This will load on ANY carrier's 8830 by following the instructions below.
This is only for the 8830 model (ESN based model)
From US Cellular

Software For BlackBerry® 8830 World Edition smartphone

Software Name: BlackBerry Handheld Software v 4.5.0.205 (Multilanguage)
File Name: 8830uAMEA_PBr4.5.0_rel205_PL3.4.0.30_A4.5.0.138.ex e
Download Size: 82.128 MB
Language: English

Download here: https://www.blackberry.com/Downloads...B58CE00D1194C9
(Scroll down to 8830 for ESN devices)

Instructions for installing on ANY carrier's 8830:

1. Download the above OS file to the PC then install it to the PC by running (double clicking) the file you downloaded.
2. Go to c:\program files\common files\research in motion\apploader and delete the file named "vendor.xml."
3. Plug in BB and double click on "Loader.exe." It's located in the same place as the above vendor.xml file.

The process takes about 45 minutes to an hour depending on how much data you have to backup and restore during the process. Once it's done loading the new OS it will reboot (it may do this twice during the entire process.) You will see a white screen with an hourglass for up to 20 minutes at a time while the DM says "waiting for initialization."
If, for some reason, you end up with a white screen with small icons and the number 507, simply connect to the PC again and run Loader.exe again and it should load the OS to the device.

Previous OS here:
http://www.blackberryforums.com/gene...ilanguage.html

How to determine if you have an ESN or MEID based device.
From the main menu, select Options, then select Status.
ESN devices - On the Status screen you will see ESN on the display
MEID devices – On the Status screen you will see MEID on the display.
NOTE – You cannot install ESN-based software on a MEID device, nor can you install MEID-based software on an ESN device. They are NOT interchangeable.

What is ESN?

At Options Status, does your device have a ESN listed?

Or a MEID #?

Strange, the link keeps taking me to the Sprint site, which only has 4.5.0.135 available.

The link you are looking for is as follows: https://www.blackberry.com/Downloads...B58CE00D1194C9

Answers to FAQs

ESN and MEID
ESN is the unique ID of the cell phone, but the numbers are running out. MEID isthe replacement.

i don't see the name in the list that's in the post :(

Has anyone installed? I'm curious to know what's changed.

Nothing obvious changed that I've noticed yet.

That said, this is the first 8830 OS that has ever failed during install for me (java.lang.nullpointerexception on the device with a "Fatal error" in the loader on the PC. Had to wipe the device, install the OS and restore the data. Hopefully my experience was just a fluke, I haven't seen reports of this from others on here.

Happened to me, too. It is now with my IT department and I'm embarrassed to have tried this - learned my lesson.

I installed it this morning with no problems....however the email reconciliation seems to be broken. I have it set to prompt me for my personal email but it never does, my only options are delete or cancel, not delete, delete on handheld, cancel (or whatever it should be).

Anybody else having this problem? If nobody is I will wipe my device and start over.

Hmm looks like 8830 isn't dead yet. It was a long dry spell of no updates till now.

I find the link takes me to rel 201 not 205??

fixed now, try again.

Wow! That makes me nervous about trying to load it up. I think I'll wait and see what others have to say.

Engadgetmobile.com posted that Verizon will officialy release an OS upgrade for the 8830 pretty soon. Will this be any different from the US Cellular version. I'm just a little hesitant in upgrading with the US Cellular version, but I know Verizon usually blocks all the good stuff.

So, instead of listening to their customer base, they are just bowing to the pressure of the other providers having pushed out a 4.5 update. Stunning.

I would be hesitant, too. BUT, luckily there are plenty of people on the forum willing to be the test subjects and post their findings before I give it a whirl.

