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Zune 30 Failing EVERYWHERE, All At Once!

Auzburner

Auzburner

macrumors 65816
Original poster
Apr 11, 2008
1,255
1
Syracuse, NY - USA
http://gizmodo.com/5121311/30gb-zunes-failing-everywhere-all-at-once

http://www.engadget.com/2008/12/31/30gb-zunes-mysteriously-begin-to-fail-at-12am-december-31st/

EDIT: http://news.cnet.com/8301-10805_3-10129977-75.html?tag=newsLatestHeadlinesArea.0
Another article.

EDIT: http://www.cnn.com/2008/TECH/12/31/zune.player.failures/index.html (Consultant)
Additional Article, Press is having a field day with this... Every source has to have their own take...

This is pretty intense, trying to figure out if it's a new years hoax already titled "Z2K", or for real.



EDIT
This is the solution:
http://forums.zune.net/412486/ShowPost.aspx
Official response for Zune 30 Freezing Issue (Zune 30gb stuck at reboot screen)
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
Click to expand...

Who would have guessed? It's to just wait!


http://gizmodo.com/5121618/how-to-revive-dead-zunes-30s
Quick Solution, Caution may void warranty...
 

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Should only need a software update. If not... well, they knew what they were getting themselves into with a zune. :)
 
leekohler said:
Like I said, this looks pretty bad, and looks to be for real. Why would so many Zune owners make this up?
Click to expand...

No, I don't particularly disbelieve it. Although I will make the alternate case that, as there are hardly any Zune users to begin with, the impact on MS might not be so bad. I can hardly imagine Zunes are being sold by word of mouth. Hardly anyone even knows one person with a Zune, let alone people who have Zunes who know people who also have Zunes.
 
mkrishnan said:
No, I don't particularly disbelieve it. Although I will make the alternate case that, as there are hardly any Zune users to begin with, the impact on MS might not be so bad. I can hardly imagine Zunes are being sold by word of mouth. Hardly anyone even knows one person with a Zune, let alone people who have Zunes who know people who also have Zunes.
Click to expand...

Ha! True enough! Most of them are most likely total tech geeks anyway.
 
Epic Fail.

Yeah, it looks pretty bad. I'm surfing around the Zune support forum's and some of the Moderators and top Zune lovers are embarrassed about their beloved players failing. Zune Support Page Apparently the hard reset fix that entails the user having to remove portions of the Zune's case, and voiding the warranty works for only a moment until the Zune realizes what the date is after being plugged in. Haha Wow. Link to Restart Fail
 
sushi said:
Agree that it doesn't look like a hoax.

But why are they failing like this. Weird. Software issue?

Definitely does not bode well for Microsoft if true.
Click to expand...

According to the Zune support forum's, some users with multiple Zune 30's have different firmware versions on them. The current version is causing this issue, as one user explained his wife's Zune that sits around and still has the old firmware is perfectly fine...
 
Auzburner said:
According to the Zune support forum's, some users with multiple Zune 30's have different firmware versions on them. The current version is causing this issue, as one user explained his wife's Zune that sits around and still has the old firmware is perfectly fine...
Click to expand...
So it is a software issue, in this case Firmware.

Well at least that can be fixed relatively easily I would think.
 
It should only be a quick firmware update, but man - big mess up. It's upsetting users so much they are nearly throwing them away, that's about all they are worth ATM. I'm yet to find anyone with the latest firmware attesting they have a functioning Zune 30. It's quite entertaining reading their forums.
 

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Even Microsoft never expected Zune to last beyond 2008 so they put a self destruct function in.

:)
 
Wow, that's quite odd. Why did they balls the Zune up so badly? In general.
 
leekohler said:
We ARE talking about Microsoft. ;)
Click to expand...
That's true! :)

mkrishnan said:
I'm sure they'll release a Zune V1 SP1 (Beta) by weeks end. It will take up half the hard drive, render 1/3 of the songs unplayable, and remain in beta for six months while people debate over whether it is indeed worth upgrading to it. :D
Click to expand...
Well said. Probably be SP2 by the time that it's stable. :p

Auzburner said:
It should only be a quick firmware update, but man - big mess up. It's upsetting users so much they are nearly throwing them away, that's about all they are worth ATM. I'm yet to find anyone with the latest firmware attesting they have a functioning Zune 30. It's quite entertaining reading their forums.
Click to expand...
With devices like the Zune, iPod, iPhone and such, people want them to work worry free. This situation changes that for the Zune. Not a good sign.
 
Looks like iPod market share is going up. In other news, all 19 zune owners report issues with bricked zunes.

Does anyone know if this impacts the sweet brown model? :cool::rolleyes:
 
Auzburner said:
Yeah, it looks pretty bad. I'm surfing around the Zune support forum's and some of the Moderators and top Zune lovers are embarrassed about their beloved players failing. Zune Support Page Apparently the hard reset fix that entails the user having to remove portions of the Zune's case, and voiding the warranty works for only a moment until the Zune realizes what the date is after being plugged in. Haha Wow. Link to Restart Fail
Click to expand...

Haha, that is and epic fail. Over at cnet, people are going crazy in their article.
 
Real sad that I don't know anybody who uses a Zune. It would just be the one moment to laught at them!

I haven't even seen one Zune in the wild since they we're launched..weird or is it just here in europe?
 
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