I actually had a very similar problem. The .alx file was only opening in read only format in Word (thought the properties were not set to this option) so I couldn't just save over it, I had to save it elsewhere and move it. The only problem was that I couldn't figure out how to save it as an .alx. When I manually changed the file extension on the file name, the computer still recognized it as a .doc.

You probably have that alx file open or being used elsewhere on the PC (such as a file manager applications?). Somewhere it is open twice and opening in read only format.

Reboot your PC, and try it all again.

I tried rebooting my computer as suggested, but still no luck. It will not let me save the file. Any other suggestions?

I got an "app Error 205" on my phone, when it restarted... What can i do about it
?

Are you using Windows Vista? Edit the file, then do a "Save As" and save it to the desktop as Blackberry.alx. Then delete the old one and copy the new one to the original location.

With all due respect to the mod's that help us through our BB problems, why should ANY of this be necessary. Honestly, for the average user to have to go through this just to use their very expensive, very 'sophisticated' device as it was intended is shameful. RIM IMHO should be ashamed of itself. You're telling me that with all those 'bright' engineers RIM has developing these smart phones, such a universal issue/problem such as this actually exists when a device is released?!! Yes I know I'm an 8830 user, but my daughter is a new 8130 user...enough said! Lord give me strength.

I am using windows vista and it will not allow me to save the .als file after deleting the vendor numbers in step 3.

sorry if i read a few post up i see thx!

As of 4.5.0.18 for the 8100 removing VAD still removes the function of clicking About from the menu. However, ALT + EACE still works.

Thanks for the info; but considering this software is beta and this thread focuses on released versions of the software you're better off keeping results like this to yourself.

I'm sure RIM, or whomever provided you with the beta software would appreciate that.

See I tried that and the computer (running vista) still recognized the file as a Word Document, so I was scared to see what happened if I tried to import it onto my phone using Desktop Manager.

Hello,

Something is going on when I load my apps. My browser WILL NOT load!! I am positive that I had it checked, in fact it was greyed out so I couldn't deselect it if I wanted to.

I know that this can happen if you mess with your .alx file, however, I didn't even open that file to edit it because I didn't want any of the other vendor themes. I didn't even delete the vendor.xml file.

Why is this happening to me?? What can I do to fix it? I guess I'll try to reinstall the OS to my PC after work, but I don't see how that would do anything since I never changed any of these files. The only COD files I removed were themes, VAD, and media files. Can anyone help me??

Peace,
Stoddard

Oh yeah, I need to activate my VZW phone again because I removed all applications and reinstalled them. I'll make another post for that because it's urgent!

This is a great thread. I am a newbie to BB. Thanks very much for sharing this information.

I currently use the Verizon theme that came on the Pearl 8130 when I got. I have no plans to change themes. What can I, therefore, delete from the java folder?
Thanks in advance!

Yes, reinstall the OS to the PC.

Help! I was using John Clarks BB Memery free up post and all was looking good until I fat fingered the keyboard and accidently deleted the net_rim_cldc.cod file. Now all I get is a white screen with circle and line through it with the numbers 587 below. Is there anything I can do other then punt.

Tried connecting via Device Manager and no luck

Hmmmm
I would try to re-install the OS, to make sure you have a working version (better safe eh?) and then although DM will tell you there's no device, go through the app loader and run it again. It'll end up coming up with something about a USB (or Port connection), which would be your blackberry. It should go through the whole installation process again, and although that error will stay there the duration, it should go away at the end and boot up!

That's my first guess anyway :P I had a different error pop up (507 or some such) and that's what I did!

Thanks for the advise. I was able to get the device to connect with the Application Loader. The first choice I had to make was to make a backup of the device or not. I was always trying to proceed with making a backup and the device never connected and I got the cancel rety message. However before I started this process with freeing up memory I made a backup. So when trying again I chose not to make a backup. This allowed the Application Loader to start working and currently the device is updating. It has gone through the steps of
1.BackupThird party Application
2. Comnnect to the device ROM
3. Read device system configuration
The current step it is on is Load JVM and system software. The progress bar has "Erasing Application" above it and is progressing along. This step took about 5 -6 minutes.
Once this step 4 completed it had to
5. Wait for device initialization (about 2 minutes)
6. Load Java Appliaction (2-3 minutes)
7. Wait for device Initialization (10 minutes) Once that finished the device initialized and the T-Mobile welcome screen came up and the applications were verified on the device
8. Update message service information. (less then 1 minute)

When step 1 started the device went black and the LED turned red. The screen on the device stayed red through most of step 4. Once the progress bar completed the device screen came alive with the image of the device and PC with the arrows pointing in each direction.
When the Application Loader got to step 7 Waiting on device initalization the screen on the device had the hour glass up and rotating. The progress bar moved along very slowly.
The device is up and running again and and is activating. Looks like all I have to do is reconfigure my email accout that I use outside of my Enterprise email accout once the device finishes activation.
All is well in the Blackberry world.

One thing I will note is, during this process the Device Manager software did not show a device connected until the device was restored.

