[Galaxy Tab 2 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] tzxlyd:
Billysam,

Thank you for your reply. So how did it get rooted because I did not do that? The wallpaper app that pops up was not installed on the tablet by me it just started to pop up like a virus. I had installed apps from aptoide (chess, dominoes, holdem poker, etc.) and there are pop up ads that will randomly show up when playing those games. However, I have not tried to modify the tablet in any other way since I got it a few years ago.

The only reason I even did the factory resets was to get rid of the pop up from the wall paper and several other apps that were constantly trying to install on the tablet. Because I do not have the unknown sources box ticked so that I have to verify and approve non-google apps that is the only reason the apps were not installing. However, even with the security protections that I mentioned turned on the apps began installing themselves so that is the only reason I tried to factory resets. I had already tried to do the system update before the reset and I was getting the message that my table had been modified so I started making the connection in my mind that the apps were being viewed as system apps.

I have no problem in going back to stock settings or even staying rooted is that is what has happened -- it is just that I did not root the tablet myself. Knowing that it has been rooted by these apps (or viruses possibly) is disconcerting to me -- I just hope the flash will actually remove them since your assessment has me alarmed. The table is not in power saving mode so if the rom or kernel has been customized again that would have been the result of these intruding apps. Currently, the app does not show but that is because I can send it to the trash and the Wi-Fi has been disabled. Once I enable the Wi-Fi the apps force their way back onto the tablet.

The "Unfortunately, System Update has stopped” message pops up all the time even with the Wi-Fi disabled. Of course that message started about the same time as the apps started installing themselves onto the tablet. I always had the automatic update setting on so I never paid attention to whether the tablet was updating. I just assumed Samsung was sending out updates whenever they were available. I guess, in hindsight I do not actually remember seeing any updates being downloaded from Samsung so your statement about waiting endlessly is definitely correct.

So when you say the Odin mode will install with default do you mean that the tablet will go back to the original factory settings and it will allow for the update to work as normal? Or will it still be rooted and I will need to get any updates from this Xda website? Again, at this point I do not really have a preference either way I just want to know as much as I can before I take any actions.

Another curious observation is that I have not enabled Wi-Fi as I stated earlier and when I go to settings to look at the application manager the only app that it shows is the “Galaxy Tab 2 Screensaver” taking up 23.52MB of space but I don’t know if that is a system app or if it is part of the self-imposed sexy wallpaper app that I had to delete. I ask because all the other system apps do not show up in the app manager under the settings – for instance alarm, amazon kindle, paper artist, playbooks, music player, YouTube, Polaris Office, etc. The Screensaver is of course one of the apps but none of the other 60 apps are listed in the application manager only the “Galaxy Tab2 Screensaver” – I did not notice if this Galaxy Screensaver was already there since I never change the screensaver settings on my tablets. When I compare this to the way the application manager looks on my 7” (GT-P3113) the 7” has all of the apps listed in the application manager.

Also, when I compare the Android Version (4.2.2), Kernel Version (3.0.31-1978026, se.infra@R0301-05#1, Tue Nov 19 18:37:42 KST 2013) and Build number (JDQ39.P5113UEUCMK3) they are virtually the same. The only difference is the 7” has slightly different Kernel Version (09#1) and Build number (P3113) so I am confused by the initial statement of a custom kernel possibility or modification of the tablet except that the self-imposed app(s) make the tablet appear to be rooted or modified? Does that make any sense? I am not a tablet guy by any stretch of the imagination but I have had to troubleshoot many a laptop plus I have had more than a few Coby tablets that all tapped out of life at some point. The Samsung tablets were actually replacements for those Coby tablets (may they R.I.P.) – in short I am still very confused. Where can I get further help in understanding not the steps to flash the rom but an understanding of what that actually does?