Howto switch (to) the BlackBerry device
(3 votes, average: 5 out of 5)
Loading ...I recently upgraded my old BlackBerry Pearl to a new BlackBerry Curve 8320. The problem you are always encountering is: how do I transfer my data from my old BlackBerry to my new one? Well, you could technically just do create a backup and then restore it on your new device.
However, as the new BlackBerry Desktop Manager that came along with the Curve, has is a new option called “Switch Device Wizard”. So I thought it might be an good idea to use it. I mean, that thing seems to be built exactly for the above mentioned reason. I guess, it internally does exactly the same like the “backup & restore” procedure you could do “manually” as well.
The “Switch Device Wizard” is easy to find. Please make sure, your old device is connected to the computer and the BlackBerry Device Manager recognized it already.
After you have started the wizard, you can now select whether to switch from an old to a new BlackBerry device (what I did) or from another mobile device (e.g. iPAQ, Palm, etc.) to a BlackBerry.
Now you can select all data that should be transferred. Of course, this screen looks different if you are switching from a Palm for example (applications cannot be transferred due to the fact that Palm is running Palm OS or Windows Mobile on their devices; and BlackBerry is running BlackBerry OS which are kind of incompatible for applications). Anyway, I selected everything, because it is good to get all my old stuff (contacts, tasks, calendar events, applications, emails, sms, pin messages, photos, etc.) to my new BlackBerry. It seems it is not possible to copy MP3 and video files with this wizard.
After confirming this you might need to wait a while. Depending on the amount of data you have on your device, this might take quite a long time. Please ensure you do not disconnect your BlackBerry from your computer or switch the computer off. You will have to restart the process if you perform one of those actions 
After some time, all data has been copied from your old BlackBerry to your desktop computer.
Now it is save to disconnect your old BlackBerry from your computer and connect the new one. By the way: the most reliable and fast connection would be USB in this case.
You can now also select to automatically activate/register your BlackBerry at your BES server or not. If you are not on a BES (e.g. you are on BIS) the second option would be the better choice.
It looks like system recognized all application I have had installed on my old device before. That’s nice.
Reloading the data onto the new device might take a while as well. Patience is needed here.
It looks like this went pretty well. No errors, no nothing, just easy going!
But stop! It wasn’t that easy as it looked. I began using my BlackBerry and encountered that my BIS setup was gone. I mean the new setup on my new device (which came with a new contract, new telefone number, new PIN, new email address, etc.). I used the new BlackBerry Curve before I decided to transfer the data from my old. So the problem was, that the device switch procedure deleted some stuff on my new Curve that was working already. I have listed it below:
- BIS email settings
- BIS email service book entries
- All SMS
- All EMails
This was not good! It should not happen! I discovered it when I tried to write an email as the following message poped up:
“No message services configured. You will only be able to Save Draft.”
I was a bit confused as it was working one day before. After google-ing a bit, I figured out that my service book entries were gone - as well as all the stuff mentioned above. However, the service book entries could be restored. I looged in to the web access of the BIS where my new BlackBerry is registered.
There found this small but helpful button called “Send Service Books”:
That did the trick. After I sent the service book entries again, the BlackBerry got a message for registering my device at the system. Everything is back working fine. 
I hope this howto is of a bit help to you guys. More helpful howtos can be found in our Category:Howtos.
Kenneth Denson said,
January 31, 2008 @ 6:16 am
I do data support for one of the big four carriers in the US and as someone who walks customers through this on a regular basis, I have to say that the backup and restore option is much better for non-technical users. I’ve had great success with both methods, but the device switch option is great if you are switching from Palm or Windows Mobile, but I recommend good ol backup and restore for a blackberry to blackberry switch.
Also, the device switch wizard was around in the last version of Blackberry Desktop Manager, so it isn’t exactly new, but it is more polished in 4.3
Saeed Khan said,
January 31, 2008 @ 6:42 pm
Thats really impressive man, that will make my life lot easier!! Thanks a lot.
