If you're stuck on the activation screen because servers are down, some autoloaders can be used alongside sideloading tricks to get you back to the home screen.
Think of the Autoloader as formatting a corrupted hard drive and installing a fresh copy of Windows, rather than running a system restore. For a dead or dying Bold 9900, it is the only solution. Blackberry Bold 9900 Autoloader
However, the Autoloader remains relevant. It allows the Bold 9900 to function as a "dumbphone" or a dedicated media player. Enthusiasts use Autoloaders to install modified OS versions that strip out the broken "service books" (network configuration files) to minimize error pop-ups, allowing the device to function purely over Wi-Fi. If you're stuck on the activation screen because
: The process takes about 10–15 minutes. Do not touch the phone or the cable, or you risk a permanent brick. Pro Tip: The Setup Bypass However, the Autoloader remains relevant