Hey Folks,

I am going to update the OS on my 9000 to 5.0.0.314. Let's not debate the motivation or the merit of such an action as I can't really justify jeopardizing a stable and useful phone...

Nonetheless, I want to upgrade the OS.

In the distant past, I manually deleted vendor.xml and would remove image files and some language files in the process.

Later, CrackMem came along and automated much of that effort. Later still, the Blackberry Swiss Army Knife utility has emerged.

My question is this: What is best practice now for installing an OS upgrade?

My goal (I think) is to have an upgraded device to OS 5.0.0.314 that has no extraneous modules installed that I am not using such as locked wallpapers, demo video, language packs, unused themes, voice dialing, etc..

Are any of you using a utility to manage this process or have you reverted to the manual process?

Is there a current version of the process documented here? (I've searched but seem to find outdated posts)

Thanks in advance,

Although I haven't attempted OS 5 yet, I still use the manual process when doing any upgrades.

It just works.

In my experience (I've done about 20 OS upgrades , small compared to some), What I have done is this:

1. Install the new OS and manually delete the vendor.xml file.
2.Backup my data using Desktop Manager (DM)
3. Backup my data using BlackBerry Swiss Army Knife (BBSAK)
4. Wipe my device using BBSAK.
5. Load the new OS using BBSAK. At this point I would select the modules that I wish to have installed on my BlackBerry (and I'm a minimalist)
6. Check all features and options of new OS.
7. Restore my data using DM.
8. Install my apps.

I believe each person would use a method that is appealing to them. My method for me is faster than using the DM to do the process. I get the OS wiped and installed much faster with BBSAK than using DM.

I do a double backup, because, well you never know.

Hope this helps

kirrin, i actually like your method of updating the software, simply because sometimes i feel that DM doesn't do a good enough job..

however what annoys me is that every time i do even an official update, the BBM downgrades or removes itself, which is seemingly tiresome. is there a solution to this?

Wirelessly posted

Hi Codudette, agree, I think the DM is doing some unnecessary checks and balances (which you can't blame RIM for).

Yes I find that issue too with the BlackBerry Messenger. I hope now that they have officially released 5, that they will include it standard in all future OS releases, outside of that I have not found a way around it as yet. Maybe if we could get the .alx or .cod files we could include it in the upgrade.

I have a zip file with the .alx and .cod files for BBM 5.0.0.33 if anyone's interested.

Wirelessly posted

Thanks for sending me that bnelson01

I have done 10+ OS upgrades. However, I am on a BES and the one time I did not use DM, but loader.exe instead, I had to have our IT guy send me a new password to get reactivated on the BES. While it is appealing to backup, delete and start from a clean BB, I seem only to get reactivated automatically when using my network computer and using DM to install. It does take a while to install the new OS using DM, and even longer to reinitialize on the BES, which, notwithstanding being connected to the network computer during the process, seems to reinitialize over the air.

jimfraser, unfortunately yes you have to do a Enterprise Activation (EA) after every OS upgrade that is done outside of the DM. You will be pleased to know that the BlackBerry OS 5 beta that I'm running has built in auto EA once your computer is connected to the network and your Outlook is running and you're using DM. See my article: My Report On The BlackBerry Bold OS 5.0 « Kirrin Jones.

I guess its not a problem for me because I am the BES admin, so I can do it easily without the hassle of contacting anyone .