Slashdot Mirror


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."

32 of 785 comments (clear)

  1. Suicide? by catbertscousin · · Score: 5, Funny

    It's a Stand Alone Complex!

    --
    No good deed goes unpunished. - Avon, Blake's 7
    1. Re:Suicide? by retyurecvb · · Score: 5, Funny

      My Zune was among the affected. In my defense, I got it from a fire sale for 50 dollars, so either way, no big loss. Farewell, sweet PMP, you were taken from us too zune.

    2. Re:Suicide? by jhol13 · · Score: 5, Funny

      I think you can get a few bucks for the iPod.

      Maybe even enough to buy a decent mp3 player!

  2. BZOD by Subm · · Score: 5, Funny

    Blue Zune Of Death!

  3. Is this a troll? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    30mb Zune? Micro$oft? Go back to /b/ CmdrTaco

  4. I don't usually complain about summaries... by Enoxice · · Score: 5, Insightful

    ...but it doesn't tell me what's happening, sounds sensationalist, and actually uses "Micro$oft" - who types that???

    --
    Anyone else think the comments just weren't rendering right before they turned off ABP and saw ads?
    1. Re:I don't usually complain about summaries... by Darth_brooks · · Score: 5, Interesting

      http://www.google.com/trends/hottrends?sa=X

      Those are today's top one hundred google searches. As of now, ten of the top forty searches are zune related. Something tells me this is a bit more that "a few people..." I agree that the article is sensationalist, but there's a hearty grain of truth in there.

      --
      There are some people that if they don't know, you can't tell 'em.
  5. re by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Let me know when one commits homicide. That will be news.

  6. Gotta hand it to MicroSoft by larry+bagina · · Score: 5, Funny

    They've successfully dispelled the rumor that no own owns a Zune.

    --
    Do you even lift?

    These aren't the 'roids you're looking for.

    1. Re:Gotta hand it to MicroSoft by Chris+Mattern · · Score: 5, Funny

      ...and replaced it with the rumor that no one owns a *working* Zune.

  7. Value did get lost :( by sundarvenkata · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I turned on my Zune (bought for 90$ last year) today morning only to find it die a sad death with the hard disk humming in the highest pitch. I do not think the hard disk will survive 3 more hours of such grueling ordeal. I feel sorry for MSFT. Best of luck, guys.

    1. Re:Value did get lost :( by Just+Some+Guy · · Score: 5, Insightful

      I feel sorry for MSFT.

      Really? You have a broken player and they have your money, but you feel bad for them?

      --
      Dewey, what part of this looks like authorities should be involved?
  8. $la$hdot, your be$t $ource for tech new$ by kbrasee · · Score: 5, Funny

    $top the pre$$e$, thi$ ju$t in -- $la$hdot ridicule$ Micro$oft!

    Al$o I think $omeone me$$ed around with my keyboard driver$...

  9. I heard a song about this once... by eclectro · · Score: 5, Funny

    You don't need no entertainment
    You dont need no Zune control
    No dark sarcasm on the nets
    People leave them Zunes alone
    Hey! people! Leave them Zunes alone!
    All in all it's just another brick in the wall.
    All in all you're just another brick in the wall.

    --
    Take the cheese to sickbay, the doctor should see it as soon as possible - B'Elanna Torres, "Learning Curve"
  10. song parody by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    but something touched me deep inside...the day the 30 gigs died

    I started singing "bye, bye MS 30 gig zune"
    tried to download from the zune store but the zune store was dry
    and the ms fanboys were drinking whiskey and rye
    the day...the 30 gigs died

  11. Leap Day... by Manip · · Score: 5, Interesting

    This year has 366 days in it instead of the normal 365.

    So if you did (365-day) you could end up with -1 which might cause either a crash or freeze.

    Just one (likely) possible cause. If that is the case it should fix its self tomorrow.

  12. Re:Real mature by jellomizer · · Score: 5, Funny

    That is a common mistake that anyone who is older then 30 years can do. Dag Nabbit, Back in my day I would have pined for a 30 megabyte music player. We had to use instruments fashioned out on animal hides and termite infested wood. Then pay from memory the music. And it never sounded as good as you remembered it.

    --
    If something is so important that you feel the need to post it on the internet... It probably isn't that important.
  13. The Fix by lhaeh · · Score: 5, Informative

    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.

    1. Re:The Fix by dcdruck · · Score: 5, Informative

      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.

  14. It's a firmware bug. by Lumpy · · Score: 5, Informative

    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.

    --
    Do not look at laser with remaining good eye.
  15. Firmware Problem by Kintanon · · Score: 5, Informative

    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.

    --
    Check out JoshJitsu.info for Brazilian Ji
  16. Zune 3.11 by kbrasee · · Score: 5, Funny

    If the Zune 3.1 firmware turns out to be the problem, then I assume the patched version will be Zune 3.11. Hey, this sounds familiar.

  17. Re:3 bit years should be enough for anyone. by Svippy · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I guess they just allocated a 3 bit year, in their systems (starting year 2000). Hey who would think there would still have Zunes around b 2009.

    I think your issue may more likely be a leap year issue, with the Zune calculating the length of the year in seconds, but did not take into account that 2008 is one day longer because of 29 February.

    Which would explain why they are failing before new year's, rather than after.

    --
    Clicked pie.
  18. Checked Google Trends lately? by Dwedit · · Score: 5, Interesting

    http://www.google.com/trends
    At the time I loaded the page:
        1. zune frozen
        2. reset zune
        3. zune locked up
        4. zune troubleshooting

  19. Problem identified: LEAP YEAR by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

    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

  20. In the meantime in Redmond... by neonux · · Score: 5, Funny

    ...people see Zunes commiting suicide by flying out from Ballmer's office.

    --
    @neonux
  21. Re:Real mature by NtroP · · Score: 5, Funny

    You had wood? Spoiled kid.

    Are you kidding? When I was a kid I had wood constantly. Now that I'm [much] older I can only dream...

    --
    "terrorism" and "pedophilia" are the root passwords to the Constitution
  22. Re:Designed Obsolescence by manekineko2 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    You joke about this, but Microsoft actually has the best track record for non-designed obsolescence among all the digital audio player manufacturers out there. When they came out with new generation Zunes, they rolled out all the updates to older generation owners as well.

    These updates were also free, unlike the updates for the iPod Touch (interesting how some companies supposedly have to charge for updates with new features under accounting rules, and others don't).

    I don't approve of a lot of things Microsoft does, but I have to say that objectively, they've been a real class act as far as supporting older Zunes goes.

  23. Re:Real mature by Drgnkght · · Score: 5, Informative

    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.

  24. Re:NOT Zune 3.11 by neonux · · Score: 5, Funny

    but... Zune 3.11 for Workgroups

    --
    @neonux
  25. Oblig. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    I sense a disturbance in the Force... It's as if tens of voices cried out in terror and were silenced.

  26. Re:Real mature by kv9 · · Score: 5, Funny

    For my next trick, there are only 10 types of people in the world, those who get binary and those who..."

    ... get laid?