» Howto switch (to) the BlackBerry device said,
January 31, 2008 @ 7:40 pm
[...] procedure you could do “manually” as well. read more del.icio.us |Digg it |Earthlink |Furl| [...]
Emy said,
February 2, 2008 @ 8:31 pm
Hi there: I love your instructions. Unfortunately, when I get to the Switch Device Wizard screen, even thoough there are two options, when I double click on “Switch from another device to a Blackberry device,” nothing happens. Even though I am given two choices, only the first choice, (Switch Blackberry Devices) works for me.
Unfortunately, I am transferring files from a Treo 750 to a Blackberry so I need for the 2nd option to work for me. Do you know what I could be doing wrong. There’s this instruction that says I should turn synchronization off in my Blackberry device but I do not even know how to do that.
Please help. Thanks………
Lauren said,
February 28, 2008 @ 10:18 am
Hi,
I am trying to transfer my memos, text messages ect from my palm 650 to my blackberry world, 8830 and it says that it has done it sucessfully and yet when I look at my blackberry, no information has been transferred. And, the downloading process is extremely quick, which leads me to also know that nothing was accomplished. Please help, Thank you!
Josh Holman said,
March 7, 2008 @ 10:38 pm
I am in the same boat as Emy and Lauren - I am moving from a Treo 700 to a blackberry 8830, and the option to “Switch from another device” is grayed out - in the text, it indicates that “both devices must be connected to the computer”, but I’m tellin ya….they are!
kayla said,
May 3, 2008 @ 9:52 pm
thanks, this was very helpful, i was so excited when i came on the internet and seen this thanks alot!
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May 29, 2008 @ 5:42 am
Guide for cat house training…
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BB said,
July 10, 2008 @ 10:14 am
hi,
i have been using the palm desktop (calendar and address book) for a long time and like it. do i have to switch to outlook in order to use the blackberry curve?
tia,
bb
EW said,
July 30, 2008 @ 9:40 pm
Hi all,
I’m having the same problem as a few other people have mentioned. I’m trying to transfer my data over from a Palm TX, and the option to select from which device I want to import from is greyed out. Both devices are connected to the computer. I’m using Windows XP Pro. Any help anyone has would be appreciated. Thanks.
Joe said,
September 11, 2008 @ 11:48 am
Is their a backup program, that would backup my pearl to the sd card? I’m always on the road and I like to backup my phone periodically.
Thanks,
Joe
Transfer Microsoft Exchange Settings To New Blackberry - BlackBerryForums.com : Your Number One BlackBerry Community said,
September 18, 2008 @ 11:25 am
[...] Originally Posted by jimpilot Can you confirm you are on BES? If so you can make the change while connected via Desktop Manager. I had to receive a replacement phone from AT&T and made the change via Device Transfer Wizard while connected to BES over the web. It transfered the pin as part of the process. I found a guide here: Howto switch (to) the BlackBerry device | BlackBerryInsight [...]
Charlene said,
September 23, 2008 @ 9:27 am
Hi
I need to change blackberry devices but don’t want the information on the current blackberry. The switch device option only allows you to back up the current phone then attach the second phone an sync. I only want info in Outlook to over-ride what’s on the current blackberry
Please help
Charlene
Crash57 said,
September 28, 2008 @ 4:25 pm
Transferred data from old Curve to new Curve and lost all the calendar stuff.
How do I get the calendar to restore or move to the new Curve?
HELP!
Ash said,
October 9, 2008 @ 10:11 am
I tried to enter my BB password via Desktop Manager and it did not work.
However the BB itself accepts my PW. This is frustrating and I cant figure out why its doing it.I cannot switch all settings to my new Curve.
allyb said,
November 19, 2008 @ 8:02 pm
Info great on how to switch - i changed to a new curve when my tracker ball started to stick.
Lost all my pictures however - any suggestions on how I retrieve them and put them back on the new blackberry - would be happy just to be able to retrieve them from the back up file and send to my pc…………help!