My Nexus 7 (2013) is bricked... Can someone help?

I have a Nexus 7 (2013), 32 GB, Wi-Fi only. Purchased 13 months ago. I woke up the morning after the warranty ran out and it would not start up.

Here's what it WILL do:
- When I press the power button to start it, I get "Google" on the screen, but that will go on for days... I presume infinity (or when the battery dies).
- I can power it off by holding the power button for 15 seconds.
- When I hold the power button AND the Volume-Down button, I get the bootloader "FASTBOOT MODE" screen. From there I can select START, Restart Bootloader, Recovery mode, or Power off.
--Selecting "Start" repeats the above infinte "Google" screen.
--Selecting "Restart bootloader" brings me back to the same screen.
--Selecting "Power off" works to power the device off.
--Selecting "Recovery mode" shows "Google" for a little while, then gives me an Android on its back, with the door open, and a red triangle with an exclamation point. Following the directions of an ASUS support person, I held the power button down and pressed Volume-Up, which brought me to an "Android system recovery" screen, with 7 options:
---1. reboot system now (results in infinite "Google" screen)
---2. apply update from ADB
---3. wipe data/factory reset
---4. wipe cache partition
---5. reboot to bootloader
---6. power down
---7. view recovery logs

Attempting to view the recovery logs shows an I/O error (no details).
Apply update from ADB looks for a file which I don't have.
"Wipe data/factory reset" (chosen at direction of ASUS support) attempts to format /data..., however results in "E:failed to mount /cache (invalid argument)" and a series of messages that it can't get to /cache files.

"Wipe cache partition" has the same result.

ASUS support indicated that the bootloader needs to be reinstalled and directed me to send the device to Jamaica where they would replace the system board at a cost of $230, which is more than the cost of a new tablet.

I've tried a couple toolkits that run on Win7 to access the device, but they need it unlocked and rooted... neither of which work when attempted. I can get to a screen on the tablet requesting permission to unlock the device, but when given that permission... it hangs. The message on the PC is that it is proceeding with the unlock, but that's the last I see happen and I've let it try for days.

Any insights, suggestions, questions, etc.?

Thanks!!

 

https://developers.google.com/android/nexus/images

Make sure you get the right image.

Edit: just noticed you said it wasn't unlocked.

 

Yeah, and that's where things get "sticky"; it doesn't seem to cooperate when I try to unlock it. I'm hoping someone else has been to this spot and solved this issue.

Thanks, Adrynalyne, for your thoughts.

 

I did some research for myself, and I just haven't found anyone who was able to get out of this position without rma or hardware replacement.

It is a shame, that unlock check in Lollipop and Android M is stupid incarnate.

 

Thanks for the information!! I am extremely disappointed in the way Android handles this situation... and I think your expression for it is perfect. If I had known about this BEFORE encountering this failure, I would have unlocked the device. :***