Random Rants & Raves

While at TechEd India 2011 in Bangalore last week, my phone suddenly popped up a message saying that a new update is available. Unfortunately since my laptop was not on the Internet at the time, I had to click the button to “Remind me Later”. Sadly I didn’t know how much later this was going to be. Repeated trying to get the update when I did finally get connected did not show me the update on the phone or the Zune software.

But thanks to some enterprising guys over at XDA-Developers (dawnrazr, Bonebreaker, pLUSpISTOL, zard, and others), there is a way to get your phone to find the update immediately. Note that I’ve tested this on my unlocked Samsung Omnia 7. However please try this at your own risk. I’m not responsible for bricking or otherwise damaging your phone or data.

Now that the disclaimer is out of the way, do the following steps.

1. Download the phonebook file from here.

OR

1. In Windows create a new PPTP connection as follows.

a. Open Control Panel | Network and Sharing Center
b. Click Setup a new connection or network
c. Select Connect to a Workplace
d. Select Use my Internet connection (VPN)
e. For the Internet Address use: ttu.2.usaip.eu
f. For the username and password use: demo
g. Connect the new VPN connection

2. On the phone, connect up to a WiFi connection or 3G connection (whichever you choose, turn the other one off). I used a WiFi connection.

3. Connect the phone to the PC using the USB cable – let the Zune software start up

4. Now ready a stopwatch or the Windows 7 Clock gadget with the seconds hand turned on

5. Go to Phone Settings – Update in Zune. Immediately start the timer.

6. When you get an error or the message stating that the phone is fully updated, note the number of seconds that elapsed. I got 66 seconds – this really depends on the speed of your connection.

7. Note down this number

8. Now disconnect the phone from the PC, shut down Zune and hang up the VPN

9. Start up the VPN connection again

10. Connect the phone to the PC and let Zune start up

11. On the phone, go the settings screen of the connection you are using (WiFi or 3G)

12. Go to the Update screen on Zune again and let the counting start again

13. MOST IMPORTANT: Shut down the phone’s connection 3-5 seconds before the last elapsed time. For instance, in my case, I turned off the Wifi at 61 seconds.

14. You should almost immediately see the message saying that an update is available. DO NOT CLICK THE UPDATE BUTTON YET!

15. Hang up the VPN connection first and then hit the Update button.

You can see what the update looks like:

so if you’re impatient to get NoDo for your Windows Phone 7 device – this is something that you can try.