Hi everyone. I really need your help. On the day that my 1 year warranty lapsed, my Blackberry 7100g went absolutely insane. That's right, on the VERY DAY it lapsed. It crashes and reboots and just doesn't work period.

ANd I'm getting some weird error codes...some of the error messages were misspelled! By the way, my 7100g was very very reliable until yesterday. No complaints, I think I had to reset it three times in a year (that's awesome).

Here's the deal. It shuts off with a gray screen or goes totaly dead. For no apparent reason. Sometimes I can get it to reboot and I get to the home screen. Then it will crash again after a few minutes. Sometimes I get a bizarre error message that doesn't seem to be from the OS, since I don't think it has even booted yet.

The errors look like this. They are in the middle of the screen in a small box. Inside it usually says "Device error: XXX" and below that a black box that says "Reset" inside. If I push the Enter key to reset it just goes black and then another device error appears (usually a differnet error #!). I've seen 3-4 different error codes, 377, 77, 14. Sometimes the text in the box in spelled incorrectly! Right now it says "Device Errrr 77". Another time it said something like "iieeii errrr".

I contacted Cingular support (both the online chat and the phone). They were cordial and responded fast, so I have no complaints with them. I followed their instructions and loaded the new desktop adn handheld software (it stayed on long enough at the time). They confirmed I had the correct versions. I tried reseating the SIM card. The battery has enough power.

The only apps I have installed are Verichat, BBToday, BB Weather, and a few ring tones. I recently installed Google Talk a couple of weeks ago. I doubt it is any of those applications, but who knows. I can't uninstall them right now because the 7100g won't reboot at the moment.

Any ideas? Please help. I am looking at a $200-300 purchase which I can't afford...I am running a startup company.

Thanks to all the great readers on this forum. I've been helped here many times by reading the posts.

Upgrade the os to 4.1. I did and it is awesome on the 7100g.

https://www.blackberry.com/Downloads...09f43ee4b215TR

Hi gadgetfanatic. i downloaded the latest OS that Cingular recommended. the file name is "7100E_PBr4.0.2_rel93_PL1.8.0.143_A4.0.2.56_Cingul ar.exe". That doesn't appear to be v4.1 but that is what Cingualr said to install. If I can get this to boot maybe I'll try that.

I just got a new error. All it says is "Prefetch Exception". THis appears after I took out the battery and reset. Is there anyway a loose SIM card could cause these errors? I really doubt that. And mine isn't really loose anyway.

[quote=gadgetfanatic]Upgrade the os to 4.1. I did and it is awesome on the 7100g.


By the way, that link didn't take me to versoin 4.1. There is no version 4.1 handheld software available for Cingular 7100g. I have version 4.02 which is the most recent version available from what Cingular told me.

4.1 is not from Cingular, it from Hong Kong CSL or CLS, anyway it works great. You'll have several more themes including a couple of icon themes. It has made my 7100g operate alot more like my 8700c. Sorry about the link. Go to the RIM software section of this site. At the top it has about 4 threads. One is a software link thread. Go there. Then go down to the Hong Kong carrier and follow the link to the download page for that carrier. I used seattle dudes instructions to do the upgrade just like I do when I upgrade my 8700, which I've done twice now with zero problems. You just have to adjust the instructions a little to make it work for the 7100. (change the file that you unzip the blackberry file to) Sorry I can't explain it any better than that. I am not all that technologically advanced, Maybe one of these other fellers can help you out. If you want your 7100 to act like a new phone, figure it out. You won't be sorry.

I thought I'd post the result of what happened. I cleared out all the data on the handheld using the desltop software and also with the javaloader.exe (JLCMDR) tool. same problems. i called Cingular support again and they were very cool, I have to admit. they agreed the 7100g was hosed and then I was transferred to warranty exchange. they were very cool too and agreed to swap out my handheld under warranty! so i am getting a replacement 7100g for no cost. my experience with Cingular was very good overall, I was favorably impressed.

Were did you get the download link for this OS that Cingular recomended? I am new to this forum, but no newbie to cellular, just RIM. I have a 7100g and it boots to an odd white screen with a "ghostbuster" sign over what looks like a window with some geometrical shapes in it. All black and white....

Well, I found some Cingular software and will try it, sorry. I said I was no newb but all be da@% if I didn't run off and fail to search....DOH!
As for the boot screen, any ideas?

Ok, I am going to guess that the ghostbuster warning I had on boot up was due to OS error of some sort. Anyway, I used some tips from this forum and got the OEM OS (latest update) to load into the phone even when the desktop did not recognize the phone as connected. To do this you MUST install the desktop software first, then with the program closed, plug in the USB to the phone and computer and it will find the new hardware and install it. Then install the updated OS system per instructions. Viola!! it works! I then had to go in and install all the rest of the goodies. It was as if it wiped itself or someone else wiped it and gave up!

By the way, did I mention that this BB was sold to me for $20. because Cingular told them is was not repairable and was junk! 7100g Cingular branded.