BB Desktop Software and WIndows 8

**Motor_Mouth** · 03-07-2013, 11:27 PM

Is anyone using their Playbook with Windows 8? Mine kind of half-worked the first time I connected it after installing the BB software but mid-way through that first session it lost the connection and now it doesn't show up at all, not even as a mass storage device. Now I have to use my mate's Win7 netbook to transfer data, which is painfully slow - load USB Flash Drive, drive across town, socialise for several hours so it doesn't look like I just came over to use his netbook, transfer from Flash Drive to PB, drive back home.

I am hopeful that BB10 will be Win8 ready but I'm not holding my breath.

**simonorourke** · 03-07-2013, 11:50 PM

I have been using Windows 8 since the preview version sine almost a year ago, and it works with the PlayBook seamlessly. BlackBerry Link also works, and my z10 and windows 8 laptop have zero issues (Bluetooth, WiFi, USB).

I would try reinstalling the BB desktop software completely, and starting from scratch, because I have never seen anyone have issues with PlayBook connecting to Windows 8, and we have four people (myself included) in our house using that exact setup.

**StanWiz** · 03-08-2013, 06:29 AM

Fairly common problem when connecting to w8 . Rolling back the bb driver usually resolves the issue .

**taz323** · 03-08-2013, 08:47 AM

Had an issue, took awhile to straighten out, roll back drivers or reinstall desktop manager. Also consider try downloading BlackBerry Link works also with PlayBook.

**PowderJockey** · 03-08-2013, 02:33 PM

Originally Posted by Motor_Mouth

Is anyone using their Playbook with Windows 8? Mine kind of half-worked the first time I connected it after installing the BB software but mid-way through that first session it lost the connection and now it doesn't show up at all, not even as a mass storage device. Now I have to use my mate's Win7 netbook to transfer data, which is painfully slow - load USB Flash Drive, drive across town, socialise for several hours so it doesn't look like I just came over to use his netbook, transfer from Flash Drive to PB, drive back home.

I am hopeful that BB10 will be Win8 ready but I'm not holding my breath.

Never had any problems with my playbook or z10. I've even had both of the BB desktop and link on the same computer trying to access the devices.

Like all Windows problems, re-boot. It actually should be named Reboot 7 or 8 not Windows. More accurately describes the OS.

**Motor_Mouth** · 03-08-2013, 07:37 PM

Roll the driver back to what? I had Win8 before I installed the BB software so teh only version of the driver ever installed is teh one that is there now. This is the first issue I have had with Windows 8.Eeverything else has just worked, usually better than it did under Win7 or XP. I've been using it since the Developer Preview in 2010 so the chances of it not being a BB issue are pretty slim. I'll try reinstalling but my confidence is not high.

**Motor_Mouth** · 03-08-2013, 08:31 PM

Well, uninstalling the drivers and BB Desktop Software and installing Link gave me exactly the same result - it worked the first time I tried it but Link crashed after a few minutes and now they won't communicate at all. Link knows it is there but can't communicate with it and I get the pop-up telling me it is initialising device access but it never launches Link, the PlayBook doesn't show up in Explorer and it won't charge via the USB cable (warning on the PB that it can't charge). I've tried a different cable and I've restarted both the PB and my PC, same result.

**StanWiz** · 03-09-2013, 07:59 AM

I wouldn't have installed Link. Try uninstalling it, reinstall bb desktop, reboot and try connecting via usb, your pc should see the pb. If it cannot connect roll back the drivers (don't loose sleep over the fact that it's a new install ).

**taz323** · 03-09-2013, 09:05 AM

Originally Posted by StanWiz

I wouldn't have installed Link. Try uninstalling it, reinstall bb desktop, reboot and try connecting via usb, your pc should see the pb. If it cannot connect roll back the drivers (don't loose sleep over the fact that it's a new install ).

using Blackberry Link on my HP with Windows 8 without any issues, works a lot better than the desktop manager.

**Motor_Mouth** · 03-09-2013, 12:13 PM

I'll ask again, as people seem to think it should be obvious, but what should I roll the drivers back to? This is a fresh install, there is no earlier version of the driver.

F2 · 03-09-2013, 12:20 PM

Originally Posted by Motor_Mouth

I'll ask again, as people seem to think it should be obvious, but what should I roll the drivers back to? This is a fresh install, there is no earlier version of the driver.

Having not done this, I should allow others to answer but I think you go into Device Manager and find the usb/rim devices and find the tab that allows you to check and/or rollback the drivers. If there's such a setting/tab, just give it a try - there may be some inherent drivers that reactivate. Others should have better info.

