How To Install Android 2.3.3 Gingerbread ROM On Samsung Galaxy Tab

Android 2.3.3 Gingerbread for the Galaxy Tab has finally arrived after relentless patience on part of the owners. While most new Android tablets have begun shipping with Android 3.0 Honeycomb, Galaxy Tab users were left stuck on Android 2.2 Froyo. Not anymore, thanks to XDA-Developers forum member Chainfire who also brought us the invaluable CF-Root kernels for Samsung devices. More on the ROM and how to install it on your device after the jump.

The ROM has been kept totally stock and is based on the JQ1 version of firmware for the Galaxy Tab. It is available in two variants: with bootloader and without bootloader. It is recommended by the developer that you flash the one with the bootloader because for him, the phone didn’t boot after flashing the one without the bootloader.
As for the bootloader, yes it is signed but not secured. This means you can install custom kernels or ROMs without any hassle.
Now let’s move onto upgrading your Galaxy Tab to Android 2.3.3 Gingerbread.

Editor’s Note: According to initial feedback from our respected users and commentators, the guide is creating more problems then delivering the claimed benefits. We have launched a full fledge investigation into this issue and will update this post with our finding and a better method, if available. For the time being, please do not follow this guide. For any further clarifications or information, please consult the XDA forums thread link provided at end of the post.
Disclaimer: Please follow this guide at your own risk. AddictiveTips will not be liable if your device gets damaged or bricked during the process.

Requirements:

• ODIN installed on the PC. Download
• Samsung USB drivers installed. Download USB drivers for 32 bit Windows | For 64 bit Windows.
• Gingerbread for Galaxy Tab. With bootloader | Without bootloader
• Galaxy Tab rooting files.

Instructions:

1. To begin, download the ROM and the rooting files from the download links above.
2. Extract Galaxy Tab root files.zip to find two files named, gt-p1000_mr.pit and dbdata.tar.
3. Now run ODIN and click on the PDA button choosing the ROM you downloaded once prompted to browse for a file. (Make sure the repartition option is checked.)
4. Click on PIT and select gt-p1000_mr.pit.
5. That done, put your device into download mode (power button + volume down rocker) and connect it to your computer.
6. Hit the Start button in ODIN and wait for the firmware to be flashed.
7. Once the firmware is flashed close ODIN, disconnect your phone and reboot the device into download mode again.
8. Run ODIN again, this time clicking on PDA and selecting dbdata.tar.
9. Connect your device to the computer and hit Start in ODIN.
10. Once the flashing completes, immediately boot into recovery mode (power button + volume up rocker) and perform Wipe data/factory reset and Wipe cache.
11. Reboot!

That’s it, if you followed the instructions right, your Galaxy Tab should boot into the new Gingerbread firmware. In case you want to root your Galaxy Tab running this new Gingerbread firmware, see our guide on how to root the Galaxy Tab on Android 2.3.3 Gingerbread.