FAQ: How to Test Your BlackBerry Hardware – BlackBerry Tour Trackball

Since the Tour was launched there has been quite a bit of chatter about how some shipped with defective trackballs. I know many people have taken their devices back to Verizon with some success in terms of replacing them. I cannot confirm if there are actual defective trackballs but RIM does provide a hidden testing application that was found awhile back to test certain parts of your BlackBerry to see if they are functioning correctly. Freebirds87 was kind enough to remind everybody on the BBOS forums about this little tool.

hardwaretest The app is accessible by heading to OPTIONS->STATUS and then typing in the word test

The tests available are:

  • Trackball & keyboard
  • MISC – (light sensor, backlight, LED, etc.)
  • Handset audio
  • Headset audio
  • Bluetooth audio
  • RF components
  • GPS

I have yet to see anything fail on any of these tests but please email in screenshots of failures if you do get them!

Thanks Andre for sending this one in!

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