Occasionally I have an OS downgrade/upgrade on my BlackBerry that goes wrong and I need to restore a single database. This morning the lucky database was my BlackBerry Messenger settings (which also contains all of your BlackBerry Messenger contacts).
If you use the Device Switch wizard, the Desktop Manager typically does some magic (I've yet to see how this works documented anywhere) to silently inform your BB Messenger contacts of your new PIN. That's excellent (when it works), but my early morning OS upgrade left me with the stock settings. No contacts, no preferences. My contacts could presumably all see me, but I couldn't see any of them.
Restoring the Read-Only Database
Connect your device and launch Desktop Manager. Navigate to Backup and Restore, and then Advanced. Open a recent backup (.ipd) file.
You'll be greeted by the friendly message:
Databases that are unavailable in the list have been configured for wireless synchronization or wireless backup and are read-only. You cannot restore or clear them.
And of course the BlackBerry Messenger database is greyed out.
Delete the Desktop [SYNC] Service Book
The trick is to delete the Desktop [SYNC] service book. From the device home screen open Options and then drill down to Advanced Options > Service Book. Find Desktop [SYNC], open the menu and choose Delete. Don't worry, you can undo this.
Restoring a Database
Back in Desktop Manager – with your device still connected – click the Refresh button under the Device databases group.
Watch in awe as previously disabled databases suddenly allow you to backup and restore them.
CAUTION: Be careful what you do here, you can really mess up your device. Don't mess with anything like being synced with your desktop client – Address Book, Mail, Tasks – and definitely don't touch a database related to your service or enterprise activation like Service Book or Policy. Limit yourself to options for the applications – databases like Address Book Options, Tasks Options, Sounds, Profiles Options and of course BlackBerry Messenger.
From newly liberated list of databases select the databases you want and backup or restore them.
Restoring the Desktop [SYNC] Service Book
On the device open Options > Advanced Options > Service Book, and then open the menu. It doesn't matter which service book is selected. From the menu choose Undelete.
That's it – once you undelete that service book wireless sync will resume. You can refresh the Device databases list in the Deskt0p Manager if you want to see the databases greyed out again.
Tags: BlackBerry, BlackBerry Messenger, Desktop Manager, Service Book
July 8th, 2009 at 5:29 pm
You are a GOD for publishing this! Just had to activate my personal Blackberry on the corporate Enterprise Server. Had to wipe the handheld first, then was prevented from putting my address book, memos, etc back on.
This has been amazing help! Thank you!
July 21st, 2009 at 3:54 am
Hi
You are really a GOD how could you have even thought of this – Just amazing!!
Thanks
August 6th, 2009 at 5:11 am
[...] more detailed version is available at CoreyGilmroe.com [...]
August 21st, 2009 at 6:43 am
OMG!! This sure did it. I too activated my BES had to wipe everything out and couldn't restore Address, memos, etc. Followed ur steps and worked like a charm.
Thanks
Monica
August 29th, 2009 at 7:43 pm
Yep, just got on BES too, I almost went nuts when I thought I wouldnt be able to reload by BBM contact list and theme options…
This page saved me hours of work.
Thank you
September 3rd, 2009 at 12:50 pm
Hi, I have no BES, just a clean Blackberry 8310 I don't really understad why on erath my contacts backup cant be restored due to a 'read only' what?
I followed the instructions but 'Service book' is already empty on my Blackberry
I never had this problem before I had successfully restored my backups and I'm going nuts trying to restore my contacts. And the database 'contacts all' is greyed out, what does it mean?
Thanks!
September 11th, 2009 at 12:21 am
Followed your instructions and it worked perfectly. If only you were writing manuals for other software, life would be so much easier!
September 25th, 2009 at 12:44 pm
Will this suggestion work for the following?
I just did something stupid. I bought a new blackberry and wanted to transfer info from the old to the new and mistakenly switched the devices around on the blackberry desktop switch devices.
The last time I backed up my old blackberry was August 1st – so there is a lot of missing data from that time up until now. Is there some kind of versioning of the database on the blackberry so that I can undo my action on the old blackberry?
Thanks – let me know.
