I was having some weird problems with BB-M today, so I reinstalled it using the USB cable and going to www.blackberry.com/messenger

After the phone reset, the icon was gone. It still showed up under applications, but there is no way to access it (and yes, I showed all icons).

I reinstalled it from the phone itself, and it even said the app already existed, do you want to install anyways. I hit yes, reset the phone, still no app icon.

I called Cingular and had them resend the service books, that didn't help either. Any suggestions??

Do a soft reset of the BB, or pull the battery to reboot.

I've done both several times. Keep in mind, removing or installing BB Messenger requires a full reset. I've completely removed it using Desktop Manager, reset the phone, then reinstalled and reset again. Still nothing.

It's there under "Applications", but it is not showing up as an icon.

When you delete the application are you doing it from DM OR App Loader?

Actually, when I go Options > Advanced Options > Applications > Blackberry Messager, I get this message:

"Uncaught exception: java.lang.llegalArgumentException"

Weird...

Well you might have an issue that will only be solved with a wipe.....

I open BlackBerry Desktop Manager, then go into Application Loader and remove it from there. When I reinstall it, I do it from the blackberry.com/messenger page from Internet Explorer.

God, I hope not....

Try deleting it from the BB... Make sure everything is gone.... Pull battery for at least 30 seconds.... Then install from the mobile.blackberry area and see if that helps

The BBMessenger available from BlackBerry HELP! WILL NOT WORK on the Pearl. It must be installed from the Desktop Manager from the OS package. That's the only way. The version from BlackBerry Help will show in the apps list but will not show on the home screen. Delete that version and then install from Desktop Manager.

That's why you are the man JC!!!!!

I can open the Application Loader in DM, but when I hit "add", it asks me for an .alx file. I tried the .89 blackberry.alx file, but it says: "No additional applications for your device found".

You must have the appropriate OS package installed too. Then you use the list of installed apps and the checkboxes to add it back. You don't use the "add" feature.

It's not in there. It was when it was still on the phone, but there isn't even a line for it, let alone a box I can check to install it.

When I first got the Pearl, I installed DM using the included CD. Since then, I've used every update from the Cingular/Blackberry site. I'm redownloading the 68MB file now....

You need version 4.2.x depending on which OS you have installed on your BB. That is the only place to get those versions. You can't get them from BlackberryHELP.

It's included with the OS.

I found the .alx files from a previous update on another PC in my house. I selected the blackberry.alx file from there using the "Add" button and it worked great! Thanks for the help!

It should have been included in the OS package you are currently running. Do you have the OS installed to your PC? It should just come up as part of that package. You'll just need to be careful because if you run apploader again and the computer can't find that particular .alx you referenced then you will lose Messenger again. Usually no addtional .alx's are necessary for BBMessenger.