Microsoft Zunes Committing Mass Suicide

jddeluxe writes "There are multiple reports springing up all over the internet of a mass suicide of Microsoft 30GB Zune players globally. Check Zune forums, Gizmodo, or other such sites; the reports are spreading rapidly, except apparently to the Microsoft official Zune site."

Comments

Re:Real mature

[edwardsdl]

I also like how the Microsoft clearly talks about the problem, despite the summary claiming otherwise.

The Fix

[lhaeh]

According to Herman at gizmodo, this is the solution:

"Your zune will need a "hard reset."

To do this, use a small screwdriver to pop off the plastic shielding where the zune cable plugs into and remove the two screws on either side of the plug. Next pop the cover off and locate the battery plug at the top left corner of the zune, using your screw driver, pop the cable connection half way off, and do this to the other plug on the right side. Wait 3 seconds, then push down the right connector and then the left battery connecter. Your zune should start up immediately. Press the backing of the zune down (make sure headphone jack is aligned) and put the screws and cover back in place.

It's an easy process but if you're unsure don't attempt it if you think you'll screw it or something. :)"

Not pretty, but it might help those of you who have this problem.

According to others on the forum, it is caused by the new firmware, so you might not want to update it. Changing the clock might be a temporary fix if you want the new firmware.

Re:The Fix

[elrous0]

Actually, this only works if you never connect it to your computer again. Even if you don't update your firmware, just running the Zune software causes it to wig out again (probably has something to do with the clock sync).

Re:The Fix

[dcdruck]

According to Herman at gizmodo, this is the solution:

"Your zune will need a "hard reset."

To do this, use a small screwdriver to pop off the plastic shielding where the zune cable plugs into and remove the two screws on either side of the plug. Next pop the cover off and locate the battery plug at the top left corner of the zune, using your screw driver, pop the cable connection half way off, and do this to the other plug on the right side. Wait 3 seconds, then push down the right connector and then the left battery connecter. Your zune should start up immediately. Press the backing of the zune down (make sure headphone jack is aligned) and put the screws and cover back in place.

It's an easy process but if you're unsure don't attempt it if you think you'll screw it or something. :)"

Not pretty, but it might help those of you who have this problem.

According to others on the forum, it is caused by the new firmware, so you might not want to update it. Changing the clock might be a temporary fix if you want the new firmware.

According to several users in the Zune thread at Zune.net forums, even Zunes running original or other older firmware is affected.

It's a firmware bug.

[Lumpy]

I have 2 of them. 1 for hacking the other for my daughter. Her zune locked up, I went downstairs and dug out of the box the old zune that has never been updated. Yes date and time are pretty close to accurate.

MSFT drones mucked up the clock ocde in the firmware over the past year.

Firmware Problem

[Kintanon]

Zunes with older firmwares are unaffected, a hard reset will blow away the current firmware and get your Zune working again.
Already have the fix posted at The Tech Empire

Whoot, go me.

Re:Article summary

[k_187]

You must be new here. The editors are such in name only.

Problem identified: LEAP YEAR

[Anonymous Coward]

Day 365 has passed and this is day 366. This has happened before. This will happen again. All will be well tomorrow.

Thank you,
Microsoft Zune PM

Re:Real mature

[sjames]

It's actually a long tradition that started with Compu$erve.

If you're primarily a Linux user and then try to get anything running on a Windows server, the $ will seem quite appropriate. It seems the only thing M$ doesn't do to hit you up for more cash is rent Windows by the hour. What's so wrong with expressing that opinion neatly in a single character change?

That too is common. Other names you might hear/read in a similar vein (which may or may not reflect my personal opinion) include Burger Thing, Qwost, Stop and Rob, Tragic Markup, Circuit Shitty, etc.

Re:Real mature

[Drgnkght]

It seems the only thing M$ doesn't do to hit you up for more cash is rent Windows by the hour.

They're working on that too. No joke. IIRC, it was posted on Slashdot before. I think it had something to do with a patent.

Re:Suicide?

[InlawBiker]

Mine's doing the same thing. I've used the crap out of the thing for about 18 months and it has worked flawlessly.. until now that is. This is appearing on the support site now.

"Status: Customers with 30gb Zune devices may experience issues when booting their Zune hardware. Weâ(TM)re aware of the problem and are working to correct it. Sorry for the inconvenience, and thanks for your patience!"

I got a 120gb iPod for Christmas so I'm watching this fiasco with a smirk. I had hoped to get a few bucks for it on ebay though.

Re:Value did get lost :(

[Grishnakh]

Please note that is not a criticism of the Microsoft employees but of the corporate cultural at the executive level that lead them to those issues.

I'm not an MS employee, but I work at a large semiconductor company. I really like my coworkers and my boss, but the executives running this company are a bunch of idiots. As a result, our company isn't performing all that well, and our products are shoddy (it's hard to make good products with no funding, and when you lay off design teams before they have a chance to fix any bugs). My job consists mainly of trying to come up with workarounds for bugs.

If someone were to insult my company's products, I wouldn't be offended at all, and I'd probably agree with them.

As far as I'm concerned, any low-level employee who gets upset about someone insulting his company and its products has emotional issues. It's just a job, and unless you're an executive, you have no real control over anything, and also no responsibility for anything.

Microsoft confirms Leap Year bug

[SpaceLifeForm]

Link

"Early this morning we were alerted by our customers that there was a widespread issue affecting our 2006 model Zune 30GB devices (a large number of which are still actively being used). The technical team jumped on the problem immediately and isolated the issue: a bug in the internal clock driver related to the way the device handles a leap year.

"That being the case, the issue should be resolved over the next 24 hours as the time change moves to January 1, 2009. We expect the internal clock on the Zune 30GB devices will automatically reset tomorrow (noon, GMT). By tomorrow you should allow the battery to fully run out of power before the unit can restart successfully then simply ensure that your device is recharged, then turn it back on.

Bonus: No leap-second problem to deal with today.

Microsoft official fix: drain battery. Really

[Animats]

Microsoft has announced their official fix:

1. Disconnect your Zune from USB and AC power sources.
2. Because the player is frozen, its battery will drain--this is good. Wait until the battery is empty and the screen goes black. If the battery was fully charged, this might take a couple of hours.
3. Wait until after noon GMT on January 1, 2009 (that's 7 a.m. Eastern or 4 a.m. Pacific time).
4. Connect your Zune to either a USB port on the back or your computer or to AC power using the Zune AC Adapter and let it charge.

Really. That's their fix.

If you have a Zune, but haven't used it today, don't turn it on before 0000 UT 01 JAN 2009.