Methods To Install Applications, Themes, etc....

[stevetaz]

Here are two popular methods and a third unconventional method of installing BB applications, themes (actually mini applications) and the like on your BlackBerry. I hope you find it of help...

OTA (Over The Air) Application Installations…-OTA installations require either .jad or .jar files and are the easiest to install. You must have a data plan to be able to access the Internet and download the required files for the install directly on your BlackBerry device..

-It is generally as easy as visiting the OTA site and clicking on an OTA link. In some cases the authors will have you submit your phone number or email address and they will send an SMS or an email with the appropriate link.

-Follow the on-screen instructions.

-Note that installing this way does not give you a backup of the OTA download if you need to reinstall in the future. You should make sure you are doing periodic backups of your device and make sure you have selected that applications be backed up. That is not usually the default backup selection.

-If you need a registration key to activate the software make sure you keep that safe and available to avoid having to pay for software a second time. You could keep it filed in the encrypted BB Password Keeper program.


Using BB Desktop To Install Applications…
-Visit the software developer’s website and look for the Desktop download link.

-Downloaded the desired application to your desktop or to a location of your choosing. Note that you may have to unzip the contents to a new folder. Inside the new folder there will be a file that ends in .alx.

-Start the BB Desktop Manager and connect your handheld.

-In the BB Desktop Manager look for the Application Loader and select it. A screen will appear that displays all the applications currently loaded on your BlackBerry device.

-Above the list of currently installed BlackBerry applications will be an ADD button. Select it to bring up the Add Application.

-Navigate to the folder you created above and locate the .alx file. Choose OK and this application will appear in the list with all of your other installed software

-Make sure the new Application has a checkmark next to it (selected) and click “Next”. The Application Loader will run through the install process and will often either automatically restart your handheld or prompt that the changes won’t take effect until you reset by a battery pull.

-After restarting you will see an icon and the new Application is ready to use.

-Note that this installation method does give you the ability to reinstall later should you need to.

-If you need a registration key to activate the software make sure you keep that safe and available to avoid having to pay for software a second time. You could keep it filed in the encrypted BB Password Keeper program.


Fool Your BB Into Thinking You Have An OTA Install….
-Download the .jad and .cod files required for installation and save them in a folder on your desktop or another location of your choosing.
NOTE: As member rudeboy pointed out, finding all of the necessary .cod files can be a challenge and depends on the software authors skills in hiding or protecting the .cod files. There is a freeware program, BlackBerry OTA downloader, which enables a user to download all the necessary files and to then save to a folder on a hard drive or to move them to an SD Card for future installation. This can be very helpful, for example, to a user who does not have a data plan to connect to the Internet or to archive an OTA program in case it is needed to reload at a later time.
DO NOT violate an author’s ownership and DO NOT use this to steal others’ efforts and repackage or illegally sell someone else’s property.

Assuming you have saved the necessary files to a folder of your choice on your PC…
-Connect your BlackBerry device to your computer using the USB cable.

-If you want to load the application files into device memory, you may be able to do that, but I am not familiar with getting the install correct, so check the instructions at the above freeware site. From here on are instructions on storing the files on an SD Card.

SPECIAL NOTE: When the actual install is done the application will be loaded/installed to your device. As of this writing BBs still don't have the ability to install applications on a memory card and to run from the card.

-For placing the files on the SD Memory Card, if you have not already set the SD Card for Mass Storage Mode as Enabled, you should see a prompt asking if you want to enable Mass Storage Mode. Select Yes. There should also be an option to turn on Mass Storage Mode automatically in the future. Select Yes so you won’t have to repeat this in the future when you connect to your PC.

-Your BlackBerry should now be recognized as a drive by your computer. Note that you should see both the BB device (probably labeled as BlackBerry) and the folders included on the Media Card. Personally I like to use Windows Explorer for this.

-Drag the folder you have saved your installation files to (or Copy and Paste) from the desktop to the Media Card. Note that I believe in organization so I set up folders for everything. In this case it is a folder called OTA Applications. If you prefer you can just drop it on the card.

-Disconnect the BlackBerry from the USB cable and select the Media icon, press the BB Menu key and select Explore. Select Media Card and locate the folder containing the installation files.

-Choose the file ending in .jad. This is the file the BlackBerry will “think” is a download item. You should now see a download screen. Select Download and the install process should begin.

-Note that this installation method does give you the ability to reinstall later should you need to.

-If you need a registration key to activate the software make sure you keep that safe and available to avoid having to pay for software a second time. You could keep it filed in the encrypted BB Password Keeper program.

[Sav]

-Your BlackBerry should now be recognized as a drive by your computer. Note that you should see both the BB device (probably labeled as BlackBerry) and the folders included on the Media Card. Personally I like to use Windows Explorer for this.

From my experiences, the device itself is BLACKBERRY1 or BLACKBERRY_1, etc and the memory card is BLACKBERRY2/BLACKBERRY_2, etc.

[rudeboy]

From my experiences, the device itself is BLACKBERRY1 or BLACKBERRY_1, etc and the memory card is BLACKBERRY2/BLACKBERRY_2, etc.

yup, you are correct.

[stevetaz]

Well, my experience is that when I plug in the BB using the USB cord and I open an Explorer window, I see Blackberry and the various Media Folders.

What can I say?

[Sav]

I don't see it like that. Apparently neither does rb. I guess it's OS dependent? Basically newer than 4.5?

[tjjjjm]

Hi, Im from Long Island too, so Im hoping you can help me solve this problem. I have BB 8330 Curve with 4.5 OS version. what happened is, I downloaded a beta version 5.0 BB Messenger, then when i learned that BB Rim released the regular 5.0 version BB messenger, I deleted the old beta 5.0 BBM, then tried to download the new regular 5.0 version from the BB World App, it got downloaded BUT it wont install! To my dismay, I discovered that there was another app contantly being installed called World Mate Live, which was deleted long ago, but am puzzled as to why this is still in installation process. How do I stop the world mate live from installing? I did the battery pull numerous times but it doesnt help resolve this. Now i have NO BBmessenger at all . Can you help>

[stevetaz]

Hi, Im from Long Island too, so Im hoping you can help me solve this problem. I have BB 8330 Curve with 4.5 OS version. what happened is, I downloaded a beta version 5.0 BB Messenger, then when i learned that BB Rim released the regular 5.0 version BB messenger, I deleted the old beta 5.0 BBM, then tried to download the new regular 5.0 version from the BB World App, it got downloaded BUT it wont install! To my dismay, I discovered that there was another app contantly being installed called World Mate Live, which was deleted long ago, but am puzzled as to why this is still in installation process. How do I stop the world mate live from installing? I did the battery pull numerous times but it doesnt help resolve this. Now i have NO BBmessenger at all . Can you help>

I am going to move this to a new thread so it doesn't clutter the Sticky and so others can find it.

First, let's address the WorldMate issue. How did you do the original deletion? I am guessing you may have deleted it from the Curve and it is possible it is backed up on your desktop. When you connect to the desktop it sees WM is gone and tries to install.

If this is true, try using the BB DM to do the removal.

The BB Messanger issue...Can you post the full version number of the original Beta you installed and the version number you are tring to install now? It would also help if you post the full OS version you have on your Curve and the carrier.