[Galaxy Tab 8.9 General] nirogu325:
Final Update 1.21.2014 » Changelog.

For support beyond this guide, please look in another thread. I no longer have this product.

Thanks for all your support in this thread!

This guide covers the following for models GT-P7300 and GT-P7310 in FAQ and How-TO sections:

Root/Unroot, Bootloader Mode, Odin, Recoveries & NANDROID Backup.

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Greetings people. The main focus of this guide is centralizing information and files about the title contents to help bolster this community. I'll be as clear as possible in this little guide and excuse me if my English isn't perfect (it isn't my native language) and this is my first XDA guide. Oh and a little disclaimer: I AM NOT RESPONSIBLE IF YOU IN ANY WAY DAMAGE YOUR TABLET. BY FOLLOWING THIS GUIDE YOU ACCEPT FULL RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOUR ACTIONS. ALSO PLEASE NOTE THIS GUIDE HAS BEEN WRITTEN WITH A WINDOWS PC IN MIND. IF YOU DON'T HAVE A WINDOWS PC AVAILABLE, GET ONE, BORROW ONE, I DUNNO, but you need one. That said, let's begin.

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FAQ Section​

About Root

What exactly is root and what does it do in my Galaxy Tab 8.9?

XDA user phonic covered the technical details in this post, but basically root allows you to access and control (through applications) the device's internal system files, therefore making you a "superuser". Some apps require root. Advantages such as ad-blocking and more are only available if your device is rooted.

About Bootloader, Recovery & Download Modes

What is Bootloader Mode and how can I access it?

Bootloader Mode is a menu where you manage core functions in your device. In order to access Download Mode (needed for ODIN) and/or Recovery Mode (needed to flash ROMs and more), you will need to enter Bootloader Mode by holding VOL- when turning ON your Gtab, selecting the mode using VOL-, and entering by using VOL+. The box icon represents the Recovery Mode and the other one the Download Mode. While inside Recovery Mode, the Power button will act as an "Enter" button while the volume buttons will move the cursor.

I read something about Stock Recovery and CWM Recovery. What are those?

There are two types of recoveries. The default one that comes with your GTab (Stock Recovery which looks like this) and the CWM (Clockwork Mod) one which has cyan-colored letters for our GTabs. To flash ROMs and manage your device a bit more, you need the CWM one.[/U][/COLOR][/B]

Can I flash the CWM Recovery using the ROM Manager app? Oh and which file format is compatible?

Refrain from that. As of this writing, the ROM Manager app does not have a CWM Recovery compatible with our specific GTabs. If you still proceed, you will softbrick your device and your device will have to do a trip to ODIN in order to work properly once more. CWM-flashable files are .zip files.

About NANDROID Backup

What's NANDROID and why is it recommended?

Simple, a NANDROID is a master backup tool which is available through the CWM Recovery's "backup and restore" menu. It stores everything in the ROM except the kernel and your SDcard contents such as pictures, music, documents, etc (so always backup those elsewhere). It's more like this analogy: a photograph which captured the exact state of your ROM, apps and all at the moment of backup. It is recommended in case of emergency and in case you need to go back to the latest working ROM. How-To section below.

About ODIN

What's ODIN?

ODIN's a troubleshooting/emergency tool in case your GTab bootloops (eternal restarting of a device, i.e. softbrick). Please note that if your device's screen doesn't even turn on (an example of a hardbrick) then you may be out of luck. This tool can save your GTab if you follow instructions, or

can hardbrick your GTab if you don't follow instructions

.

Where can I find ODIN? Do I need something like a driver to make it work? Also, which file format is compatible?

Yes you do need a driver first (provided at the end of this guide) and a Windows PC. The ODIN program is inside the zip inside the Toolkit provided at the end of this guide. As suggested by developer alterbridge86, use ODIN version 1.85. Regarding file compatibility, generally the .tar files are the ones for ODIN.

Does it remove Root and custom recoveries such as CWM in case of a warranty claim?

Yes. There are two ways:

[*]Flashing an ODIN image to go back to stock defaults (easier in my opinion). If you want to use ODIN then you have options in the Development forum, specifically this thread.

OR

[*]Flashing a CWM zip file (CWM, which is a Recovery, will be discussed in the Recovery FAQ below) after doing all wipes and restoring Stock Recovery (Restoring Stock Recovery How-To is below these FAQs)

Ok, so how do I use the tool?

The How-to section is below the FAQs.

How-To Section

Remember, all files mentioned in this section this way are included in the Toolkit at the end of this guide.

