Not booting to the home screen.

Hi

Looking for help please. My samsung galaxy tab 2 charges and powers on. You can see the initial device start up screen, it shows the samsung sign and then andriod starting but then the screen stays black and it doesn't go to the home screen with icons.

If you press and hold the power key to turn it off it gives you the icons to power off or restart.

I have tried all the soft/hard reboot options and safe mode with the same result. I know it is on and in safe mode as it says on the bottom of the screen but still no home screen with icons.

Tried to do a reset with the power and up key but not getting the menu.

Its as if the samsung startup software is there but but has lost the andriod bit.

Any ideas?