Anyone else here a victim? It sounds like nearly all 30gig Zunes have stopped working today. I have two of them. I have no idea how M$ is going to handle this one. The Zunes are frozen at the boot up screen with no way to reset them.
http://forums.zune.net/0/1/404614/ShowPost.aspx#404614

12/31/2008 9:02:38 AM

hahahahahahha omg

I'm sorry for your personal misfortune....but this is well hilarious!

12/31/2008 9:10:03 AM

12/31/2008 9:11:34 AM

I've had iPods in the past and liked them, but they were much more expensive and had a smaller screen at the time so I went with the Zune. This may be the end of them. Considering I'm one of the few people that took a chance to try their product and this is how I am repaid. This is about the 3rd time I've had problems with their software updates etc, but this is the worst. Nothing like bricking Zunes all across the world at the same time. I'm wondering if this was a disgruntle employee that did this or what?

12/31/2008 9:20:12 AM

BWAHAHAHAHSHAYAYA

12/31/2008 9:22:16 AM

y2k

12/31/2008 9:23:29 AM

Y2K9

12/31/2008 9:25:21 AM

That is awesome. I have one around here somewhere and I'm curious if it is still working or not.

12/31/2008 10:28:55 AM

mine's frozen.

i'm pretty sure every freakin' Zune 30 is frozen from the looks of it.

http://news.google.com/news?ie=UTF-8&oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&tab=wn&ncl=1285892142&hl=en

[Edited on December 31, 2008 at 10:45 AM. Reason : .]

12/31/2008 10:41:42 AM

Holy shit. ALL of them?

12/31/2008 10:41:55 AM

Hahaha....this is amazing

And every pertinent site has something about it....except for Microsoft.

12/31/2008 10:45:59 AM

You have to love GMT 366

From: http://www.zune.net/en-US/support/default.htm

Status:

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!

[Edited on December 31, 2008 at 11:09 AM. Reason : ]

12/31/2008 11:04:15 AM

somehow, I'm guessing this is Common's fault

^ i was just gonna quote your edit too. they coulda made it a little more prominently displayed, considering this is a global problem, but i guess the front page of the support site is better than nothing

[Edited on December 31, 2008 at 11:11 AM. Reason : . ]

12/31/2008 11:09:41 AM

Quote :

"I'm sorry for your personal misfortune....but this is well hilarious!"

12/31/2008 11:12:51 AM

Yea, I was curious how much digging it was going to take to find the info on their website but was OK with the little effort required.

12/31/2008 11:13:05 AM

Inside sources have leaked the source code in question.

if (date != 12/31/2008)
{
music.play();
casing.color.set(uglyBrown);
}
else
{
this.brick(); //lol zunes are teh gheys!!!1
}

12/31/2008 11:16:09 AM

lol

12/31/2008 11:31:44 AM

lol

12/31/2008 11:31:44 AM

^^^ very nice, well played.

12/31/2008 11:42:43 AM

Quote :

"Everyone needs to get on the line with MS right now to log their problem and get a case number. Period. I was on a conference call with a few other users from another forum and we were able to speak to a techie (not just the operator who reads from a script). He asked us a few questions and tried to identify precisely when the Zune died (around 2-3AM for most of us). His impression on the whole thing was "this is madness!" and went on to explain that discussions are under way on how to address the problem. Most likely, according to him, is a warranty exemption and a return trip to Microsoft. He didn't go into details, but said that he doubted this could be fixed by a software update because of the way the system is designed to reset. He said that they are trying to get a plan in place and have it out ASAP (within 24 hours). Nothing is set in place yet, but I wouldn't hold onto hopes that a software update will fix the problem. Mini-coffins ( those of you that have 360's will recognize the reference) could be a real possibility in this case."

[source: http://forums.zune.net/407289/ShowPost.aspx ]

OP link is now up to: "Page 110 (1,314 items)"

[Edited on December 31, 2008 at 11:51 AM. Reason : .]

12/31/2008 11:44:01 AM

another victim here. at the very least, it was a universal problem that i didn't have to dig info up to figure out wtf was wrong.

