I have an 8703 on the Sprint network. I had one for about a year and got tired of it rebooting for no apparent reason. Finally I got a new device and wouldn't you know, it's happening with this one too. I think I nailed it down to the BB web browser. Well, that's the only thing I can come up with for the reason it happens. On several occasions when using the Blackberry web browser that comes with the unit, it just stopped and rebooted itself. It'll do this a few times a week or much more often. I've found no rhyme or reason to it yet. Just seems like maybe the browser triggers it. I was searching Google on the BB browser today when it crashed and rebooted.

Any ideas? I'm on the latest version of BB software available for my device. Has this or does this happen to you? It's very annoying and I've come to not trust Blackberry because of this. Again, very annoying. If someone knows why this happens please chime in so I can fix it

P.S. It also reboots while in the holster when the browser is not in use. So that's bad news, for troubleshooting's sake. I know it's rebooting in the holster because if I see my Enterprise Messenger logged in when I pull it out of the holster, it rebooted. I have that messenger set to log in automatically, but I always stay logged out. So when I see it's logged in, I know it rebooted.

I have a 8703 and its happend twice in maybe six months. I think its clearing memory when it does that.

I have an 8700g and it has spontaneously rebooted maybe twice. It's been so long I don't even remember if I was in email or the browser when it happened. Don't know what to say if it is happening all the time. Look at the apps you are running? Look at free memory as Dawg suggests? Time for OS reinstall?

My 8703e has rebooted twice, maybe 3 times, since I got it in April. Once I remember I had tried to open a web page that is really large and I thought that's what caused it. The other time I had no idea what caused it. I've noticed since upgrading the OS that I can view web pages that it choked on before. 8703user, maybe try setting your browser emulation to something different and see if it helps.

Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry8703e/4.2.1 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/105)

Mine reboots too (8703e VZW), usually a few times a week. I'm pretty sure that my Messages database is simply too large. I could set it to only keep messages for 3 months instead of 6.

I also find that deleting multiple messages at once (select a few messages, then Delete) takes over one minute to complete, while deleting a single message takes only a second.

I've been wanting an 8830 to see if that'd fix the problem. I miss a GSM BlackBerry, as I always remember it running more quickly overall.

Memory being full causing it you say? I'll try to see if I can find out how much it's using at any one time and keep track of it. How would I check the memory usage. Is there an easy way?

I don't keep messages (emails) on my BB. I usually delete them within a day, so at any given time I have no more than 25 or so emails on my device.

If it helps, here's what I have loaded on my BB (extras - stuff I put on there in addition to what comes from the factory):
- blackberry maps
- google maps
- yahoo messenger (always logged out when the reboots happened)
- Wave icon theme
- Gmail application from google

Like I said, I know for sure it's rebooting even if I don't see it happen because my enterprise messenger would not be logged in if it hadn't rebooted. Also, if I see my BB is locked and it's been less than an hour since I looked at it last, I know it rebooted because it won't lock otherwise until the 1 hour time expires for when I told it to automatically lock.

To check memory, try alt-cap-H..... Works on my 8700g and may on the 8703e, but don't know. Otherwise, go options > status. In either case, look at file free.

P.S. Doesn't looke to me like you are overloaded on apps. And you don't keep emails much to speak of. I'll be surprised if you have memory issues. But who knows.

P.S.S You are on BES, you said? Could that somehow be a factor? Don't know. Just asking? What does IT say?

File Free = 37,333,788 Bytes

Yes, I'm on a BES. I'm in the IT dept myself, I talked to the person that takes care of our BES and she had no idea why it's doing this. Sprint tech support had me clear the event log in an attempt to fix the problem but it didn't seem to help. Before I got the replacement, I had 2 instances where it locked up with a blank screen and gave me a message that said: Device Error: 348. Reset". That's what pushed me over the edge to get a new device. Once I got the new one, within a few days it was rebooting itself. I suppose I could remove all but the original applications that came with it and see what happens, but then I have to ask myself...what's the point if I can't even run simple stuff like the apps I mentioned I have installed - which is common stuff and should cause no problems. I love my BB, but it's just frustrating sometimes and I can't figure out why it reboots. At least 2 other guys in my dept had the same problem and no one can figure out why it happens. Maybe when the next software update comes out that will fix it. Until then, unless I find out exactly why it's doing this, I just have to live with it.

