Every 30gb Microsoft Zune In the World Freezes

by Rob Walker | December 31, 2008 at 07:24 am

8907 views | 16 Recommendations | 39 comments

Every 30gb version of Microsoft's Zune mp3 player failed last night, according to reports that are streaming in from all over the net.

It appears that every version of the 30gb Zune with even close to recent firmware is locking up at the 'loading' phase when they first boot up the player.

Websites and news organizations have picked up the story, noting that hundreds of people have posted on the Zune boards alone.

Owners of one version of the Microsoft Zune music player are complaining that their devices have suddenly stopped working.

Technology websites are reporting "thousands" of complaints about the 30GB Zune.

Microsoft has confirmed the Zune technical glitch that is affecting 30-gigabyte versions of the mp3 player.

Microsoft Corp. has warned customers using the 30-gigabyte version of its Zune media player that they "may experience issues when booting their Zune hardware."

Several media outlets have reported complaints from users who said their Zune devices were freezing up.

According to a brief note posted on the technical support section of Microsoft’s Zune Web site,

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. Sorry for the inconvenience, and thanks for your patience!

Here's the first post on the zuneboards forums, where the error was first discovered before snowballing with hundreds of claims of similar problems.

Right, so this is a weird one: we're getting tons of reports—tons—about failing Zune 30s. Apparently, the players began freezing at about midnight last night, becoming totally unresponsive and practically useless.

Microsoft is just squeezing in under the wire to claim the rights to “weirdest tech story of the year.”Last night at approximately 2 AM, every 30GB Zune model on the planet crashed at the exact same moment. The Zunes reset, powered up, then froze on the loading bar screen, and no conventional method of resetting them appears to work.

This is brought to you courtesy of Microsoft, who has been selling a video game console with a nearly 100% fail rate for three years. The Zune situation is all the more disasterous however, seeing as all of them failed at the exact same moment, which people have taken to calling Y2K9.

There's supposedly a fix out for it, though it isn't verified and may cause problems. Use at your own risk!

There's a fix: "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.

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vk (not verified)

at 23:15 on January 31st, 2009

Look on the 2nd page a class action law suit!

coffee fiend (not verified)

at 10:25 on January 1st, 2009

this is rough. first the X-box and now this. but are we honestly that surprised?

Chaulander (not verified)

at 11:26 on January 1st, 2009

Hey there Zune owners, my 30GB Zune just started working at about 1:20 pm CST. Now, for what I've read, Microsoft thinks it may be for the new software, however I haven't updated my software (I have version 2.5 still) and after letng the battery die like 3 times and charging the device with a docking, not the computer I finally decided to plug it on the computer and it's now working, so it may have something to do with the firmware. Hope the problem is solved soon... way to go Microsoft, what a way to end the year and receive the new one!!

Alida Antonia Cornelius

at 12:25 on January 1st, 2009

Maybe many many people got them as gifts for Christmas and then tried to listen near midnight on New Year's Eve and they just overloaded the servers. For example, one person who posted here said they were planning on using it for music on New Years......

That's what it sounds like to me. The servers were overloaded.

allan lee (not verified)

at 13:23 on January 1st, 2009

hi everyone' i bought a 30gb zune on launch day 2006 and brought it home to the uk.i was told it would be over here at easter 07.still not launched yet with no intention so now i have a frozen zune and still no dockstation .aaaaaargh bill gates (liar) greedmonster

OpposedRoy (not verified)

at 16:03 on January 5th, 2009

Nice Job I tryed everything too.

ZERO sk8r 555 (not verified)

at 18:15 on January 6th, 2009

yea wut sucks is i have the Halo 3 zune and 1 day i came 2 get it off the charger and it was stuck on the loading screen :( it was HORRIBLE! Will Zune fix it 4 free??? cuz lol i got mad at it and slammed it on teh ground then the screen inside broke XD and ima say that happened wen it messed up! XD so will microsoft replace/fix it free???

Gerson Neto (not verified)

at 14:47 on January 22nd, 2009

Oh man!!!

When my zune 30 G started with this issue,i tried the hard reset (Unplugging the battery) and it solved,the zune was normal again...But,everytime i try to sync with my pc or xbox 360 the freezing issue happens again,even if i wait the 24 hours that microsoft told to do.I'm almost trying to delete all content and firmware,but i'm afraid that what if i do this thing and never be able to sync with my collection again???

Help meeee....I'm desperate!

v.kay (not verified)

at 23:07 on January 31st, 2009

What I think we all should do is someone who knows how on this site start a sign in or sign up sheet we all get together and each of us SUE microsoft Zune for the Retail price of the Zune 30 Gb mp3 player, PLUS ANY AND ALL ATTORNEY FEES AND COURT COST, PLUS $100.00 for each of our lost time and troubled experience . And do it as a class action Law Suit! There is plenty of Evidence PLENTY OF EVIDENCE! THAT THE PRODUCT HAS A DESIGN FLAW and does not work as promised. I'm sure a excellant product atorney would take the case Because of the fact we all got took for a large amount of money these 30 Gb are not cheap! Mine cost me $249.00 I used it 3 times and then it would not charge at all..and when I called Microsoft "ZUNE" They want me to pay them $145.00 plus S&H tosend it to then and they just look at the Zune! Thay is not keeping customers happy! So I say CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT!! OR REPLACE OUR LEMONS WHITH THE NEW ZUNE 130 gb? mp3 player.( Can we trust the new ZUNE either?)

SO PEOPLE WHAT DO YOU SAY >>>CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT???