[dave1966]

Install is done... the wizard popped up and told me the install was done and asked if I wanted to start the BlackBerry desktop software. Do I?

[dave1966]

Should I begin Shrink-A-OS now?

[nyr2k2]

Don't need to start the Blackberry software. Tell it "No". Or if you already said yes, just close the software.

Open up Shrink-A-OS.

[dave1966]

Done... now?

[dave1966]

Will I need to back up my applications, etc? For instance, I don't want to lose my Garmin GPS software -- I actually paid for that!

[nyr2k2]

When you open Shrink-A-OS, at the top of the program window it will say "select your OS install folder". It's asking you where the OS is that you're going to modify.

Click "Browse" and then find your OS. It should be C:\Program Files\Common Files\Research in Motion\Shared\Loader Files\9530-v4.7.0.151_P4.0.0.186

[nyr2k2]

Will I need to back up my applications, etc? For instance, I don't want to lose my Garmin GPS software -- I actually paid for that!

When you upgrade the OS it will ask you if you want to automatically backup everything and restore it.

[dave1966]

Done... pop up message says that "You currently have 66.16 MB in your Java Folder prior to shrinking. Is this a good thing? Is this even significant? I'm guessing I should click "ok"?

[nyr2k2]

Can you find your OS at that location? I assumed you had Windows XP or 2000, it's a different place if you have Vista.

[dave1966]

nyr2k2: Got it, re: backing up applications...

[nyr2k2]

Done... pop up message says that "You currently have 66.16 MB in your Java Folder prior to shrinking. Is this a good thing? Is this even significant? I'm guessing I should click "ok"?

Nice. Perfect. Just click ok.

Now, look at all of those things on there you can remove. Remove whatever you want!

[dave1966]

When you say "your OS", I'm assuming that you mean the one I just downloaded. Am I right? If that's the case, yes, I found it...

[dave1966]

Okay... I've put a check beside all the stuff I think I can delete... now?

[dave1966]

What about options like "Fixes/Other" or "Radio Swap"? Do I select anything here?

[nyr2k2]

Select any languages you don't want, any social chatting things you don't want, any anything you don't want.

Things I'd advise you to keep:

Attachment Service
Default Font
SIM Card Capabilities
S/MIME Support

Anything else is your call. Say you don't ever use the "Help" feature on your phone, never use Voice Notes Recorder, etc...take them out if you don't want them.

I keep some of that stuff because I feel like maybe eventually I'll use it.

You won't hurt your phone by taking any of those things out, and you can always add them back in if you want them back.

[nyr2k2]

No, ignore the Fixes/Other and Radio Swap. That's stuff you don't need to worry about.

Once you've removed everything you want, click "Shrink My OS!"

[dave1966]

Okay... I'm ready for the next step...

[dave1966]

Done... "your OS has been shrunk and you now have 52.59 MB in your Java Folder".

So... I click "OK" on that message and then...?

[nyr2k2]

OK, one step here, and it's important.

You need to navigate yourself manually to your OS folder. So open my computer, go to C:\ drive, etc...

Go here: C:\Program Files\Common Files\Research in Motion\AppLoader

In that folder, you should see a file called "Vendor.xml". DELETE that file or RENAME it. I promise you this is ok, you're not breaking the law or going to hurt your phone or anything. It's just something you have to do when manually updating your OS like this.

[nyr2k2]

Just to explain the Vendor.xml thing... That file is Bell telling the update program how to update your phone. You're not updating it the way Bell wants you to--you've removed things. So if you rename the file or delete it, when we update, the program will ignore what Bell told it to do.

[dave1966]

I can't find a file called vendor.xml... there is a file called 'device' which is an .xml file and another file called "device.xml.backup" but that's it...

[dave1966]

Gotcha, re: vendor.xml and what it does!

[nyr2k2]

I can't find a file called vendor.xml... there is a file called 'device' which is an .xml file and another file called "device.xml.backup" but that's it...

Okay, if you don't have one in there, that's absolutely fine. Sometimes that's the case! Makes life easier.

[nyr2k2]

Plug your phone up to the computer now. We're finally gonna do the update!

[dave1966]

Good to know... now?