[Zenfone 2 Laser Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] sj-dan:
For the solution, scroll to my lowest comment​

Hey guys, I need help with this Asus Zenfone 2 Laser that:

Cannot boot to any OS (asus logo pops up, freezes, and then a blue screen flashes for a really short period, before it powers off, see video here.)

Can't download the unlock app to unlock bootloader

Can't access ADB

Cannot access Recovery mode

Can't "factory reset", apply update over ADB, etc.

Bootloader is locked

Can't flash custom recovery, boot TWRP, or really anything...

See fastboot reference below for more info

$ fastboot boot twrp-3.7.0_9-0-Z00T.img

Sending 'boot.img' (31066 KB) OKAY [ 0.987s]
Booting FAILED (remote: 'unlock device to use this command')
fastboot: error: Command failed

$ fastboot flash recovery twrp-3.7.0_9-0-Z00T.img

Sending 'recovery' (31066 KB) OKAY [ 0.987s]
Writing 'recovery' FAILED (remote: 'Permission denied, phone is protected')
fastboot: error: Command failed

$ fastboot flash boot boot.img # (Original boot.img from factory image)

Warning: skip copying boot image avb footer (boot partition size: 0, boot image size: 17980722).
Sending 'boot' (17559 KB) OKAY [ 1.478s]
Writing 'boot' FAILED (remote: 'Permission denied, phone is protected')
fastboot: error: Command failed

$ fastboot flashing unlock

FAILED (remote: 'unknown command')
fastboot: error: Command failed

$ fastboot oem device-info

(bootloader) Device unlocked: false
(bootloader) Charger screen enabled: false
(bootloader) Display panel:
OKAY [ 0.003s]
Finished. Total time: 0.003s

As someone who has only worked with Google Pixel phones in the past, I'm very frustrated for a few reasons.

Firstly, why the hell is the ONLY WAY to unlock a bootloader through an app that was released in such a clandestine, under-the-table way?

Second, why is the manufacturer gatekeeping the recovery files? The only way I was able to find the stock recovery.img is through a comment on a Reddit post (ironically posted by an ASUS Employee).

Third, I've been scouring the internet for many, many days trying to find any kind of emergency recovery method, but every single tutorial acts on the assumption that the bootloader is unlocked, and that boot.img, recovery.img, etc. can be flashed.

Enough about the frustration. Now let's talk about what I've tried so far.

I tried ASUS Flash Tool (Finding ADB drivers was a whole different fiasco for this device), and came up empty handed, as it doesn't detect the device when in fastboot mode.

I tried using fastboot to flash boot, recovery, system, fastboot, and dnx/ifwi, to no avail.

I tried booting into recovery via `fastboot reboot recovery`, `fastboot reboot-recovery`, `fastboot oem reboot-recovery`, and by holding Vol Down while booting up. They all give the same result, which is just an instant (<1 second) reboot. My best guess is that recovery.img is either missing or badly corrupt, so the bootloader just gives up and exits immediately.

Please help. I don't want an expensive paperweight sitting in my drawer just because of a bootloop that wasn't my fault (seriously this device just bootlooped itself one day, I didn't flash a custom rom, root or anything like that).

Any help is appreciated,

Thanks in advance