Removing IT Policies from Blackberries ...
 

Ugh ... I work in a general GSM store in NYC. We recently recieved ten T-Mobile BlackBerry 7230s, all in great condition, and at an incredible price-point (which I don't believe I can release, but it really cheap.) due to a business being required to downsize (or liquidated, not sure). Anway, we didn't discover until recently that all ten devices are loaded with IT Policies with Call Barring enabled, which means it's totally useless to us, and we can't resell these devices. I've heard about getting a policy.bin file to load onto our BlackBerries, and replacing the policy on the device itself. Assuming I can even get a new policy.bin, and then sync it onto the device (one ... by one, eck), will our customers have an issues on the device later on if they try and activate then on a corperate system. Alteratively, is there anyway to get rid of the damn policy? The original BES was shutdown as far as I know, and I've heard about erasing the security books on the device, but if the original BES is still online, I'm worried a new policy will just be pushed to the device by the original service. I've heard some people successfully removing polices from the method, but I haven't heard much on the method, and I haven't heard ANYTHING on mass resetting IT policy.

You can try wiping the handheld from the device itself. Options, Security, Wipe Handheld Option under menu. You can also wipe the device under application loader just make absolutely sure you don't back it up and restore it.

Wiping a BlackBerry - even using Javaloader - will not remove the IT Policy.
Been documented on this board many, many times.

If they are being sold to a new company using a BES, shouldn't be any worry...only thing is that you MUST security wipe the handheld before activating on the new BES (Options > Security > Wipe Handheld).

Wiping the handheld will not remove the IT policy, but it is needed with 4.0 to allow a new IT policy from a new BES.

There are no tools that can remove the IT policy. Once an IT policy is on a BlackBerry, that BlackBerry will ALWAYS have an IT policy (even if it's just a blank one).

Zro

I'm hosting a guide on this, with the policy.bin file included as a download.

Unlocking the Blackberry

Dan.

A Happy Newbie!!
 

WORKED LIKE A CHARM! Followed the directions on your web site and I know have no IT Policy present and all the programs that I could not get to work before are now working!

You think this is a wise idea?

For people who have been stuck by a ruthless or fraudulent individual by selling an used BB knowing that it had a policy in place that would render the BB a handicapped unit, yes.

If you are on a BES and you attempt to circumvent the policy of the company, you are a bright individual and must realize the price you will pay for doing so. Dan in his post even makes mention of it.

What Dan did is no different that many in here had done alreasy on their own and he just simply shared it. If RIM was a bit more helpful (and believe me that they have not only the means to help, but the ability to search and find out if the unit is clear to be cleared) this would not be needed. I commend Dan for trying to help where many others have turned their head away.

I coomend Dan for doing this and he clearly gives a strong statement regarding what KonTiki just posted.

In my case I let a friend borrow my BB, while I used my Palm Treo, he had it connected to his companies BES. His company was of no help neither was Cingular or RIM. My BB was just about rendered useless to me. Now I can use it again.

Thanks Dan!

Happy now, my 7290 also removed the IT Policy! More love BB now!

Happy BB Camper
 

I spent a week, looking at multiple forums, here and abroad to help delete a policy of a bb I bought on eBay. When I went to your website I was so pleased, you posted such an easy to understand with step by step instructions. My hats off to you.

Dan1e1 - Many thanks for such perfectly worded instructions. About once a year we have a contractor that was using his personal BB and got stuck with our corporate IT policy, your workaround is a HUGE help.

Mark

dan1e1w,

You know you should really open up a paypal account and let people donate if they found your solution helpful... You just might be able to take yourself out to dinner by the end of the week!

-Sam ;)

Just FYI...

I was playing with the BES trial over the weekend and ran into the problem where the default policy disables bluetooth desktop sync. I was able to create a new policy and push it down to re-enable it but when I tried this policy.bin file to actually remove the policy, (which it did), it also turned off the bluetooth synch again.

I guess I have to push a real policy back down to enable it again.

Thanks I was able to bring back two units I bought on ebay....of course they forgot to state anything about the it policyso Thanks a bunch

d

Hi All.

Some guys/girls have been emailing me regarding disabled Bluetooth options. If you're having this problem, could you try the following policy.bin...

http://users.tpg.com.au/dan1e1w/files/bt-policy.bin

This file has two extra properties:

DisableDesktopConnectivity = false
DisableWirelessBypass = false

Could you let me know if this works? - I don't have a Blackberry anymore, haven't been coding on it since xmas :-)

It would be great if someone could try this on a non-Bluetooth Blackberry (like a 7230). If it works for all devices I can safely update the policy.bin on my site, if not, I'll have to host 2 files which might confuse some peeps.

Thank ya,

Dan.

Please be noted that all policy.bin files I've tried, disable the ability to use an external Bluetooth keybaord with a BlackBerry, as far as I've encountered.

Check my post in this thread:
http://www.blackberryforums.com/showthread.php?t=24393

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/2.0 (compatible; MSIE 3.02; Windows CE; PPC; 240x320) BlackBerry8700/4.1.0 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/102 UP.Link/6.3.0.0.0)

OMG YOU ARE the MAN. Whew... I was stuck with a useless Berry, but your fix saved me. Much thanks, you're gonna get a 6 pack from me. Cheers

This thread should be a sticky. The inability to remove an IT policy by wiping the unit is a serious flaw in the design of BlackBerry.

I used the original .bin file and it worked like a charm...

Has anyone tried yet the new version to enable the wireless synch yet?? If you have please post results here. Thanks.