30GB Zunes mysteriously begin to fail at 12AM, December 31st -- day of reckoning to follow
By Tim Stevens 
posted Dec 31st 2008 8:45AM
posted Dec 31st 2008 8:45AM
Update: Jim wrote in to let us know that someone at Microsoft has apparently finally woken up and checked their e-mail (yikes, imagine that inbox). The official Zune site now has a message stating that Redmond's best are aware of the problem and "are working to correct it." We'll keep you posted.
Update 2: Major Nelson just tweeted that anyone with an issue "should be good to go." Exactly what that means, however, remains to be seen, as there's still no word of an official fix on the Zune site.
Update 3: Oops, sorry for getting your hopes up. Seems the Major was wrong and is now indicating the team of Zune developers is working like mad to figure it out. Somebody had better order in lunch for those guys -- it's going to be a long day.
[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
So far it only happens to 30GB model, other models are probably not affected... maybe....
My goodness!!! My 30 gig bricked and I was just about to log on to the Zune website to get a fix, and i saw this. Microsoft has some explaining to so. I cant believe this is widespread. Did they have a self-destruct timer on it or something? I have sooo much music on my 30 gig. MS need to clear this up real quick.
I guess that is why I keep a complete backup of all my music, on my computer. Well, and so I can more easily place my music on a new MP3 player when I get one. Right now, though, I'm just glad I have a Sansa and not a Zune 30.
I keep an external HDD for all my movies and music. I recently copied the music to my work computer too so there is a local copy, a cached server copy, and it gets thrown into the weekly backup with the rest of the files on said server.
ZUNESDAY!
Where? Where?
(hint: it's actually "hear, hear")
Are you serious?
were serious
Why so serious?
Same here. Thank you guys for posting the news...
I've spent all afternoon dissasembling the damn thing, trying to switch HDD's from my spare 80gig iPod, i've tried recovery modes, firmware downgrade, everything!
I live in Romania so i have no access to any kind of support from Microsoft.
Keep us up to date...
that explains everything... doesn't help that my external HDD failed last night too
lj.
I wonder if your external HD is the same kind used in the Zune.
...or your external HDD is actually a Zune.
Oh man, MS is about to enter 2009 with a huge PR disaster. smh
What a useless video. I don't know what's the need to shoot a whole video to show a locked up mp3 player. And on top of that, showing off your lcd and xbox. You're an asshole kid.
Yeah, useless, showing the problem on video to confirm it. *rolls eyes*
newsflash: there doesn't need to be a "need". just go and make your video, that's the nice thing about youtube.
It's pretty useful if you want to make sure your problem is the same problem everyone else is having.
Yep, not working here either. What the bloody hell?
Mine is done too. I sucks, but makes me feel a little better knowing that I'm not the only one. I'm sure Microsoft will find a fix, but with it being New Year's Eve I won't expect anything for a couple of days.
What is it about knowing this has happened to millions of other people too, that makes you feel better?
It means that Microsoft will have to fix the problem and therefore probably won't have to buy a new Zune...
Maybe....
Wow, a realistic expectation? What's wrong with you? Why aren't you like all the others and expecting Bill Gates to telepathically send a fix to your zune? Honestly people, Zakk has the right idea. Most offices aren't even open this week, and if they are, being on the West Coast, MS' offices probably aren't open yet. Even if MS has to send out new Zune's to everyone, they can certainly afford to do it. It's an MP3 player. It isn't the end of the world. It's not like your phone, internet or microwave isn't working. Suck it up, drive on. Sooner or later it'll get fixed. It's not like the ipod has had a flawless performance history.
Nope...MS Offices are open....at least right now because of the Zune issue.
Awh come on man you dont suck! Dont be so hard on yourself. And like you said there are plenty of people that suck more than you... even though you dont suck... ok so maybe just a little.
What's a "Zune"?
http://zune.net/
A simple web search isn't that hard...
Shit - i havent checked mine yet but now know what i am going to find.
FINALLY!!! An excuse to get rid of my ZUNE!!!!
I've been waiting soooo long for this day! I have this thing where I can't buy a new item until the old one is broke ~~~ that day has arrived!!!!
Please, M$, be like Apple and don't provide support!
You an Apple and MS hater?! holy shit! a true communist!
Dont worry tho, MS will provide you with a free 120GB :P
Good, you can send it to me, because for all we know, this will all be fixed in the morning :P.
Mine is down too!!!! Good thing I got it in a Random Bag of Crap from Woot. Refurb!!!!
I feel sorry for those 2 zune owners.
Holy cow dude! Look at how much effort 2 zune owners are goin through to post all these complaints. Shit, they must be getting paid off by apple.
Zune has about the same % in the MP3 market as apple does in the PC market... so saying something stupid like
I feel sorry for the 2 zune owners
or
what is a zune
is like every time someone posts a story about a Mac computer saying 'I feel sorry for the 2 mac owners' or 'whats a mac'. just because its not the mp3 player in your back pocket doesnt mean that it doe not exist or that there are not millions of zune's out there.
it just means your a a$$/
*yawn*
happy new year.
Someone says if you open it up and disconnect the battery for a minute it fixes it.. but I'm sure that also voids the warranty.
Boy am I glad I sold the 30gb Zune I bought on woot =P
Apple: HAAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHA zune got wtfbbqpwned in the zuneocide of 2008!!!!!!!! XD
Yeah, you are right. Steve and Apple must be getting a kick out of this.
Let my 30 giga on last night to import music, and noticed something funny. My play count didn't go over and automatically update. Figured it was no biggie, got up this morning to listen to some of the 15k songs I downloaded with my Zune pass......and "Blam!!!!!!!" a brick. There where at least three 30gb Zune users on my train this morning {A train coming from the stuy} also looking a bit peturbed. This sucks! But tis may be a way for me to get the 120gb without paying the full price.Will keep you guys posted on the outcome & keep checking back for updates.
I'm surprised that Microsoft actually SOLD this many Zunes, of any kind!
ROTFLMFAO!
mine failed
No issues here, mine is absolutely fine.
This is it guys...Skynet has become self aware.
Or might it be DotNet????
DotNet is the new SkyNet.
Mine is fine. I actually haven't used it in about a month and fired it up today to listen to some Cake. The battery was dead so I had to charge it, plugged it in and it sat at the charging screen for about 10 minutes. Unplugged it, powered it on, and had no issues... yet.
what firmware are you running?
My 30 gig zune is stuck and so is my friends