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Zewbie
Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 2
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[SOLVED] Catastrophic but intermittent Zune 80 issues.
Firmware: 3.1 (50)
Zune Type: Zune 80 2nd Gen
Time of possession: 1 Year +
Any Damage (Please specify, Hardware): Nope.
Time of problem beginning: ~ 1 week ago.
Unofficial Games (Software): None. Not even Default/Packaged Games.
Don't know if it's important, but I'm running my Zune software on Windows 2k3 server mainly as well as a Windows XP Pro machine. Software is 3.1.620.0 on both machines. My collection is... huge. So, I don't use it to play music or anything. JUST to sync with the players I have. Never encountered errors prior to the below.
Description of Problem: I've been reading the various boards over the last few days looking for anything similar to the issues I've been experiencing. So far, it's all been close, but no cigar. So I am giving in and actually posting somewhere. Hi, I'm Jen. Apologies in advance for the long post. I'm long winded but detailed.
OK. It all started with the dreaded Error 5 Contact Support screen. A reboot fixed this and my Zune 80 worked like a charm. A few days later, the error occurred again, but a restart did nothing to correct the issue. I'd been noticing, ever since the 3.1 update that the battery icon was inaccurate, not so much in terms of battery life but the Charge indicator would be active when the Zune was very much not plugged in. I had previously tried the battery drain trick to kick this, but no dice, so I just tried to ignore it. I did get the bonus of my battery lasting longer, but that didn't really do much to fix my nervousness about the problem.
Anyhow, because of this, I kind of hoped that the battery was just dead as I hadn't charged the Zune in several days (vacation). I plugged in my Zune with it turned off and voila, it starts like a champ. I left it to charge over night. Next day, battery is green and everything seems kosher. After a few hours of listening, I left it unplugged/paused and took a break. When I came back, the play button wouldn't take it out of sleep mode so I rebooted...and got the Error 5 screen again. The plugging it in with the Zune turned off trick did work again, but I got curious. Unplugging and rebooting returned the Error 5. Plugging it in while off fixed it again. And, the plugging it in trick wasn't limited to whether it was plugged into a PC or just a regular AC. Either would fix it. Anyway, I tried a Back + Down to turn it off... Error 5 when it booted and plugging it in fixed it again.
So, I tried clearing it and reloading the software. Worked like a champ for the most part. On re syncing my content, the device would stop responding. I only load playlists, not individual songs because there's just WAY too much to load one by one. Most of my playlists are less than 100 songs and it didn't matter how big they were. If I asked the Zune to sync more than 2 playlists in a row, it would stop responding (Error Code C00D124D), I'd have to reboot and try syncing again. After a couple of hours spent syncing, my Zune was finally operational again... for another day. Back to the same deal with Error 5, except this time, it died while I was skipping to a different song in the playlist, which I don't often do.
I tried the same tricks but plugging it in was no longer fixing the issue. I tried to clear it again and a strange thing happened? It went to the 3 - Please Wait screen and then asked that I connect the Zune to the PC. I got an error when the device was detected (didn't catch the exact wording, sorry) and the Zune software was asking me to install the Firmware again. I clicked OK and got the error Device Was Not Updated - Can't sync because there isn't enough space on your Zune. Delete some items, then try again.- Error Code C00D124F. This gave me LOTS of confidence. Close/Reopen the software and nothing. It's not seeing the Zune.
So, I unplugged the Zune and rebooted it. Up comes my Zune, not cleared?? Alright, I decide I'll go with it. Meanwhile, I'm somewhat distracted, looking up the most recent error, the Zune puts itself to sleep. I tried to turn it back on via the Play button - nothing happens. I try the reboot combo, nothing. I try the power off combo, here a soft click indicating that the Zune is now off and then press play. Starts like a champ but it's asking me to connect the Zune to the PC?? I do as I'm told and restore the software. All seems fine. Zune goes to Error 5 again shortly after. I say screw it and clear contents, hold the Back + Zune Pad + Play and continue to hold them through the clearing contents and don't let go til it tells me to connect the Zune again. Wanted to be sure this time that it was going to do what it said it would. And, to its credit, it did. I restored the software, skipped the games, left everything at default. Software installs without error and I start loading content. Just one playlist, 83 songs and it stops at 50%, Zune is not responding Error Code C00D123D.
Rebooted and it's not being detected by the computer. I play around for a second, turn off wireless and it locks up on the Wireless Settings screen. Power it off and back on and it goes back to 3 - Please Wait... Then 5 - Contact Support. Reboot doesn't fix it. Power off/Power On doesn't fix it. Plugging it in... Hah. It fixed it alright! 2 - Connect Zune to your PC... and I'm loading software again? So, as of RIGHT NOW I am syncing content again, painstakingly slowly and unpacking my poor little 4GB Zune to sync with my most recent playlists as a back up. I'm crossing my fingers but don't hold out much hope that my 80 is going to actually be fixed this time.
I listen to my Zune a LOT. It's all music. No Videos and only 4 pictures. My Zune probably sees an average use of 10 hours a day. As I said, I only load playlists, not individual songs. I don't skip around or repeat songs because it adds unnecessary wear to the hard drive. I baby this thing. It has an invisishield, a tough rubber case and a felt bag for travel. I've never dropped it, it's never been wet, it's never been left in the heat or cold. It goes everywhere with me but I am ALWAYS aware of what is being done with it. If it's in my bag, I'm careful with that bag. At work, it stays at my desk or its in my pocket. At home, it stays on my nightstand. My poor 4GB Zune has seen the careless side of me and it's still kicking so I have a lot of respect for it, but my 80 is how I get through the work day so it gets more love than most kids do. The ONLY excuse it may have for crapping out is my extensive use. Not sure if this is a bad habit or not, but I rarely power it down or reboot. I always have it in sleep mode when not in use. It didn't seem to have any affect on its performance so I never really considered the merits of either.
In conclusion! At this point, my Zune is out of warranty so I can't really turn to MS for help. So, I turn to you! I'd appreciate any ideas beyond what I've already done. If it's toast, great. I'll cry a little, lose a bit of sleep and suffer a while with my poor little 4GB. But I can stop pulling hair and then... I'll eventually get a new Zune. If it's reliably fixable, even better! I'll be eternally (for the remaining usable life of my Zune) be indebted to my savior.
Thanks!
-jen
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