Turn off auto sync on 2.2 firmware?

Sorry to puncture your self-assurance, KriSuperman, but turning off all monitoring of folders does not resolve the problem.   No solution exists except never use the software as intended and only connect as a guest.

"Optimized the behavior"?   Not at all.   The software instead has a number of settings that should stop all syncing except when manually initiated by the user, and also has settings that should prevent any syncing from non-monitored folders.   Even you, Andy, thought that both of these intended options were functional.  The problem with this software malfunction/miswriting is twofold:   options have been inadvertently removed in the new software release, and the settings menus have not been revised to reflect their absence.   The latter only makes sense if the alteration was inadvertent, that is, there was never any such effort to optimize by removing options that ANY user would want.  

It is time that Zune recognized that they goofed, and have caused Zune users many hours of repeated labor when files have been lost over and over again.  When a video file is removed from the device because it has been removed from the hard drive, the user has to begin all over:  locate the source, convert it to .wmv (a step that wouldn't be necessary if MS had used any sense in formats supported), then reload it onto the device.   Why would anyone remove a video the harddrive but want it on the device?  BECAUSE IT IS A CONSUMABLE ITEM AND TAKES UP A LOT OF SPACE ON THE HARD DRIVE.  The only place it is desired is on the portable device, which is being used, not as a "storage medium," but exactly as a portable device.  

Please stop replying with speculations and raise this with someone in support who can get it fixed in a new release of the very-badly-designed software!

I really wish I had read about this problem before I bought my Zune, because I wouldn't have. I bought a Zune because, like many others who have posted in this thread, I don't have enough space on my computer for all of my music. I wanted my Zune to be my music library with my CDs as backups. After reading Andy's response to this problem, that they have "optimized the behavior for the audience that wants to keep the library and the content on the device actually in sync, as opposed to treating the device as a completely independent storage medium." I say, why delete the option? The way it seems to have been optimized before, everyone was happy. Now, instead of that, you have alienated a large group of your users. What harm was that little checkbox doing? What did it do to make you delete it? It seems apparent to me that many people would like the option back. I am one of them. I will try various work-arounds to see which one works best for me IN THE SHORT TERM. I fear that Microsoft will not fix this feature, simply because work-arounds have been found for those dissatisfied. I assure you though, next time I am shopping for a product, I will do much more research to make sure that I do not run into a repeat of a situation like this. And if Microsoft loses my partonage? So be it.

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 GeminiGuy wrote:

The thumbnail will be lost, as the Explorer thumbnail handlers attempt to access the file to build the thumbnail for videos.

I get your point on the sync behavior, but for now, we've optimized the behavior for the audience that wants to keep the library and the content on the device actually in sync, as opposed to treating the device as a completely independent storage medium.

Regards,
Andy

That's basically the most ridiculous thing I've heard throughout this whole argument...  And of coarse, it comes from a member of the Zune team.

Answer me this (and I bet you won't because Microsoft is paying you to give us BS answers like the one above):  Why can't both audiences be happy?  There is obviously and audience that wants the OPTION to turn this feature off.  With that option, the audience which you described above remains completely and totally untouched; they get the OPTION to keep doing it the way they like it, and then you open doors to a new audience. 

Let's look at this from a market perspective:  First of all, there is no way I'm not going to mention this feature to any potential buyers of the Zune; I'll leave the deception to you guys.  So, anyone who asks me about the Zune is going to know about this, and that more than likely LOWERS THEIR CHANCES OF BUYING YOUR PLAYER.  Let's look at something else.  Obviously, among a lot of the people here are people who don't have enough room on their computers to keep the files on their hard drives...  Assuming these people don't ditch the Zune completely, one thing they're probably NOT going to do is buy more music from you.  Why?  Because THEY DON'T HAVE ROOM FOR IT!

So, what I fail to understand is this:  You're a company.  Companies goals are to distribute a good product and make a considerable profit.  Companies that compete with other companies tend to want to actually have something over the other companies.  This feature is LOSING you money (as described above) and giving potential buyers a GOOD REASON to buy an iPod instead of a Zune.  I'm no economics major, but I simply have to ask:  WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU GUYS THINKING!?!?!?!?

