Got a 30gig Zune? It's (not) dead (anymore, but Microsoft still won't fix it).

Reported via Engadget and Gizmodo ... at midnight Dec. 31, it dies.

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

http://gizmodo.com/5121311/30gb-zunes-failing-everywhere-all-at-once (better coverage)

http://www.zuneboards.com/forums/gen-1/38114-zune-frozen.html

I, for one, welcome our new iPod overlords.

 

Re: Got a 30gig Zune? It's dead.

As someone whose family owns three separate iPods, all I can say is ...

 

Re: Got a 30gig Zune? It's dead.

Two iPods in this house — both more than three years old and going strong. And my sister got one for Christmas, too.

I have zero complaints or problems — knock on wood.

 

Re: Got a 30gig Zune? It's dead.

What? A Microsoft gadget taking a sudden, mysterious crap?

You don't say!

 

Re: Got a 30gig Zune? It's dead.

Holy crap. My wife called me today and told me her Zune isn't working. It's the exact same problem.

Z2K! Z2K!

I'm guessing there's going to be a recall, which means we have to go through the hassle of mailing it out, waiting to get it back, and then re download all the music on her Zune again.

Cripes. It only cost me $99, but c'mon!

 

Re: Got a 30gig Zune? It's dead.

Update on Zunepocalypse: Here's what Microsoft posted on Zune.net: "Customers with 30gb Zune devices may experience issues when booting their Zune hardware. We’re aware of the problem and are working to correct it."

There's a hacker fix, but some disassembly is required.

 

Re: Got a 30gig Zune? It's dead.

How can they correct it if you can't get it to boot up? You can't even attach it to the computer and get the computer to recognize it. So that eliminates a firmware or other update.

It seems like there would have to be a recall. Sigh.

Damn you PC guy!

 

Re: Got a 30gig Zune? It's dead.

Now and forever, Apple owns jOO, Bill Gates.

 

Re: Got a 30gig Zune? It's dead.

Well, I have an 8gig Zune and absolutely love it--better than any iPod I've ever used.

 

Re: Got a 30gig Zune? It's dead.

In what way?

 

Re: Got a 30gig Zune? It's dead.

 

Re: Got a 30gig Zune? It's dead.

Zunepocalypse is over! People who bought the other MP3 player have their music back! w00t!

Solution: Let the battery run down all the way so the Zune shuts off. After noon GMT (7 a.m. Eastern), connect it to a computer or the AC adapter so it can recharge the battery.

The problem: Microsoft botched the programming. The 2006 version of the Zune 30 software has a bug that makes it unable to deal with a leap year. Microsoft does not plan to fix the problem. Apparently it expects that the current crop of Zune 30s to be dead by the end of 2012.

http://www.zune.net/en-us/support/zune30.htm
http://gizmodo.com/5121822/official-fix-for-the-zune-30-fail