Recovering a bricked Tab 2 10.1

[Rob Holyhead]

Hi all,


I’ve never really worked on Android machines before, but I have my friends bricked Tab 2 10.1, he’s not really computer savvy at all so I don’t think it’s been tampered with he says it failed after a official firmware update, unfortunately his wife has Multiple Sclerosis and uses the Tab 2 to access the internet and play games etc etc as she can’t get to a computer so I would really like to get it going for her sake.


I don’t really fancy jumping in blind, I have Odin and the Samsung USB drivers but I don’t know how to use it, fortunately my daughter had an identical Tab 2 10.1 which is working.


It is possible to backup my daughters Tab 2 firmware and flash it on to the broken one? If so can anyone be kind enough to walk me through it step by step? And let me know what other software I need?


I’ve tried doing a factory reset on the broken one but it comes up with an error, I can’t really remember what it says but ill post it when I get chance, other than that it loads the Samsung splash screen and goes no further.


Thanks very much


Rob

 

[funkylogik]

Nah unless both tabs were rooted (hacked) with custom recovery that's not possible I'm afraid.
What I'd do is find a good guide to flashing official firmware using Odin (find the right firmware for your exact model (and carrier if it's not just a wifi tablet) from sammobile.com

 

[funkylogik]

Here's a decent guide to using Odin but it's for Samsung phones. Find the correct firmware on sammobile.com
http://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-s3/help/guide-odin-flash-guide-t1671969

 

[Rob Holyhead]

Thanks, I have the official firmware downloading now, but not from sammobile, ill get it from there.

 

[funkylogik]

Thanks, I have the official firmware downloading now, but not from sammobile, ill get it from there.

Doesn't matter where you get it from as long as its official and DEFINITELY for your model.
Good luck

 

[Rob Holyhead]

Doesn't matter where you get it from as long as its official and DEFINITELY for your model.
Good luck

I wouldnt know if its official or not, I'de rather get it from a reccomended site! Ive read that tablets have to be rooted to flash them, is this true even with official firmware?

The broken Tablet it currentley charging, Ill have a go in a few hours and post how I go on!

 

[funkylogik]

Nah no root needed for official firmware and doesn't affect your warranty

 

[Rob Holyhead]

Ok so according to Odin all went well, the tablet rebooted and did an update, but it still hangs on the samsung splash screan, is there any way I can get to a debug mode or something to find out why its hanging?

Cheers

Rob

 

[Rob Holyhead]

Never mind, it took a while but it loaded up in the end, Ill do a setup and see how it goes!

It worked! thanks very much funkylogik! i am really greatfull

 

[funkylogik]

No problem buddy, I was busy there sorry.
Well done for fixing your tab without needing your hand held.
Respect