1 reply to this topic

[Linda Murphy]

Hi folks,

 

I have a Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 tablet. WiFi only (no 3G or 4G) The model is GT-P5113 TS

 

Earlier this evening, I sent the Chrome app to my tablet using my Google account on my Windows 7 laptop. (I.e. logged into google on the laptop, used the google play store - I THOUGHT - and found Chrome and installed it to my tablet. I'm beginning to think that I wasn't actually AT the Google play store, however. Because...

 

Later, I used the Chrome app on the Galaxy tablet. I went to the html5test.com site. I also had Dolphin browser installed and went to that site with that browser, to compare their html5 scores.

 

Anyway, a while later, I pressed the power button and swiped my unlock pattern. The tablet was - ALL BY ITSELF - doing all sorts of things in the settings menus. It was going so fast, I think it was scripted. I tried to stop it, but I wasn't able to shut down the tablet. There is no way to pull out the battery on this model. (Otherwise I would've ripped off the back and yanked the battery immediately)

 

Eventually whatever had control of the tablet locked me out by making the lock screen not register any touches. So when I would press and hold the power button, the menu showing "Power off" would show, but tapping on Power Off did nothing (nor did tapping anything else in that menu)

 

The 3x3 dot pattern for entering my unlock pattern shows on the screen, but when I touch the screen, there were no lines on the screen tracing my finger movements

 

Pressing and holding the power button would not turn the tablet off. It only rebooted the tablet over and over again, to the lock screen, from which I could do nothing. I tried tracing my pattern over and over but nothing happened.

 

So I found out I could hold down the volume up and power key at the same time, and get to some screen asking me if to install a custom OS. I have no idea what that means...

 

Then I held down the volume down and power keys for a while, and I got to the 'reset to factory settings' menu. So that's what I did.

 

I reset the tablet to factory settings.

 

When it came back from the factory reset, I was still unable to use the touch screen! It asks setup question - what region, with default US. But then I can't tap the button on the screen to move beyond that setting.

 

Is it possible that a virus has changed the hardware or the firmware to disable the touch screen? That seems like what's happened.

 

I can put the screen back on the screen that reads: "Warning!! A custom OS can cause critical problems in phone and installed applications. If you want to download a custom OS, press the volume down key. Otherwise press the volume up key to cancel."

 

If I cancel, it reboots back to the screen to set up the tablet after the factory reset, but I still can't use the touchscreen to do anything.

 

I'm going to let the battery run down and then recharge it. I have no idea if that will help.

 

Is the device permanently bricked?

 

If there is a better forum for my question, please let me know where to find it.

 

Thanks!

Linda

 

 

[8210GUY]

I have never touched one of these, but it does sound like something really nasty was going on, I don't know how long you held the power button for, but it can take quite a while before it forces a shutdown, more so if something is maxing it out I would guess, and it feels like forever lol.

 

Anyway, I appreciate you said you tried resetting to the factory settings, but I want to make sure you did it via what they call a hard reset, to start with if you have a memory card in there take it out, it could be the "infection" (assuming it is that) is hiding on there, and jumping up as soon as it starts again, and if this works do NOT put the card back in, I will cover that separately after this is done.

 

To begin with press and hold the Volume Down button (it's the closest to the power button) keep this pressed in until you get to where I say let go.

 

Now with that button held down, press and hold the Power button down, when the Samsung logo appears let go of the Power button, while continuing to hold the other one down.

 

When the Android appears with the menu you can let go of the Volume Down button, now you have to use the Volume buttons like they are up\down buttons to navigate through the selections, and use the Power button as a return\OK function, but just use a single press and let go straight away to accept the menu selection.

 

Using the Volume Down button scroll down to the "Wipe Data\Factory Preset" option is highlighted (bare in mind this will wipe EVERYTHING), then press the Power button to accept.

 

Next in the following screen there should be a load of No's against the options, scroll down until "Delete All User Data" is highlighted, and press the Power button to accept it, after this you should see it formatting etc to prepare for the next step.

 

Once the format is complete the previous menu should be showing (if it isn't already), and from what I can make out the top option is Reboot System, and is already highlighted, if not scroll to highlight the Reboot option, then press the Power button to accept it, now all being well the tab should reboot and work normally.

 

Should this fail, then the only thing I can suggest is to completely let it drain the battery, and once totally dead, leave it that way for say 1 or 2 days, because even though theres not enough charge to power it on, there will still be a residual charge, and if it's infection based (which it appears to be from what you have said), it could be hiding in that little bit of power thats left.

 

If you have done all this already, then jump straight to this bit, then after a day or so (longer the better in a way not knowing how long it will take to fully drain it), then do the above again, now if this means the unit will be powered on, and going crazy as you have said, I would rather it had no access to the net, unfortunately the only ways to do this are unplug the router, but this means no other device can use the net.

 

Or if you have a friend see if you can leave it at their place (assuming you have not used their net and the details saved or it would be as bad as leaving it at home), but it needs to be over say 100 yards from your place, so you can't get anyone next door kind of thing, as it may still be able to pick up your signal, if you do go for leaving it at a mates, let me know first and wait for me to check it will be safe to do this, the last thing we need is for it to transfer elsewhere if it is an infection, hope this helps.