This is the most critical step. You cannot simply plug the phone in and click "update." You must download the OS from a third-party archive.

Go to the "Device" menu and select "Update My Device".

: Navigate to C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Research In Motion\AppLoader and delete the vendor.xml file . This allows you to install firmware from any carrier onto your specific 9700 handset.

, downloading unsigned builds from overseas carriers to force their phones into the future. The Upgrade Ritual Upgrading a 9700 wasn't just a click; it was a ritual: The Vendor.xml Sacrifice

Sometimes the latest is not the greatest. If you updated from OS 5 to OS 6 and hate the lag, you can .