How to: Zune Non-US Character Hack - Do It Yourself
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Saturday, 08 September 2007

Difficulty: Medium - Hard
Time: ~20-30 minutes

As we promised, the Zune Non-US Character Hack is now here. No need for Zune dissembly, no need for anything hardware-related. This hack is all software. Now all Zuners, from the noobies to the skilled can get Korean, Japanses, and Chinese characters to display correctly on their Zunes without having to buy expensive zif enclosures. Ok, let's get started.

First off, you'll need some files that are necessary for this hack.

Zune.RE.zip - Download
Java Runtime Environment (JRE) 6 Update 2 - Download
Microsoft Cabinet Software Development Kit - Download
Zune Firmware v.1.2 - Download

Make sure these fonts exist in your computer. If not, you must download the East Asia Language Pack from Microsoft:

%systemroot%\fonts\gulim.ttc
%systemroot%\fonts\mingliu.ttc
%systemroot%\fonts\msgothic.ttc
%systemroot%\fonts\simsun.ttc

1. Run the Microsoft Cabinet Software Development Kit (cabsdk.exe) you have downloaded. When asked to unzip/extract, create a folder and extract the files into that folder.

2
. Then, copy firmware 1.2 and "makearc.bat" from Zune.RE.zip into the folder "BIN" that was made from the Microsoft Cabinet Software Development Kit (MCSDK).

3. Run "makearc.bat," and wait a few minutes. You should see the following, and a new firmware called "Zune01050485.cab" should be made inside of the same folder:

4. Create another directory and copy "Zune01050485" firmware made in step 3, and "ZuneFirm.jar" from Zune.RE.zip into the directory. We will comeback to this step later.

5. Execute "ZunePatcher.exe" from Zune.RE.zip. Keep on clicking next until it asks for you to find the directory where your Zune program is installed, which is normally "C:\Program Files\Zune\." After, it should patch your Zune Software into thinking that your firmware needs to be updated.

6. Next go to your network setting, open up TCP/IP and change your DNS to 165.132.120.124. Then in cmd, ping go.microsoft.com to check if it's directed to yourself (127.0.0.1).

Now, we are ready to start the firmware update. First, go to the directory that was made in preparation step 6 and launch java -jar ZuneFirm.jar. You should see the following:

Next, turn your Zune on and reset it by pressing back+up for a few seconds. When the Zune logo appears, press back+left+center for a few seconds to format the hard drive. After you format, it will ask you to connect to a computer. Connect it. Open the Zune software, and something like “update time” and “Zune 1.5 firmware” will appear. (If it doesn’t load automatically start “Check for zune device update”)

Press Next and wait. You WILL get an error message, like below:

Press cancel. If you are on Vista, go to the following directory:

C:\Users\NAME\AppData\Local\Temp\{EEC098DC-FD4E-44B6-B2C4-0BA0E79D55B4}

If you are on XP, go to the following directory:

C:\Documents and Settings\NAME\Local Settings\Temp\{DCC90E02-B748-4CDA-9BD6-34E87CEBD20F}

Make sure you replace "Name" with your Windows Login Name. In the folder, there will be 3 bins, and the firmware we made called "Zune01050485.cab." Extract the Zune01050485.cab and try updating the Zune again. This time, there won't be any errors. Your Zune will reboot a few times, and the firmware will be downgraded to 1.2 and the fonts will be uploaded.

Return the DNS back to normal, and connect the Zune. It will ask you to update your Zune to 1.4. Go ahead, and update to 1.4--the fonts will remain on the Zune, and will not affect the hack.

Congratulations, you now have Unicode Support for Non-US characters.

 

