Zune 3.0 Software Bug: 4.7 GB Missing

[nathanbrand]

Model: Zune 80
OS: Win XP SP3

When I recently updated from Zune 2.5 to 3.0 I could no longer sync. After running into numerous issues and (too) many hours of troubleshooting, I finally got the Zune software to recognize the Zune device. The problems continued: The Zune software on my PC said that there was not enough space on the device to sync all the data and that I should edit my sync groups. That raised a red flag as I knew I had previously synced about 74 GB total worth of data, and I couldn't imagine that the new 3.0 software version was larger than 5 GB!

I then formatted my Zune 80, so that everything was removed including the OS. I then uninstalled and reinstalled Zune 3 software on my PC. I configured the Zune software, so that no folders were monitored for songs, pics, movies, etc.... I then re-synced the Zune 3 firmware to the device, with the only information being transferred was version 3 of the Zune OS.

I now have a clean install of Version 3 software on the PC and firmware on the device with no other data. When I check the storage info through the software it says: 853.0 MB used (78.97 GB free). Although 1GB seems awfully large for an OS for such a simple device, I'm willing to accept that as about right. I then check on the storage info on the device: .08 GB used (74.20 free, with games). What!!! Where is my missing 4.7 GB! M.I.A.!

I then decided to reformat the Zune device again, and do a clean install of the Zune 3 firmware. Only this time without the two games, to see if I could find where the missing storage space is. This time the Zune PC software said: 837.22MB used (78.99 GB free without games), but the Zune device said .03 GB used (74.3 GB free without games). So, I only found 100 MB of my missing 4.7 GB.

I then tried to downgrade back to 2.5 with no success. I kept getting an error message of "another instance of Zune Marketplace is already running."

So, if I'm going to have to stay with 3.0, at the least I need to be able to use the full 80GB of storage. Has anyone else run into this problem? Does anyone know how to fix it? (BTW, I did try running the Unzoone utility as well.) Unless you're using close to the full capacity of your Zune, you probably wouldn't even notice this issue. I have the Zune 80, so I'm not sure if this effects all models. I've been incredibly unimpressed with the Zune software as a whole and would love to be able to just use WMP as I can with my Creative and Sansa players. How ironic that the only player that won't work with Microsoft's WMP is the one from Microsoft.

If anyone has a clue if there is a way to fix this I'd really appreciate it. Otherwise I'll just have to wait for the next firmware release and hope that Microsoft is aware of the problem.

[Locke]

That missing 4.7 GB is simply a math problem
1024!=1000
A real GB is 1024 MB, but computers work in binary so they use 1000. You never had 80 GB of storage.

[Johnny]

Well.. then it'll please you to know that the ACTUAL capacity of the Zune 80 is... 74.37GB!!

Its around 80 gibibytes, not 80 gigabytes (theres a slightly difference in the calculations, for example 1000 mebibytes = 1 gibibyte, whereas 1024 megabytes = 1 gigabyte)

So yeah you have no problem. ANd as a side note, the zune firmware is only around 5-6MB.

(@ locke... I'm not entirely sure, but wouldn't it be easier to work with 1024 in binary, not 1000? 1024 is like 10000000000, where as 1000 would be like 01111101000. I thought it was just some marketing scam :P)

[saab900]

Redundant much?

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Johnny

Well.. then it'll please you to know that the ACTUAL capacity of the Zune 80 is... 74.37GB!!

Its around 80 gibibytes, not 80 gigabytes (theres a slightly difference in the calculations, for example 1000 mebibytes = 1 gibibyte, whereas 1024 megabytes = 1 gigabyte)

So yeah you have no problem. ANd as a side note, the zune firmware is only around 5-6MB.

(@ locke... I'm not entirely sure, but wouldn't it be easier to work with 1024 in binary, not 1000? 1024 is like 10000000000, where as 1000 would be like 1111101000. I thought it was just some marketing scam :P)

Meh, I don't know if it's because of binary, but I know it has something to do with the way a computer works.

[Deiparous]

Originally Posted by Locke

That missing 4.7 GB is simply a math problem
1024!=1000
A real GB is 1024 MB, but computers work in binary so they use 1000. You never had 80 GB of storage.

err, Computers use 1024 as their multiplier. Advertisers use 1000. That way if it has 1000 Megs, on the computer side it's just under 1 gig but for an advertiser it's 1 gig.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Nurta

err, Computers use 1024 as their multiplier. Advertisers use 1000. That way if it has 1000 Megs, on the computer side it's just under 1 gig but for an advertiser it's 1 gig.

I hate math. >.< Somehow, somewhere, numbers always bite me, whether I'm doing actual math or not.

[mutequacky]

and to go through all that trouble...

[Devhux]

Yeah, this is something all hard drive manufacturers do -- it's annoying to say the least.

[creative zune]

hmmm i knew it!! but don't all hard drives come with the exact number of pits and lands which equals to (for example 80gb) but i guess when u read the fine print on the box it self it said actual formatted capacity may vary .