12/31/2008 11:49:31 AM

possible hardware failure:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28449091/

possible firmware problem:
http://gizmodo.com/5121311/30gb-zunes-failing-everywhere-all-at-once

Quote :

"Don't update your firmware until this gets resolved. I have two Zunes and one is dead. The other hasn't been used in a bit so the firmware is out of date and it works fine."

Quote :

"i can also confirm it must be a firmware version that did it - cause someone else at my office has a zune who hasnt plugged hers in in months, and hers works fine - mine, however is frozen"

Quote :

"My girlfriends zune did this last night. Mine didn't but it has the old firmware on it. Hopefully a fix will be out soon. "

[Edited on December 31, 2008 at 12:07 PM. Reason : ,]

12/31/2008 11:57:52 AM

in unrelated news my ipod works fine

12/31/2008 1:05:36 PM

Quote :

"in unrelated news my ipod works fine"

oh and my ipod works just find too

12/31/2008 1:09:44 PM

my 80GB Zune works fine.

12/31/2008 1:21:03 PM

http://twitter.com/ZuneInsider
http://zuneinsider.com/Default.aspx

12/31/2008 1:46:25 PM

yeah guys

Where is all that ANTI-APPLE propaganda now???

12/31/2008 1:52:48 PM

get over yourself. it's been less than 12 hours since this bug appeared, and it only affects a 1st gen model

12/31/2008 2:06:33 PM

I have an iPod. It freezes all the time.

12/31/2008 2:35:21 PM

Quote :

"hey folks. we are making progress and close to being able to ID the issue for you all - just running thru additional checks and testing"

12/31/2008 2:59:02 PM

Quote :

"I have an iPod. It freezes all the time."

It would be cool if it synced worldwide with the rest of them when it crashed though!

12/31/2008 5:08:43 PM

apple would call that a feature

12/31/2008 5:12:53 PM

this happened to me. froze at boot

12/31/2008 5:35:36 PM

Quote :

"Dec 31, 2008 30gb zune issues -- official update by Paul Davidson at 2:08 PM Early this morning we were alerted by our customers that there was a widespread issue affecting our 2006 model Zune 30GB devices (a large number of which are still actively being used). The technical team jumped on the problem immediately and isolated the issue: a bug in the internal clock driver related to the way the device handles a leap year. The issue should be resolved over the next 24 hours as the time change moves to January 1, 2009. We expect the internal clock on the Zune 30GB devices will automatically reset tomorrow (noon, GMT). By tomorrow you should allow the battery to fully run out of power before the unit can restart successfully then simply ensure that your device is recharged, then turn it back on. If you’re a Zune Pass subscriber, you may need to sync your device with your PC to refresh the rights to the subscription content you have downloaded to your device. Customers can continue to stay informed via the support page on zune.net (zune.net/support). We know this has been a big inconvenience to our customers and we are sorry for that, and want to thank them for their patience. Q: Why is this issue isolated to the Zune 30 device? It is a bug in a driver for a part that is only used in the Zune 30 device. Q: What fixes or patches are you putting in place to resolve this situation? This situation should remedy itself over the next 24 hours as the time flips to January 1st. Q: What’s the timeline on a fix? The issue Zune 30GB customers are experiencing today will self resolve as time changes to January 1. Q: Why did this occur at precisely 12:01 a.m. on December 31, 2008? There is a bug in the internal clock driver causing the 30GB device to improperly handle the last day of a leap year. Q: What is Zune doing to fix this issue? The issue should resolve itself. Q: Are you sure that this won’t happen to all 80, 120 or other flash devices? This issue is related to a part that is only used in Zune 30 devices. Q: How many 30GB Zune devices are affected? How many Zune 30GB devices were sold? All 30GB devices are potentially affected."

http://zuneinsider.com/archive/2008/12/31/30gb-zune-issues-official-update.aspx

So basically you can't use your Zune 1 day out of every 4 years.

[Edited on December 31, 2008 at 6:24 PM. Reason : /]

12/31/2008 6:22:57 PM

oh god

the next occurrence will be in 2012

don't you see?

THE MAYANS WERE RIGHT

12/31/2008 6:29:49 PM

what a bizarre bug.

If the HD is constantly spinning though i imagine that hurts the lifespan.