For help and support, please go here.
Last updated: 9/9/07

Comments
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dezrt   | 75.80.254.xxx | 2007-09-08 16:18:07
looks like a lot of work.
loganx   | 75.164.216.xxx | 2007-09-14 07:27:54
it never worked for me
Anna   | 67.165.164.xxx | 2007-09-15 02:00:09
When I click the your link to download Zune Firmware v.1.2, it takes me to Zuneboards Forum page; doesn't show up the window to ask where to download. Please help. Thanks.
Towndrunk   | 71.52.126.xxx | 2007-09-15 04:16:09
You guys have a great hack going but Microsoft requires that you *validate* your copy of Windows and/or MS Office when you want to install the language packs. Can you guys figure out a way around this?
loganx   | 75.164.216.xxx | 2007-09-15 07:06:13
{DCC90E02-B748-4CDA-9BD6-34E87CEBD20F} is not in my temp folder, and when i dbl click on the firmware file, it has the bin files, plus the folder, if that right?
lpxxfaintxx   | 68.99.182.xxx | 2007-09-15 15:20:53
Everyone post your support questions in the forum!
CZ   | 141.157.248.xxx | 2007-09-15 15:58:57
Works perfected for Chinese characters...
Mizuhiro Neko   | 71.233.228.xxx | 2007-09-16 16:32:42
Jason, the Temp Folder was different on mine, too. It will be the Newest Folder that was Created after you run this Hack.
iCAN'TdoTHIS!   | 68.190.223.xxx | 2007-09-16 20:42:36
can you make it a patch or something so it will be easier? ^^'' I can't do it
Guest User   | 142.151.181.xxx | 2007-09-17 22:14:05
It works!!! Just have a little patience.
I read both your instructions in KOR and ENG.
The java -jar ZuneFirm.jar didnt show me cmdline when i ran it but it still worked.
Myrdyyn   | 68.195.52.xxx | 2007-09-18 01:24:18
I could not get it working and I wished there would be an easier way to do this ^^;
heenee   | 207.46.55.xxx | 2007-09-18 01:43:40
[smiley=laugh]It worked very well for me. Thank you for the great effort. Using this generic "Zune update" method, looks patching codec with a Real video decoder is feasible. Isn't it?
Guest User   | 221.218.243.xxx | 2007-09-18 20:11:55
I got an exception named java.io.IOException: Stream closed.

What shall I do?
langjaixconz   | 64.131.213.xxx | 2007-09-19 08:39:07
Got mine to work! Thanks for the posting. I've been waiting for this hack for so long. I can't believe MS did not integrate this in any of their firmware release...[smiley=think]

The next thing I would like is for my Zune to turn off automatically...
Guest User   | 207.46.92.xxx | 2007-09-19 23:34:03
After you click close and cancel the first time you try to update the firmware, do not disconnect your Zune or close the Zune software. After you have found the right folder to extract the CAB file, just navigate through the Sync menu to Check for New Updates you should be fine.
iCAN'TdoTHIS!   | 68.190.223.xxx | 2007-09-21 01:51:01
hehe I did it! thanks for the hack!!! I know what DNS is now! XD
Guest User   | 83.130.167.xxx | 2007-09-22 07:01:01
Will this work with other fonts such as hebrew arabic etc?
Guangjin   | 76.212.144.xxx | 2007-09-23 20:31:13
How to ;aunch java -jar ZuneFirm.jar? I double click on it, nothing happens. I could not see the window shown here. And I could find the folder name in Documents and SettingsNAMELocal SettingsTemp too.
Guest User   | 128.122.180.xxx | 2007-09-24 23:52:38
[smiley=laugh]
thanks. it works fine for me! Great great job!
Royel   | 96.224.176.xxx | 2007-09-28 11:19:21
Works perfectly!
Great job.

to Guang: I forgot how to do it, but I think you right click the icon, and click "Open With" and you find the windows command icon (the one that looks like the CMD icon).

Then you just do as the instructions say.
Hope this helps.
1ofamillion   | 64.130.167.xxx | 2007-09-29 10:04:45
is there anyway u can just change to different fonts with this??i wouldnt mind having a diff font
Guest User   | 24.215.218.xxx | 2007-09-30 02:52:00
i get stock on step 5...
when i try to run znuepatcher, it doesn't work, cuase the unknown directory...(sth like that)
what can i do right now???
plz help me ><
drift180sx   | 74.132.192.xxx | 2007-10-10 21:05:35
I have a problem in this part "Now, we are ready to start the firmware update. First, go to the directory that was made in preparation step 6 and launch java -jar ZuneFirm.jar. You should see the following:" I clicked ZuneFirm.jar but nothing happened. I wonder why. Please help me
alongcamepeter   | 67.161.2.xxx | 2007-10-13 07:31:34
1. If you run ZuneFirm.jar and nothing happens, don't worry, it should've run in the "background"

2. In the step where you look for the folder "{DCC90E02-B748-4CDA-9BD6-34E87CEBD20F}" - this is misleading, as the letters and numbers are randomly generated. Each time you run the update and get an error, Zune will create a new folder with random strings. Here's how I fixed this problem to find the right folder:

a) delete all folders in the Temp folder that looks similar to {DCC90E02-B748-4CDA-9BD6-34E87CEBD20F}. To be sure, open it up, if it has the 3 bin files called "eboot, nk, recover" than delete the folder.

b) keep the Temp folder open and run the Update. you will see a new folder pop up. when you get the error, don't close ZUNE UPDATE! keep it open! just close the error message and the update box, but keep zune player open.

c) Unzip Zune01050485 into your {DCC90E02-B748-4CDA-9BD6-34E87CEBD20F} folder (or whatever it is named). replac...
Guest User   | 18.244.7.xxx | 2007-10-14 06:54:35
I also got a 'java.io.IOException: Stream closed' error when updating the firmware. No directory as {EEC098DC-FD4E-44B6-B2C4-0BA0E79D55B4} would generated at all.

