G5 VS987 upgrade problem

[AC Question]

About 4 moths ago I bought a new still shrink wrapped G5 VS987 on ebay, it came out of the box running VS98713A. There have been updates since then, but none of them have come down OTA. Not sure if that's due to not being directly on Verzion. I'm presently using "Boom!" a Verizon MVNO.

I've tried the LG "Software Upgrade Assistant" for a couple months, but it would never recognize that the phone was plugged into the PC. The PC sees the phone just fine. It shows up in explorer and I can transfer picture files, etc. With Upgrade Assistant I tried both "file transfer" and "software installation" as the USB connection type on the phone.

Recently I noticed there is another tool called "LG Bridge" so I uninstalled Upgrade Assistant, and installed Bridge. It also fails to recognize the phone is plugged in.

I am using Window 10 on an AMD based Lenovo PC.

LG Bridge is version 1.2.28

Windows device manager shows:
Portable Devices/LGE Android MTP Device
LG Electronics Inc, 8/23/2016, 4.2.0.0

What is the secret to getting LG software to recognize that one of their phones is connected to the PC so that I can update the phone?
thx

 

[the tall guy]

Hi, did you have any luck updating the phone?

 

[B. Diddy]

Welcome to Android Central! A carrier-specific phone typically has to be on that carrier's network in order to receive official OTA system updates. I'm not sure if the Boom network qualifies -- it probably doesn't, if it isn't a wholly owned subsidiary of Verizon.

 

[Bontra]

I'm still searching for an answer. Found another PC tool names "LG Mobile Support Tool". It finally recognizes the phone is plugged into the PC, but incorrectly reports that firmware 13A is current even though 14A, 15A, and 26B have been released.