Are you having Zune problems?

While some sporadic problems with any new device are to be expected, we've had a few reports of problems with the latest Zunes (and the latest Zune software) and thought we'd open thing up and see just how widespread they might be. The most prevalent problem, such as it is, is an issue with the DRM that is apparently preventing folks from downloading songs from the Zune Marketplace, even though it seems to have no such problem taking your MS points. On a related front, ZuneBoards' lpxxfaintxx has posted instructions for downgrading your Zune software and firmware (see below), although it's not clear if that'll do anything to fix the DRM problem. We've also had a report of the Zune 80's hard drive causing some interference over the headphone jack, although that appears to be even more limited. So, any Zune users out there suffering from some similar (or altogether different) problems?

Read - Zune.net, " Can't buy music on marketplace"
Read - Zune Boards, "How To: Downgrade Software and Firmware"

[Thanks to everyone who sent these in]

[John @ Nov 15th 2007 11:49AM]

Where are people getting these zune 80s??

[Nate @ Nov 15th 2007 11:51AM]

Because they want something better than an iPod classic, but don't want a Touch screen device.

[SleeplessKn1ght @ Nov 15th 2007 11:54AM]

He asked where, not why.

[Bob @ Nov 15th 2007 11:57AM]

Nate, he said where, NOT why.

And to answer John's question. From what I've seen, a lot of people got their Zune 80's at Circuit City B&M.

[Jason Smith @ Nov 15th 2007 11:57AM]

Reports I've seen are generally Walmart or Circuit City, and in many cases involved specifically asking the employees for them.

[Eric @ Nov 15th 2007 11:58AM]

I got mine at Wal-Mart in Statesboro, GA... Last one though.

[Dick @ Nov 15th 2007 12:13PM]

http://www.google.com/products?q=Zune+80GB&btnG=Search&show=dd

[Se7en @ Nov 15th 2007 12:23PM]

Gee Nate, way to jump down the dudes throat. Just had that reply ready and rippin to go, right? :p

[Nate @ Nov 15th 2007 1:15PM]

Ooops. Sorry. I misread the original post. It happens.

Funny though, Se7en, you get on me for jumping down a guys throat, which I didn't even do. Yet, you didn't hesitate to jump down mine, when all I did was misread a post.

Kind of a "pot calling the kettle black" situation, huh?

[blade417 @ Nov 15th 2007 1:30PM]

Too late nate, you got pwned in the posts.
Resistance is futile.

[Nate @ Nov 15th 2007 1:32PM]

It happens.

It's not the first time. Probably won't be the last.

No biggie.

[steven @ Nov 15th 2007 2:20PM]

WE should all support Microsoft and Apple regardless of. cuz they are both US companies which is good for our economy

[shishyan @ Nov 15th 2007 2:26PM]

Still waiting for mine from Amazon.

[melloncollie @ Nov 15th 2007 3:03PM]

@steven
What? That just makes no sense.
These companies still outsource jobs.
Just because they're American companies doesn't mean they're good for our economy.

[john @ Feb 18th 2008 8:45AM]

Got mine at Wal-Mart. Hey, I have a serious problem with my Zune 80. My battery went from nearly full charge one minute to dead the next. In addition to that, the battery is not charging. It's been on the charger for the last 5 hours and I'm getting no charge.

[mike @ Apr 22nd 2008 9:50AM]

target stores

[rndmnme @ Nov 15th 2007 11:51AM]

My computer wouldn't detect my computer after updating the Zune software, so I had to uninstall everything and reinstall it. Now it detects it, updated the firmware and has locked up on resyncing and won't get out of "connected."

Thankfully, I have a warranty on it, and it goes back to the store, tomorrow.

[Ryan B @ Nov 15th 2007 12:23PM]

I think you have a bigger problem if your computer is not detecting your computer...

[blade417 @ Nov 15th 2007 1:33PM]

"My computer wouldn't detect my computer"

Priceless

[Jeff @ Nov 15th 2007 1:48PM]

Why is this "lowest ranked"? So the guy had a brainfart on one word - he obviously meant "Zune", not "computer". I guess you guys never make mistakes?

There's nothing unbelievable about his story. His computer wouldn't recognize his Zune, so he uninstalled the software and reinstalled it and now it locks. Stuff like this can and does happen. It even happens (gasp) to iPods sometimes.

[Craig @ Nov 15th 2007 1:54PM]

Did I miss some breakthrough? Computers are self aware now? I am computer!

[blade417 @ Nov 15th 2007 2:09PM]

@ Jeff

I actually upvoted this comment.
We all (or most of us) know that it was an grammatical error. I'm mainly on this site 8 hours a day at work. I work in the back offices of a bank surrounded by office ladies who like to bake cookies and talk about their grandchildren. So instead of trying to eat my own head. I find little things like this to laugh at and pass the time at work. I don't know how many people can relate, but that's my point of view.

We all make mistakes, some are just funnier than others. So go ahead and click the green plus sign next to rndmnme's comment and bring it up to highly ranked!