Any comments?


Guest User   | 71.201.124.xxx | 2007-10-14 15:28:06
hello,

I need some help. I'm still confused. i have a qusetion questions.
1. which java file to download? Is this the one?
JDK 6 Update 2 with Java EE 5 SDK Update 3

2. When do i start running this java installation? It is not specified in the instructions.

3. First, go to the directory that was made in preparation step 6 and launch java -jar ZuneFirm.jar.
I'm confused with this step. I have a directory that I created which contains the zunfirm.jar file and Zune01050485. i double clicked on zunefirm.jar, and windows prompted me to choose a program to run it, because it is not recognizable. I used CMD commandline, and it said -java is not a recognized command. What have i done wrong here? Please...... I know some may feel that i'm a retard.... so, please help out this retard..... thanks.
myeplaya   | 67.176.68.xxx | 2007-10-14 18:30:06
trust the directions.. it will work for you. [smiley=happy]
Guest User   | 75.18.187.xxx | 2007-10-15 03:37:53
my problem is step 4, when I run the patch, I got the last step saying that there is nothing to update. Please HELP!!
Guest User   | 75.18.187.xxx | 2007-10-15 03:42:47
My problem is step 5, it said there is nothing need to be updated to my firmware. i have firmware 1.4.

Alos, on the step 6, I could not ping go.microsoft.com, it gave me the timeout meesage. Can you help?????
Guest User   | 71.201.124.xxx | 2007-10-15 03:53:26
Guest User wrote:
My problem is step 5, it said there is nothing need to be updated to my firmware. i have firmware 1.4.

Alos, on the step 6, I could not ping go.microsoft.com, it gave me the timeout meesage. Can you help?????


Did you change the DNS setting?
Guest User   | 71.201.124.xxx | 2007-10-15 04:13:06
myeplaya wrote:
trus
t the directions.. it will work for you. [smiley=happy]


Do you have any productive thing to say?
Guest User   | 208.120.4.xxx | 2007-10-15 04:19:46
i'm doing this now and keeps getting the java.io.IOException: Stream Closed error [smiley=sad]
lmbdx   | 172.28.51.xxx | 2007-10-18 23:15:16
i hope that would work as i really need it right now
Guest User   | 24.188.32.xxx | 2007-10-19 00:37:05
I spent like 90 mins with some frustrated moments to figure it out and redo it several times, finally I got the hack successfully. I wil try sync in some Chinese songs into my Zune and see if it really works. Thank you for the link of hack and the earlier advice. [smiley=laugh]
The member alongcamepeter's advice is very helpful. It clarifies the confusion I have. Thank you!
Guest User   | 76.173.184.xxx | 2007-10-19 01:37:24
makearc.bat file doesnt work
Guest User   | 69.107.78.xxx | 2007-10-21 00:15:48
6. Next go to your network setting, open up TCP/IP and change your DNS to 165.132.120.124. Then in cmd, ping go.microsoft.com to check if it's directed to yourself (127.0.0.1).
i dont understand that part. can someone help me. my SN is litogenius ... apparently im not that smart with tech.
Guest User   | 69.104.141.xxx | 2007-10-21 18:22:20
Out of curiosity, if I was to get this to work, will the next official firmware update overwrite all the changes?
PiNaCo   | 69.243.152.xxx | 2007-10-26 07:24:42
Just remember that this will only work in an english winxp environment. So if you are using a chinese winxp it will not work.