Hope my mistake helps someone else out when they fat finger the keyboard and delte the wrong file.

Not a good idea deleting the cdlc file as it's a required part of the core OS.

Glad you're up and running.

Is there some one out there i could just send my bb to and have this done?? if so please email me at

It really is not as difficult as it seems. The post is long because I explained every detail so there would be no question on what to do. Just print it out and follow the instructions, step by step.

If you really want to send it to someone try HorizonWirelessOnline.com - Horizon Wireless, Canada’s Cellular Repair Center ß. It's owned by BBF member ShapelessBB and he is honest and reputable. He does this service.

thanks as soon as my 8830 is fixed i will be sending them my 8130 :D

I just wanted to thank John Clark for the excellent post. I just recently bought a pearl a week or two ago, so naturally I'm excited to dismantle it (ordered some parts from cnn.cn, want a diff keyboard) and while I'm waiting, I also wanted to customize the OS and remove all that bloated software that it comes with.

This guide could not have been written any better and it was extremely helpful. I went from 20mb free to 45mb free! Wow, what a difference.

Thanks again!

Everything he said, great writeup like all sticky-posts over here (esp. Mark Rejhons' helped me out BIG time).

Thanks for this information-it is GREAT!!
I followed it all, but the version of BB Maps from the install is lower than I got OTA. The problem is that when I go back into App Loader, it prompts to downgrade to version from device software. Is there any way to avoid this?

Thanks alot, I have always wanted that Tmobile theme and finally got it! It took a little trial and error...a few app errors but I finally got it. I was able to get all the themes at first, but kept getting the app error with the tmobile theme, until I found another thread somewhere that said you had to delete the the myfaves .cod's in order for it to work when I did that it worked like a charm, I went from 21mb's to 27, Thanks again!

Rob

I actually mention in my post above to remove those myfaves .cod's if not using myfaves so nobody should have those unless they are needed. However, I added a note in red for CDMA owners like yourself to remind you NOT to load the myfaves .cod's. Myfaves .cod's loaded to a CDMA device will cause the errors you mention.

ok so I did the mods on my 8820...
why do I only have 17006868 free? even my curve got better mileage than that. did I screw up somewhere or is that just the phone?

Hard to know why without seeing what you have removed. I would look for themes. Do you have extra themes installed?

nope, I pulled the battery and now its saying 21067335. still seems rather low to me. no extra themes, I only have the t-mo factory themes on, got rid of all the pictures and everything. hmm.

That's what I have on my TMo 8320 after all the editing above.

ok...
so I'm guessing the wifi is really eating up alot of the memory?? my 8800 has about 39-40 free after the same mods.

This is so not ****ing fair! I have an att 8310 curve and after i install it, yes i did do the gsm at&t and I also downloaded the first option, the research in motion folder shows a folder called blackberry and then it does not show ANY vendor.xml ****ing file. I am so pissed off right now that I want to smash my computer! Can someone please help solve this problem?! Also, i decided to go to the documentation folder (inside the blackberry folder) and delete that .xml file but it did not have the word vendor in any part of it. Still I continued on until I read about the shared folder part and how if I have to reinstall my dang OS again. Please help me set this up and also my memory status keeps changing even though I did not add/delete any apps (went from about 10 mbs to 0.4 mbs! and then went to 2 mbs to 4 mbs to 8 mbs) and there is a game called UNO freefall (the trial version that I downloaded from crackberry games) that exists in my phone but I cannot see/delete it on my phone's application list or on the application loader on the computer and I want to delet this game so bad! Please help everybody and mind my words but they are from my tears of anger.

Wow.. There is much help here on this site but you're not getting off to a good start.

Why pull the battery on the BB when you can just enter:

ALT-RIGHTSHFT-DELBKSPC

That will cause the BB to reboot, at least it does for the 8830.

I do not know the size at this point in time, but the vendor code for US Cellular is 189.

Is there a US Cellular theme? I wasn't aware of one.

Good question without a good answer, considering that I have no idea what the other themes look like.

I was just providing the vendor code to add to the list.

Is your list only for those that have themes?

Pleeeaaassseee help me. I just got an 8130, and thot I would do the upgrade from the .81 to the .97 . Did the download but it wouldnt open up right. Got 3 error messages ...2909 could not unregister, then about 60 more errors, 2908 could not register. I forged ahead blindly, hoping for the best..Mayhem. Good thing I had it backed up. Nothing would work but the phone. After 9 hours, I managed to wipe the OS completely and went back to the 81. It wouldnt download properly either. Now the only thing that works is the phone again. Anytime I try almost anything else, It gets the app error 523 (net_rim_bb_messaging app 98 not responding) and then I have to reset it.
Now, will I have to wipe this thing again, or can I go to another computer and see if it will download properly, then install it over what is already there and have it work? I really dont understand all that stuff.

Why is Alltel almost never listed as a carrier? Are they under someone else?

Thanks for the guide, John. I'm a new owner of an 8310 Curve, which now has over 28MB free. That will be very helpful until I get out to get my microSD card.