Reports are pouring in of the meltdown of the Microsoft Zune 30 gigabyte mp3 player. This is the same one I purchased a year ago. If your zune is frozen here is what Microsoft is recommending:
- Disconnect your Zune from USB and AC power sources.
- 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.
- Wait until after noon GMT on January 1, 2009 (that’s 7 a.m. Eastern or 4 a.m. Pacific time).
- 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.
Below is another fix that was found on Yahoo News and there’s a video to follow.
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.”
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6u5b8XIP5ZQ[/youtube]
This method of fix above is not recommended by Microsoft because it does void the warranty. This seems to be a software malfunction and hopefully other Microsoft products like the xbox don’t have similar problems. All this goes to show the superior quality of the Apple products and the open source software community. We’ve always liked our Zune but in the future will be leaning towards the IPOD.
