Is there a way to flash an Samsung Tab back to Factory

[Bill Fox1]

I have just spent the better part of 3 hours with Samsung Tech support and the result is that now I can't do anything. I have been experiencing problems with one WiFi connection (of course it is my home one) in any case the the technical answer was to reset to the factory settings, but when I do that it asks to connect to a WiFi and I do and it does. The WiFi connects and connects to the internet but the DNS does not work (on this one site). After connecting to the WiFi I enter my gmail account and it goes off to connect to it but can't. Now I'm in the position that I can't get it reset. I guess I could go somewhere where I can get internet connection but this has taken way to long already besides I believe that when I get back home nothing would be different. I have rebooted the router (many time), told the Tab to forget the connection (Many times) when I boot the device I get both WiFi and internet connection because if I enter the IP address of a web site I will load the web site but if I enter the site name the DNS will not resolve it. This all started because I changed internet service and needed to change the DNS address. Several computers, several phones, and my Sony Tab all work just fine. I'm now stuck that when I try rebooting it is back to the setup but the set up wont work because it still is tring the old DNS address (atleast that is what I think is happening)
So now I'm wondering if there is a way to flash the Tab back to the pristine factory state and start right from square one. I don't think that removing the battery alone would do it.

Bill

 

[Rukbat]

but the DNS does not work (on this one site).

That says that whatever DNS server you're using is corrupted. If it's your internet provider, contact their tech support people and tell them which site it is, and let them see if they can connect to it. (Your phone can only use the DNS results the DNS server gives it - the only control you have is to set up a different DNS server, like OpenDNS, on your router.)

if I enter the IP address of a web site I will load the web site but if I enter the site name the DNS will not resolve it. This all started because I changed internet service and needed to change the DNS address. Several computers, several phones, and my Sony Tab all work just fine. I'm now stuck that when I try rebooting it is back to the setup but the set up wont work because it still is tring the old DNS address (atleast that is what I think is happening)

That has nothing to do with the phone. DNS is done at the server, not at the phone. If the phone didnb't connect any named site, it might be the DNS client in the phone, but if it doesn't connect to some named sites, it's the DNS server.

So now I'm wondering if there is a way to flash the Tab back to the pristine factory state and start right from square one. I don't think that removing the battery alone would do it.

No, you have to flash the factory ROM. Go to SamMobile Firmwares (you'll have to create a free account to download anything), enter the model number of your tab, find it on the list if one pops up, then find the latest ROM for your country/carrier. Download the file.

Install Odin. Unzip the ROM file into the Odin folder. Run Odin. Connect the tab to the computer. Odin should show a yellow box at the top with COM and a number (the number doesn't matter). If not, unplug the phone, install the SAMSUNG_USB_Driver_for_Mobile_Phones, then plug the phone in again.

Load each file into Odin (the APxxx file goes in the AP slot, etc.) Tell Odin to run and it'll install the ROM. All your data and apps will be gone, your Google account information will be gone, etc. Just like out of the box.

But I still think the problem is the DNS server - or that you're running a router that's using TKIP or TKIP+AES encryption and 4.4 or later Android. Some of them don't work together. Change the router to use AES encryption and it might fix things. (And you'll have to reconnect all your other devices - a couple of clicks each.)

 

[Bill Fox1]

It is not just one site it looks like the DNS is not being resolved. On the same router I have several other computers/LapTops/Phones/Tablets but this one Samsung Tab so I don't see how it can be the router. On the other hand I can go to another location and it loads just fine. Samsung says it is my service provider and my service provider says because all the other devices are working fine it must be Samsung. I'm about to dump the think in the nearest snow bank.