Need Help! Can't Install New Update or Custom ROM

[erjennin]

Since this is the best forum in the world, I'm hoping you guys can help me out.

I recently purchased a Sprint Galaxy Nexus off of craigslist. When I received the phone I noticed it was still on 4.1.1. When I tried to install the update to 4.2, it would start installing and then the dead android robot with the red triangle and an exclamation point would show up.
My guess was that this phone had been previously hacked and there was something wrong with the way it was brought back to stock.
I downloaded Wugs Nexus Root Toolkit to try and completely flash the stock ROM and start over, however it still won't let me do the update. The phone boots and operates normally on 4.1.1 , but won't install the update. Furthermore, when I try and boot into recovery (power+vol up+vol down), I get the dead robot again. My assumption is that there is something wrong with the recovery portion of the software.

My goal is to go back to completely stock as if this phone just came out of the box.

Can someone help me?

 

[jj14x]

Is the bootloader unlocked? (Quick check - when rebooting, is the lock symbol at the bottom of the screen - when "google" shows at the top - locked or unlocked?)
Is there a custom recovery flashed?

Check out this link - this is part of a 'how to root' thread, but it tells you what to do with the 'dead' android.

Returning to stock may be a little complicated if the seller didn't give you the nandroid backup files from right after that person rooted. But check out this link for steps on how to go back to stock

 

[erjennin]

Is the bootloader unlocked? (Quick check - when rebooting, is the lock symbol at the bottom of the screen - when "google" shows at the top - locked or unlocked?)
Is there a custom recovery flashed?

Check out this link - this is part of a 'how to root' thread, but it tells you what to do with the 'dead' android.

Returning to stock may be a little complicated if the seller didn't give you the nandroid backup files from right after that person rooted. But check out this link for steps on how to go back to stock

Yes, the bootloader is unlocked.

Right now, when I try to flash into recovery, it shows the dead robot.... so I don't think any recovery is flashed. (Is this possible?)

I've read through the "return to stock" threads, but nothing has worked. Does anyone have an explanation for what's going on and how to fix it?
I'll try those links again (thank you).

 

[jj14x]

Right now, when I try to flash into recovery, it shows the dead robot.... so I don't think any recovery is flashed. (Is this possible?)

Yeah - the first link I provided tells you what might be going on withe dead robot. You may have to flash recovery a second time, root, and go into the OS, and change a file using a file explorer at system level.

 

[erjennin]

Yeah - the first link I provided tells you what might be going on withe dead robot. You may have to flash recovery a second time, root, and go into the OS, and change a file using a file explorer at system level.

Followed the directions and there is no file in the entire directory named "recover-from-boot.p" that I can find.

Any ideas?

 

[jj14x]

Well, I'm stumped - that file should be there in /system - I had the dead android issue when I flashed the custom recovery on my GNex, and this is the solution that worked for me.
Sorry - hopefully other more knowledgeable folks can provide some pointers.

 

[Justin Cardwell]

When it goes into stock recovery it show the android and a red sign. Go onto google and search Toroplus stock android 4.2.1 and then activate dev. mode on your phone and click usb debugging and transfer the file over. save file as 'Update' and the click apply update and scroll to the file and click ok.

 

[Justin Cardwell]

Root it and download goo Manager from play store, click settings and then go to install openscriptrecovery. Allow superuser. This will get you a custom recovery.