Zune Locked Up and Frozen? Happy New Year from Microsoft

Microsoft's Zune media player was touted as the software giant's answer to the iPod. It achieved modest popularity, but nothing like the iPod's broad usage. Now it seems that nearly every 30Gb Microsoft Zune has locked up with the end of 2008. The Zune problems don't seem to extend to other models with different size hard drives or to flash memory based Zune problems.

Zune's Locked Up Starting at Midnight

Meanwhile, if your Zune is frozen, there is no sense in troubleshooting or trying to reset your Zune. The nearly universal nature of the problem suggests a code error on the part of the Zune development team. Zune problems began showing up on various message boards overnight shortly after midnight. Messages like "Zune locked up, help!" and Zune frozen. How can I unlock my Zune?" have been multiplying all over the web since then.

Microsoft's Response to the Zune Frozen Problem

Zune owners will likely have an answer from Microsoft before too long. Whether a Zune reset and a Zune software update will unbrick the now useless players or a complete replacement will be needed remains to be seen. Microsoft's Zune support site, Zune.net, is asking owners of frozen Zune players to be patient with this message: "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!"

Zune Lock Up Problem Specifics

The problem seems to be that the 30Gb Zune players attempt to reboot themselves and then freeze up completely when the reboot reaches 100%. According to user Zoa 342 on the Zune.net forums, the hard drive keeps spinning in reboot mode until the battery dies. Even though the majority of the Zune problems are affecting older Zune models, it's hard to believe that Microsoft won't make good even for those Zunes that are out of warranty.

Frozen Zune Lawsuits on Tap?

The PR hit would be too big as the company remains determined to compete with the iPod. Trying to get away with a dollars-off coupon toward a new Zune probably isn't going to be enough to prevent a class action suit if any offered solution doesn't provide the affected users with a working 30Gb or better Zune without any charge. The defect causing the Zune lock up is clearly Microsoft's fault. The problem is likely to be an expensive one for Microsoft's Zune program unless they get lucky. Since 2008 is a leap year, there is an outside chance that the problem might resolve itself once the calendar clicks over to 2009. Meanwhile, if you were planning to use your 30Gb Zune to supply the tunes at your New Year's Eve party, you're out of luck.

Source: Zune.net