What I learned about this forum... 8-} - BlackBerryForums.com : Your Number One BlackBerry Community

jeffw_00 · **What I learned about this forum... 8-} -** 05-04-2009, 02:00 PM

Hi - I was the OP of this thread...

http://www.blackberryforums.com/rant...stomers-3.html

I actually was looking both for help, and to make a point (perhaps a bit too loudly) that RIM does sometimes fall down on the job.

I thought this might be a safe place to relate RIM-related horror stories, but I was wrong. This is not the place. (Crackberry.com is more tolerant and interested, though).

This -IS- a good place to get help, and if you wade through all the flames on the thread, you'll see a small percentage had good useful help. So I found time this weekend to try their advice. However, I went back to the thread this morning to find this comment:

"OP hasn't posted in four days, and has commented that he will attempt an OS Upgrade. We done here? Good. Thread closed." And indeed, the thread was closed, no place to post my results....

So my final advice, I guess, is that if you do get some good advice, use it FAST. Four days is apparently too long to wait. ;-}

Cheers! 8-}
/j

akosnitzky · **OS:** 5.0.0.230

Wirelessly posted (Its All About the U!)

I predict we may not see you again. Good luck.

jeffw_00 · 05-04-2009, 02:06 PM

I think that's quite possible as well. However it won't be by my choice 8-}
/j

ndub33 · 05-04-2009, 02:07 PM

I closed the thread in question. Specifically to put a halt to the flaming and thread-crapping that had ensued since you last posted.

Thought I was being helpful. Sorry if my intent was misinterpreted.

jsconyers · **OS:** 4.5.0.175

In all fairness, that thread does not fairly represent this entire forum. I am sorry you had a bad experience in that thread. However, if you read over more threads, I am sure you will see this forum and its members in a different light.

Dawg · **OS:** 4.5.0.138

Well considering you started the flame fest when you started on the mods about moving your post. You were just as condescending as the people who flamed you ( I admit I am one of those).

But if you search these forums as others have stated, everyone that tried to help you and then decided you were beyond help because you didn't want to help yourself is most helpful to everyone.

So what do you do you start a new thread with as much hate as you started with the other one. If you think crackberry is better then by all means go there. But I will tell you that the same people you see here are the same ones you will find there. And the flames are twice as bad by a lot of their regular members.

Next time try to be a little more cordial and you may get a little more help. But you have to be willing to help yourself.

CoDudette · **OS:** 4.6.0.282

Hmm, surprisingly, i have found LESS help on another website than the massive amount i have here. what i have learnt here, has been twice as hard on other forums.

maybe if you looked through the right places on this forum, you will find that most members will always try and help, no matter how small or large the issue.

wabbit · **OS:** 4.2.2.194

SO DID THE OS UPGRADE FIX YOUR PROBLEM?

or did you register on every blackberry website/blog/twitter/usernet/irc/facebook/aim/myspace/gopher and ftp site first and asked this over and over again.

CoDudette · **OS:** 4.6.0.282

Quote:

Originally Posted by wabbit

SO DID THE OS UPGRADE FIX YOUR PROBLEM?

or did you register on every blackberry website/blog/twitter/usernet/irc/facebook/aim/myspace/gopher and ftp site first and asked this over and over again.

that's the answer we're looking for!

aiharkness · **OS:** 4.5.0.139

To the OP, you get back in kind here, as everywhere else. The regulars love blackberrys and want to help. You will not find more information and expertise with less noise on any other blackberry forum.

jeffw_00 · 05-05-2009, 09:59 AM

First of all. Who started the rumor that I didn't think this forum was helpful? Did anyone replying read my original post at the top? The part that starts "This -IS- a good place to get help, "

Second of all, if you read my original thread (referred to at the top of this one) you will see that even after I do the upgrade, it could take a week or two to know if the problem was fixed since it only occurs once every week or two. That made it even more surprising that my thread was closed after 4 days. You can see how I might have gotten the idea that this forum wasn't interested in the result.

I did the upgrade over the weekend, am waiting to see the results. All I notice so far, based on one day's use, is that the battery drain is a bit faster under the new release.

I DO appreciate the help, (although it really wasn't more than "upgrade and see if that fixes it, it usually does"), but I have to admit that, compared to other forums, you have to wade through a lot more flames, and take a lot more abuse, to get help. I'm glad you're all proud of the help you give here, and perhaps you should be. But you're also proud of how you handle people here and I find that a bit confusing 8-}...

Best regards to all of you. I'll post in a week or so if there isn't any change (that is, assuming I still have an account and a thread to post to 8-}).

/j

jsconyers · **OS:** 4.5.0.175

I can see your point about the post being closed after 4 days of not posting. However, as ndub stated, he closed the thread as it was getting off track. It had nothing to do with not being interested in your results.

