So, you downloaded the newest, latest and greatest OS for your BlackBerry and have followed all the instructions found here.

1. Download and install Desktop Manager.
2. Download and install the OS of your choice for your device.
3. Delete vendor.xml located in c:\program files\common files\research in motion\apploader.
4. Plug in BB and open Desktop Manager.

However, when you open Desktop Manager you get no prompt to update. When you open Application Loader your new OS is not listed!!

This has been plaguing people for the last few months. I've never experienced the issue because of the way I've loaded Desktop Manager but Vasco at Horizon did and he and I together figured this out. I believe we've found the issue and will explain how to fix here.

The problem lies in the new Desktop Manager's automatic "Check for Updates" feature. This feature uses your internet connection to look for OS updates for your device from your carrier. When it does this it loads a second virtual vendor.xml file in the temp folder on your computer (Vista users look in C:\Users\Username\appdata\virtualstore.) So, even after you delete the normal one that is installed with the OS and Desktop Manager, the automatic "check for updates" feature loads another one based on the brand of device you've got plugged into the PC.

To prevent this from happening this you need to install Desktop Manager WITHOUT this Automatic Update service. Below are the steps to remove this service.

1. Go to Control Panel >Add/Remove Programs.
2. Click on "BlackBerry Desktop Software" and select "Change/Remove."
3. When prompted, hit "Next" and then you should get options for Modify, Repair, or Remove. Choose "Modify."
4. On DM 4.7 and higher, in the list of installed items, you should see "BlackBerry Automatic Update." Click the icon next to it and change it to "This feature will not be available." That should put an "X" next to "BlackBerry Automatic Update." If you are using DM 4.6 or lower and don't see this option in this list then just continue with the install and the installation will ask you a few screens later. A screen will be shown where you will be asked to check the boxes for:

A) "Start BlackBerry Desktop Manager automatically each time the computer starts."
B) "Create a shortcut for BlackBerry Desktop Manager on the Windows Desktop."
C) "Check for software updates."

Be sure number 3, "Check for software updates," is NOT checked.

5. Finish the installation.

(Note: If you're doing a fresh install of Desktop Manager, be sure and choose the "Custom" install button so that you get the prompt for what features you want installed. Otherwise all the features will be installed as normal and you'll likely run into this issue.)

Once that is complete, you'll need to go back and search your computer for vendor.xml. When you do the search, make sure you click on "Advanced Options" and make sure that you search Hidden files and folders. This is important as some operating systems create a virtual store in the temp folder that this vendor.xml file is located in. You will not find this particular vendor.xml if you don't have hidden files/folders selected for search. Once the hidden vendor.xml is deleted it won't come back if you've reinstalled Desktop Manager without the Automatic Update Feature enabled.

Now, make sure your OS is installed (you may need to install the OS again, if you actually remove Desktop Manager and then reinstall Desktop Manager again. Make sure that you delete the normal vendor.xml file LAST before updating the device.

Tip of the day: Desktop Manager is not even required for doing an OS upgrade. In the same folder as the vendor.xml file is a file called Loader.exe. Running that will run apploader without Desktop Manager. It still makes the full backup and restore, but without all the DM stuff running in the background. I use this for all my OS upgrades. Then later I connect to DM to start my BES activation.

Awesome find John! As always making life easier for us BB users!

As always, thanks JC!!

The Great JC strikes again!!!

Thanks John Clark!

This ought to be stuck!

...off to BlackBerryFAQ as well.

yes, put it on the FAQ please! I'll stick it, as well.

Nice JC. This will help a ton of people out.

stuck

Wirelessly posted (8100 Strike 2)

Very nice.

Nice tip and write up

BlackBerryFAQ-ed!!! Why won't my OS update? I deleted the vendor.xml file! - BlackBerryFAQ

Awesome!

Nice job with the FAQ, ricpac!

Thanks ma'am! Need to spend more time on it...

Wirelessly posted (troydbrown is Chad!)

Outstanding work


I had to do an update today and had this very issue. I will fix tomorrow

I can assure everyone this does work, I have not been able to update my OS on my Vista PC for over 6 months. I tried this and it worked right away. Thank you John Clark.

Hmm.. I wonder how long before RIM make this mandatory, to retrieve the vendor.xml file. Where we can not delete it.

"4. In the list of installed items, you should see "BlackBerry Automatic Update." Click the icon next to it and change it to "This feature will not be available." That should put an "X" next to "BlackBerry Automatic Update.""

I don't see this when I go to modify. I'll try and update the OS, but maybe I need to reinstall the Desktop Software and then follow the directions in this thread?

Wirelessly posted (BB 11020)

What version of Desktop Manager? Its only the newer versions with Automatic Update feature.

John

Many thanks this worked - you are genius.

Robin

Wirelessly posted (BB 11020)

For those that have used this method, what versions of DM are you using?

With DM 4.6.0.14, the "Update" alternative is in the check boxes section of the install. Are you talking about an even newer version of the DM?

Updated. Thanks!

Great find!

Apparently there is a new version of Desktop Manager, 4.7. I am going to try this. This issue was not in the version of 4.6 that I had.

Scratch that, you can't download it yet.

My instructions are really for DM 4.7 anyway. 4.7 will cause this problem if you install the auto update feature.

Came across a potential stumbling block. When attempting to 'modify' the automatic updates setting, the installer choked when it was looking for the original "msi" file. I think it was because I've cleaned out the machine using a Cleaner type program that gets rid of unused and temp type files since the install of 4.6DM. So- just a heads up, in case you come across the same thing.

Thank a lot John Clark.

I got it on an abandoned phone for a long time.
First I failed by trying without the battery, then I got it correct.

I think the problem with "mmcpher" is that he hasn't used the custom installation.

Great work John, you are the one..!!

That may have been it, but it somehow updated despite my mishandling the process, and now has been operating at a much higher level, with greatly improved battery life. Next time I will try it the right way.

this helped at lot!

If you don't want to go through this whole process can't you just delete all vendor.xml files and then disable your network connection to get the update to work?

probably.

well done John Clark! i gave up on installing the os from my Vista, but I bet this will fix my "no upgrades found" issue. Thanks !

Help! I'm running Vista and I can find "C:\Users\Username\appdata\virtualstore" on my computer.

Just do a search of your computer for vendor.xml and make sure that you are searching hidden files and folders.

very true sometimes i dont know what id do with my blackberry without this forum haha

JC,

Have you found any other reasons this happens? I have vista. I did not find another vendor.xml file in C:\Users\"Username"\appdata\local\virtualstore\pro gramfiles (x86),RIM\Blackberry.

I have searched my PC evern hidden files and folders. No luck. Am using an 8100 with the lastest OS. But cant seem to get anywhere with desktop manager. Loader.exe works and recognizes fine.

Okay oh you great smart ones-

Started with a Error code of 525 (i think) tried the reload of OS. Went to a 507 error code, now did all the steps I can find on this page and am at a 547 error code. I would love to wipe the whole BB 8820 but have all this corporate software that prevents it, and I am runnning vista which for come reason is precluding the JL Commander from working... Send me a file that will completely devistate this BB so I can reload from real scratch.

klmgbm

cox

net


Im Going to bed... Been messing with this thing for 8 hours... I am Done.

does the loader file keep 3rd party software or is that a reinstall for those?