ATTENTION: Since the release of Telstra's OS that includes Zen and support for the new Today Themes, some people have expressed an interest in reverting back to the T-Mo (same as Bharti) version, for various reasons. With that in mind I have modified these instructions to offer you a choice between which OS you want. If you want to install T-Mo/Bharti, then follow the instructions and when given a choice, follow the green steps. If you want to install Telstra, the choose the red steps when necessary.


Follow these steps precisely:

1. Backup your device. Then delete the phone log on your BB to shorten the Enterprise Activation and restoration process.

1a. On your PC, go to Control Panel, Add/Remove Programs and delete any programs called BlackBerry v4.1.0 for the 8700 Series Wireless Handheld. Be sure to NOT delete the BlackBerry Desktop Software.

ATTN: For those of you with an 8700 model OTHER than the 8700c, you may already have the Zen theme installed on your device. If so, it is vendor locked, and therefore inaccessible to you without slight modification to your alx file. To unlock the theme, go to this link and follow jibi's instructions on how to remove the vendor lock. Then skip to step 9 in here. If you have the 8700c, or you cannot find the Zen theme in your alx file, OR you just want the T-Mo/Bharti or Telstra load to get the Zen theme and the increased volume settings that come with it, proceed to step 2.

2-A. TELSTRA: Download the 4.1.0.371/4.1.0.309 software here:

Click here for download link. (select "BlackBerry 8700g (TM)" then click "Next" and then "Download" and fill in the form on the following page to get the package)

HINT: You only need to place a single letter in each portion of the registration form, and a fake email address, if you like.

2-B. T-MO/BHARTI: Download the 4.1.0.280/4.1.0.284 software here:

Click here for download.

3. Run and install the newly downloaded program.

4. Do not mark the option to open Desktop Manager when finalizing the install.

5. Go to C:\Program Files\Common Files\Research In Motion\AppLoader and delete or rename Vendor.xml

6-A. TELSTRA: Go to C:\Program Files\Common Files\Research In Motion\Shared\Loader Files\8700-v4.1.0.309_P2.0.0.133 and rename BlackBerry.alx to BlackBerry.alx.old

6-B. T-MO/BHARTI: Go to C:\Program Files\Common Files\Research In Motion\Shared\Loader Files\8700-v4.1.0.284_P2.0.0.120 and rename BlackBerry.alx to BlackBerry.alx.old

7-A. TELSTRA: Download and extract the new Telstra BlackBerry.alx file.

This should be extracted to C:\Program Files\Common Files\Research In Motion\Shared\Loader Files\8700-v4.1.0.309_P2.0.0.133. Click here.

TODAY THEMES: If you want to add the new Today themes to your Telstra installation, then download the files by clicking the link below. If you do not want the Today themes, skip to step 8. To read about these Today themes and see some screenshots, visit jibi's thread by clicking here. NOTE: these are NOT available for the T-Mo/Bharti OS - you must be using the Telstra OS to install them.

Click here for today themes. Extract net_rim_theme_bb_dimension_today_320x240.cod and net_rim_theme_120_today_320x240.cod from the ZIP file to the "Java" directory under the installation path: C:\Program Files\Common Files\Research In Motion\Shared\Loader Files\8700-v4.1.0.309_P2.0.0.133\Java

7-B. T-MO/BHARTI: Download and extract the new T-Mo/Bharti BlackBerry.alx file.

This should be extracted to C:\Program Files\Common Files\Research In Motion\Shared\Loader Files\8700-v4.1.0.284_P2.0.0.120. Click here.

8. Open Desktop Manager and upgrade when prompted (will take 20 or more minutes usually)

9. Disconnect your BB, pull the battery out and reinsert after 30 seconds.

9a. Go to Options/Advanced Options/Host Routing Table, click track wheel then select register now. This should bring back your browsers.

10. If you're on BES, then reactivate through Enterprise Activation.

11. Thank Seattle18.

12. Thank jibi for both versions - he made them available for me.

13. Now go to the link in my signature to acquire background images to use in the theme!

13a. To change the order in which icons appear in your new Zen theme, go to Options/Organize Applications if using Telstra, or Options/Home Screen/Organize Applications if using T-Mo/Bharti.

