BlackBerry Forums Support Community

jlaw · 09-12-2007, 10:07 PM

...and I don't know enough about the BES to help him.

The servers are in our main office. I am in another office, and we connect to the network using remote desktop (I know, I know.)

He says he added me to the BES, and that I should just use my regular account/email password. This, of course, does not work. I know from using mail2web and from searching that I need a separate activation password. He is convinced that the only way I can activate is by connecting via usb cable... but since we use remote desktop, I can't.

I think he's missing something but I'm not sure. Can someone please give me a brief list of what I should tell him to do? I would greatly appreciate it. I tried a search and it seemed to confirm that I need to get a separate activation password... how would he do that? Thanks!

Brendan42 · 09-13-2007, 04:25 AM

First, ensure your Blackberry is set to the correct date/time.

Your BES admin needs to do the following:
1) Open Blackberry Manager, which is used to administer BES accounts
2) Right-click on your name in the list.
3) Choose "Set Activation Password". He/she will be prompted to type in a password for you to use. I suggest "qaqa". Do not choose "Generate and email Activation Password" as it generates the mother-of-all passwords.

4) Once completed, you go to Options->Advanced options-> Enterprise activation. Enter your default e-mail and the "qaqa" password. Click the ball and Activate.

DO NOT use the Setup wizard!!!! I've found it interferes with the BES setup, somehow making changes to enable BIS services or something. Anybody else have these problems?

Hope this works.

hdawg · 09-13-2007, 07:13 AM

First thing, give at&t a call and verify that you have a BlackBerry Enterprise Data Plan (not a personal plan; you won't get activated with the personal plan).

Then depending on the error you're getting after your admin provides you with an activation password troubleshoot from here:

Identifying and troubleshooting enterprise activation issues

Come back with the exact error / problem happening on the HH if you're still unable to activate.

moorken · 09-13-2007, 07:38 AM

in our company we used to synch with USB cable only also, without data plan, maybe they are still working the "old fasionned" way in your company, if you activate it with USB cable you won't need an activation password as far as i know, however, it wont indeed work over remote desktop.
as mentionned in the answers before, check if you have a dataplan, maybe also check with your provider if theres a specific Blackberry subscription, if not, dont bother to try to connect again before you have one

moorken · 09-13-2007, 07:40 AM

forgot to mention this: if they synch at your company over USB cable you won't need to bother to activate it inside the company since you will need the USB connection every time again and again to sych your mailbox... (PDA style....)

penguin3107 · 09-13-2007, 07:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by moorken

forgot to mention this: if they synch at your company over USB cable you won't need to bother to activate it inside the company since you will need the USB connection every time again and again to sych your mailbox... (PDA style....)

This isn't true.
E-mail never syncs via USB cable, no matter how hard you try.

jlaw · 09-13-2007, 08:14 AM

Thanks guys! I definitely have the right data plan. I'll send him the steps to generate an activation password and hopefully that takes care of it.

jlaw · 09-13-2007, 09:45 AM

UPDATE: apparently we have an older BES version that doesn't have the option to create an activation password... all activations have to be tethered. Sound possible?

DarthBBerry · 09-13-2007, 09:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jlaw

UPDATE: apparently we have an older BES version that doesn't have the option to create an activation password... all activations have to be tethered. Sound possible?

Nope. Doesn't sound possible to me. Set Activation Password should be under Tasks after the user is added to the BES. Your flavor may vary depending on the version of BES, but it's still there.

hdawg · 09-13-2007, 10:04 AM

Ahhh ... you're still on BES 3.6 ... you'll have to cradle to provision then.

I'm sorry!!!! :( ... its time to get upgraded to 4.x on the BES (4.1 SP4 is the newest) and then you'll be able to activate wirelessly.

jsconyers · 09-13-2007, 10:11 AM

I agree with Hdawg. Time to upgrade! RIM is currently holding seminars on BES 4.1 for Exchange, Lotus, and GroupWise. Your admin may want to attend to get a good insight on the benefits of upgrading.
BlackBerry - BlackBerry | Wireless Handheld Devices, Software & Services from Research In Motion (RIM)

elgauchogrub · 09-13-2007, 10:55 AM

The new version of the Microsoft terminal services client (6.0) will allow you to access local plug and play USB devices from within the remote session. Haven't tried it with a blackberry, but it might be worth a go.

Remote Desktop Connection (Terminal Services Client 6.0)

jlaw · 09-13-2007, 02:11 PM

We figured out a way to get my BB connected via USB, but I'm a little unclear on how the activation process works when done via cradle.

penguin3107 · 09-13-2007, 02:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jlaw

We figured out a way to get my BB connected via USB, but I'm a little unclear on how the activation process works when done via cradle.

Open Desktop Manager and log in.
Connect the BlackBerry via USB, and it should activate on its own.

BlueBerry2007 · 09-13-2007, 02:42 PM

Have the BES admin fedex you an activated Blackberry, while you fedex the non-activated one back.

I agree, time to upgrade the BES.

ladydi · 09-13-2007, 03:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jlaw

We figured out a way to get my BB connected via USB, but I'm a little unclear on how the activation process works when done via cradle.

Doing it via USB doesn't require a password because you are authenticated to your network and the BB knows who you are. - that's the short, simple version. OTA requires a password, because it has no other authentication method if you can't plug it into a computer on the network.

And I'm with everyone else...your company seriously needs to upgrade the BES to 4.1.

jlaw · 09-13-2007, 03:29 PM

EDIT: IT'S WORKING. I don't know how, but it is.

Thanks everyone.

hdawg · 09-13-2007, 03:40 PM

you activated via USB?

jlaw · 09-13-2007, 04:44 PM

Yes. Somehow. Messages are arriving and reconciling, sent msgs are appearing in sent items in Outlook. My calendar doesn't seem to be syncing though.

jlaw · 09-14-2007, 03:16 PM

Yep, calendar definitely not synching. Is there an option on the device that I should double-check? I don't see anything in Calendar Options.

Should I delete the (servername) [CICAL] service book and then cradle it?

BlackBerry Forums Support Community

Need help... my BES admin can't get me activated