Your original post in your original thread was a rant stating how RIM was of no help to you. We don't know what steps RIM or Verizon had to try, so it's hard for us to give you any advice that you might have already tried. That's the reason for requesting an OS upgrade.

The rant on RIM being helpless in your case is most likely what brought out the flames. However, read though more threads and you will see that this forum is not like that in most cases. The rants and raves section can get like that at times.

Majority of the users here volunteer their time to help others and are very good at doing so. Please let us know your findings in a few weeks.

CanuckBB · **OS:** 4.5.0.131

Hope it works out for you.

From your original thread, it's VZW that did not help you.

RIM worked with you for 2 months, analyzing dumps. They came back to you with their answer. YES, there is a software issue. YES we will fix it.

They could not tell you when because at that point the issue goes to development scheduling. They decide when is appropriate to reopen a module and there is no guarantee that VZW will QA the first release that contains the fix.

Might not have been what you wanted to hear, but RIM was helpful.

VZW should have just RMAed the unit in the first place.

jeffw_00 · 05-12-2009, 11:07 AM

ok - today I turned on my BB and the icon indicated radio disabled. So I went to "manage connections" and Mobile service was checked. So I unchecked it and rechecked it and everything worked fine.

I'm at the point where I'm planning to turn on my BB every morning by pulling the battery, that way I don't at least have to take the time to check that each service is really working.

No offense, but I assess a vendor on results, not activity. Neither BB or VZW have solved my problem, after FIVE months, and now they have both lost interest and essentially told me to live with it (at least for the 17 months left on my contract). I get that you all think I should appreciate their efforts and be a happy camper, but I'm not. But at this point, I guess there's nothing I can do 8-{.

anyway, that's how it turned out.
/j

jsconyers · **OS:** 4.5.0.175

It's possible you have a defective device. The radio could be malfunctioning. Verizon should replace it under warranty.

jeffw_00 · 05-12-2009, 11:11 AM

hasn't my warranty run out by now? I got this in december....

jsconyers · **OS:** 4.5.0.175

You should have a 1 year manufacturer's warranty on the device.

juwaack68 · 05-12-2009, 12:09 PM

And if you've called in to them several times with this issue, there should be a log of all the calls. I'd push for a replacement device. Ask for supervisors and managers if the rep who answers the call is less then helpful.

Good luck.

jeffw_00 · 05-12-2009, 01:37 PM

You guys pushed me hard to do the upgrade in the hope that that would fix it. I got that, even BB support said it was a SW issue (to be addressed in a future release). so how will replacing the HW help me? It's a hassle, and with a refurbished unit I could inherit other issues. Do you have any experience in this forum to suggest that a HW replacement will solve this after BB says it's a SW issue?

/j

jsconyers · **OS:** 4.5.0.175

It appears that you're the only one experiencing this issue. You've upgraded your software and you're still experiencing the issue. Process of elimination would lead me to believe that it's not a software issue as you've upgraded it and others running the same software have not reported this issue.

jeffw_00 · 05-12-2009, 01:55 PM

Makes sense. On the other hand, won't I run the risk of inheriting more annoying issues if I swap the unit (since I believe I will get a re-furbished one). also - if they don't do an advance swap, I could be without it for a couple of weeks. Point is, unhappy as I am with RIM, I'm inclined to cut my losses....

jsconyers · **OS:** 4.5.0.175

They will send you the device, you will have your current device and the new device at the same time. When you receive the new device, then you have 10 days to send the other (broken) device back.

Yes, you could potentially inherit other issues. I believe the put the devices through tests before deploying them.

jeffw_00 · 05-12-2009, 02:12 PM

i'll look into it (sigh). I wonder if it will be hard to convince VZW to swap HW after BB branded it a SW issue?

juwaack68 · 05-12-2009, 02:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeffw_00

You guys pushed me hard to do the upgrade in the hope that that would fix it. I got that, even BB support said it was a SW issue (to be addressed in a future release). so how will replacing the HW help me? It's a hassle, and with a refurbished unit I could inherit other issues. Do you have any experience in this forum to suggest that a HW replacement will solve this after BB says it's a SW issue?

/j

I (as others here) support several hundred devices at the jobs we work at (I'm a BES Admin). You've done the same steps that I would have done so far to try to eliminate the problem - first upgrade the OS and then replace the hardware.

akosnitzky · **OS:** 5.0.0.230

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeffw_00

i'll look into it (sigh). I wonder if it will be hard to convince VZW to swap HW after BB branded it a SW issue?

I see you are back. Very good.

Dawg · **OS:** 4.5.0.138

I have been with verizon for many years now swap the device you will be happy. I have had many refurbs from them and I have never inherited any other issues.

jeffw_00 · 05-13-2009, 09:46 AM

ok - i'll contact them later this week.

