Zunes crash en masse, all at once

Wed Dec 31, 2008 10:23AM EST

See Comments (40)

Arriving nine years late to the Y2K phenomenon is the Microsoft Zune. Reports are flowing wildly that, last night at around 2AM, every first-gen 30GB Zune abruptly crashed.

It's a bizarre problem that has generated hundreds of complaints on the Zune support forum. As I write this, Microsoft has not offered a suggestion on a fix (though I'm sure one will be forthcoming shortly).

The response from the web has largely been gentle mockery, but Zune owners are perturbed, and rightly so. I'll try to update this post when fix instructions are posted -- but given that it's New Year's Eve and people are vacationing, traveling, and partying (including myself), it may be a day or two before we hear about how to repair the flaw.

Hopefully Microsoft won't be crushed under the "legal ACTION" that at least one user is threatening before that occurs.

UPDATE: Microsoft explains what caused the problem (a bug!) and that it will resolve itself automatically.

Comments on Zunes crash en masse, all at once

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  • 6 Posted by joepness10 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:38PM EDT Report Abuse

    That is funny. That is the problem with Microsoft they are not very good at what they do. That would never happen with an iPod or Apple.

  • 7 Posted by laginog on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:55PM EDT Report Abuse

    It's like being in the Twilight Zune! I have been trying to re-boot all morning. Now I hear this...

  • 9 Posted by icecoldsprite on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:22PM EDT Report Abuse

    Since this is the first problem I've ever had with my Zune, I'm really impressed. I went through 4 ipods before I gave up on them. Ipods are really really over-hyped. It's kind of fun to be a part of a massive end of the year issue too :) I know this will all be resolved eventually so I'm not freaking out.

  • 11 Posted by eyedoxist on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:57PM EDT Report Abuse

    I noticed that my zune was not working this morning too when i was in my car trying to turn it on. It froze and all it shows on the screen is the zune tade mark and a full bar on the bottom of the screen. I hope they fix this problem asap. Maikel.M

  • 13 Posted by gogophelps on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:10PM EDT Report Abuse

    I charged mine last night on the plug in the wall charger. This AM frozen. My computer will not recognize it. What gives. True story, I just got my daughters ITouches for Christmas (they had Zune)and they love them, and Limewire. Help my Zune

  • 14 Posted by saturns_gate on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:06PM EDT Report Abuse

    If you go to the Zune web site they say they have a solution to the problem. If we wait until tomorrow and drain the charge in the Zune, it should reboot right. They say its a issue with the Leap year in device that caused this and it should be ok after Midnight tonight.

  • 15 Posted by alan_r_cam on Thu Sep 3, 2009 2:49PM EDT Report Abuse

    Leap year? 2009 ? I heard the time people were inserting a leap SECOND on atomic clocks... is the Zune really THAT buggy? Come to think of it, I gave up on XP Media Centre, because it couldn't handle Daylight Savings....

  • 16 Posted by hyperharley on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:21PM EDT Report Abuse

    It's not just the 30's that went down, I have an 80gb and it's down too. I tried resetting it and no go. Hope they get it fixed soon. Hyper Harley

  • 17 Posted by ladydreemer137 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:55PM EDT Report Abuse

    I noticed mine was being sketchy the last few weeks, but I couldn't imagine that everyone was having this problem! I just hope I don't get stuck with a piece of non-working software and a hole in my wallet.

  • 18 Posted by aldair.gonzalez on Thu Sep 3, 2009 2:49PM EDT Report Abuse

    my zune has done the same thing i just turned it on to listen to some music,then it rebooted and stayed frozen at the 100% percent bar. I dont want to open it up like it says in other blogs because im sure i might mess up. I have no clue what to do ive let it dry upp its battery twice and connected it t othe compouter but again it has froze. Im stuck now with noe solution

  • 19 Posted by tom_romo on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:16PM EDT Report Abuse

    My zune froze at midnight as well. Wont power off nothing. My son just showed me that this happened to a ton of people. I have over 2500 songs as well as safe keep pictures and movies. Home videos. What are they going to DO! HELP!

  • 20 Posted by vikkiecarter on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:35PM EDT Report Abuse

    My zune ----- sucks and im going to buy an ipod tomarrow so tell your microsoft ----- to come ----- , I tried everything and it didnt work.

  • 21 Posted by m941826 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:01PM EDT Report Abuse

    They have a 'fix' now posted on the zune.net site. It looks like the problem was with the Digital Rights Management. I was able to get mine to boot properly after disconnecting the battery.(I'm far from the end of the warranty...LOL) If you do it(it was quite easy), just don't plug it into your computer until tomorrow. Of course, now you really see how you are ATTACHED to your stuff, don't you? LOL

  • 22 Posted by babybooties2000 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:01PM EDT Report Abuse

    to think that this could happen is out fright unbelieveable. i had just bought my 2 kids the ipods that they wanted and they gave me their zunes (30 gb) and then when i got ready to use it today it was totally frozen up.. i was so forward to looking have music to listening to music while i was at work. they MS need to reimburce the owners of these zunes since i think it was their fault that they did this so consumers would buy newer ones.

  • 23 Posted by amandanicole234 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 2:52PM EDT Report Abuse

    I've tried to stand by my Zune. But we all need to face the facts that besides the "social" and being a non-proprietory system, what does Zune really have to offer? It will always be behind Apple on the power curve. ITunes has more videos, content, better graphics and a better operating system. My whole family does Zune, but I think it's high time to make the switch to iPod.

  • 24 Posted by my79maro on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:31PM EDT Report Abuse

    I had the problem with the zune being froze up. Thank Yahoo for having the story on the front page. And thanks Microsoft for NOT mentioning the problem on their troubleshooting guide. One person in the story told users to remove the plastic piece around the connector, remove the two screws, open the zune and unplug the cables. I just unplugged the battery for a moment, plugged it back in and away it went! Nothing is lost the zune works and charges fine. THANK YOU Dmodegirl at Zune net and again yahoo for their reporting!

  • 25 Posted by whitneykeller@sbcglobal.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:44PM EDT Report Abuse

    wow..this happened to me today.It happens sometimes so I thought it just needed recharging but now i know this is happening to all of the zunes? How was it working fine for the 2008 new year and suddenly all of them are breaking down? I'm really angry and hope that zune can find a way to make all these work again. I use my zune everyday so to seee that it wasn't starting made me suspicious.

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