Lots of trouble with BB Torch 9860.

Question

Hello. Right, I have the Torch 9860, had for several months & getting a lot of grief. Here goes...
1 - Battery life is inconsistent - Can last all day most days, but other days can go down 90% within 10 minutes of use.
2 - Software - When I first got the phone, within a week of using, the phone wouldn't load on the BlackBerry loading screen, it got to 3/4's of the way and then stopped. Solution I found was to hold the back key down to load in a 'safe mode.'
3 - Seperate issue, I was on Youtube one night and I pressed to open a video & my phone turned off. When loading again, issue 2 happened, but rather than staying on this, it went to 'Error 102, Reload software.' which I did via BB Desktop Software.
4 - Constant black timer loading, can be doing anything on any screen with nothing open & it will just load for about 20 seconds.
5 - Similar to number 4, pressing the standby button, black screen. I know the phone is on, because it flashes. I will hold the standby button again, nothing. I press the power off (End call) button, nothing, it then comes on with 'Handheld turning off, press any key to cancel.'
6 - The speed of opening anything. Isn't this device meant to have a super fast processor? Doesn't for me. Everything I open takes time. Texts, BBM, Camera.
7 - My calls don't work. I'll ring anyone and it says 'Connected' with the time displayed. no sound. I put it on loudspeaker, nothing. Headphones in, again nothing. I end up doing a battery pull and it works for a while then cuts off during a call.
With all this, I have done a software update, I've done a back up. I've done a lot of different things. I just felt I needed to come on here to fix this.
BB Torch 9860 - 7.1 Bundle 1149 (V7.1.0.342, Platform 5.1.0.276)
Carrier - O2 UK.
Thanks.

Answer 1

Hello...and apologies for the delayed reply!
Hopefully you already have this resolved, but just in case...I suggest you do a clean and controlled OS reload, using the process outlined later down in this post...
At the top of each device forum, there should be some "sticky" threads that discuss the OS levels available for many models. If they include your model, then please use those as reference as you proceed. Otherwise, you will have to dig through the official download portal for OS packages for your model:
http://us.blackberry.com/support/downloads/download_sites.jsp
From a PC, you can install any compatible (e.g., for your exact BB Model Number) OS package to a BB via this procedure:
http://supportforums.blackberry.com/t5/BlackBerry-Device-Software/How-To-Reload-Your-Operating-Syste...
Note that while written for "reload" and the Storm, it can be used to upgrade, downgrade, or reload any BB device model -- it all depends on the OS package you download and install to your PC. If that OS package is from a carrier other than the carrier for which your BB was originally manufactured, then delete, on your PC, all copies of VENDOR.XML...there will be at least one, and perhaps 2, and they will be located in or similarly to (it changes based on your Windows version) these folders:
C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Research In Motion\AppLoader
C:\Users\(your Windows UserName)\AppData\Roaming\Research In Motion\BlackBerry\Loader XML
Be sure that you remove, from your PC, any other BB device OS packages as having more than one installed to the PC can cause conflicts with this procedure.
You may also want to investigate the use of BBSAK (bbsak.org) to perform the wipe it is capable of.
You may also want to try this procedure to perhaps narrow down the precise causal item:
Load your OS "bare bones"...if anything is optional, do not install it.
If the behavior presents immediately, then try a different OS with step 1
If the behavior does not immediately present, then run for as long as it takes for you to be sure that the behavior will not present.
Add one thing -- no matter how tempting, just one.
If the behavior does not present immediately, then again run for long enough to be sure it will not have the same problem
Repeat steps 4 and 5 until all things are loaded or the behavior presents
When the behavior presents, you know the culprit...the last thing you loaded.
If the behavior does not re-present, then you know that either step 1 or 2 cured it.
If the behavior presents no matter what, then you likely have a hardware level issue for which no amount of OS or software can cure.
If you are on MAC, you are limited to only your carriers sanctioned OS packages...but can still use any levels that they currently sanction. See this procedure:
KB19915How to perform a clean reload of BlackBerry smartphone application software using BlackBerry Desktop Software
Good luck and let us know!
Occam's Razor nearly always applies when troubleshooting technology issues!
If anyone has been helpful to you, please show your appreciation by clicking the button inside of their post. Please click here and read, along with the threads to which it links, for helpful information to guide you as you proceed. I always recommend that you treat your BlackBerry like any other computing device, including using a regular backup schedule...click here for an article with instructions.
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