Thx for this wonderful hack. I have also successfully "hacked" my Zune. You rock!
Peter Rabbit   | 205.237.165.xxx | 2007-10-31 22:14:34
Only Great!! Weeping with Joy!!
Danik8   | 207.215.78.xxx | 2007-11-13 18:32:40
will this work for cyrilic text recogniztion as well?
Guest User   | 74.167.50.xxx | 2007-11-13 21:10:11
someone reported that updating to firmware 2.2 nullifies the font hack. anyone experience the same?
Guest User   | 208.120.86.xxx | 2007-11-14 01:06:43
Firmware 2.2 messes up the Asian fonts that were added in the previous hack...
Guest User   | 66.41.202.xxx | 2007-11-14 04:30:52
Don't update to 2.2 until someone finds a new hack. I had to downgrade to 1.2 to reapply the hack, and 1.4 firmware is not available for upgrade anymore.
Danik8   | 207.215.78.xxx | 2007-11-16 21:55:54
YIPEE!!! the upgrade changed my zune to recognize cyrillic font. Its about time ThnX!!!
Guest User   | 141.218.229.xxx | 2007-11-17 19:14:15
extract firmware file ERROR!
What dose it mean????[smiley=sad]
jjtest   | 24.56.238.xxx | 2007-11-18 01:38:08
Does the asian font hack work with Firmware 1.4 too?
Guest User   | 220.135.33.xxx | 2007-11-18 18:20:58
It works,
1. need to reboot after install the Java Runtime Environment (JRE) 6 Update 2 (right now is update 3)
2. run java rumtime before the zune software
3. reboot then run the zune software then able to get same steps as the author wrote.
4. Unzip Zune01050485 in the Cocuments and SettingsNAMELocal SettingsTemp{DCC90E0
2-B748-4CDA-9BD6-34E87CEBD20F} -- the {DCC90E02-B748-4CDA-9BD6-34E87CEBD20F} is random created by zune software.
5. should follow some of points which alongcamepeter mentioned.

Hope I did not forget any point what I experience.
Guest User   | 99.246.103.xxx | 2007-11-18 23:59:45
Does this work on the new Zune 80 by any chance?
Guest User   | 68.9.72.xxx | 2007-11-19 06:13:55
seems like zune 2.2 firmware update wipes out the fonts again. My zune doesn't show asian fonts no more, We need another hacked update patch to get the fonts back in. HELP!!! [smiley=sad]
Guest User   | 24.14.32.xxx | 2007-11-21 23:13:02
Any news about fonts for the 2.2 firmware?
Guest User   | 24.131.124.xxx | 2007-11-25 02:03:53
when i tried updating again i still had error
Guest User   | 71.136.248.xxx | 2007-11-29 07:11:06
for people to stocked in step 2.
copy the whole firmware1.2 zip file to bin, not just the 3 files inside
Guest User   | 60.49.115.xxx | 2007-12-06 12:06:11
I changed the DNS but still can't ping go.microsoft.com
Is it because I'm behind a router? I'm using router/modem combo.
Anyone can help me on this?
Guest User   | 71.105.68.xxx | 2007-12-16 07:28:46
This doesn't work.

Every time I extract the cab file WHILE THE CMD window is running the java applet AND NOT closing down the zune program, I get the same error message how it can't find files. No new folders are created. Same 7 files are there. THE FILES ARE THERE! I CAN PING MYSELF! THIS IS SO STUPID!

This hack is a JOKE AND A LIE. I have spent 3 hours doing the same thing from start (install and clean uninstall). Using Windows XP Pro SP2.

Does using wifi or LAN even matter while changing the DNS? I disabled the LAN and am using wifi.
n00b user   | 65.222.202.xxx | 2007-12-19 17:42:26
MS just updated the firmware to 2.3. is there anyway this hack will work on the it? thanks.
Guest User   | 69.251.180.xxx | 2007-12-23 02:39:57
1. If you run ZuneFirm.jar and nothing happens, don't worry, it should've run in the "background"

2. In the step where you look for the folder "{DCC90E02-B748-4CDA-9BD6-34E87CEBD20F}" - this is misleading, as the letters and numbers are randomly generated. Each time you run the update and get an error, Zune will create a new folder with random strings. Here's how I fixed this problem to find the right folder:

a) delete all folders in the Temp folder that looks similar to {DCC90E02-B748-4CDA-9BD6-34E87CEBD20F}. To be sure, open it up, if it has the 3 bin files called "eboot, nk, recover" than delete the folder.

b) keep the Temp folder open and run the Update. you will see a new folder pop up. when you get the error, don't close ZUNE UPDATE! keep it open! just close the error message and the update box, but keep zune player open.

c) Unzip Zune01050485 into your {DCC90E02-B748-4CDA-9BD6-34E87CEBD20F} folder (or whatever it is named). replace everything ...
Tackle US   | 69.255.181.xxx | 2007-12-30 18:38:19
If I want to support other Asian languages such as Thai, Vietnamese and Southern East Asian countries' Languages.
Give me teaching plz..