNING - not defined yet
LOCK STATE - UNLOCKED
During the flash boot to stock it wiped all directories etc so I now have an empty tablet..
Any ideas what I can do now? I would prefer to go back to stock 4.2 if possible... but if not, any help would be nice...

filking said:
I've been having trouble with my N7 (2012) for a while now.. Ever since the 4.3 update.. Slow response, hangs, and so on.
The latest 4.3 update would not install. Just a lying down droid with '!'.
My tablet was rooted using Wugfresh toolkit and was perfect before 4.3.
So i thought i'd go back to the start and use the toolkit to go back to root and flash stock+unroot.
Went through all instructions, it got to the part where it says ' You tablet will now reboot a few times. Please wait.'
Waited for 30 mins and nothing..
Now got a tablet with the google name and the unlock symbol. Options available are start, bootloader, recovery, off
All bring back to same screen.. Bootloader option displays -
Fastboot mode
PRODUCT NAME - tilapia
VARIANT = tilapia
HW VERSION - PR
BOOTLOADER VERSION - 4.13
BASEBAND VERSION - 1231_0.18.0_0409
SERIAL NUMBER - 015d88ffa8540a1c
SIGNING - not defined yet
LOCK STATE - UNLOCKED
During the flash boot to stock it wiped all directories etc so I now have an empty tablet..
Any ideas what I can do now? I would prefer to go back to stock 4.2 if possible... but if not, any help would be nice...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi, filking...
I have no experience with toolkits, so I can only advise you to download the Factory Image for your 'tilapia'/'nakasig' Nexus 7, and fastboot flash it.
Using fastboot isn't that difficult, and I'm at a loss to understand why toolkits have become so popular, when fastboot is so easy to use. Maybe people don't like command line interfaces...??
Anyway, there's a thread here which explains it all in detail.
Good luck.
Rgrds,
Ged.

Hi, thanks for the reply.
I think, in the world it is now, everyone is used to menus/mouse clicks to perform functions.
Anyway, I have read that thread already and my problem is when I get to the commands. All 'adb' commands don't work.
'adb devices' shows nothing.
I've tried in bootloader mode and recovery mode... All show a droid lying down. Fastboot mode shows the above message. Rest show, 'boot failed'
Help.....

filking said:
Hi, thanks for the reply.
I think, in the world it is now, everyone is used to menus/mouse clicks to perform functions.
Anyway, I have read that thread already and my problem is when I get to the commands. All 'adb' commands don't work.
'adb devices' shows nothing.
I've tried in bootloader mode and recovery mode... All show a droid lying down. Fastboot mode shows the above message. Rest show, 'boot failed'
Help.....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You don't need ADB to flash a stock image. ADB only works with a fully booted Android tablet. Indeed, if you have no bootable OS on your tablet, ADB is redundant and will not work.
You need to use fastboot...
What do you see when you type fastboot devices? (whilst the N7 is booted into the bootloader).
Rgrds,
Ged.

An update....
I went through wugs full driver setup part and deleted existing drivers. Installed the drivers again...
The device is detected on my PC.. But, seeing as it is stuck on the bootloader screen and I can't get into the system to turn on debugging, no adb commands work.
Device is listed as an 'unknown' android device when plugged in..
Seen a few other posts similar, but a lot say, 'it's ok, i've fixed it' without saying how.
anyone?

sorry, our posts must've been at same time..
Fastboot devices shows
015d88ffa8540a0c fastboot
*EDIT* Looks like i've misread the instructions in the post linked to above...
It got to the part where is said 'type in adb devices'... I read that, it didn't work, and I stopped.
BUT, I was already in bootloader mode, so didn't need that bit..
My error. (it's been a hot day!!! is that a good enough excuse.)
Continuing with the fastboot commands now... I'll update how it goes..
Thanks for replies.....

Update. All resolved.
I tried with the 4.3 img, but for some reason, it went through all the steps correctly. fastboot reboot resulted in the bootloader screen again.
Weird I thought, so I downloaded the 4.2.2 img and tried that and it worked perfectly..
Many thanks all who did, and it's a reminder to all. Re-read instructions..
:highfive::good:

[Q] Nexus 7 doesn't boot

Hello all! I'm having a problem with a Nexus 7.
This is my brother's tablet that he hasn't used in a few months. It hasn't been unlocked or rooted.
I can get to the boot screen with the android lying on it's back and the options with the volume buttons. The other info on that screen which might be pertinent:
Fastboot mode
Product name: grouper
variant - grouper
hw version - er3
bootloader version - n/a
serial number -
signing - not defined yet
lock stated - locked
When I go to recovery mode and push the power button, it says "booting failed" in the upper left. It still says Google in the middle, and has the options with the volume in the upper right, but the android is gone as is the text in the lower left.
I have adb and fastboot installed, but I can't seem to do much since the tablet is locked. I tried unlocking a few times, and it's always failed. Usually it doesn't give a reason, but one time I got this: "Failed (status read failed (Too many links))"
I've tried googling this and can't find someone with the same problem.
Anything I can try?
Thanks!