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[ Rooting ]:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Make sure to download the Toolkit from the link at the end of this post and put the "Root" .zip in your device's internal memory. You will enter Bootloader Mode, and then Recovery Mode as detailed in the About Bootloader FAQ above. You will now select "install zip from sdcard" then "choose zip from sdcard" and look for the Root.zip which you previously put in your SDcard. Select it with the Power button to flash it and then reboot your device. When your device finally boots, check if the SuperSU app is available, if it is then you're rooted now.

[ Fixing Root ]:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

In some cases a ROM can come with a broken root due to the superuser binary being located in the wrong system folder. Please flash the Root.zip package in CWM Recovery. The Root package will delete the offending binary from the wrong place and install it in the right place. For more instructions, see Rooting How-to.

[Unrooting]:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

For unrooting, proceed to Bootloader Mode and select the Recovery icon (detailed in the About Bootloader FAQ above) please flash the CWM Recovery flashable file provided in the Toolkit link at the end of this guide called "Unroot". Now reboot your device. If there is no app called SuperSU or Superuser in your apps list, then your device is now unrooted.

[Installing the CWM Recovery]:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

First, you need the file called either "7310_CWMR" or "7300_CWMR" depending on your model, inside your device's SDcard. The procedure is very similar to Rooting and either procedure can be done first. Go to Bootloader Mode (as detailed in the FAQ above), then Recovery (assuming you've Stock Recovery), select "apply update from /sdcard", then look for the file you put in the SDcard. Select it with the Power button to flash it. Now, reboot once more to Bootloader Mode, go to Recovery Mode and now you will see the CWM Recovery Mode. You are now ready to flash stuff. Please note you don't need root to flash a ROM, just this CWM Recovery. Be sure to follow the ROM thread's instructions precisely.

[Restoring Stock Recovery]:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

For this one you will need to use ODIN. Locate the file "Stock Recovery", which is a .tar file, perfect for ODIN's PDA section. Follow the ODIN 1.85's HOW-TO below.

[Doing a NANDROID Backup/Restore]:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

You need CWM Recovery for this one. Once you're in CWM Recovery, the process is straightforward. Look for the "backup and restore" menu, access it and you will see two options: "backup" and "restore". Select "backup" and wait until the system gathers all data and packs it as a backup located in your internal memory, inside a folder called "clockworkmod".

Once more, remember this will not backup your SDcard contents such as your documents, music, pictures, etc (so always have a backup of those elsewhere).

For restoring the process is the same. You need to do the following to ensure a proper restore and prevent issues that might pop up: Wipe your system using CWM Recovery's "wipe data/factory reset" and after that go to "advanced" and now "wipe dalvik cache". Now go to the "mounts and storage" menu and select "format /system". That was a full wipe. Now proceed to the "backup and restore" menu, select "restore" to select your backup. Remember to reflash the kernel if you had one that didn't come with the ROM (like _motley's for example).

[Using ODIN 1.85]:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Enter Bootloader Mode and then Download Mode as detailed in the FAQ above. Be sure to have installed the drivers (included in the zip at the end of this guide) in your Windows computer along with the ODIN program anywhere in your PC (also included in the Toolkit at the end of this guide). Open ODIN 1.85 in your PC, look for the "PDA" button, press it and look for the right file (which usually is the biggest-size file inside the downloaded and unzipped ROM .zip).

THE FOLLOWING THREAD OFFERS MOST ODIN IMAGES

. IF AVAILABLE, put the CSC, PIT and whatnot files in their corresponding places by pressing the corresponding buttons (IF these files aren't available, ignore this sentence). The PIT file is only necessary in case you want to have the Repartition option available and want to repartition the device (this is an alternative that can work in case of a really borked tablet full of bootloops even after a normal ODIN session without Repartition). Now, assuming you have the drivers installed in your PC, connect the device while in Download Mode, and you will see that ODIN will see it in a yellow rectangle in the upper section that says COM# (# being any number). BEFORE CLICKING "START" MAKE SURE "F. RESET TIME" IS CHECKED ON THE LEFT SIDE. Now, click the START button inside ODIN and it's flashing time. Wait until the blue meter fills. After ODIN says PASS in a green square, you can then reboot the device (long pressing the Power button is an alternative if it doesn't auto-reboot).

Toolkit Link: shorturl.at/pqCIY

SHA-1: 4DC13D60280ECA6352704AA72153E5E4EDF875E0

MD5: 59CC2548FC76D93075FDF8B392DAA1AE

Contains essentials such as: Drivers, Root, Unroot, Stock Recovery, CWM Recovery & ODIN files. Remember to unzip the package. Also, with drivers being included, you don't need to install KIES.​