Clean upgrade. Only problem i had was it left of 7 of my 3909 text messages. guess i can't complain. this os seems a little slower to me, but i've been away from my 8830 for 6 months and came straight back to this version. I love the browser, almost better than opera. Docs to go is a nice add on, just made my favorite phone even better!
edit: guess i should also say, i'm coming from 4.2

This will be my first nonVerizon-issued software download. I followed the link to download the software, but am not sure if I should choose "BlackBerry 8830 World Edition smartphone" or just the "BlackBerry 8830 (TM)" option. I have an ESN 8830 from Verizon with the original software that came with the phone(4.2.2.196). Thanks for any help!

Clean upgrade on a Sprint phone. It did knock my BES service out though, otherwise all seems good.

Upgraded last night to my Sprint 8830. No issues at all. Everything worked perfectly.

It seems to be a little better on memory management. I have about 500K more memory, and it doesn't seem to leak memory as quickly.

I'm on a Verizon Wireless 8830 WorldPhone. The update took me about 35 minutes and went without a hitch. Perfect functionality. Some Changes I noticed are:
The new browser: terrific look and performance seems much faster.
Documents to go: looks cool, haven't tried it yet.
Voice Notes Recorder: don't recall seeing that before. Works well. Don't know if I can use it during a call or not.
Prestored ring tones: subtly different. Some I like better, some I wish hadn't changed. I'd have to say the sound is brighter and jazzier than VZW's built-ins.

My main motivation for taking the risk at this time was a problem sustaining a Bluetooth connection with my laptop. No change in that regard. Still won't stay connected for more than a few seconds.

Thanks for a great forum!

Bill

BBmaps will work with OS 4.5 on Verizon. Apparently, the call timer is gone so you can't tell how long you've been on the call.

Are you saying that the GPS is no longer unlocked? Do third party GPS apps work now?

Anyone know when VZ will be releasing their official release of this?

Thanks,

That is affirmative!!!

BB Maps is now using the Internal GPS on my 8830! Yayyyy!

A big bonus I was not expecting. I refused to pay Verizon $10 per month for VZ Navigator.

Thanks a lot!

Bill

FF2: Thanks for the info. Yes, unfortunately, the call timers are absent. Even in the Call History log.

Yeah, especially since VZ Navigator doesn't use GPS at all (from what I understand) but uses cell tower triangulation instead. I would be extremely pissed if I paid the $10 and was stuck with whatever app VZ would stick me with!

Thanks for the info!

So where can I get the latest OS for a 8800, seems I'm going round and round and I'm tired now, maybe try again tomorrow.

I just upgraded my 8830's OS and expected to see 4.5.0.205, but instead see 4.5.0.138. Is this what SHOULD have happened?

205 is package version, while 138 is OS version so it's fine.

Yes, I know it's weird...

Thanks for the confirmation - I thought I might have downloaded the wrong file or something.

Once the system is upgraded do I need to do anything with my phone?
Do I need to reset anything etc.

You'll find that the unit will reset itself during the upgrade process. There's a power down and power up sequence that occurs automatically. Once it's back up with your home screen, you're all set.

Thanks one other time when I upgraded the OS I had to resend service books etc. I didn't know if I had to go through all that again

Since you are one of the successful upgraders in this thread, I would like to ask you one question. This is the most motivating factor for me to upgrade from my existing 4.2.2 OS. Is the email layout improved? Are you able to view HTML email with embedded images loading?

Take the plunge. There are so many reasons. But the browser and email are much better with the upgrade. HTML with embedded images load nicely.

Its worth it just for the improved HTML email.

Thank you so much both of you. These were the exact words I was looking for. I just completed the download. Praying things go well.

My BB8830WE says App load error 5xx with an option to Reset. I clicked the trackball and the phone is restarting now. But the Loader.exe after restarting the phone said the loading was successful but some warnings were encountered when restoring apps to your device. Use Backup and Restore of BDM and restore from ..\My Documents\Backup 2009-04-10.ipd I am now doing the restore.

My device has been restored but to OS 4.2 Shall I try the whole process of upgrading to OS 4.5 all over again?