Scratch that...

JUST GOT WORD THAT THEY ARE CLOSE TO THE SOLUTION!! ZuneInsider hey folks. we are making progress and close to being able to ID the issue for you all - just running thru additional checks and testing 2 minutes ago from web

Yeah, really, most of these things are getting pretty old...

On the battery fix: I've tried it a few times already today. The first time it worked perfectly. (that was when i got up at eleven this morning) but then it froze-up again while I was out shoveling earlier today. (no pun intended.) So I took the battery out again, this time it booted up just fine, but then the scren went blank. The backlight shut off in 5 seconds like I have it set to, and touching a button brought it back on, but no colour. No menues, nothing. I've tried virtually everything I can think of short of disconnecting the HD, I've let the battery run down, then I plugged it into the computer again (I don't think that mattered since the software didn't even open) but I'm not sure if the battery actually ran down since it hasn't been long enough, (it was fully charged this morning) and the HD isn't spinning, just the screen is on. *** So now I'm waiting for it to turn off again (w/e the reason, battery dieing again, or w/e) and I'm going to plug it into the wall. see if that helps....
I'll report back if nething helps.

EDIT 3.45 : just as i thought plugging into the wall charger doesn't seem to make any difference.

Well it's 2253 out here in Iraq and mine has been locked up for the better part of the day.  I don't think it has anything to do with the computer software, since I have not had mine sync'd up in months.  I thinks it's just MS's way of making us buy more of their stuff.  I even let the battery die completly, then recharged it, only to have the "Zune" screen and line return.  I hope the fix is sooner then later.  I use this thing when I work out.  Guess I will have to actually talk to people at the gym until it gets fixed.

And if you have a 30G Zune, chances are likely that your warranty is already expired.

The key is to not plug it back in to sync with the software. You can plug it in to charge from your computer, just dont let the software (Zune) auto start. You can turn it off in the options of the software before plugging in your Zune. As a side note that may be helpful, if you dont have a screwdriver small enough, and you have children that play with TechDecs, ask them for one of their screwdrivers for the techdecs, they are the perfect size. Also, be very careful about where you put whatever it is you use to remove the clip around the charging jack, be sure to use something like an exacto knife and lift at the points where the clip is the thickest, which should be the right and left sides, not the skinny parts that run the length of the interface. The clip will break at it's skinny spot. But just for the sake of clarity:

DO NOT PLUG BACK IN TO YOUR COMPUTER TO SYCN AFTER COMPLETING THE BATTERY FIX!

Fine, but it would be nice to hear from them as to whether it would be best to leave it plugged in or allow it to run out of charge. I'm guessing the later is best, but I'd like to hear it from them. Leaving the drive running for days (if it takes that long) can't be good. Having it shut down with a totally drained battery is probably not a whole lot better.

Zune team representatives have posted in a few places that they are aware of the issue, I just thought I'd drop a note in this thread as well.  The appropriate folks on the device team appear to be involved already and are working on the problem.  Personally, I'd recommend doing nothing at this point, as I think it's highly likely with an issue this widespread that an official response will be coming sooner than later, and that the Zune team will work as fast as possible around the clock to provide a solution for folks.  Not necessarily an official possition, just my personal suggestion.  But I definitely don't recommend voiding your warantee until the official response is known.  I think it's highly likely a solution will be available sooner than later.  Might take a few hours or a few days, but patience seems like the wisest course of action until we hear more from Zune directly.

i'll wait for the official word.  my 30G has frozen too. :(

mine has locked up, i went to bed last night, had it plugged into a wall charger, and was also playing a "cd" to fall asleep to, that all worked just fine, and it was probably about 2am this morning, so i dont see how this could all be a date issue.  i personally am going to wait til the battery dies and see what happens from there. i have tried holding the back and up buttons to reset it, to no prevail. so i guess i just wait. hopefully with the screen on it will dies quickly
and to LDan, yes a screen comes up when your battery is about to die, but its not really a screen. its more like an overlay, you can still see whatever was on your screen, but there is a somewhat transparent battery logo over it

I don't know much about the clock, but I have read that people with their clocks turned off still got locked up. But I'd like to know too. There's also some talk about this being a leap year and this being day 366 is the problem. And, tomorrow it'll fix itself. But this doesn't make much sense to me. Why would it not just show today as 1/1/2009 instead of locking up?

I'm also wondering now if even letting the battery run down is a good thing. I've read that when the battery fades enough you get the screen telling you to charge the battery. Is this true? I don't remember the last time I let it get that low. If it is, will that screen remain locked up until the battery runs down completely (and possibly damage the battery). I guess I'll find out zune...

Has anyone tried setting the clock back on the PC after doing a hard reset?  Not sure if Zune has it's own internal clock that is sync'd to PC.

I agree , but man is it killing me since i use this thing for work. Isnt there a number to call in order for them to trouble shoot, or maybe an estimated Time of Fix for this issue.