TO OWNERS OF A 30GB ZUNE!!!! READ A.S.A.P. - Page 2

deathangelx13x · 12-31-2008, 02:53 PM

Well you can try that...I don't know???

zonic505 · 12-31-2008, 03:01 PM

I think after 2 AM tonight, it'll be fine. Like I said, it's most likely due to leap year & doesn't have a 366th day, so when tomorrow comes, the software will know that it's a new year & start at 1 again (or something like that).

I tried it & it didn't work, though I kinda figured it wouldn't work in the 1st place.

deathangelx13x · 12-31-2008, 03:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zonic505

I think after 2 AM tonight, it'll be fine.

I tried it & it didn't work, though I kinda figured it wouldn't work in the 1st place.

hopefully your right about that time. Because right now I am currently a 30GigaBrick Zune Owner

deathangelx13x · 12-31-2008, 04:45 PM

From yahoo.com

While the rumor mill is focused on Apple developing a larger-screen iPod touch, the blogosphere is churning with angry reports about frozen 30GB Microsoft Zunes.

Discussions board like ZuneUser.com, ZuneScene.com and Zune.net offer first-hand accounts of the problems with Microsoft's music player. It seems the Zunes reboot, then freeze once the status bar reaches 100 percent.

Some are calling it the "Z2K" problem, playing off the infamous Y2K bug that many thought would throw the computing industry in chaos at the beginning of the century when dates changed from 1999 to 2000. That's because the problem seems to have started at exactly midnight PST Wednesday -- the first moments of the last day of 2008.

A Fix That Fails

Microsoft wasn't immediately available for comment on what observers are calling the Zune 30 Midnight Meltdown. But the forums are ablaze with complaints and demands for updates from Microsoft.

"I had my Zune docked on its iHome ZN9, charging, and all the sudden I hear it start whirring as I'm sitting here at the laptop. I looked up just in time to see it restarting itself at exactly 12:00 midnight, watched the loading bar, and then the freeze. Great. WHAT is going on!?" VS Venom Shot wrote on the Zune.net forum.

Meanwhile, a Zune.net user named Dmodegirl claims to have solved the problem. She said the Zune needs a "hard reset" and suggested using a small screwdriver to pop off the plastic shielding where the Zune cable plugs in and remove the two screws on either side of the plug.

"Pop the cover off and locate the battery plug at the top left corner of the Zune. Using your screwdriver, pop the cable connection halfway off, and do this to the other plug on the right side," she wrote. "Wait three seconds, then push down the right connector and then the left battery connector. 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."

Some users reported success with this method, but when they plugged their Zune back in to charge, it froze again. Others were concerned with trying the hard reset for fear of turning the Zune into a fancy paperweight. Still others are hinting that Microsoft should compensate Zune users with a free Zune Pass.

A Black Eye for Zune

"This problem is something that never should have made it out of testing. I've been with the Zune Pass since day one and I'm seriously looking into other devices and services due to this. We at least need some kind of acknowledgment or statement from MS that clarifies the issue and puts in place a plan of action," a user named Furious Mittens wrote on the Zune.net forum.

Those comments aren't something Microsoft wants to hear. Indeed, frozen Zunes after the holiday shopping season is not welcome news, according to Phil Leigh, a senior analyst at Inside Digital Media.

"Microsoft has got to close the ground on the iPod, and the only way to do that is with a superior product," Leigh said. "It takes time to recover from something like this. First impressions are important for new buyers, and this is a bad first impression."

MS better compensate for this big time!!!!!

zonic505 · 12-31-2008, 05:00 PM

Someone said this was even on TV on CNN.

I still think they'll be able to fix it soon. Yes, Microsoft has a bad history of fixing stuff (RROD, Vista, etc.), but considering this is just a problem involving the software not being able to recognize one extra day, I don't see them taking very long to fixing it. I think everyone's overreacting just like w/ Y2K.

Here we go, from Zune.com's forum itself, their official response. I was right. It was just a leap year, couldn't understand it, & we just gotta wait until tomorrow for it to work again. I have mine discharged & will charge it tomorrow.

deathangelx13x · 12-31-2008, 05:03 PM

From Zune.net

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. 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. If you’re a Zune Pass subscriber, you may need to sync your device with your PC to refresh the rights to the subscription content you have downloaded to your device.

