Like any electronics device, such as a computer, junk memory builds up overtime and can really start hogging up resources. This sometimes will lead to failure in modules or just slower response. When modules fail, it may seem like the hardware is spoilt, something definitely wrong.
Now, before exchanging the device or panicking that it is faulty, know this: It IS normal; from time to time, your device might become slow and unresponsive. There is a quick and simple way to troubleshoot these issues. In these cases, it’s necessary to reboot (also known as reset) your BlackBerry device by performing a hard or soft reset. A hard reset is also called a battery pull.
DO NOT CONFUSE THIS WITH FACTORY RESET WHICH IS A RESET TO RESET YOUR DEVICE TO ITS ORIGINAL STATE WHEN YOU FIRST GOT IT!!
Essentially, a reset (either hard or soft) restarts the operating system on your BlackBerry device and is just like rebooting your PC when it’s experiencing problems. It is not the same as using the Pwr Off/On button. This only places the phone in standby mode (turning off all the radios). Not only does a battery pull solve various problems with your device, it also frees up application memory (by clearing the junks) and shuts down applications running in the background that can drain battery and resources.
So when should a hard reset (battery pull) be done rather than a soft one?
What is and how to perform a hard reset?
A hard reset occurs when you manually remove the battery from the device while it is powered on and reinsert it after 30 seconds. This will involve removing any case you are using and the battery cover. After a few moments your device will start to reboot the operating system. If you have OS5 or OS6 you will see a progress bar and a black background that shows the BlackBerry name and logo. Earlier systems will show a white background with a blinking hourglass. Your phone can take anywhere from one to five minutes or possibly more to reboot depending on your OS and the applications you have installed. This is completely normal.
What is and how to perform a soft reset?
A soft reset does not involve removing the battery but rather pressing three keys simultaneously on the QWERTY keyboard – similar to pressing Control-Alt-Delete on a Windows computer. However, devices that utilize SurePress ™ and SureType ® (BlackBerry Pearl and BlackBerry Storm) cannot perform a soft reset and will require downloading a third-party application to simulate one. A soft reset is useful when you do not want to go through the whole procedure of removing the case/cover to access the battery. Some hard shell cases do not last if constantly taken off and put back on.
So a soft reset can be done by:
- Press and hold the Alt key on the BlackBerry smartphone.
- While holding down the Alt key, press and hold the Right Shift key.
- With both of those buttons still pressed, press the Backspace/Delete key. The display on the BlackBerry smartphone turns off to indicate that the reset has started, and the keys can now be released.
Double Soft reset
There has been often discussion about the double soft reset and how it comes close to substituting for a hard reset. To perform, you will first need to do the standard soft reset. The red indicator light will appear and the screen will go blank. When the screen is no longer blank, press the keys again (perform another soft reset). You should then see another black screen followed by an hourglass (on earlier models) or the progress bar on OS5+.
Well, the controversy here is that, while the double soft reset comes close to a hard reset, a hard reset is still ultimate. As with electronics, a hard reset denys the system of electricity to store the RAM memory. Hence, effectively clearing it in a way a soft reset is unable to replicate.