[Google Pixel 3 Questions & Answers] beccaw:
I think I'm probably totally hosed here, but for lack of any other immediate solutions to my problem I'm hoping someone might be able to give me a hand. This is my first post on this forum and I'm a total noob when it comes to any kind of software development so please excuse any misuse of terms or complete lack of knowledge. And yes, I've checked the noob thread and sadly wasn't able to find an answer. This may be a bit long-winded for background, my apologies.

I bought a Pixel 3 about two weeks ago, from a Verizon store (which I understand may be source of my problems as the Verizon ones are not unlockable), and a day or two ago the power button became stuck down, causing the device to restart over and over again, and eventually, it seems it wiped the OS. All that's showing is a message saying "Can't find valid operating sytem. Device will not start."

I stupidly tried to pry the power button out, which I did, and broke it (the plastic bit on the button, though what's underneath can still be pressed and used), and when I contacted Google they said I'd have to repair the phone at one of their authorized retailers for them to honor the warranty and send me a refurbished one (with a working OS). Sadly that would mean spending about 300 dollars to repair the screen, though it isn't broken, but I guess the button comes with the screen. I don't have the money for that at the moment, it would probably be a month before I do (and being without a phone for a month isn't really an option right now with my job), and I don't think they'd honor the warranty otherwise. I'm in a pretty tough situation. So I'm trying to re-install the OS, but I'm not sure if that's possible.

All buttons are use-able, and I am able to get to the Fastboot Mode screen. I've tried putting it in recovery mode, restarting bootloader, and every other option on that screen accessible by the volume up-down key, and nothing different is happening.

I've downloaded the Android SDK Tools and tried to begin the process of re-installing using these three guides:

android.gadgethacks (dot) com/how-to/complete-guide-flashing-factory-images-android-using-fastboot-0175277

android.gadgethacks (dot) com/how-to/android-basics-install-adb-fastboot-mac-linux-windows-0164225

android.gadgethacks (dot) com/how-to/open-adb-fastboot-command-window-right-directory-0195269

(Sorry the links are unclickable - new users can't post links to avoid spam apparently)

I've made it to Step 5 in the first guide - the phone is in fastboot mode, it's communicating with my computer (running Windows 10) but when I try to use the command "fastboot flashing unlock" and "fastboot flashing unlock_critical", I get error messages saying "FAILED (remote: 'flashing unlock is not allowed')", and "FAILED (remote: 'Invalid argument unlock_critical')", respectively. I think it's important to note that I did not have USB debugging enabled on the device when it stopped working. And once again, I bought it from a Verizon store, meaning it's their version, and from what I've been reading on these forums that means it's locked and cannot be unlocked.

Am I totally screwed? Is there any way at all to unlock the Verizon version? Is there a way to flash the factory image without unlocking it? Do you think someone in a repair shop would be able to re-install the OS without it costing upwards of $150? I'm terribly disappointed, I just got the phone and was absolutely loving it. I'm sad that Google won't honor the warranty despite the fact that I didn't do anything to cause the original issue, it wasn't dropped or damaged by water, but I do feel pretty stupid now for messing with it after the fact and removing the button. You live and you learn I guess.

Thanks for taking the time to read this and offer help. I'll be checking this regularly and if any other information is needed to find a solution please let me know.