N7 (2012) stuck in APX mode with corrupted bootloader

[matt]

http://www.powerbookmedic.com/Google-Nexus-7-Service-Parts-for-Repair-p-1-c-709.html

34.95$ for a 16 GB main board...

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk

[birdastrompgman]

Thanks!  I ordered a 32GB motherboard for $50 with free shipping.  I doubt I'd have come up with that idea, so I owe you an ice cream or lunch if we ever meet.  I'm still going to give the broken N7 to my son, but with the replacement motherboard.  I ordered myself a refurbished N7 (2012) for myself for $129.  It's hard to justify another $100 for the Snapdragon CPU.

[birdastrompgman]

Well, I stumbled onto a refurbished scratch and dent 16GB 2013 N7 for $185, so I'll probably send back the 2012 N7 and keep the newer one - or maybe I'll keep both.

[birdastrompgman]

The replacement 2012 N7 came in.  I unlocked the bootloader, flashed the flatline_grouper.img recovery, and flashed the AndroidRoot BL bootloader.  Then I made the blob.bin bootloader image,

I can now get in and out of APX mode using wheelie, but I can't attain nvflash status, because the "wheelie -b -blob.bin" command doesn't get me into the bootloader from APX mode.  It says it completed sending the bootloader, and my device should be ready for nvflash, but the Nexus 7 stops at the Google and unlocked lock screen rather than continue to the bootloader.  Nvflash  commands other than nvflash -h return "unknown command" messages.

Could the problem be that the N7 came with Android 4.2.1 and its newer bootloader?  I flashed back to 4.1.2, prior to changing the recovery and bootloader, since nvflash is set up for the 4.1.3 bootloader

[matt]

You've gone beyond me.. Did you reboot after flashing the boot loader? Seems it is written to a staging area and doesn't install until reboot maybe. Xda is a pain to navigate, but there is more posting on this issue.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk

[birdastrompgman]

Yes, I rebooted after each step, and repeated each of them.  I also tried each volume button position when doing the wheelie command, in case it might help boot into the bootloader.

I started a thread in the Nexus 7 help forum.  Searched for APX and nvflash attained, no useful hits and lots of bricked N7s in APX from peeps who didn't make bootloader backups.

[matt]

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2455927&__utma=248941774.1520026655.1395953394.1395953394.1395953394.1&__utmb=248941774.2.10.1395953394&__utmc=248941774&__utmx=-&__utmz=248941774.1395953394.1.1.utmcsr=google|utmccn=(organic)|utmcmd=organic|utmctr=(not%20provided)&__utmv=-&__utmk=34128034

I think this is the dev site, looks risky to me. Bad bootloaders in some factory images! Maybe this will get out of pre beta someday.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk

[birdastrompgman]

Thanks.  That's a new link for me.  I got my original bricked N7 running with the $50 32 GB motherboard replacement.  It was touch and go, as the unit was completely and utterly dead after the PCBectomy.  I left it charging all night, and it was still dead this morning.  I was writing a message to the seller (who has a 100% eBay reputation), when I unplugged and replugged the charger cord, and saw the battery icon go on.  An hour later, it booted into 4.4.2.  It's now rooted, and will go to my son, as I promised I'd give it to him.

Meanwhile, unit 2 is my test mule, and it's rooted and running 4.1.2, but it's not entering nvflash.  I just flashed CWM recovery, so maybe it'll enter nvflash with the new recovery replacing the flatline recovery.

[birdastrompgman]

I reflashed the OEM bootloader and CWM recovery. Still no progress to nvflash.

Sent from my rooted Nexus 7 using Tapatalk

[birdastrompgman]

I took my other 2012 N7 down to 4.1.2, reflashed the bootloader, went through the blob generating procedure, and couldn't attain nvflash with that device, either.