Sync your Zune using MediaMonkey and zAlternator

[Dizzy]

I feel before I begin, I should let you know I'm using MediaMonkey Gold, but the MediaMonkey website says the standard edition should sync fine.

This is the method I use for syncing my zune with MediaMonkey. Hopefully it'll solve some questions.

Things to be sure of first:
The HDD Hack is installed (Download Here)
You've got zAlternator installed (Download Here)
The Zune software is installed (Download Here)
You've got MediaMonkey installed (AND closed) (Download Here)
Your zune is disconnected
You've got a video to sync (if you need one, this will work)

First make sure you've got the HDD hack in place. This is only a one time deal, then you can forget about this step.

Now make sure you've got zAlternator set to Zune.


Once that's in place, connect your zune and launch the software if it doesn't do so automatically. If a dialog pops up asking if you'd like to link your zune, connect as a guest. Now navigate to the videos section of your collection and drag one to your zune icon.


Quickly press control+alt+delete (for XP) or control+shift+escape (for Vista) to launch task manager. While the software is still in the process of syncing your video, end the Zune process.


Even though the software's closed, you should see the "syncing" movie on your zune. This is normal and good. Now launch zAlternator again and this time, make it the Generic WPD


Apply the changes; you are now ready to use MediaMonkey. Start up the software. Give it a few seconds to load and you should see connected drives start popping up on the file tree to the left of the screen. Your Zune device should be one of them.


You can now marquee select the song you want, right click, and send to your Zune


With any luck, they should start syncing up nicely.


Continue syncing what you want and when you're done, simply disconnect.
Songs including album art will be placed in their correct locations
Hope it works for you as it did for me

A quick bonus:
Did you like the way the original Zune Software looked? You can now have the same look with MediaMonkey! This was made by nohitter151 over at the MediaMonkey forums. Way to go!

A Screen Shot:

Download here: http://stplatt.googlepages.com/zuneskin

[PityOnU]

Nice tutorial dude. I was wondering how you did this myself....

[Dizzy]

With help from you of course!

Thanks

[DopeBoyMagic]

doesnt work,,,,

[DARKMON]

Is it because I'm using Vista ultimate 64 that I can not get this to work? I saw elsewhere someone else saying the same thing.

[Chiups]

Hmm...Ill try this later maybe.

[mr.handsomeman]

why would you want to sync with other programs other than Zune? what can you do now?

[Chiups]

Because, I dont use the Zune program...only time I use it is to, you guessed it, sync my Zune. Now, why wouldnt I like to cut out the middle man?

[fishfuzz]

When I connect my Zune to MediaMonkey 3.x and browse the Music folders, the files shown there are wildly inaccurate. When you are syncing files, were you able to make them show up successfully on the Zune after disconnecting?

[yeeter]

Okay. I'm doing this, mostly because I'm mad at Zune software for screwing up my album data and so forth. NOW, the real question is, will media monkey help solve the screwed up data, and if so, will the Zune software re-screw it up if I run it? I have to use the Zune software to act as a kind of server for the media extender on my Xbox 360 (I think I can change that to use WMP 11 - which I hate just as much as the zune software).

Thanks to PityOnU and all who worked on this.

[Dizzy]

Originally Posted by DARKMON

Is it because I'm using Vista ultimate 64 that I can not get this to work? I saw elsewhere someone else saying the same thing.

64 bit processors are known to have a few issues getting zAlt to work. One thing to make sure of is that you set zAlternator to run as administrator. It needs registry access.

When I connect my Zune to MediaMonkey 3.x and browse the Music folders, the files shown there are wildly inaccurate. When you are syncing files, were you able to make them show up successfully on the Zune after disconnecting?

Yes. Not only did they sync nicely, they are even placed in the proper location. You mind posting a screenshot/pic of what you're talking about? Also, make sure the tags on your songs are correct, as the Zune re-indexes after each sync.

NOW, the real question is, will media monkey help solve the screwed up data, and if so, will the Zune software re-screw it up if I run it?

So long as your tags are initially correct, MediaMonkey won't mess them up. In fact, MediaMonkey even synced music the Zune program identified as "Invalid Media", which ended up working flawlessly on the zune.

[ghostface420]

do you have to do this whole process every time you want to sync it? or if you do this once it should work with media monkey everytime you connect?

[Dizzy]

I believe you must do it every time you restart your computer, but it might be every time you disconnect your zune. I do it every time I disconnect my zune just to be on the safe side.

[Rokuo]

i got it all hooked up no problem, then was a little confused:

there were a couple album folders i opened up and they were blank (album was in tree on left but no songs were listed under it) while others were fine, so i "synced" them through media monkey and they would show up in the folder on media monkey but then when i disconnected the zune to see if it worked i had 2 of the same exact albums (so i know not to do that again)

then i tried to play something off of the zune while it was connected to media monkey (just picked a random album), no luck wont play, it tries to go through the songs under th album but wont play, but will play on zune itself when you unplug it

other than than those 2 minor problems works GREAT and was able to put songs on there that had the C00D11CD Error when the zune software tried to sync them....

I think you have to close out of the zune software so it syncs every time, I got it to show back up in media monkey after i disconnected it and closed the program, i was able to delete stuff off of the zune but wouldn't let me put anything on, it shows that its tranfering files, but they dont show up on the zune

[Dizzy]

Glad to hear it!
I haven't been hearing many (any?) confirmations it works. I appreciate you letting me know you've got it going

[Shotgunphoto]

well of course it did not work for me.
good old error code 0x80070643.

scuse me while i dont act surprised.

[Dizzy]

What program gave you that error?

[Shadyguy904]

I cant wait till I get off work to try this. Do you know if this corrupts mp3's? When I sync with the Zune software it adds some extra data and the mp3's no longer pass sfv. So I have to make copies of my mp3's before synching. I always used mediamonkey for my ipod and never had any problems. So hopefully it works the same with the zune.

[sowhatu]

edit, works now, went though each step, step by step.. sweet, now i get to rebilud my playlists in MM and export to zune nicely.

i only listen to playlists on mp3 players.