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?
March 12th, 2010 at 7:45 pm
Hi,
For guys that don't have "Desktop [SYNC]" option, try deleting other services with the word [SYNC] in it. For my case it was my gmail service (GMAIL[SYNC]). I deleted it and the box ungreyed itself out. Of course this is done at your own risk!
I use a personal Bold 9700.
March 18th, 2010 at 3:00 pm
You totally just saved my butt. I had trouble getting all of our CFO's emails to populate on his new device so I backed up device, wiped, deleted BES license, restored and reactivated for Exchange (All recommended by BES support BTW), then restored data/apps from manager. NO BBM. The guy was not thrilled!!! Next time you are in Baltimore, I owe you a lunch! -td
March 24th, 2010 at 9:05 pm
I tried this after not being to backup BB messenger but when I went to Options-AO-Service Book I have no Desktop[sync] or for that matter any other [SYNC].
Help!
thanks
March 26th, 2010 at 9:26 pm
I have nothing that contain the word SYNC ,,
March 28th, 2010 at 8:00 am
Dude, you just saved me a ton of work, you da man!!!!
April 16th, 2010 at 10:48 am
That worked great to restore my bookmarks, but only for about 5 minutes.
I upgraded my Storm to OS 5.0 and lost my bookmarks, and bookmark folders. They are not available to restore, but are are greyed out. I can't even recreate them on my BB as the folders are gone. Using the above procedure restored the folders and I could recreate the bookmarks manually, but only until the wireless sync intervened (I assume as I'm on BES Express). I never had this issue prior to OS5.0….
May 7th, 2010 at 8:03 pm
Thank you for this! You just saved my life.
May 19th, 2010 at 6:52 am
GOD BLESS YOU!!!! Million thanks for save me from a heart attack! Just activated my BES wipe everything out, then couldn't restore Address, memos, etc. Follow your simple steps and it works!
May 19th, 2010 at 6:11 pm
All I can say is "DUDE". Speed dials, phone logs, call history, custom dictionary…. All back
May 27th, 2010 at 2:39 am
you are a superstar …
May 28th, 2010 at 11:19 am
THANK YOU! You saved the day. SO HELPFUL
June 9th, 2010 at 1:23 pm
Hi Corey, I don't have the desktop [sync] nor any service book entry that has the [sync] label after it… any ideas you could offer on how to restore the address book without these service book entries being present? thank you so much.
June 13th, 2010 at 11:24 am
Awesome this is…like everyone said you really saved so many ppl time. God bless you!
July 6th, 2010 at 4:15 pm
this is freakin awesome,,, turns out i dont have to drive to Waterloo and shoot somebody after all… lol jk… well sorta.
I had to delete the gmail(SYNC) dealio in my service book.
P.S. if you dont know what to delete check Option -> Advanced Options -> Default Services… this is my hint.
Thanks again mate, simply wonderful
July 8th, 2010 at 10:59 am
This worked perfectly …. except for the "Saved Messages" db which is still greyed out. Seems rather ironic that the one folder you would think is being saved is not able to be used to restore. If anyone ever found a solution I'd be eternally grateful.
July 8th, 2010 at 1:14 pm
Yes, the "Saved Messages" is really the one database my boss cares about… and it's still greyed out.
Please help if anyone knows how to back these up and restore them!
thanks-
July 8th, 2010 at 2:17 pm
Not sure but I think I found out the solution to my own problem. Out of desperation I restored ALL messages and lo and behold the "saved messages" that my boss was looking for came with them. Still can't believe that they were one and the same but I can't deny the fact that he had ZERO saved messages before I restored and then a significant number AFTER I restored.
July 9th, 2010 at 1:51 pm
Spinjack- when all the messages went back on the device, were they still marked as saved?
July 13th, 2010 at 7:08 am
ChristinaY – All of the messages "they" were looking for went back into the "saved messages" folder but of course ALL of the previous messages came along with it overwriting everything they had on their phone. Probably goes without saying, but might be worth it on this "type" of user to backup the phone AGAIN before you restore. Somehow the concept of overwriting and replacing just doesn't seem to sink through for some. :) Good luck.