Rebooting all the time will be hard to live with.

For grins, it would be interesting if you could take that BB off the BES for a while to see what happens.

You know with the natural antagonism between us users and IT, I'm going to have to hold IT guilty until proven innocent, right?

My wifes 8703e reboots too often while we are BB messengering each other. She works in the hospital and I often wondered if that had anything to do with it?? Magnetics, machines, Xrays????

I also have an 8703e from Sprint and was having the same problem. I am now on my 3rd Blackberry....after many hours with Tech support in the store and on the phone, I think it was Yahoo IM. I have now had the Yahoo off of my phone for about 5 days and it hasn't rebooted since...which really sucks because I communicate with alot of people using IM. It's the only solution that I have been able to come up with. Good Luck!

Try JiveTalk, you can use Yahoo! IM as well as AIM, and MSN

I am also on my second BB 8703e (Sprint with BES) because of the rebooting problem! I eventually started getting the Device Error 348 and then I was forced to get a replacement. I have reloaded the OS on the second one a few weeks ago and it rebooted within 10 minutes afterwards! This one is now rebooting sometimes 4-6 times a day. It will reboot even while in the Holster because I will have to re login to my AmpClient application. I also have Google Maps 2.x loaded, the Antenna Software, plus the Blackberry Browser and Proprietary Software. I'm beginning to hate this phone as this is so frustrating to deal with. It's so unreliable. I like it when it works, but I hate it too! I guess you could say it's a "love-hate" relationship! Too much added stress. Sometimes it make my heart go into a racing mode (Atrial Fibrulation!). I'm not kidding! Why don't they (RIM) come out with an updated OS real soon to fix this? All my co-workers are having the same problem with rebooting.

I thought CopyMan was one of my colleagues as we are in the exact same issue. We have about 12 8703e's that spontaneously reboot - mine was rebooting about 4 or 5 times a day, sometimes taking 45 minutes to reboot. We've upgraded the firmware, ensured no third party apps are installed (including google!) and still get the issues. Reboots also occur in the holster too.
Most of the time we get a "verifying security settings" message after the phone reboots but not every time. We've even had synchronised reboots where ALL the phones have suddenly rebooted themselves.
Eventually my device was upgraded to the 8830 and the reboots have stopped.
We're currently (as I type) talking to Sprint AND RIM to try and get an answer - paying for an "upgrade" to 8830's should not really be an option as the phones are not fit for the purpose if they don't stay online for 8 hours.

Update: After 45 minutes on hold whilst the Sprint rep spoke to RIM , we find that RIM do know about this problem and are working on a solution but no eta yet. If you would like to be informed of updates to the software by RIM then send an email to . subject line Email Update Request for Reboot Issue and in the body, put the fact you have an 8703 with issues rebooting at random and that you want email updates on when the problem will be resolved.

I have an 8703 also and Im in Cleveland Area, Sprint keeps saying they have no known issues of BB's rebooting. Ive been having issues where mine has rebooted 3-4 times in an hour. Sprint store sales rep has same phone, same troubles. Hes been trying to figure it out too and on phone with higher ups with no luck either. And Sprint doesnt want to help much at all with it either, no discounts no nothing

Very baaaad customer service, IVe been a Nextel customer for 6 yrs and was told Sprint would answer all of my unanswered prayers. Now I have more headaches than I had with my 7520

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

Sprint has bad customer service for sure, but I and many otherz I know, with the 8703e do not have rebooting issues. I think they may have been right.

I've been having the same problem for over a year, but I've found out how to make it more tolerable. It's probably happening daily now. I replaced my first 8703 when it started happening, but have kept this one because I figured it's probably the same across the board. The first few times it happened to me, it would take literally 45 minutes of rebooting to become active again. However, the same was true if I took the battery out. I do about 5-6000 minutes/month sometimes and do a lot of email and text. I found that if I go in once per week and purge everything over a week old, it only takes 5 minutes for my phone to come back on.

I go to Messages and hit alt-p for phone, then I delete everything over 5 days.
I go to alt-O for outgoing and do the same
then I delete all sms's

I used the 8830 for a month and found that it was MUCH faster at deleting things.

