[SCrid2000]

With all the leaks coming out, it's not a surprise to anyone when some of them have bugs. And some of these bugs are critical bugs forcing a downgrade. This presents a problem, because BlackBerry Link will not let you restore a backup from an OS that was made on a higher OS version than what you are currently running.

As an example, when I recently downgraded from 10.1.0.2342 back to 10.1.0.1880, BlackBerry Link would not let me restore my backup, which left me without my game progress, saved app data, and far more screenshots (saved on device memory by default) than anyone should logically have).*

*Photos and music were not lost because I store those on my SD Card, which I recommend that everyone does for that exact reason.

Luckily, there IS a very simple way to modify your backups so they will restore onto an older OS.


Instructions:

1. Install BlackBerry Link and some sort of Archive Management software installed on your PC. I recommend 7-zip because it's open source, and it's what I'll use in this example.
2. Backup your current OS using BlackBerry Link, and navigate to where the .bbb is saved.
3. Using 7-zip, extract the contents. I personally extract it to a new folder to keep things organized.

4. From the extracted .bbb, locate the Manifest.xml. Open it with a text editor, such as the built in Notepad.exe or the far superior and open source (and my development tool of choce) Notepad++.
5. Locate the version entry; it will look something like this:

6. Change that to an OS version the same as or lower than the OS you want to restore it to. In this example, I wanted to restore to 10.1.0.1880, so that's what I changed it to. Do not change anything else, or your restore will probably not work!
7. Save the Manifest.xml.
8. Add all the files to a .zip archive. By far the easiest way to do this is to select them all, right click, and from the 7-zip menu select "Add to ...zip".

9. Rename the .zip to a .bbb (you will need to have file extensions visible, which is a setting in folder options).
10. Select the .bbb in BlackBerry Link, and restore it!

Everything should restore perfectly, and when your Z10 reboots you should be all good.
If you have any questions, post them and someone will (hopefully) get you an answer.

Please be aware that this can potentially cause data conflicts, and neither CrackBerry or myself are responsible for your doing this. Also, it is possible that at some point BlackBerry will encrypt the .bbb files (the inner files, which are what is actually restored to your device, are already encrypted for data security and anti-piracy reasons), at which point this will no longer work.

[SCrid2000]

Reserved for FAQ

[The Me]

Genius! You rock! By the way, will this affect the version number at all when installed?

Posted via CB10

[SCrid2000]

Genius! You rock! By the way, will this affect the version number at all when installed? Posted via CB10

Nope, the manifest is just used so BlackBerry Link knows info about the OS of the BlackBerry the backup comes from.

[JJonPB]

Thank you for this extremely useful tip.

As an expert (which you clearly are), can you also describe a process involved to downgrade OS version on Z10? For example: I run 10.0.10.85 at the moment; if I upgrade to 10.1.0.273, but eventually don't like it, how do I go back?

Posted via CB10

[maneck35]

Thank you for this extremely useful tip.

As an expert (which you clearly are), can you also describe a process involved to downgrade OS version on Z10? For example: I run 10.0.10.85 at the moment; if I upgrade to 10.1.0.273, but eventually don't like it, how do I go back?

Posted via CB10

Just run the 10.0.10.85 autoloader again (if there is one - I'm not sure because I have a Q10).

I'm trying to restore a 10.1.0.4285 backup to my Q10 that's downgraded to 10.1.0.2354. I followed the instructions and changed the manifest.xml file. I'm trying to restore using Blackberry Link, but the restore just doesn't complete. In fact, it starts, shows 'Restoring Media - 0%' and then stops and shows an error 'Restore did not complete'. That's it. Has anyone experienced this?

I'm performing a security wipe and restarting my laptop and trying again. Let's hope it works.

EDIT: Still no luck. Been tinkering for 3 hours. Tried a security wipe, downgrading BB Link to 1.1.0.37, but still the same problem. I guess the problem lies with the modified backup file.

[00stryder]

Awesome tip man, thanks!

Posted via CB10 on my Z10 & loving it!

[jordanc76]

Dude! This was phenomenal! I had a few minor issues with finding the file, it is a different directory for me (just did a .bbb search), but it worked! I have been looking for this for awhile! Thank you!

