Zune 3.0 - Device not recognized by Zune software (non-driver issues)

The Software quit recognizing my Zune yesterday for no apparant reason. It shows up in Device Manager with no exclamations. Reloaded software and drivers. Zune no longer shows up in "My Computer" like it used to but does show up in "Device Manager". Plugging in the Zune with the software closed automatically opens the software but the Zune still isn't recognized in the software. How do I run he Zune software as administrator? When I right click, my only option is me, the owner? Do I have to create an Administrator user? Microsoft...this is ridiculous. Great PR to come out with a software upgrade that stifles many users ability to use the product.

Mine seems to be working now with a fairly simple fix. I called customer service and they instructed me to reset the device. You do this by holding down the back button, then press on the upper part of the finger pad (at the same time). AFter a second or two, the device will turn off, then come back on. I plugged it back into the PC and the Zune software now recognizes it.

When you post here, please include the following:

Device type? 80gb Zune

Operating system? Windows XP

Specific issue you are having? When I open the zune software, it says "Can't play: The zune software has encountered a serious error. Please install the software." After closing this message, the software behaves normally, but does not recognize the Zune when I plug it in.

Exact steps you took before the issue occurred? None

Things you have tried to fix the issue? Reinstalling the software

Did this work prior to the 3.0 release? Yes, my zune used to be recognized, but it's possible that it was recognized after the release as well.

Hello! I just bought my first Zune and downloaded the latest software and everything works fine until I get the Code 10 Error that tells me my computer can't install the device software and I've tried EVERYTHING there possibly is; re-installing, uninstalling, rebooting, run commands, device managers... And nothing is working :( Can someone please help?

Device type? Zune 8GB

Operating system? Windows Vista

Specific issue you are having? Code 10

Exact steps you took before the issue occurred? (As stated above)

Things you have tried to fix the issue? (Look up)

Did this work prior to the 3.0 release? Newly bought Zune

I had an issue where I would boot the computer, and the Zune would be recognized but sync operations were flaky and rarely completed in a reasonable time for the amount of data being transferred. If I disconnected then reconnected, the Zune could charge, but the software would no longer recognize it until I rebooted. Very frustrating.

I'm running Windows 7 RC and using Zune 30 connected via USB. I did a ton of research, but this was my ultimate solution. Everything is running fine now.

1. Open Power Options. Click Start orb, type Power Options and press Enter.
   
2. Click Change plan settings on the chosen preferred plan.
3. Click Change advanced power settings.
4. Navigate to USB Settings / USB selective suspend setting.
5. Change the setting to Disabled.
6. Reboot and try connecting again.

Your computer’s BIOS might also require a modification to a similar setting, as well. Mine did not.

Best of luck to everyone with this or a similar problem.

Device type? Zune 30GB

Operating system? Windows XP SP3

USB 1.0 or 1.1.

Specific issue you are having? Zune software does not recognize that my Zune is connected.  I know that it is connected, because it charges the battery and when I connect it, Zune launches on my computer.  I know that the software does not recognize it is connected because if I select "device" in Zune, i get "To view this setting, connect your Zune" for all setting, such as "Synch groups".  The device icon nver activates.  It is always light grey, instead of turning black.

Exact steps you took before the issue occurred? Not sure.  It was working in June, 2009.

Things you have tried to fix the issue?

I have restarted my device; tried different USB ports; uninstalled and reinstalled Zune; rebooted; confirmed Zune showed up under Portable Devices with no errors

Did this work prior to the 3.0 release? Yes, but I beleive it also worked under 3.0 prior to June 2009.

I don't know if this works in XP, but for Vista and Window 7, you can right click on the zune icon (shortcut) and select the 'run as admin' option.  This is only required once, then it works from then on.  Or...when you say you 'restarted' your device, are you doing a hard reset (holding back and up at the same time)?  Good luck...

-Marcos

i can luanch Zune, it just doesn't recognize my device once i'm in Zune.  Still, I tried your suggestion, but seems i can only runu as Owner, whicih happens to be admin on my computer.  And yes, I did the hard reset.  Thanks.

FIX RELATED TO ANTI-VIRUS SOFTWARE:

I have an old/orginal Zune 30GB. It ran fine on Windows XP Media Center through Service Pack 3. It seemed to run fine after upgrading the software. What I started getting around August 9th was an error reporting "problems with the USB device" and the USB connect sounds be-booping several times as the Zune would disconnect and reconnect. The Zune software showed the Zune unconnceted, but the Zune itself reported connected.

