The process described in http://www.blackberryforums.com/rim-...arty-apps.html
Did not work for me, it backed up nothing, what am I doing wrong ?, I followed the steps, tried 3 times.
I do have 3rd party applications installed, such as Handango Chinese translation dictionary and phrase book, Opera, + other 3rd party apps.
Are there any other methods for backing up 3rd party apps ?.
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Blackberry 8100 user in Shanghai.
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so when you ran a back up it didnt save any third party apps at all?

If you can determine the names of the .cod files on the device, you can use Javaload (JL_cmder) to backup third party programs.

http://www.blackberryforums.com/gene...-jl_cmder.html

First of all... Thanks John for this excellent tutorial. This has saved my bacon and LOTS of time reloading all my 3P apps. Kudos to you!

And for those of you that are trying this for the first time...

When you search your computer files/folders for the folder labled with your pin number - make sure that you enable searches for hidden files and folders. See the attached pic for a description.

Randall
Two Mike Romeo

Correct, it did not save any apps. Infact the process was slightly different than that described in the previous url.
1) Start BB Desktop, enter passwords on Desktop and BB.
2) Start Switch Devices
3) Click the Switch the BB Device icon
4) Click Next
5) At USB:pin dialog, click Next
6) Enter Password, click Next
7) "Activate my New Device during the Device Switching Process", "Select you email MS Outlook or IBM Lotus" Dialog is displayed
8) Select "Do not activate my device during the switching process"
9) Click Next
10) "No Actions Required" Dialog is displayed
I do not see at any point any apps being backed up,
Thoughts ?.

did you do a back up prior to the switch?

Not sure what you mean, certainly there's no backup option dialogs for the switch. However I did do a backup from backup/restore from the desktop manager, but this only performs a backup of data, not applications.

Why not FIRST use Backup & Restore app within BBDM.

Do a FULL backup. RESTORE on the replacement unit.

Then activate the new replacement BB unit .... sounds like you're on a BES and its POSSIBLE that new IT Policy has restrictions.

question ... IF you are ON a BES ... did you install those 3rd party apps BEFORE setting up on that BES?

He's wanting to backup the 3rd party apps on his device. Backup/Restore doesn't back those up.

@bloodhound:
You are simply going to far in the switch device wizard. After you select your pin (the first time,) enter your password. It should read the device and then bring up a screen to check "backup user data and settings" and "include messages" and "Third party applications." Uncheck the user data and messages and leave third party apps checked. Click Next. Once that is done DO NOT do ANYTHING else otherwise it will empty the folder and the backup won't be there. Leave the window there and go search for the folder labled with your pin. Remember to search hidden and system folders.

All these instructions are in the sticky thread with exception to the password entry and the part about searching for hidden and system folders.

...and I've merged your thread with this one to keep it all in one place. You'll likely not be the only one with this problem.

Thanks John, rtfm, I forgot to search for hidden files. I have now found the directory named with the pin number, however no files at all with ext alx.
The 8100 platform ver is 4.2.1.101 not sure if this makes any difference.
FYI I am very new to BB, I am based in Shanghai, so worse still theres no support or true outlets yet for BB's, China Mobile now supports BB's, however I am at the mercy or unqualified outfits that load/unload software on BB's, hence my urgent need to backup my apps. Recently I got the BB 8100, could not see how to connect to the internet and had no MMS support, could not see anything in the BB to support MMS, my simcard supports both internet and MMS and works fine on my samung. I had no idea how to configure MMS or Internet, no idea where you get a service book from still no idea. So I took the BB to a place, they trashed everything on the phone, but managed to load new stuff on and get MMS and Internet on.
Again thanks for you help.

If there are no files in the pin folder then that means you went too far during the switch device wizard. Follow the instructions very closely. If you cancel out or continue on, the files will be removed from the folder. After it reads the 3rd party apps, do NOTHING. Just go find the folder and copy it to another location. THEN go back and cancel the switch device wizard.

This procedure was not meant for doing this but is a workaround way to backup all 3rd party apps at once. Good luck.

This all looks very easy to do, except my device's USB connection no longer works. I was able to backup the data and restore it to a new Blackberry of the same type (Pearl) under warranty replacement. However, the desktop manager will not allow me to backup applications via Bluetooth. I am wondering if there is any other way to do this.

Just to be clear, backing up from USB is IMPOSSIBLE, and Bluetooth is the only connection to a PC that I can manage. I need to know how to backup the applications via bluetooth so I can restore them to the new phone which is working perfectly.

Tom, welcome to the forums,
Unfortunatly, the application loader will not connect to the device using bluetooth. Sorry, you're out of luck on that one. You'll have to redownload your applications to the new device.

I have also tried this method but by looking at the .alx file I see that it does not include WorldMate Pro 2006, IM+, nor Cryptmagic, all of which were done OTA.

I guess if a 3rd part app was not installed using DM, it is not recognized by the Switch module, even though it is recognized by Application Loader.

Now, I want to upgrade my Verizon 8830 OS to .148 from .66 but do not want to have to reload all my 3rd party apps yet again as I just switched from a 8703e to the 8830.

I guess there is no way around this if I want to update the OS- is there?

Thanks and sorry to be such a newbie- I've had a BB for over 7 years but just used them as supplied until now.

steve rose

This is just a backup in case something goes wrong during the normal backup/upgrade/restore process or if the device unexpectedly won't boot and has to be reloaded. There may be a few apps that this method doesn't pick up. However, if you are doing an OS upgrade, Desktop Manager should show all the apps installed on the device and backup and restore everything. There are a few apps where some of the data doesn't restore however. CryptMagic has it's own database on the PC that you can restore back to the device.

John, I just want to say thank you, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!! I was a beta tester for Pocket Metro a few years ago and on my first BlackBerry. The program is the best thing to happen to someone that doesn't know New York or their subway system, but it was an OTA download. I could never figure out how to convert it, so it was stuck on the 7100t. The company apparently went out of business, so I couldn't even buy a new copy, and even though people have suggested "equivalent programs," they aren't.

I'd often look at it sitting on that unit while trying to use all of my mental powers to move it over to my 8700g. Every few months or so, I come on the board looking for a way to get it off the 7100t as well as catch up on new stuff for my BlackBerry.

The past two nights, I've searched and searched the threads, downloaded this or that and finally came across this thread...It worked! It worked!

Thank you so much.

And a special thanks to Two Mike Romeo for showing exactly how to search the hidden folders.

happy to help.

i don't know what i'd do without this forum. thanks to everyone who contributes to this site and saves me many a headache.