Uncaught exception: java.lang.NullPointerException error after connecting to BlackberryPlaybook

Question

Hi,
I know that there are many other threads about this error but they're all to do with bbm.
I have this error with my web browser, whenever I press the button for options, everything in the browser freezes. If I hold down the options button my multi task bar DOES pop up, but my browser is still frozen and if I leave and return the error ( Uncaught exception: java.lang.NullPointerException ) pops up.
I noticed this started happening after I began using bridge and tethering with my playbook.
The first time it happened I rebooted my phone and it DID work but I can't keep rebooting my phone for this, can I?
My phone is now almost two years old (come this December) somebody please help? I don't want to send it in for repairs.

Answer 1

Hi and Welcome to the Community!!
There's pretty much no diagnosing those -- they are the equivalent of the random errors in Windows for which tracing the root cause is fruitless. Basically, these are the last out in the programming code -- some event occurred for which there is no handler in the code. The fix is a code update that handles the event...but, again, knowing what the event is is pretty much impossible. So, there are a few things to try:
Sometimes, the code simply becomes corrupt and needs to be refreshed -- just like a reboot:
Anytime random strange behavior or sluggishness creeps in, the first thing to do is a battery pop reboot. With power ON, remove the back cover and pull out the battery. Wait about a minute then replace the battery and cover. Power up and wait patiently through the long reboot -- ~5 minutes. See if things have returned to good operation. Like all computing devices, BB's suffer from memory leaks and such...with a hard reboot being the best cure.
If it won't boot up cleanly, then you may need to try Safe Mode:
KB17877 How to start a BlackBerry smartphone in safe mode
There might be an updated code set from the carrier -- check them via this portal:
 http://na.blackberry.com/eng/support/downloads/download_sites.jsp
The toughest possible cause is a badly behaving app. To find it, there are a couple of options. One is to see if you can read the log file:
Go to the home screen. Hold down the "alt" key and type 'lglg'. (You will not see anything while you type).This will bring up the log file. Scroll down (probably many pages) untill you see a line that says 'uncaught execption'. Click on this line. The name of the app will be in the info. Alternative methods for bringing up the logs are in this KB:
KB05349How to enable, access, and extract the event logs on a BlackBerry smartphone
The other method is to remove apps one at a time, waiting a while in between (I usually recommend a week), until the problem ceases...thereby discovering the offending app. Still another method is to reload the BB OS cleanly, leaving some time between adding other apps onto the BB so as to be able to determine exactly which one is the cause.
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.
Join our BBM Channels
BSCF General Channel
PIN: C0001B7B4   Display/Scan Bar Code
Knowledge Base Updates
PIN: C0005A9AA   Display/Scan Bar Code