In BlackBerry Enterprise Server (BES) environment, one of the things I notice is when you try to selectively restore BlackBerry device database into new device, most of the databases in the device databases box is greyed out. As you notice further it also states that “Databases that are unavailable in the list have been configured for wireless synchronization or wireless backup and are read-only. You cannot restore or clear them.” Right… so what’s the point of selective restore when you are not allowed to?
In turns out that as mentioned at the bottom of the dialog box it is already wirelessly backed up by BES. This gives us (BES Administrator) a very convenient way to restore everything back to, say, a replacement unit of a lost device. However, what if I wanted to override certain database with different one? What if I wanted to transfer my ringtones that I once deleted sometime ago.
Here is the workaround, locate the BlackBerry user under BlackBerry Manager, right click user and select Edit Properties, click on PIM Sync and set Automatic Wireless Backup Enabled to False. Hit Apply and OK.
Depending on your network, almost instanteneously you will notice there is an hour glass on the BlackBerry device and voila! Those databases are no longer greyed out and you should be able to selectively restore database that you once not able to.
If it is still greyed out, remember to close the Advance Backup / Restore dialog box and re-firing up the Desktop Manager will usually do the trick.
Alternatively, there is another way if you do not have access to BES directly. This is typically useful when asking for help from your company IT is almost impossible or it just too much of a hassle. Here’s what you can do:
- On you BlackBerry device, go to Options > Advance Options > Service Book > Desktop [SYNC]
- Bring up the context menu (depending on model, by clicking the BlackBerry logo button) and click Delete.
- Connect your BlackBerry device back to computer and restore using Advanced Backup / Restore from Desktop Manager.
- Once done, disconnect the device from computer and go back to Service Book screen.
- Bring up the context menu and click Undelete.
Useful Links
- KB11101: The BlackBerry device databases that are not wirelessly backed up by the BlackBerry Enterprise Server
- KB03974: Databases functions and descriptions on the BlackBerry wireless device
Note: If link is broken, let me know or Google for KB number.
Chee