[jeepersfreepers @ Nov 15th 2007 2:21PM]

Proving my point from a previous comment -
Just goes to show you that if you dare say anything negative about the Zune, the Microsoft equivalent of the right wing political 'freepers' will blindly attack you either by comments or ratings. They come from other sites that direct them here to defend the Zune.

pay attention, you'll see.

[SuperG83 @ Nov 15th 2007 11:31PM]

Read below....
same thing with apple products. Apple people trash everything except their pretty apples, and microsoft people defend their little things until the death.

I played with a friend's ipod touch, locked up 3 times in 30 minutes. Despite that, I bought a new 80gb ipod classic. I didn't like it and returned it. So, I have a zune 80gb on preorder and we'll see how that works.

Different folks, different strokes. Get over yourselves already.

[Erwos @ Nov 15th 2007 11:52AM]

I've got another pair of 'em:

1. Auto-ripping (eg, insert a CD and it rips it without prompting) is broken. It starts ripping before it gets the album info, so the first track always winds up in an "unknown" directory, and the file itself isn't labeled correctly. This is annoying as hell, and forced me to switch back to manual mode.

2. You can't sync HD/ATSC DVR-MS recordings to the Zune. SD/analog works fine.

[Tyler @ Nov 15th 2007 4:42PM]

Why in the world would you want to sync HD video to a 320x240 screen?

[deep @ Nov 15th 2007 11:52AM]

Ha! Ha! Zune sucks!!!

[PS3guy @ Nov 15th 2007 12:08PM]

Agree.

[Seath @ Nov 15th 2007 11:59AM]

And you would prefer something that uses iTunes???? HA

[Jack Storm @ Nov 15th 2007 12:24PM]

oh yes mature. grow up.

[George @ Nov 15th 2007 2:12PM]

Umm...wrong. Zune is just fine. Wireless sync, FM radio, Media Center sync all add up to something better than just about everything else out there. The device and software are top notch.

Don't knock what you have not tried.

[Alex @ Nov 15th 2007 11:53AM]

I can say that I have heard the hard drive interference over my headphones. I've got the Zune 80. It's almost like I could hear the hard drive buzzing through the headphones. Only happened once.

[JB87 @ Nov 15th 2007 2:07PM]

Not a criticism toward either product, but I've heard this on my iPod (video, 30gb) when it's charging via USB, so it's probably not a specific design flaw.

[z1g1 @ Nov 15th 2007 11:56AM]

My Zune 80 seems to be fine no interference and who wastes their time with DRM? The onyl problem I'm having is getting a video converter for my.avi flies

[John @ Nov 15th 2007 12:02PM]

I use Videora to convert my AVI files to MP4s for my iPod, which I believe the Zune supports as well: http://www.videora.com/en-us/Converter/iPod/

[Paul @ Nov 15th 2007 12:39PM]

Google "Super 8 video converter"

[gecono @ Nov 15th 2007 2:46PM]

Have you tried Windows Media Encoder? It is free.

[ethertoad @ Nov 15th 2007 4:40PM]

Super (c) from erightsoft is 100% free and can be downloaded from here:

http://www.erightsoft.info/GetFile.php?SUPERsetup.exe

[DocLeech @ Apr 20th 2008 1:53AM]

I'm using "any-video-converter" and converting from whatever to iPod MPEG 4 (MP4) and it plays great for me.

Below is the link for the software..., best of luck ;-)

http://www.any-video-converter.com/products/for_video_free/

[James @ Nov 15th 2007 11:57AM]

problems? after I bought my Zune, my girlfriend broke up with me, all my friend stopped hanging out with me, and my dog died...

[jonthemiller @ Nov 15th 2007 11:59AM]

That's to be expected when anyone buys a Zune...

[iansarchibald @ Nov 15th 2007 12:05PM]

Sorry, but I guess no one informed you. Your Grandmother exploded too.

[Chris @ Nov 15th 2007 12:45PM]

Just goes to show that iFriends are no Friends at all.

[StrangeBum @ Nov 15th 2007 1:55PM]

I didn't realize that Microsoft was pushing the Zune with country music in mind.

[Nora @ Nov 15th 2007 2:49PM]

Damn. I have a brown Zune, 3 dogs, and a hot boyfriend (for the record, I'm a girl). What's going to go first?

[Wesburl @ Nov 15th 2007 5:18PM]

*(for the record, I'm a girl)*

Whats a "girl"???

[TNP @ Nov 25th 2007 11:58AM]

That's not the Zune, it's the Country music you're listening too. Just play a few songs backwards and everything will be fine.

[Justin @ Nov 15th 2007 12:02PM]

I had an issue where a lot of music ended up with a DRM as "unknown." The Zune software wouldn't play it and it didn't show that it synced. However, the Zune itself had the files and played them flawlessly. Following advice from the Zune.net forums, (http://forums.zune.net/2203/ShowPost.aspx)I was able to resolved the little snafu.

[Nubaeus @ Nov 15th 2007 12:02PM]

The one real problem I had was installing the software. Actually that is a major problem.

The fix? Turn ON windows firewall.

I don't get it, what does a firewall have to do with syncing alblum art to my pmp?

[Austin @ Nov 15th 2007 12:03PM]

YOU HEARTLESS ENGADGET FIENDS! YOU ARE AXE-MURDERING OUR HYPE!