12/31/2008 6:39:08 PM

They should have asked them about a timetable for the fix at least two more times.

12/31/2008 6:56:14 PM

I'm surprised there's no mention of a future software/firmware fix to prevent this from happening again.

[Edited on December 31, 2008 at 7:02 PM. Reason : (unless they think nobody will be using a 30G Zune in 2012)]

12/31/2008 7:00:19 PM

Quote :

"I've had iPods in the past and liked them, but they were much more expensive and had a smaller screen at the time so I went with the Zune. This may be the end of them."

Maybe in the future youll base your decision on the quality and reputation of a product instead of, say, the slight difference in screen size.

12/31/2008 7:01:54 PM

http://www.zune.net/en-us/support/zune30.htm

Quote :

"Because your Zune is frozen your device battery will begin draining, this is good."

lol

12/31/2008 7:04:39 PM

At the very least, I only own 2 bricks for 1 day.

12/31/2008 8:40:09 PM

hahaha after hearing about that I'm just not gonna turn mine on for a day or so and see if the internal clock rolls over correctly

pretty sure you can fix it with a hard reset that requires you to open up the case, but I'm not gonna try it either way right now

I find it hilarious personally, even being one of the ones affected

12/31/2008 8:43:47 PM

something about learning from the past or we are doomed to repeat it

12/31/2008 8:50:30 PM

They did it for the LOLZ!

12/31/2008 10:28:10 PM

There will be a firmware update for the 30GB Zune devices fairly shortly after the new year that will prevent this from happening in 2012. They can't do this while the devices are bricked though

1/1/2009 2:52:15 AM

i heard zune>ipod cause zunes have some wireless feature

1/1/2009 8:38:17 AM

My Zune lives to fight another day.

1/1/2009 8:42:27 AM

wow that is just pathetic.

1/1/2009 9:55:38 AM

Quote :

"I was listening to Coldplay and it just reset mid-song;"

well at least there is a silver lining

1/1/2009 10:24:10 AM

Fix posted:

http://www.pcworld.com/article/156248/microsofts_official_fix_for_failing_zunes.html

Microsoft's Official Fix for Failing Zunes
Tom Spring, PC World
Jan 1, 2009 9:52 am
Zune owners now have a fix for their failing devices thanks to Microsoft that has posted instructions on how to start the new year off with a working digital music player. Yesterday 30-gigabyte Zunes suffered a crippling glitch causing the digital music players to lock up, reboot themselves, and freeze. Zune users are calling Micorosoft screw-up "Zune 2K9," a reference to the Y2K bug. The problem was caused by the Zune's internal clock and its inability to handle leap years, according to Microsoft.

Microsoft posted instructions on its support site Zune.net/support on how to thaw your Zune from its deep freeze and get it working again. However, if you're a Zune Pass subscriber with music managed by DRM copyright protection Microsoft says you might have to take extra steps to play those music tracks.

The Zune fix (outlined below) will work at 7am ET January 1, 2009. Microsoft says it will also issue a fix for the device so that this problem won't re-occur the next leap year, in 2012.

To Fix Your Zune Follow These Steps:

1. Disconnect your Zune from USB and AC power sources.

2. 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.

3. Wait until after noon GMT on January 1, 2009 (that's 7 a.m. Eastern or 4 a.m. Pacific time).

4. 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.

Once the battery has sufficient power, the player should start normally. No other action is required-you can go back to using your Zune!

What if I have rights-managed (DRM) content on my Zune?

Most likely, rights-managed content will not be affected by this issue. However, it's a good idea to sync your Zune with your computer once the freeze has been resolved, just to make sure your usage rights are up to date.

What if I took advice from the forums and reset my Zune by disconnecting the battery?

This is a bad idea and we do not recommend opening your Zune by yourself (for one thing, doing so will void your warranty). However, if you've already opened it, do one of the following:

* Wait 24 hours from the time that you reset the Zune and then sync with your computer to refresh the usage rights; or

* Delete the player's content using the Zune software (go to Settings, Device, Sync Options, Erase All Content), then re-sync it from your collection.



[Edited on January 1, 2009 at 10:55 AM. Reason : .]

1/1/2009 10:52:01 AM