And I understand that the "guest" mode can be used, but this is not a "solution", this is a Microsoft workaround. I did not pay $250 for this device to start with a work around within 3 days of using it. It should be stright forward and give you the option to do this, as I understand was the case in previous versions (1.4) of the software as well as with most other MP3 softwares.

I do not want to get a workaround, and from the numerous posts I am not alone. I want either a solution or my money back, not a work around. Thank you for pointing out what I have read about the guest mode,  but I will be returning the Zune and getting something that will work the way I need it to work.

(Guest Leaving) :)

This software is stupid as hell.  I wish my Zen Vision: M never got stolen and companies had the 80gb version that that player in-stock so I wouldn't have to deal with this ***.  Never again will I purchase Microsoft hardware aside from their gaming consoles (which hasn't gone sour on me yet, knock on wood).

Gabriel218, as posted numerous times... if you use "guest" mode, you lose the synchronized library functionality so content can be deleted from the desktop PC only.  "Problem" solved for now.  Of course, not keeping a sync'd library won't make everything as automatic... and some 'advanced' features can't obviously work as intended.

i have the same problem .i can check

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<h6>KaRaShI</h6>

I am a new Zune owner and am incredibly disappointed with this answer. "optimized the behavior for the audience that wants to keep the library and the content on the device acutally in sync". Ridiculous! Have you ever heard of the concept of thinking outside the box. The problem is by targeting a specific audience you will only be able to sell to that specific audience, and no one else!! This is why your sales have been dwarfed by iPods. Let the consumer make the decision on what they want, and give as many options as possible to allow you to maximize your audience. By opening up with various options you will attract a larger audience and sell more Zunes. I would think the end result of Microsoft is to do just that, sell more.

I have also read of several work arounds to fix this "auto sync" and delete from library issues and would like to know if this is going to be fixed with a patch to the software? The device in itself is asthetically very nice, and the functionality of the device is quite nice. But the software is not user friendly and the sync is an issue, if not for your target audience then to those who are not targeted and buy it anyway. After three days I am very upset that now, I need to look into buying an external hard drive to fit more of my music in library to stay on the Zune, or do a work around. Why should I have to do a work around after shelling out $250 on the device?

Another point is that this is not mentioned by the sales person at Circuit City (they were extremely knowledgable on the iPod), or on the box, or in the non-existent user guide that did not come with the device (this was sarcasm). Now, can you please let me know if this "delete from library delete from Zune" non-issue will be fixed in a patch or newer software version? If it will be fixed then I will keep the device. If not then I will go back and get a device that does have me in mind when they marketed their device. Last but not least, your response was not a very good one, but rather left you and the Zune Team open for much criticism. But you probably already know that based on the numerous responses I see posted on the boards.

oops I posted in the wrong thread somehow..... so i'll post something relevant since I can't delete my comment.

yes microsoft we want manual sync back!! please consider this for the next update.

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Herbal Scientist. Music Connoisseur. 

I'm just happy to hear that someone is listening.  This one flaw is why I use my Zen more than my Zune.  I look forward to the day when there is a way around this 'sync feature'.

Lord of Tragedy:

We don't have a solution to this yet, but I will say that the complaints have been heard loud and clear. 

However, let me point out that if you have completely reformatted your PC, then you can safely plug your Zune back into your PC and recreate the relationship from scratch.  What you will see is that the Zune software will think that the device has a sync relationship with "another" PC (since if you reformatted, your database on the PC was lost), and if you re-create a device relationship, it will leave any content on the device completely intact.  It will simply show up as "guest" content in the gas gauge and will not be touched unless you add that content back to your PC's collection, at which point the link between the tracks will be re-established.

While we can't discuss plans for future features, we fully understand the sort of behavior you're looking for.

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Zune Product Team .: This posting is provided "as-is" with no warranties, and confers no rights :.