Blackberry Curve Tips, Tricks, & Troubleshooting Guide

OK, this is not a comprehensive guide, just things I have had to look up to solve.  I'll add to this as I solve problems.  Here's a current list:

• Added 8300 Series FAQ's 

Last Updated:  05.20.08

Tips and Tricks

• 8300 Series FAQ's (BlackberryFAQ.com)
• BIG FAQ! (Blackberry Forums)
  
• BlackberryCool Podcast (blackberrycool.com)
• NEW! Guide to wiping your BlackBerry (bbgeeks)
• How to check your OS version (beejive)
• How to install new themes (blackberryforums)
• Tips and Tricks thread (crackberry)
• Using BlackBerry home screen shortcuts (bbgeeks)
• How To - Free Up Memory On Your BlackBerry (blackberrytips.net)

TROUBLESHOOTING:

1.  Blackberry PIN

• Symptom - an application like Piconews asks for your Blackberry PIN
• Cure - you can find it on your device by selecting Options > Status
  

2.  Clear the Calendar (or Address Book, etc.)

• Symptom - you've corrupted the data in your Calendar (or other bb app) and it's got too much data to delete manually
• Cure - in the Desktop Manager, go into the 'Backup abd Restore' feature (I know, intuitive, huh?) then click 'Advanced' and it will show you all the data currently stored on the unit in the right-hand pane. Select the item (address book, calendar, etc) and click the 'Clear' button to wipe them out.

3.  Missing Browser Icon

• Symptom - no Blackberry browser icon
• Cure - if you have the cheapest data plan and asked them to BLOCK instant messaging, you may need to call them to unblock it.  Then, you need to change the following Advanced Setting:
  • Go to Options > Advanced > Host Routing Table
  • Highlight this entry: Cingular [31038030]
  • Click the menu button and select "Register Now"

4.  Telenav PIN

• Symptom - you are registering for the telenav service and are asked for a pin
• Cure - use the last four digits of your phone number

5.  VoiceSignal lockup

• Symptom - on initiating bluetooth voice dial, screen displays "Intializing" for long periods of time.
• Cure - this is a known bug, and VS is working on it.  For now, remove the battery for 10s and replace.

6. Windows Explorer can't see Blackberry

• Symptoms: Media manager does't find any files on your Blackberry OR Explorer doesn't see your BB as a separate drive (though you've got Mass Storage mode turned on) OR your music sync program can't find your device.
• Cure: You've may have a drive letter competition going on.  Change the drive letter of your BB's media card this way:
  • Plug in BB
  • Right Click My Computer
  • Click Manage
  • Click Disk Management
  • Look at the right hand side and find your BB's media card and change the drive to something obscure like X or V-anything that is not common. Everything should work fine now.

Comments

[newtoblackberry]

my blackberry won't make calls out. They start--and then they stop. I must have hit a button--what to do?

[seeker]

You've probably changed the profile to OFF. Find the icon for profiles, and change back to Normal.

[garry]

i recently purchased an at&t blackberry curve. i seem to have inadvertently deleted the profile icon (i can't change the ring/vibration setting). how can i find the profile icon? i've tried to unhide everything.

[seeker]

try hooking up your bb to your desktop, and run the applications loader. look through the list and see if it the profile icon is in there, and if you can reload it.

if that does not work, perhaps a restore to factory settings, but i'm not sure how to do that.

[mike]

i used to be able to send pictures taken on my phone via email, but i no longer can. when i try the sending always fails, this just started happening because i used to be able to do it all the time. when you take a pic you can select "send to email" but it never goes through anymore. any ideas? thanks

[Joyce]

My daughter has a Blackberry Curve. I have a Samsung a517. Both through ATT. Up until a week ago last Saturday, she was able to send me text messages and I got them with no problem. Beginning the next day and until now, I can't. She can call me and receive my texts but I can't receive hers. ATT says it's not my phone. I don't have her blocked and I can receive texts from others without a problem. This is annoying because the only reason I have unlimited text messages, honestly, is for her because she uses that feature rather than calling! Anyway, her phone has "called" me from her purse several times because it was probably hit just right to speed dial my number. That Saturday, or rather, early the next morning, her phone "called" my number 3 times in about 2 minutes and again about an hour later. Is there any way a button (or combination of buttons) could have been accidently pressed on her phone that would block her from sending me text messages? We have both tried deleting the other from our phones and re-entering the info. No luck. Help!!!

[seeker]

Dunno. Try this http://www.blackberrycool.com/2005/07/05/00611/

[Ryan]

My curve takes forever to load sometimes (the hoursglass is near frozen). I make sure to check "switch application" and turn off as many programs as possible, but it still is a big problem.

[seeker]

When mine does that (pretty much every other day), I reset it with SoftReset.

See my other software reccs on Blackberry Curve Software Guide - Favorites

[JKW]

My BlackBerry Curve (thru T-Mobile) will periodically shut off & reboot during a conversation. I assume this is not a dropped call, because I can be sitting still in the house with full signal strength. Also, when the unit reboots itself, the "Verifying Security Software" message is on the Home Screen. I wonder, is this something I can fix, or is there an internal problem with the unit?

[seeker]

Wow, I have not heard of this, but I would check the forums at crackberry, pinstack, and blackberryforums.

[seeker]

But the Verifying Security Software banner is normal on reboot.

[Misha]

How do I delete or edit phone #'s on this thing??

[Misha]

I have the same problem! The screen will go completely white with the hour glass symbol rotating, then I have to turn the phone completely off?? Frustrating!!