When I had my 8703e from Alltel, I would notice it re-booting every once in a while. I could be at my desk, with the Blackberry sitting there, and it would re-boot. Not running anything at the time.
It would usually happen when I was in my office, which is in the basement of our building. Coverage is good, so that wasnt the issue. \
I thought it was just me having this.

have also had this prob with vzw 8703. hasnt happened in a few weeks now, but has been going on for over a year. will randomly shut off and sometime happens several times a day. then go for weeks without an issue...

mine gets rebooted every few days as i charge two extra batteries on external charger and swap out (all OEM rim bats) and have tried using individual batteries for lengths of time to ensure not simple bat issue.

ive got the warranty thru vzw but never bothered to pursue it. since sept my BB has seen some road rash from a couple small accidents and i am sure they would likely blame the issues on that even though its been happening for much longer. figure ill either swap out near end of contract, of just get a newer model this fall or wait for the next model.

-trekuhl

I think it is related to location and reception strength. All 3 of my Sprint 8703e's have had this problem. It will randomly reboot at home, where I have poor signal strength and my BB is constantly switching between 1X and 1XEV mode. At my office, I have a Sprint tower across the street and it has never rebooted.

before I went to the 8130 I owned the 8703 for a year and I think mine rebooted maybe 6 times by itself.

i have noticed many times when it rebooted i was in the car driving...

Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry8703e/4.2.1 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/105)

I think it isn't reception persay, but a problem with the radio or radio driver. I notice that the only time it has rebooted is when I've received a message or updating my RSS feeds in Viigo, or the BlackBerry is handing off between 1x and EV modes.

Strange, but I'm hoping to upgrade to either the 8830 or 8130 sometime soon.

Thanks for the helpful reply - twice in the same thread. And in every other thread concerning 8703e reboots.

and your point is? it was just as helpful as your post pointing out that i replied twice in this thread. Are you stalking me or what?
If you look its also ben two months since I posted that.

All: As I read this thread, which I have previously avoided as it is not a problem I experience, I note one possible common theme: It seems that people who have this problem are more likely to use BES than BIS. I use BIS on VZW and have not experienced this issue.

So, I propose a test to this community and if you all cooperate we might find out what causes this:

I ask everyone who reads this to respond with two items: your carrier and whether you use BES of BIS or both.

If enough of you respond, we might get a statistically valid answer that we can then report to RIM and get rid of this problem. If nothing else I am tired of constantly seeing this problem being reported and not solved.

I will tabulate the results and report here. As previously stated, I use BIS and Verizon

73

Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry8830/4.2.2 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/106)

When I had this problem, I was using BIS.

VZW - BIS

-t

I use Sprint - BIS

I find that mine reboots alot when I am using Yahoo IM.

BIS VZW

thanks for looking into this.

BIS Vzw

and it looks like alot of the folks are sprint users too.

Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry8703e/4.2.1 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/105)

I'm a VZW BIS user as well.

BES Sprint

(Although it seems obvious to me, you should have stated that only people with reboot problems should respond to this poll. At least one respondent (Dawg) is not having reboot problems.)

such a big baby! Are you mad because I am not having problems or do you just like attacking me? I am so sorry that I posted twice in the same thread, please get over it. This is a public forum and if you dont like what I have to say then there is an ignore feature please use it. Other wise drop it.

First, thank you to those of you who have already posted the requested info. Second, let's try to solve this problem and not engage in personal cuts. For the record, I have never experienced this problem, and I use my BB constantly (4 - 5 K min per month), run a host of 3rd party apps, etc.

I am tracking these answers using an Excel Spreadsheet and am starting to see some trends emerging. I will wait until we get a few more posts to see if what I am seeing holds true. At that point I will both report the results and propose a test that has a good chance of isolating the problem.

I do this out of a combination of scientific curiosity and altruism, as I am not affected by this particular problem. I do have a strong suspicion, and if this is proven, I will then write a program to correct it which I will freely distribute. I have done software development as an offshoot of my work and troubleshooting of both hardware and software for my over 20 years.

To those of you who have not yet posted a reply to my request, I urge you to do so, particularly if you are experiencing this problem. People who do not experience the problem should post too as it helps the analysis. Thanks

73

your a good man and a asset to the BB community. Thanks for trying to help resolve the problem.