**StanWiz** · 03-09-2013, 01:11 PM

Originally Posted by F2

Having not done this, I should allow others to answer but I think you go into Device Manager and find the usb/rim devices and find the tab that allows you to check and/or rollback the drivers. If there's such a setting/tab, just give it a try - there may be some inherent drivers that reactivate. Others should have better info.

**Motor_Mouth** · 03-10-2013, 09:39 PM

Are you guys not listening - THERE IS NO EARLIER VERSION OF THE DRIVER TO ROLL BACK TO. i.e. There is no option to roll anything back. It has NEVER worked.

**StanWiz** · 03-10-2013, 10:06 PM

Originally Posted by Motor_Mouth

Are you guys not listening - THERE IS NO EARLIER VERSION OF THE DRIVER TO ROLL BACK TO. i.e. There is no option to roll anything back. It has NEVER worked.

Out of curiosity - did you actually go into device manager and try it?

**Kdawg7** · 03-10-2013, 10:40 PM

Like others have said, roll back the drivers, eventhough you haven't installed drivers rolling them back will sometimes correct issues you may be having with drivers that are currently installed. Hope that helps.

**SEAWARRIOR** · 03-10-2013, 11:36 PM

Originally Posted by taz323

Had an issue, took awhile to straighten out, roll back drivers or reinstall desktop manager. Also consider try downloading BlackBerry Link works also with PlayBook.

yes,,, don't think it works well for backups( i keep DTM for that & 9850) but for transferring files,music, vids, pics, whatever, it's great...

**taz323** · 03-11-2013, 09:14 AM

Originally Posted by SEAWARRIOR

yes,,, don't think it works well for backups( i keep DTM for that & 9850) but for transferring files,music, vids, pics, whatever, it's great...

yea, do like it better than DM, done 1 back up when firstinstalled, seemed to work ok, justtook forever.

**Motor_Mouth** · 03-11-2013, 04:01 PM

Originally Posted by StanWiz

Out of curiosity - did you actually go into device manager and try it?

Yes, I have uninstalled the driver at least 3 times in the past week and at no time was I presented with a rollback option. Not in Device Manager or anywhere else.

**SEAWARRIOR** · 03-11-2013, 04:35 PM

Originally Posted by taz323

yea, do like it better than DM, done 1 back up when firstinstalled, seemed to work ok, justtook forever.

if you're saying it took forever w/ playbook, it's just they way it is,,, remember, you're backing up GIGS of data,,, on my 64 gigger playbook it takes 1/2 to hr to 45mins to back up 12GB of data w/ DTM,,, pics, vids, games, mostly,,, i keep my another 2.5 GB OF music on my 9850...

**burstwick** · 03-11-2013, 05:50 PM

I've had no trouble with this, but what I'd really like would be to have seamless integration with the Skydrive suite on my phone (an old but serviceable torch running. BB 6) and the people/calendar/email parts of windows 8.
All is fine on the playbook so I presume would be ok on BB10, anyone know?

**taz323** · 03-11-2013, 06:20 PM

Originally Posted by SEAWARRIOR

if you're saying it took forever w/ playbook, it's just they way it is,,, remember, you're backing up GIGS of data,,, on my 64 gigger playbook it takes 1/2 to hr to 45mins to back up 12GB of data w/ DTM,,, pics, vids, games, mostly,,, i keep my another 2.5 GB OF music on my 9850...

yeah, i know , its just amazing how much this small tablet will hold.

**Motor_Mouth** · 03-11-2013, 10:00 PM

Yeah, if only I was able to get anything onto it!!!!

**Boight** · 03-12-2013, 08:04 AM

With win8, I uninstalled DM and installed Link, which works fine for the PB and the Z10. You don't really need it though.
Open "Computer/ aka windows explorer" on the top menu click on COMPUTER and choose Map network drive. In the pop up window enter an unused drive letter and then below that input \\192.168.xx.xx\media and check reconnect at signin. Note the 192.168.xx.xx is the PB's IP on your network and hopefully you have that address locked down in the router otherwise it could change as devices connect to the wi-fi.
This should give you wifi access to the PB just like any other drive on the system. If it doesn't you may have a wi-fi network issue.
When Link or DM connects using the usb cable that will give you another drive to access which would be identical to the mapped network drive, with just a different drive letter..

**Motor_Mouth** · 03-12-2013, 04:00 PM

Router? Who has a router at home? I have my 3G wi-fi hotspot modem and that's it. But it sound sliek that would work if I did have a router, so thanks.

Anyway, I reinstalled the desktop software yet again and this time it didn't work at all, not even once. For now I think I will just have to give up.