I disabled Kaspersky Anti-Virus, and the Zune worked fine! This is because the Zune software scans through crap loads of registry entries when it tries to connect to the Zune player (including the Kaspersky reg keys), and this is interpreted by Kaspersky as a threat. (Kaspersky also freaks out when running QuickBooks... just for the record.) The fix is to add the "C:\Program Files\Zune" directory and all subfolders (a checkbox on the add exclusion Object dialog) to Kaspersky.

gH

A partial Summary of fixes posted for Zune not Recognized (non-driver issues)

0. Microsoft Links:
   Zune Device Sync Diagnostic Tool
   http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=F872E08B-27A2-4E1E-A0FE-862E4D6B901F&displaylang=en

   Zune Media Collection Reset tool
   http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=86B2A33D-9BF8-45F6-89FF-B9A6236AA37D&displaylang=en

   KB 944909: Zune is not detected by your computer or the Zune software
   http://support.microsoft.com/kb/944909?sd=zune

   KB 940705: Troubleshoot sync issues
   http://support.microsoft.com/kb/940705?sd=zune

   Zune Forum, Top Support Links
   http://forums.zune.net/7171/ShowPost.aspx

1. Log out other users on the system / Reboot.
    (Zune software is profile aware: if loaded by a another user, loading Zune as you will carry over THEIR settings,
     preventing a sync with your Zune, which will be greyed out.)

2. Vista / Windows 7: With the Zune disconnected, Run Zune software as Administrator once and connect Zune player.
    It should run fine as user thereafter. [right-click on the zune icon (shortcut) and select the 'run as admin' option.]

3. Re-enabling the "Windows Mobile-2003-based device connectivity" service

4. Reset Zune player: Hold down the back button, then press on the upper part of the finger pad (at the same time).
    After a second or two, the device will turn off, then come back on.
    Some report success resetting the Zune while disconnected from the PC;
    others report success doing the reset while the Zune is connected.
    Yet others report success only after allowing the Zune battery to completely drain by letting sit for 2+ weeks.

5. Change the Power settings for USB devices / Zune to disable allowing the system to turn the device off to save power
    and/or disable USB selective suspend setting.

6. Add the Zune program folder and all sub-folders as exceptions/exemptions to the anti-virus software
    so that the a-v software doesn't prevent the registry and device scan performed by the Zune software.

7. Uninstall non-standard USB devices (e.g. PS3 controller drivers)

8. Uninstall / reinstall / upgrade software and/or firmware.
    Some users get REAL aggressive and manually delete all Zune related files and registry keys after an uninstall.
    Your results may vary from the reported 'fixed' by some users if you manually edit your registry!

9. Scan for trojans / viruses.
    Some trojans and virus cause driver problems and/or affect registry access.
    Some users have posted re-install Windows as an alternative. Yikes!

10. Replace the sync cable

11. Add a USB 2.0 expansion card to the system.
    (Zune player will sometimes not reliably sync to unpowered USB hubs or over USB 1.0.)

 

OK, I apologize in advance, I'm not a tech nerd.  Had my Zune stop working for no reason...tried everything...sent it back to be fixed...still didn't work...followed every step on this site...ran the ZuneDevices.exe and saw 4 DLL's I was missing, etc.

This is what fixed it:

Go to Automatic Updates in Control Panel and go out to the website.  Install the latest version of Windows Media Player.  I realize how rediculous this sounds, but this worked for.  Go back out to Automatic Updates and you'll magically have like 3 or 4 new updates, including Frame.Net stuff (or whatever it's called).  Install, go back, install, go back, install. 

Not sure why, but after doing that, my Zune is recognized for the first time in about 8 months!

Wish there was some logic I could get from this, and wish I was smart enough to help all you other people suffering this same annoying as !#$% problem, but I just don't understand what I did or why it fixed it...but this is just something else to try before throwing your Zune out the window which I was thiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiis close to doing myself.  GOOD LUCK!

i have a 8 gb zune and i downloaded the 4.0 zune software

i have windows vista

and my zune will charge and the computer says it is connected but the zune software keeps saying "no zune connected", it is geting really iritating

i have tryed most of the "solutions" on this post but so far none of them have worked, can someone help

btw im not very good with computers so please make it simple