I'm on Alltel 8703e BES. It reboots several times a week, maybe once a day or so. I starting noticing it when my brickbreaker paused games were getting lost, because it never happened when I was using it.

Then I dropped it off my motorcycle one day, and it took quite a beating. It was getting progressively worse before then. I figured my warranty was over at that point and now I just live with it.

Thanks to those of you who have participated in the survey I requested. As it has been 24 hours and no additional posts, I will analyze the data I have.

What comes out of the data is that the problem appears to be tied to memory loading. Many of the reporting users indicated that the problem occurs during some memory intensive operations or more specifically when the memory is overloaded. The reason I say this is that one user reported that he pulls his battery frequently and still has occasional problems. It is well known that pulling the battery to re-boot clears a lot of memory. But it does not clear all the memory. There is persistent memory in the BB architecture. This can be cleared in a number of ways (I will discuss these later).

As I have (fortunately) not experienced the problem, I compared my usage methodology to the replies of the survey. In addition to changing batteries, I routinely clean the internet cache(a persistent memory area), I use the Memory Cleaning Tool that is part of the BB OS. I also track my memory level. I am a heavy user (4 - 5K minutes per month with a lot of Web time). I have frequently observed that on days when I am particularly busy, I will chew up 4 or 5M of memory. That is a lot. I usually have about 28M available (not bad for someone running over 30 3rd party apps). But I can run that down to 15 or 16M in 2 or 3 days.

In order to test my theory, I ask ask of you to bear with me and help conduct a physical experiment. It is particularly important that user who experience frequent reboots participate. The experiment needs to run for a week to ensure a statistically reliable result.

The Experiment:

The basic premise is that I want you to clear all memory areas every day at approximately the same time. This requires that each participant do the following:

1. Very Important: Go to Options:Status and record the Free Memory.

2. Clear Internet Cache: This is found when running the browser in Options, Cache Operations. Clear or verify that all three registers show 0K. If you happen to run Opera, you will also have to clear the cache for that. As I don't run Opera, I cannot give you specific instructions, but they are probably similar. If you are running Opera, make sure thatthe BB Browser caches are clear.

3. Memory Cleaning: Go to Options, Security, Memory Cleaning. On the "Show Icon on Home Screen) line, set the option to Yes. This will place a button on your applications screen. Run this applet when you are cleaning the rest of the memory.

4. Pull the Battery: Do A Battery Pull reboot. While you have the battery out, depress and hold down the Power On button on the top of the BB for about 10 seconds. Then replace the battery and let it boot.

5. Go back to Options: Status and record the free memory again. You will want to make a little log to record all this data.

6. In your log, add a column that will detail if and when it reboots by itself and what you were doing immediately prior to the reboot.


That is the experiment that needs to be run. This will tell us if this is truly a memory related problem. I think it is but need the statistics to verify the solution.

If we get a positive result, I will write a program that does this automatically (I am already a registered BB Developer). I suspect that most of you do not purge your memory on a regular basis, and that is the underlying principal of my theory.

Finally if this seems like too much work for you, don't do it and live with your constant reboots. Remember, this is not my problem, it is yours and I am only interested for scientific reasons (I hate unsolved problems). But also consider that I do this every day (except the data logging) and I don't have the problem. Figure it out. 73

Hey Everyone,
I only found this thread after getting a 2nd report of this issue. I administer our Blackberry Enterprise Server of nearly 200 devices with a good mixture of Nextel 7520's, 8703's, and 8830's. I'm on an 8830 myself obviously but we have been rolling out more and more 8703's lately upgrading 7520's that don't require Direct Connect.

My first report of the rebooting was after we upgraded a user to one. I first thought she was just trying to get an 8830 and putting in random complaints. Her device was RMA'ed and shortly after it began doing the same thing. They even RMA'ed it a 2nd time and now her device is back at it. (Alltel)

Today I get another report of a Sprint 8703 randomly rebooting so I Googled this page. I just emailed the RIM address mentioned above and will try to contact some of my various contacts (Sr Wireless Engineers for various carriers). Hopefully there is a fix for this!

Thanks

Thanks for the analysis and your suggestions. I am going to do this everyday and see if it helps. So far, I 've done all the steps except that in #3, I don't seem to have the option of Memory Cleaning, could it be somewhere else?
Thanks.