Windows Phone 7.8 is an update for Windows Phone 7.5 phones. New features available in Windows Phone 7.8 include new customizable start screen, new tile sizes – small, medium, large, and 20 colours for theming.

That's the good news. The bad news is that not all Windows Phone 7.5 devices will be upgraded. It all depends on your country location, your make of phone and your carrier. From the Windows Phone site "The Windows Phone 7.8 update is not available in all markets or for all phones."

Why I cannot upgrade to Windows Phone 7.8

I tried multiple times via Zune and my phone, but I continually get the message that my phone is up to date. I was sitting on 7.5 (version 7.10.8773.98).

The reason being, as far as I can tell, is not that the update is not available, but that it is only available for certain markets. This largely depends on the country and carrier and make and model of the device. In my instance this would be a Nokia Lumia 800, from Vodacom in South Africa. The issue, as far as I can tell, is that the carrier and the phone maker have to approve the upgrade for their particular device. So far neither Nokia nor Vodacom have done so for South Africa.

Apparently it will be done, but how long it will take is anyone's guess.

Another reason might be that Microsoft has halted Windows Phone 7.8 updates for certain older devices.

The Trick to Upgrading to Windows Phone 7.8

Searching the internet I found many suggested ways to upgrade your phone. Most are very suspect involving some dodgy hacks and resetting or wiping your phone. The best trick I found, aptly termed "The Cable Trick" worked really well for me, and also uses the normal method of Windows Phone updates through Zune.

In a nutshell, when you check for available updates through Zune, a check is done on your phone for country and carriers and make. If this passes you then get a message to say that there is an update available with a button to start the update.

The trick is to fool this process. This is done by disconnecting the internet during the update query request. Timing is essential. What this does is that it confuses the update mechanism. When it cannot confirm your country or carrier it proceeds to the update as a matter of course.

So how do you do it? Well you would normally go to Zune -> Phone -> Settings and click update on the list to the right. After a period of time, disconnect the internet cable, wait a few seconds and the update should then be available. Proceed with the update as normal.

How long do you wait before you unplug the cable? Well that's the trick. It's hit and miss situation. If you get a message in Zune that says your phone is up to date, then you have waited too long to pull the cable. If you get a message that says that it can connect to the update, then you pulled the cable out too early.

Some have suggested waiting between 6-10 seconds. But that time is really determined by many factors, prime being your bandwidth speed. For me I waited anywhere between 30 seconds and 120 seconds.

Here is what you do.

• Turn off all data and Wi-Fi access on your phone
• Connect as normal to you PC via USB
• If Zune has not loaded, start it up
• Go to Phone Settings and click update.
• Wait for a few seconds, 3-120s (you will have to test this out. Try and try again until you get the timing right)
• Unplug the network (internet) cable
• Wait for Zune to find the update
  • If you get a message to say Zune can't connect. You've unplugged too early
  • If you get a message to say your phone is up to date, you have unplugged too late
• Click the button and follow the prompts to update.
• Repeat multiple times until you get to Windows Phone 7.8 (Each update will update to a newer build until you get to 7.10.8862)

I hope you enjoy your new Windows Phone 7.8.

Related Reading:

• Microsoft will stop Windows Phone 7.8 and 8 support in 2014. What's all the fuss about?
• No Windows Phone 8 Upgrade for Windows Phone 7
• 10 Windows Phone 7 Tips and Tricks