TL:DR - After a factory reset, How do I get the Chromecast with Google TV to add another user without it crapping the bed?
It started with the Google TV remote. It would not connect to the Chromecast with Google TV (CGTV). I reset the remote using the support article indicating to remove batteries, hold home button, reinsert batteries, wait for light to flash, pair remote. Never paired. I changed batteries, then rinsed and repeated... Still no pairing. I decided bag it I'll factory reset and just go scorched earth policy. Here's where the real fun begins. The device comes back from factory reset. I use my up to date Pixel 6 with up to date Google Home app to add the CGTV. It is seen by my phone as a new device. The Google Home app directs me to a setup page for installing a separate Device Utility app. The CGTV is now displaying the setup screen with the QR code. I use the newly installed Device Utility app to walk through first, turning off WiFi on my phone as instructed by the app. Scanning the QR code and then Device Manager never completes the activation. I go back to setting up the CGTV the old fashioned way of user name and password. The device setup completes, installs apps, lands on the select a user to sign on. I sign on, apps finish setting up in the UI. No Google Assistant available at this time. The remote button when pressed won't bring up the functionality. Press the Netflix or YouTube remote buttons. Nothing. Try to go to device settings. Can't. Won't let me even select the avatar on the upper far right. Get sneaky and use the search functionality to type in 'settings', this takes me to settings. I try to check for software update. The CGTV reports latest software. I try to add a user to see if it's my profile that's jacked. Can't add users. I go to my Google Home app on my phone to see if i can use the virtual remote. Not available says to check and ensure CGTV software is up to date. See two steps back/did that already. Restart CGTV to kill in memory processes and try getting into settings again. Everything is back to normal. Go back in to add another user. The cycle starts again. The add user function completely makes the CGTV crap itself. I can restart the device and it's all happy. I try to add a user, the screen either goes black or just blanks out and comes back to the settings screen for add user. Because I'm a glutton for punishment, I factory reset again following setup via user/pass again since the Device Utility app is a black, soulless piece of work that would strip the fun out of a herd of unicorns having a birthday party on a cloud of cotton candy . Same issues arise after the reset.