I think I made the connection though - I think that I always have problems the first time I turn the unit on, AFTER I CHARGE IT......

/j

djm2 · 05-13-2009, 01:29 PM

That's curious. Does the problem ever occur if you charge it while the unit is still on? If you like to turn it off so you're not bothered while you sleep, try quiet mode.

jeffw_00 · 05-13-2009, 01:40 PM

charging it while on doesn't make any difference.

maybe it's an uncommon problem because most people leave it on all the time?

Jadey · **OS:** 5.0.0.90

FYI, I have had several refurbished BBs from several networks and have never had any issues with them.

jeffw_00 · 05-13-2009, 02:21 PM

thx ok

CanuckBB · **OS:** 4.5.0.131

Refurbs are less likely to be faulty. A new unit is manufactured and boxed. A refurb is fixed and tested to make sure the problem is no longer there.

jeffw_00 · 05-15-2009, 11:52 AM

ok, I ordered a refurb. they wanted to start me over at the beginning of the debug process but I was able to convince them that that would be creating an infinite loop.

BTW - never tell VZW that you've upgraded your firmware past what's on their site. I know you guys recommended it strongly as a probable fix, but they consider it "voiding the warranty'. Luckily I was able to dance my way out of it.

/j

CO_BBTechie · 05-15-2009, 01:06 PM

True, that is not generally a good idea. If you do go beyond their officially supported release, and have a need to return/swap the device, the recommendation is that you downgrade to the OS that they do support, prior to sending/returning.

jeffw_00 · 05-15-2009, 01:19 PM

ouch - she didn't mention that, but sounds like a good idea. I want to 'wipe' the unit I send in anyway (any good instructions for that?) but it sounds like i should load the OLD O/S as well
/j

Jadey · **OS:** 5.0.0.90

BB is easy enough to wipe. If it has a password, get it wrong enough times that the BB wipes.
If no password, go to OPTIONS > SECURITY > GENERAL OPTIONS > Call up menu and select "Wipe Handheld"

A more thorough way to do it is to download and install jl_cmder (lots of links on this site, let me know if you need one) and hook up BB and use the "Reset to Factory" option - this will wipe everything INCLUDING any IT Policy (if you were on a BES at any point).

jeffw_00 · 05-26-2009, 10:18 AM

ok - I got the new HW last week, and did the swap on Friday. Went pretty smoothly (though I had to call Cust. Support to get my Service Books downloaded). I set it up for scheduled on/off over the weekend since that seemed to make the problem happen more frequently. So far, so good. Whenever the BB comes on, mobile service is active.

However, my subsidiary problem (which I thought was related to my main one) is still there: Sometimes when the BB turns on, -data- service isn't alive. So no email, no browsing. a CAP-ALT-DEL fixes it. This is less serious since it doesn't hurt me if I don't "know" that I don't have data service - first time I check my email and there isn't any (or browse and can't) it's easy enough to reset the device.

Pity, though, that BB has such basic problems. I had higher hopes.

Will keep watching for another week before I return the old one...

/j

mriff · **OS:** 4.7.1.40

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeffw_00

ok - I got the new HW last week, and did the swap on Friday. Went pretty smoothly (though I had to call Cust. Support to get my Service Books downloaded). I set it up for scheduled on/off over the weekend since that seemed to make the problem happen more frequently. So far, so good. Whenever the BB comes on, mobile service is active.

However, my subsidiary problem (which I thought was related to my main one) is still there: Sometimes when the BB turns on, -data- service isn't alive. So no email, no browsing. a CAP-ALT-DEL fixes it. This is less serious since it doesn't hurt me if I don't "know" that I don't have data service - first time I check my email and there isn't any (or browse and can't) it's easy enough to reset the device.

Pity, though, that BB has such basic problems. I had higher hopes.

Will keep watching for another week before I return the old one...

/j

Correction. Your BB. I've never had such problems through three models.

jeffw_00 · 05-26-2009, 03:20 PM

Actually, if you want to be precise, what I meant was that it's a pity that SOME BBs have such basic problems. Glad to hear you're one of the lucky ones

BallHawk3 · 05-26-2009, 06:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeffw_00

Makes sense. On the other hand, won't I run the risk of inheriting more annoying issues if I swap the unit (since I believe I will get a re-furbished one). also - if they don't do an advance swap, I could be without it for a couple of weeks. Point is, unhappy as I am with RIM, I'm inclined to cut my losses....

re-furbs is not the end of the world.

I can understand you not wanting a refurb if you had it only for a few weeks.

But the odds of something going wrong on a device is slim...(someone post up some percentage facts).

So the odds of something going wrong with a re-furb device (a device that had a problem, and was fixed and then made to look brand new) is even slimmer.