In a recent podcast by its Windows Phone team, Microsoft addressed the problem of Windows Phone owners who used the Chevron WP7 hack to update their handset to the latest NoDo version of WP7. According to the software giant, the Chevron WP7 updater tool will successfully install the latest version of Windows Phone 7, but this forced update will leave the handset in a state that renders it not upgradeable in the future.
Without getting technical, Microsoft claims the tool breaks the mechanism the company uses for updating its WP7 handsets. According to the Redmond company, the only way to update a handset after using the Chevron tool is to re-flash the entire phone back to its previous operating system, a procedure that must be done by the carrier. Microsoft is looking into a way to reverse the effect of this rogue updater for customers so they don’t have to re-flash their handset, but this process is time-consuming and there is no guarantee of success.
In the end, the Chevron WP7 updater tool was pulled from its source’s server and its creator Chris Walsh has asked people to comply with Microsoft’s request to stop using this tool. Despite naysayers who claim the software giant is over-reacting, the hacked update tool does have a deleterious effect on a WP7 handset and this unexpected modification is creating a headache for the Redmond company.
[Via Windows Phone Metro and Windows Phone Blog]