September 30th, 2009 at 12:32 am
this solutions works for me
October 14th, 2009 at 5:00 pm
I did this so I could copy a user's address book from their personal BlackBerry onto their corporate BlackBerry. I was able to copy the contacts and verified that wireless sync was turned on. New contacts sync wirelessly, but none of the contacts that were copied over sync to her desktop address book (Lotus Notes). I edited one of the contacts from her BlackBerry, forced a reconcile, but the contact did not sync back over.
Am I missing something?
October 26th, 2009 at 12:42 am
I also am having the same problem, BUT, I was upgrading to 5.0 with Verizon and my computer froze half way through. I did do a backup before and have everything right there on DM. My pictures and videos loaded but no sms, mms, contacts, e-mails. It loads in light grey on the left side and I am not able to move it over to the right side to load it. Now when I go into the service books to try and delete like you said, that is not an option in 5.0. Any suggestions?
November 2nd, 2009 at 7:24 pm
AAAHH! Just upgraded to 5.0. At first everything was fine, but randomly now all my contacts are gone except for in the call log. Tried to restore from my backup, but it failed!!! And I can't restore my address book contacts cause it's grayed out! WHY??? Sooo frustrated right now… Anybody have any luck with restoring contacts?
November 17th, 2009 at 3:14 pm
Corey,
You are a deadset legend mate!!! A million thank you's.
You don't realize how valuable that data is until you can't access it.
Just a footnote, I have an 8310 and it wouldn't delete the desktop SYNC until I hit the ALT key. I can't undelete it now but I'm not too concerned about that.
Thanks again mate, well done:)
November 17th, 2009 at 3:18 pm
@Nath – If the device is still on the BES you'll definitely want to recover the Desktop Sync service book, otherwise it'll affect, well, syncing. You can resend Service Books to the device from the BIS site, or do it through Options > Advanced Options > Host Routing Table. Open the menu on any entry there and choose Register Now.
November 17th, 2009 at 3:21 pm
@jeff – you can still delete service books on the device with OS 5.0, what's not working?
@Victor – I'm not sure what would prevent the restored DB from syncing back to the desktop. Is Wireless Sync enabled on the device? Address Book > Options or Address Book > Options > Desktop (on handheld OS 5.0)
November 18th, 2009 at 1:56 pm
You saved me so much misery. Thank You so much for these instructions
November 25th, 2009 at 1:14 pm
This is a great page. Everything worked for me on a BB Tour, except Saved Email Messages. We have a BB configured through a BES server and the user accidentally wiped his BB. We re-activated it, but not all his Saved Email Messages made it back. I have a local backup of his BB from a couple months ago and it lists more Records than the number of records on the BB.
Unfortunately the Saved Email Messages is one of the very few databases that is still greyed out after this trick. Any idea on how to get them back?
November 26th, 2009 at 2:06 am
Hi Corey,
I have the same problem as Jeff. The address book is grayed out however when you go to service book there is no DESK Sync option to delete. So how do we ungray this box ? Thanks in advance.
December 2nd, 2009 at 8:27 pm
Thanks man, you saved my ass!
December 9th, 2009 at 3:29 pm
Totally worked. Thank you!
December 14th, 2009 at 10:08 am
Thanks, this worked for me. God bless you.
January 22nd, 2010 at 12:12 am
I am using Blackberry desktop manager 5.0.1.28 and trying to restore the address book . I can find only connection option and data folder under option under OPTION. where do I find advance option / service book under option ?
From backup and restore main page if I select advance option , I will get file and device database.
Under device database , I can find service book grayed out . But I can not do anyting with that .
Any help is gretaly appreciated.
January 22nd, 2010 at 12:46 am
Thanks a lot .. I found it finally .. Its working great
January 23rd, 2010 at 3:03 pm
awesome advice. this was the ONLY thing that worked for me!
February 3rd, 2010 at 11:34 am
Brilliant, and thanks. Got me some brownie points with the new boss as well !!
March 6th, 2010 at 4:06 pm
I'm having the same problem as other people with 5.0
There is no Desktop [SYNC] under service book. Any ideas?