14. You’re welcome.

seattle18, I connect to a BES. I'm guessing this procedure won't make a difference but thought I'd check to see if you connect to a BES as well.

I am also on BES, and nothing was different.

Well Sparko, did you get it working?

Very nice!!!

15. Thanks seattle18.

Be sure to follow the instructions.....pay particular attention to the spaces in step no. 8.

I was unable to keep the Desktop Manager open during the installation. It made me close before installing.

Be sure that you check the proper items in item no. 10. If you do not check a few crucial items you may fail to load the "OS"

Great themes.

Would also like to mention that when you load this it loads the wallpapers that come with the Orange and Vodafone devices. Many users will be happy to know that when using the Vodafone theme you are able to use most of the shortcuts not previous available to 8700c users when using the Cingular theme.

Wirelessly posted (Blackberry 8700: BlackBerry8700/4.1.0 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/102)

When using the Vodafone theme there is what looks like a cartoon word balloon (black outline white filled with a "B or 8") in the top middle of the home screen. What is this for? I am certain it is not the push services and would probably be in the getting started guide for Voda users.

That is where the BT symbol is - could it be that?

If I'm not mistaken, that's the voicemail indicator. The number to the left of that indicates how many messages you have. The phone icon to the left of that signifies a missed call (but no voice message left). After you have more than one message, the phone icon moves to the right, 3/4 of the way over.

Wirelessly posted (Blackberry 8700: BlackBerry8700/4.1.0 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/102)

Thanks guys. It was in fact the VM indicator. I was looking for the tape icon.

Seattle, you are correct after looking again the Bluetooth icon is dead center. I should have said slightly right of center.

If you do this update, will the Cingular theme remain?

Yes it will remain.

I like the Vodafone theme with the BBTiles-White background selected - try that one.

thank you seattle18

Wirelessly posted (Blackberry 8700: BlackBerry8700/4.1.0 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/102)

After tooling which each theme I like the Vodafone the best. The BB white tile looks great with it. Only wish it displayed Cingular at the top left instead of Vodafone.

Thanks for taking care of my light work seattle.

Works!! I just added the themes to my 8700r. Thanks seattle18!!!

Well after having the those themes on my 7290 I miss having them on the 8700 so I took the plunge and followed the instructions posted above.

Everything is working flawlessly so I gotta send madd props to jibi, dc/dc & last but certainly not least seattle18 for posting the step by step routine.

bperkins, obstacles, ChrisBenson and Nitty - my pleasure - glad it worked out to your satisfaction.

can someone please post BBTiles-White background ?
thanks

It comes included in the Vodafone theme set if you follow tha steps above to install it, as well as about 4 or 5 other backgrounds.

I must be missing something because it wouldn't work for me.

Thanks! Worked perfectly.

Did you follow TO THE LETTER? It is important that it is done precisely as I described. I would try again, from scratch.

I figured out what I was doing wrong. For some reason I skipped step 4. When I was reading it I was doing so quickly and read step 6 instead of 4.

Thanks for the themes!

Glad you got it straightened out. Enjoy...

Don't be mad... It was a joke.

I know.

Ok, just making sure... ;)

This will work for a 7520 running OS 4.1?
Thanks

TC

No sir.

Does it matter which vendor/version of Desktop Manager you have installed?

Yes, it must be 4.1, and any carrier will do.

Thanks seattle18.

Just one note from my experience...

In Step 3, I had the BB plugged in with Desktop Manager on when I tried to install the handheld software and it refused to continue until I exited DM. At the end of the HH software install it asked me if I wanted to launch DM, so before I clicked FINISH and launched DM I followed steps 4-9.

Apart from that it worked a charm. Thanks again.

Thanks for the tip. Someone else mentioned something like that, but others have had it work the way I described. Strange, but as long as the end result is success, it's all good. Glad you got it figured out.

seattle18, I tried it and worked great...thanks!

Excellent! Way to take the plunge...

The new Zen theme is far and away my favorite so far!

Check this one out - it's the Zen theme with the BBTiles-Orange background. This theme is awesome because it lets you put large images on your backgrouns with very little interruption from the menu.

Hey Seattle,

I followed the instructions exactly and all the themes are working.

The problem is now I am getting this error at startup

Java.lang.NullPointerException