The Windows Phone 7.8 update has been a long time coming, but Microsoft released it on January 31st for all older Nokia Lumias, Samsung Omnia W and other handsets. Do you own a Dell Venue Pro? If yes, what more can we say? You would be glad to know that a great relief from Windows Phone 7.5 Mango OS is finally here for the Dell Venue Pro QWERTY phone, which has its Windows Phone 7.8 update ready and currently seeding out from Microsoft servers for the devices.
Some of the new features that will accompany the Windows Phone 7.8 update include new Start Screen with resizable Live Tiles that we’ve all seen on Windows Phone 8 handsets, additional theme colours, new Lock screen features with the Bing picture of the day, and the update also expands Windows Phone Marketplace and Xbox support to new countries and regions, and other unexplained improvements. The update bumps the software version up to 7.10.8858.136.
Are any of you out there still rocking a Dell Venue Pro? Welcome to club Windows Phone 7.8 club.
So, if you still have a Dell Venue Pro lying around somewhere in your house, dig it out, dust it off, and plug it to your PC and launch Zune software –> hit “Update” button under Setting tab to pull the Windows Phone 7.8 update. If the update hasn’t hit your device yet, don not panic. You will be notified once the update is available for download on your device in your region. If you can’t wait, you can try the following methods to download the WP 7.8 update on your device.
Method 1
# Connect your Dell Venue Pro to a PC and run the Zune software –> Settings –> Update.
# If it says “your phone is up to date”, click the Update button again –> After 2 or 3 sec, disconnect your PC from Internet connection or disable Wi-Fi connection.
# Now wait for some time, till you see a message on Zune stating “ an update is available” and accept it and follow the on-screen instructions to finish the upgrading process.
# If forcing the update method fails, keep repeating the aforementioned steps.
Method 2
Install the Windows Phone 7.8 CAB files from this XDA Developers Forum thread. You can follow the instructions provided at the thread.
Method 3
Use a tool called “Seven-Eighter” from Windows Phone Hacker team, which lets you to manually install the Windows Phone 7.8 update on your device. I’ve updated my Samsung Omnia W to build 8858 using this tool. Believe me, this is easiest way to upgrade your Dell Venue Pro handset with Windows Phone 7.8 build. You can download the “Seven-Eighter” tool from here.