How do i get my palm centro to send and recieve picture messages?

I have had my Centro for about four months. It recently quit sending and receiving picture and video messages. It shows its trying, but it just says message failed. I have contacted Verizon, and they told me i needed to download the 1.03 version of the software, because the software it came with has some bugs they never got worked out. When i downloaded the new software yesterday, not only did it NOT fix my problem but it completely deleted everything from my phone. Over 200 contacts, all my pics and videos...everything. I am so frustrated i am gonna throw my phone out the window!!! anyone have any ideas??