[Chris]

I recently got a blackberry and have set up the email. However none of the e-mails are going to my phone. The icon is now there for my yahoo email but when I have mail it doesn't show up? If I log into a regular computer it shows up there but is not going to my blackberry. Any ideas?

Also, in regard to text messaging tones. If you set it to Vibrate and tone, it onlyu vibrates upon receiving a text? If I get a phone call it will vibrate 3 times and then ring but it won't do it for texts? Any suggestions? Thank you so much

[seeker]

Email:
Have you gone in through the Personal email setup icon and tried to successfully create your email account using yahoo? Until you get that to work, you won't receive your mail on your bb. For me, it took four tries to get my owa mail to correctly connect.

Vibrate:
If you call up the profiles menu, instead of choosing one, select it by rolling the wheel, then click the menu button for options - one of them allows you to modify the profile (I don't recall the specifics, don't have the phone with me right this sec).

[Chris]

I did try that via the e-mail set up on the phone, but still no luck, it does say sucessfully added but when I send myself an e-mail it doesnt show

[Brooklyn Masters]

I just bought a blackberry curve and my address book is not showing addresses. When I go into the menu screen and go Under the options screen at the bottom it will list the 43 entries but they will not show up when I enter my address book. Any ideas about this or do you think my software is gimpy??

[Alie]

As soon as I dial a number I get a "called failed" message. The number shows up in my call log but it never rings. Email and text messaging are fine. My Profile is set to normal. When anyone calls it goes automatically to voice mail. My signal is perfectly fine. However, I am not. This is driving me crazy! Any help :)

Alie

[seeker]

Does this happen all of the time or right after reboot? Sometimes you have to wait a few minutes. To search for such answers, check out the forums at pinstack.com, crackberry.com, or one of the other sites listed on Blackberry Curve Software Resource Links

[Julie]

I have a Blackberry Curve. I seem to have started having issues with the screen. It will just go an hourglass for many minutes and I have to reboot which that can be challenging too. I don't know what has suddenly caused this to happen?

[seeker]

I'm not sure either, it's an ongoing problem. I put the icon for Soft Reset (see above) on my main desktop, so I can get to it easily when my BB starts pausing like that. But if it's just too stuck in that mode, i take out the battery.

Perhaps you could search the forums on pinstack, crackberry, or one of the others and let us know if you find anything? I haven't yet. Thanks!

[leedo]

how can i get my Blackberry Curve to both ring and vibrate for calls?

[stephanie]

How do I have a notification sound for my messages? It only vibrates when I have a message. Please help me, I'm new at this :)

[Jen]

I need help...i can't get my phone to just ring....it vibes 2 times, then rings 2 times then vibes again

[seeker]

If your phone only vibrates, you are probably using the Vibrate profile instead of the Normal one.

Find the Profile icon and click it, then choose 'Normal'

If you want to change when sounds or vibrations occur, just do this:
- click the Profile Icon
- scroll down the menu and choose Advanced
- highlight the profile you want to edit
- click the Menu button and choose Edit
- make changes

[Rey]

I have a blackberry curve. The only thing wrong with it is text. Everything someone texts me with just words I get it. But if they try sending me a pic with text it won't send anything. Is there and thing I have turn off on my phone or is it the carrier at&a. Thanks

[ali]

i just got my blackberry curve yesterday. its an at&t. but my text messages arent sending and im not receiving text either.any advice?

[seeker]

1. make sure your plan actually includes texting
2. take your phone into the store and make them figure it out for you.

[baj]

How can I change a profile for different calls. I would like to have work numbers not come through on the weekend. Is it possible to have those numbers only vibrate and all others ring?

[Josh]

my blackberry curve started taking a really long time to send and recieve text messages. its only about a month old and i already tried clearing the inbox/outbox. any suggestions?

[seeker]

I don't actually have SMS (I have the cheap data plan), but check at the forums at crackberry and pinstack.

[Donna]

My Blackberry Curve is automatically going to voicemail also with no notification that I have a voicemail or anything else. How can I solve this.

[Marline]

I have a solution for those (like myself) that accidentally deleted the phone profile icon on the Blackberry Curve 8320 (mine is through T-Mobile). Find the Options icon, choose it. Choose Screen/Keyboard. Scroll down to options available for convenience keys (default is Camera for Right Side and Voice Dialing for Left Side). Choose whichever key you would like to control your profile. Choose Profiles. Save the new setting. This doesn't restore your icon but does allow you to use the application!

Has anyone found out how to restore the profile icon (or any other deleted icons) since the original question was posted in February?

[David]

I received my BB last week - all was working fine - the device is not working at all - I can see when someone calls and the phone will alert when emails and texts arrive but the keyboard will not respond to any of this - I can't access anything or activate the unlock function - it seems like the keyboard is dead - any help is appreciated!

[amanda lighty]

i have a blackberry 8800 and whenever i press the menu button and try to open any application the screen shows my recent calls what should i do?

[seeker]

David,

Can you return your bb or bring it to a local dealer (ATT, whatever) and have them look at it? Any sales location for your carrier can help you if you bring your phone in.

That goes for lots of the problems here. And don't forget to search the pinstack.com, and crackberry.com forums.

[meganC]

my blackberry has a scroll ball located on the front. it will scroll to the sides and down, but it will not scroll up. how do i un-jam it? i can't even check my messages because of this!

[seeker]

How to clean your BlackBerry’s Trackball