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.

for most pc's. you can easily find the temp folder that it is using to temporarily save for the switch. in windows explorer type %temp% and hit enter. that is usually where the folder with your pin will be

if this works for most, then maybe you can sticky it

Added that note to the first post. Thanks!

my pleasure.

most windows programs when written will use the default folders. in basic language its %temp% or %root% ..... and many more

I know this has kind of been answered but I thought I'd ask anyway. I have done the above procedure and it works great. Questions:

1. Does this procedure backup 3rd party software that was installed "Over the Air"
2. I see all the applications in the backup (save the PIN .alx ext) have no file extensions. Is it then not possible to reinstall or save just one "a" particular application?

Thanks

1. Yes.
2. When restoring you simply use the "add" button to add the pin.alx. Then it gives you a selection for each app in the application loader.

Note: This procedure works best with DM 4.2 SP2. Occasionally, 4.3 doesn't see all the applications.

Ok, I'll try it but perhaps explain the part "use the add button to add the pin.alx" Not sure what you mean there.

If I have a file that shows: "texasholdem" with no file extension under my folder "235146af" I should rename it to "texasholdem.alx"? And then using the BB Desktop software select that file for restore. FYI I am trying to move one piece of software from one BB to another BB device. If that makes a difference, the PIN numbers will be different.

Will this also work if I want to transfer some apps from a 8700g to a new 8320?

Yes. As long as the applications work on the new OS, you will be fine. Please note that you cannot select specific applications to back-up. However, you can select specific applications during the restore process.

As John Clark mentioned, this works best with DM 4.2. I just switched to a 8130 from an 8100 using DM 4.3 and several of my applications failed to back-up.

Randy
Two Mike Romeo

Thanks for help. Everything went fine. I was able to transfer all my apps. I even got my ringtones via Media Manager. I am up and running on my 8320 now. Even connected to my home network. Thanks all

Thanks! Nice write up. Works like a charm.

I've followed your instructions, attempting to salvage my first game I just bought, Scrabble, but the file is nowhere to be found on my computer. I don't know if it's because I'm using Vista or what... any help appreciated. One other thing, this game was purchased from the BlackBerry, and not my computer.

Paula

i was able to follow all the directions up to where it says add when i selected mypin.alx the 8330 curve didnt accept it and it backed out of the process..

im trying to transfer over from my 8830 to the new 8330 using DM4.3

now when i repeat the process the temp folder holding the pin is empty and it does not try to do a backup process.

I'm worried about one program bb smart email viewer that i got as a deal over at crackberry...don't know what to do.

OK, so this worked great for me once before, but the next time I try to do this I couldn't seem to find the folder. I am using DM 4.3, and after I check "Third-Party Apps" and click next, it asks to connect my NEW device. Has the folder been created at this point?

It creates the folder after it reads all your 3rd party apps. You should see some status bars and it should copy all the apps from your device.

Thanks John. That's what I thought, but I saw nothing of the sort. It just jumped to the "connect your new device" screen. What happens if I were to click "next" with my device still connected?

I haven't used DM 4.3 in a while.....4.2 SP2 works the best. However, it seems like 4.3 will not recognize them sometimes. Try rebooting the pc and the BB and try it again.

What a wonderful walk-thru, I had no problems doing it first time thru due to your wonderful instructions all my 3rd party stuff is safe and sound.

Deedee

ps. I think you've got a little *cough* lipstick *cough* on your forehead there!

UPDATE1: I then made out like I wanted to reload them and did an ADD and when I browsed to the PIN.alx I got the dreaded "No additional applications designed for your device were found" - so maybe things didn't go as well as I thought? I will go actually delete one and try it again just incase it knows nothing is missing and report back after...

UPDATE2: I see the alx is present but the cod is not... still investigating...

There are no .cod's associated with this method. During the process, the folder created will have files in it that associate with all your apps but they won't be .cod files. Make sure there are files in there. If when you go to add the PIN.alx you still have these files on the BB you'll likely get that message. You only use this if the apps are gone from your device. If they're still on your device Desktop Manager already sees them and may give you that message if you try to add them.

Apparently they ALL have to be gone as I only had the nerve to delete one for testing purposes and it still came up "No additional applications designed for your device were found" instead of letting me put that one back on.

Some of my purchased 3rd party stuff was OTA and I have no way to re-get it should I never need to. Being new to smartphones, I gotta say I find this lack of ability to back up not only by the software distributors but especially the device manager to be ridiculous. I really hoped this elegant solution was the work around I was looking for but unless it only works if I wipe the device, I'll never know and that's a test I'm not ready to take, although I'll go ahead and keep my PIN folder (37 files) just in case I have no choice someday.

Thanks again.

If you delete one from your device, and you have the pin.alx added then you should see an empty checkbox for that app. However, it does work as advertised and will save you should your device get inadvertantly wiped or if an OS upgrade goes awry.