Nexus Tool Kit

rbeavers said:
Nexus Tool Kit
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
OK, I have that now, but I can't get very far. I think I need to enable debugging on the device first? How can I do that in that state it's in now?

swirv81 said:
OK, I have that now, but I can't get very far. I think I need to enable debugging on the device first? How can I do that in that state it's in now?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Anything else I can try? Not sure if I'm missing something with the tool kit, but I nothing I tried seemed to help.

swirv81 said:
Anything else I can try? Not sure if I'm missing something with the tool kit, but I nothing I tried seemed to help.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you can get into the Bootloader, just run the below via ADB
Code:
fastboot oem unlock
Once you unlock the Bootloader you can use the "Soft Brick" Mode in the NRT to Re-flash back to stock and see if that will allow you to boot. You do not need debugging enabled to use the Nexus Root Toolkit if you use the Soft Brick mode, but you must have an unlocked bootloader.

ariesgodofwar said:
If you can get into the Bootloader, just run the below via ADB
Code:
fastboot oem unlock
Once you unlock the Bootloader you can use the "Soft Brick" Mode in the NRT to Re-flash back to stock and see if that will allow you to boot. You do not need debugging enabled to use the Nexus Root Toolkit if you use the Soft Brick mode, but you must have an unlocked bootloader.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've tried unlocking a few times, but after a few minutes of it saying "unlocking" it fails.

swirv81 said:
I've tried unlocking a few times, but after a few minutes of it saying "unlocking" it fails.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What says "unlocking" (computer or tablet) and are you trying to do it through the Toolkit, or via command prompt ADB? I would first make sure your computer is seeing your tablet (ie. that the drivers and Fastboot are installed correctly). Do you know that they are?

ariesgodofwar said:
What says "unlocking" (computer or tablet) and are you trying to do it through the Toolkit, or via command prompt ADB? I would first make sure your computer is seeing your tablet (ie. that the drivers and Fastboot are installed correctly). Do you know that they are?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I was trying this with the command prompt. I could get fastboot to list the device when using that command. And the tablet and command prompt both say "unlocking" when doing that. I would assume that means the computer is seeing the tablet and everything is set up correctly?
I think I tried to unlock with the Toolkit, but I believe it told me that device needs to be in debugging mode.

Hey there, I'm having a similar problem.
My info is the same except my bootloader version is 4.18 and my lock state says it's unlocked. I tried to use the root kit but I'm having trouble with the fastboot device being detected. Driver solutions attempted were the google ones, and the pdanet ones. I can't really do the manual thing since that involves the device being recognized when plugged in, and since I can't enable usb debugging... anyways the automated drivers windows says were installed successfully so I don't really know what else to do.
Note: I do know the usb port on the tablet and computer work since when plugged in, it will show that its charging with the white battery icon.

Same issue here
I was in the process of upgrading manually from android 5.0 to 5.0.2 owing to the serious lag that came with lollipop. The OTA was taking longer and testing my patience as most apps were crashing due to lag.
Therefore decided to go for manual flashing of the image. I have never done this before. I was able to make the computer see my device by disabling mtp via storage under setting in the device. This is one thin I noticed to make the device visible to the computer.
After installing the device drivers my nexus was visible within the device manager but it couldn't be seen as an external storage until I played with the MTP. I had even unlocked the boot loader before all this.
So everything was going well and while I started to think all is well, I ran into this issue. From adb I tried to run 'flash-all.bat' from the new device image. Something went wrong somewhere - don't know what it is, but from then on, I am stuck in the fastboot screen or into recovery mode but when i try to boot the device bu hitting the power button - I get this message 'Booting failed'.
I am also trying to use NRToolkit but no use. When I connect my device it is seen in the device manager in my pc but cannot see it as a storage. Therefore when I now try to run the 'adb devices' command it cannot see my device. From what I saw initially, until I enable/disable mtp mode adb was not able to see my device to communicate.
Now when I tried NRT and installed the drivers once again, it is being detected in the device manager but when I run the driver test within NRT - I get a ADB device not found error. Within NRT all that it says is go into device setting>storage to enable it which I know but at the current status of my device in boot screen/recovery mode how can I go in to enable this. This is not helpful.
Somebody please suggest a workaround for this issue. I know I am close to the solution but not sure how to enable the MTP or at least made the NRToolkit to say 'ADB device found'.
My fastboot screen shows these details:
Fastboot mode
Product name grouper
Variant = grouper
HW Version – ER3
Bootloader version – 4.23
Baseband version – N/A
Serial number – 015d21d910141c0a
Signing – not defined yet
Lock State - unlocked
Please help.

[Q] Old Nexus 7, New Issues

Hey guys!
I've been scouring these forums for two days now making sure my specific issue hasn't been discussed and, from what I've seen, I've won some sort of "annoying issue" lottery.
I was handed a Nexus 7 (ME370T) a few days ago and told "if you can fix it, it's yours."
I can get to the bootloader no problem but not the actual OS. Here's the data from the bootloader:
Fastboot Mode
Product Name - grouper
Variant - grouper
HW Version - ER3
Bootloader Version - 4.23
Baseband Version - N/A
Serial Number - xxxxxxxxx
Signing - not defined yet
Lock State - Locked
Long story short, I've installed the Android SDK and when I plug the tablet into my PC, I can see it as "Google Nexus 7 Bootloader Interface"
When I use fastboot devices, it sees the tablet just fine.
When I use adb devices, it doesn't see the tablet.
I've tried fastboot oem unlock and I get a FAILED (remote: (Unknown error code)) error.
I can run the unlock feature through the Nexus Root Toolkit but it reboots to a black screen (my device manager sees it as "Asus Transformer Prime APX Interface")
When I finally get the thing rebooted to the bootloader (manually powering off and then back on), it's still locked.
I have no idea if USB Debugging was turned on or not. I keep reading that, to flash a partition to a new file, the bootloader doesn't need to be unlocked but every single time I try to fun fastboot, i get Failed, Bootloader is locked.
Am I nuts? I know I'm new to this but I'm fairly certain I've done everything right! You guys seem super knowledgeable and I hope you can help me out!
Thanks!