Customers can continue to stay informed via the support page on zune.net (zune.net/support).

We know this has been a big inconvenience to our customers and we are sorry for that, and want to thank them for their patience.

Q: Why is this issue isolated to the Zune 30 device?

It is a bug in a driver for a part that is only used in the Zune 30 device.

Q: What fixes or patches are you putting in place to resolve this situation?

This situation should remedy itself over the next 24 hours as the time flips to January 1st.

Q: What’s the timeline on a fix?

The issue Zune 30GB customers are experiencing today will self resolve as time changes to January 1.

Q: Why did this occur at precisely 12:01 a.m. on December 31, 2008?

There is a bug in the internal clock driver causing the 30GB device to improperly handle the last day of a leap year.

Q: What is Zune doing to fix this issue?

The issue should resolve itself.

Q: Are you sure that this won’t happen to all 80, 120 or other flash devices?

This issue is related to a part that is only used in Zune 30 devices.

Q: How many 30GB Zune devices are affected?

All 30GB devices are potentially affected.

Q: Will you update the firmware before the next leap year (2012)?

Yes.
Matt Akers
Zune Product Team

.: This posting is provided "as-is" with no warranties, and confers no rights :.

zonic505 · 12-31-2008, 05:38 PM

Yeah, basically around 5 AM (EST), the Zune's clock will reset to 0 & this will be all done. It might be midnight local time, I'll keep watching the Zune boards. If it doesn't work, well then, there's always the next firmware.

It amazes me how many people are angry. Yeesh, it's just 1 day. I knew we just had to wait. I was more mad w/ the 3.0 update always making my Zune freeze after a few songs & I still wasn't that upset since I knew they were going to fix it. This is the 1st time the Zune has seen a leap year. It's just a minor programming error. & some people want something to compensate for the glitch, like free music. I just want the problem to be fixed (which it should), dealt with, & forgotten. Not to mention I don't have to pay to have it fixed.

It's just like Y2K. People overreacted & the solution was just to wait until tomorrow to see that it was no big deal.

Zune 30 FAQ w/ the whole freezing thing. Noon GMT, 7 AM Eastern, & 4 AM Pacific. In case anyone's wondering why it has to be noon GMT, standard DRM computation time.

Hiryuu · 01-01-2009, 12:53 AM

Yea, so just wait til 2012 when it does it again and MS doesn't have a correct fix for it for the fix they issue. :P

zonic505 · 01-01-2009, 10:10 AM

Mine's working. Charging right now & it came back on.

**cstarflare** · 01-01-2009, 11:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hiryuu

Yea, so just wait til 2012 when it does it again and MS doesn't have a correct fix for it for the fix they issue. :P

Two days of downtime in three years is pretty good considering the 360.

deathangelx13x · 01-01-2009, 12:41 PM

My Zune 30 is frozen. What should I do?

Follow these steps:

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.

Once the battery has sufficient power, the player should start normally. No other action is required—you can go back to using your Zune!

My Zune 30 has been working fine today. Should I be worried?

Nope, your Zune is fine and will continue to work as long as you do not connect it to your computer before noon GMT on January 1, 2009 (7 a.m. Eastern or 4 a.m. Pacific time).

Note: If you connect your player to a computer before noon GMT on January 1, 2009, you'll experience the freeze mentioned above—even if that computer does not have the Zune software installed. If this happens, follow the above steps.

What if I have rights-managed (DRM) content on my Zune?

Most likely, rights-managed content will not be affected by this issue. However, it's a good idea to sync your Zune with your computer once the freeze has been resolved, just to make sure your usage rights are up to date.

What if I took advice from the forums and reset my Zune by disconnecting the battery?

This is a bad idea and we do not recommend opening your Zune by yourself (for one thing, doing so will void your warranty). However, if you've already opened it, do one of the following:

* Wait 24 hours from the time that you reset the Zune and then sync with your computer to refresh the usage rights; or
* Delete the player's content using the Zune software (go to Settings, Device, Sync Options, Erase All Content), then re-sync it from your collection.

These are the recommended steps from zune.net

I am currently charging mine. When this does happen in 2012, we will know what to expect and what to do later on. hope this info throughout this experience helped.

Sincerely,

deathangelx13x