BB noob with questions

[astreastar]

A friend of mine bought a new phone and gave me her BB Pearl 8100. We're both with T-Mobile.

First, I need to somehow "back-up" her phonebook data before I restore factory settings. I was wondering if there's an easier way to do that other than writing it all down?

Second, as far as I can tell the software version is 4.2.1. Do I start off with downloading that version and updating or can I just start off with the updated software?

Third, she gave me just the phone: it has the battery in it but that's all. What other accessories are essential to get started with this phone?

And here I thought all I had to do was pop in my SIM card... :P

[savioAMG]

1. Take a look at Google Sync or use Desktop Manager.

2. You should download Desktop Manager 4.5, then download the 4.5 OS version that you want for your phone and then install it to your computer. Then you can update to the 4.5 OS. You don't need to necessarily start out with what you already have.

3. I'm not sure of what else is needed besides a BB data plan...

Welcome to CB and congrats on the BB!

[krokus]

You need to backup the phone before you wipe it. To do this, you really need Desktop Manager 4.6 from here https://www.blackberry.com/Downloads...93E4F3BB068C22 Get v4.6 with no media manager since the Roxio media manager is a real POS. Install this on your PC.

Connect your phone to your PC via a USB port directly connected to the PC and not via a hub. Run Desktop Manager.

Now you have two choices as to how to backup the phone.
1). Synchronise to Outlook, Outlook Express, Gmail or to local files on your PC. Remember that if you already have existing data in Outlook then this process will mix up the data so if you use Oulook make sure that you select Outlook Express for this process. You can also Sync to a text file and this is probably the best way for you since the files are easily readable.

2). Make a Backup. This is the preferred way of saving your phone's information. The problem is that the program writes the data to a file in .ipd format which is not easily readable by programs other than Desktop Manager or Free download ABC Amber BlackBerry Convertor, parse, convert, backup and archive IPD files to CHM, PDF, HTML, Word, Access, Excel, CSV, IPD Extractor ipd file converter $19.95 program.

If you GF has a new BlackBerry then there is also a Device Switch Wizard that will shift her data from the old phone to the new. This will work with several other phone types too.

Once this is done, please come back and we can do the OS upgrade which can also be made to wipe the phone.

[BigBadWulf]

Follow this and it will take care of all your looking for.

[skullgame45]

Make sure you have a USB cord so that you can plug in your phone to your computer. You need a charger (you didn't say you had one ). And also get yourself some sort of screen protector and holster/skin. I recommend Seidio products!

Posted from my CrackBerry at wapforums.crackberry.com

[astreastar]

Thanks everyone! You all were a great help!