"Synchronization Error. An error has occurred during an attempt to update a device database record" appears during a wired address book synchronization with BlackBerry Desktop Software

• BlackBerry Desktop Software 6.0 to 7.1
• BlackBerry Bold 9650 smartphone
• BlackBerry Storm 9550 smartphone
• BlackBerry Curve 8530 smartphone
• BlackBerry Device Software 5.0.0.973 to 5.0.0.1030
• BlackBerry Device Software 6.0.0.0 to 6.0.0.467
• Microsoft Outlook

During a wired synchronization of an address book on the BlackBerry smartphone with data on the computer, BlackBerry Desktop Software 7.0 and 7.1 may display the following message:

Synchronization Error. An error has occurred during an attempt to update a device database record.

BlackBerry Desktop Software 6.0 and 6.1 will display the following equivalent message:

Error encountered. Error code - 0x80040FB3. Check documentation OR Unable to complete synchronization

The synchronization will complete, however some address book contacts may be missing from the BlackBerry smartphone. Some address book contacts may also be duplicated on the BlackBerry smartphone several times and cannot be edited.

Within the contact application data, a specific contact contains blank email address before a completed email address. For example, if there is a contact that has e-mail 2 populated but not e-mail, this error may occur. If e-mail and e-mail 3 populated, but not e-mail 2 this error may occur.

For BlackBerry smartphones running BlackBerry Device Software 5.0, please upgrade to BlackBerry Device Software 5.0.0.1024 or higher.

For BlackBerry smartphones running BlackBerry 6, please upgrade to BlackBerry 6.0.0.467 or higher.

For information on how to to upgrade to the most recent version of BlackBerry Device Software Software, please see KB03901.

If no BlackBerry Device Software updates are available, please proceed with the following workaround:

1. Perform a backup of the BlackBerry smartphone. For more information, see KB12487.
2. Perform a reset to factory using Desktop Software. For more information, see KB31291.
3. Using the steps under Additional Information for the appropriate version of Microsoft Outlook, locate the affected contacts and modify them. Please note there may be more than one affected contact. Once the affected contacts have been modified please proceed to step 4.
4. Perform a synchronization to make sure that no errors are observed. If errors are observed, repeat steps 2 through 4 until no errors are observed.
5. Restore all databases to the BlackBerry smartphone except for the Address Book - All database. For more information on selective restore, see KB10339.

Use the appropriate steps below to find affected contacts.

Microsoft Outlook 2003

1. Open the Tools menu.
2. Select Find, and then Advanced Find. 
3. In the Look for drop-down list, click Contacts.
4. Click the Advanced tab.
5. Select Field, and then Email Fields, and then E-mail.
6. In the Condition drop-down list, click Is empty.
7. Click Add to List.
8. Select Field, and then Email Fields, and then E-mail 2.
9. In the Condition drop-down list, click Is not empty.
10. Click Add to List.
11. Click Find.
12. If contacts are found, examine the contacts and modify them to make sure that the first email field is populated. Repeat steps 1 through 10, but remove E-mail 2 and replace it with E-mail 3.
13. If contacts are found, examine the contacts and modify them to make sure that the first email field is populated. Repeat steps 1 through 10, but this time, search for E-mail with the condition of Is not empty, and E-mail 3 with the condition of Is not empty.
14. If contacts are found, examine the contacts and modify them to make sure that the second email field is populated.

Microsoft Outlook 2007

1. Open the Tools menu and select Instant Search.
2. Scroll over and select Advanced Find.
3. In the Look for drop-down list, click Contacts.
4. Click the Advanced tab.
5. Select Field, and then E-mail Fields, and then E-mail.
6. In the Condition drop-down list, click Is empty.
7. Click Add to List.
8. Select Field, and then Email Fields, and then E-mail 2.
9. In the Condition drop-down list, click Is not empty.
10. Click Add to List.
11. Click Find.
12. If contacts are found, examine the contacts and modify them to make sure that the first email field is populated. Repeat steps 1 through 10, but remove E-mail 2 and replace it with E-mail 3.
13. If contacts are found, examine the contacts and modify them to make sure that the first email field is populated. Repeat steps 1 through 10, but this time, search for E-mail with the condition of Is not empty, and E-mail 3 with the condition of Is not empty.
14. If contacts are found, examine the contacts and modify them to make sure that the second email field is populated.

Microsoft Outlook 2010

1. Open the Tools menu and select Advanced Find.
2. In the Look for drop-down list, click Contacts.
3. Click the Advanced tab.
4. Select Field, and then E-mail Fields, and then E-mail.
5. In the Condition drop-down list, click Is empty.
6. Click Add to List.
7. Select Field, and then Email Fields, and then E-mail 2.
8. In the Condition drop-down list, click Is not empty.
9. Click Add to List.
10. Click Find.
11. If contacts are found, examine the contacts and modify them to make sure that the first email field is populated. Repeat steps 1 through 10, but remove E-mail 2 and replace it with E-mail 3.
12. If contacts are found, examine the contacts and modify them to make sure that the first email field is populated. Repeat steps 1 through 10, but this time, search for E-mail with the condition of Is not empty, and E-mail 3 with the condition of Is not empty.
13. If contacts are found, examine the contacts and modify them to make sure that the second email field is populated.