July 18th, 2010 at 10:19 am
I downgraded from a blackberry curve 8330 to a 8703e because I sent it out for repair. My address book is grayed and there is no "Desktop [SYNC] service book" on the 8703e, since it's an older model maybe.
Any suggestions?
August 8th, 2010 at 10:06 am
Thanks! Worked perfectly! Allowed me to restore my large collection of memo pad files from a prior BlackBerry.
August 18th, 2010 at 9:49 am
Got the same issue, i need to move the Save Messages to another device…
August 18th, 2010 at 9:57 am
Whew! I just tried restoring all Messages and voila i got my Saved Messages…
September 7th, 2010 at 8:49 am
I dont have the Desktop SYNC option to delete. In my old BB its there but in the new BB – to which i am trying to tranfer my contacts its not there! Hellppp
September 7th, 2010 at 2:38 pm
really useful info! managed to get this working thanks to you and comments from http://dotwhat.net/ipd/853/ great stuff :)
November 20th, 2010 at 12:36 am
THANK YOU! I spent hours trying to figure this out. Awesome.
December 7th, 2010 at 2:58 pm
SUCH a lifesaver! I've been tearing my hair out. Thank you so much!
December 12th, 2010 at 2:55 am
"I had to delete the gmail(SYNC) dealio in my service book." – THANK YOU
January 1st, 2011 at 9:32 am
Yep, that's great. And, when you have a Mac….?
January 3rd, 2011 at 1:04 pm
How I get my mms was delete back?
January 4th, 2011 at 8:52 am
thanks for this bro
January 10th, 2011 at 2:41 am
THANKYOU SOOOO MUCH, I HAVE SPENT 5HRS TRYING TO FIGURE THIS OUT.
LOOKING AT MY WATCH AND ITS 3AM IN THE MORNING, NEEDED TO FIX THIS FOR MY CEO.
THANK YOU THANK YOU THANKYOU!
January 11th, 2011 at 7:39 am
Thanks Very Much
March 4th, 2011 at 5:58 am
Bonjour
je ne sais pas si c est un problème de compréhension ou de mauvaise manipulation, mais le souci que j ai moi c'est que c'est le ficheir qui est sur le pc qui est en 'gris claire' et que je boudrais transferer; apres avoir fait les maneuvres decrites ci-dessus ce sont celles du terminal (adress book par ex) qui se trouvent à froite du desktop manager quis maintenant en gris foncé et que je peux traiter; moi c'est fichier source du pc qui est en lecture seule, qui contient tous mes contacts, que je voudrais transférer sur le bb !!
quelqun à une réponse à ca ??
merci
March 4th, 2011 at 9:32 am
Hi
I don't know if I didn't undertand correctly or if I did something wrong, but the problem is taht following the previous instruction I still cannot upload or restore the file that is on my pc beacuse it's still 'read only'; I want to restore the adress book and on the right side of the desktop manager (blackberry – terminal ) it's highlighted but on the left side (pc) it's not so I can't do anything with the file containing all the information I need.
thanks
Alfonso
March 18th, 2011 at 8:35 pm
IMHO, there are only a few things better than a cold beer on a hot summer day. You just topped that list, my man! Huge lifesaver! Thanks!!
May 31st, 2011 at 6:04 pm
Hey Corey,
Thanks for your post! As others, I don´t have anything with the word SYNC in my Service Book options. My address book is gone from my BB, and it appears dimmed in my blackberry back-up on my computer.
I´m desperate, any ideas???
July 2nd, 2011 at 10:03 am
@Carolina
If you have everything backed up already through Blackberry Desktop Software, use JL Commander to perform a "wipe" on the phone. (So that no software exists on the device at all.) Then restore the software using Blackberry Desktop Software, and all of your information should be restored along with it as well. Good luck, and cheers!
July 7th, 2011 at 9:04 am
Outstanding! This was a real life saver.