[kccman]

Well done!

[grumpyaeroguy]

Just run the 10.0.10.85 autoloader again (if there is one - I'm not sure because I have a Q10).

I'm trying to restore a 10.1.0.4285 backup to my Q10 that's downgraded to 10.1.0.2354. I followed the instructions and changed the manifest.xml file. I'm trying to restore using Blackberry Link, but the restore just doesn't complete. In fact, it starts, shows 'Restoring Media - 0%' and then stops and shows an error 'Restore did not complete'. That's it. Has anyone experienced this?

I'm performing a security wipe and restarting my laptop and trying again. Let's hope it works.

EDIT: Still no luck. Been tinkering for 3 hours. Tried a security wipe, downgrading BB Link to 1.1.0.37, but still the same problem. I guess the problem lies with the modified backup file.

did you use a tru, PRIMITIVE, text editor to change the manifest? Although I am not the OP, things like wordpad DO place line break characters and other undesireable $hit into files inadvertantly sometimes. My guess the manifest file got "hosed" somehow.

What editor did you use?

[Alfonso Rosado]

Still fails, strange.

[Kasey Fong]

does it still apply from z10 to q10?

[maneck35]

did you use a tru, PRIMITIVE, text editor to change the manifest? Although I am not the OP, things like wordpad DO place line break characters and other undesireable $hit into files inadvertantly sometimes. My guess the manifest file got "hosed" somehow.

What editor did you use?

I used Notepad and also tried Notepad++ as suggested by the OP. Both failed.

[ride2thrill]

Why not simply right click .bbb file and select 7zip and unde that open archive...archive window will pop where u can see xml file simply right click and select edit....save and follow archive instruction to add back to modified file.....it worked for me

[maneck35]

Why not simply right click .bbb file and select 7zip and unde that open archive...archive window will pop where u can see xml file simply right click and select edit....save and follow archive instruction to add back to modified file.....it worked for me

I did exactly the same thing. Didn't work no matter how much I tried.

Posted via CB10

[Emgell]

I tried this but an error message saying no personal resource data appeared. Was not able to restore

[matze8304]

I tried the same. It didnt work for me as well. the zipped file is not shown in bb-link.
Maybe it has something to do, with my encryption...

My next steps: 1) restore my 10.2.093 2) reload my backup 3) decrypt 4) backup again 5) run 10.1.0.4537 6) try to load my backup again...

anyone with the same problem?

[matze8304]

Ok. That didn't work either.
Any suggestions?

I just want to go back from 10.2.0.93 to 10.1.0.4537 ...:-(

[Media Warrior]

Followed these instructions, downloaded 7zip from the link, unzipped to own folder, opened notepad, word-wrapped to get the whole manifest, changed to current OS version, re-zipped and renamed, renamed original BU to "OLD" .

After renaming file to BBB then restore backup. Bingo my data all there, unbelievable step by step directions.


Scrid2000 YOU ROCK.

thanks so much, this has been a nightmare solved and I appreciate your clear and simple instructions.

[Mayur Saparia]

In my case Manifest.xml showing version="10.1.0.1720" and my phone also having same version but I can't restore my data. Feeling really frustrated.

[anon(5818411)]

this doesn't work with 10.2.0.1047 unfortunately , I've tried everything to restore from 10.2.0.483

[Martian007]

Hi,

hoping someone can help me out...


Hi guys,

Can someone help me please, really desperate now...

Upgraded to the .1047 OS, did the .exe, everything ran file. Except that I can't restore my phone on BB link. Keeps saying that I've to sign in to BlackBerry ID on my device. It is already signed in(settings>bb id).

How do I go about doing it?

Cheers...

[anon721037]

Try a wipe.

Posted with a Q10 on CB10/10.2.0.1047/ Thanks to berry leaks

[dubai911]

Can this help in any way to restore my contacts from 10.1 to my currently running 10.2 Q10?

[Fryed2aCrisp]

This helped me downgrade successfully to 10.1.0.4543, after going all the way up to 10.2.0.1761.

I had a firmware problem that killed my phone's ability to play music on a set of headphones. I am now at 84% of the DATA restore. I restored the two small backup files first. (When I tried a full restore it failed).

Thanks so much, SCrid2000