Zune Software v.4 is Killing my Processor!

 AaronCT123 wrote:

"Now my computer isn't amazing or anything (Windows XP, sp2 half a gig of ram and 728 MHz processor) but the software used to work just fine until the upgrade. "
To be fair, I think those specs are pretty low by today's standards. I know that my laptop, which has two gigs of ram and a 2Ghz processor, told me that I couldn't keep Zune's display settings at Premium after the Zune 4.0 update.

Thats an understatment. 512 RAM was bad ass pre XP maybe but now its just sad. If you have a desktop stop being cheap and treat your computer to some more RAM. If you have a laptop I can go out and find you one thats only a few hundred dollars that would fly compared to that.

Thank you all for your input.

I tried the software again today and it seems to have sped up a bit (I can now see highlighted songs/artists/etc. when i roll the mouse over them) but overall, I'm still having the same problems. I guess my best option right now would be to wait and see if it clears up or eventually get a new computer...

On a side note, I've found it seems rather impossible to downgrade to a previous version of the software. Upon an attempted installation, I got a message saying I already had the latest version, and I would guess that if I uninstalled it and reinstalled, it would perform the same update...I'll try that and get back with results.

UPDATE: Ok, I tried another full uninstall/reinstall to an earlier version of the software, and it doesn't work, it will automatically update to the latest version.

I updated my XP computer to Zune software 4.0 and it imediately took 100% of available CPU time. I thought the software must be loading my music library or maybe Smart DJ information, so I left. When I came back two hours later, it had loaded nothing! It was still using all available CPU. It would not play any media, go online, or even sign in. I had to use my computer for other tasks, and I did. Windows runs no more slowly with Zune software 4. I was running a word processor and a browser. After about 6 hours of work, there was no change. I tried reinstalling Zune, but that did nothing.

This system:

-an ancient beige box

-800 MHz Intell Pentium 3 CPU

-512 MB RAM

-128 MB NVIDIA GPU

Zune support was usless. They recommended the typical:

-uninstall Zune, restart computer, reinstall Zune, restart computer;

-uninstall Zune, restart computer, uninstall .NET framework, restart computer, reinstall .NET framework, restart computer, reinstall Zune, restart computer;

and so on! (I have to admit that I tried it, but of course it didn't work.)

I gave up after 4 hours and went to bed, leaving the computer on with Zune software running and screen/power saver disabled, hoping that Zune would finish processing whatever it is.

And now, 14 hours later, I'm actually listening to my MP3s on Windows Media Player! (Zune software has been running the entire time and is still using 100% of available CPU time.) Zune software 3.1 worked beautifully on my system, so I don't see any logical reason for Zune software 4 not to work.

Anyway, if anyone knows how to fix this, tell me!

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Bug details:

What works:

- The GUI. Specifically, anything user interface-related that doesn't require internet. (Like browsing collection, now playing screen, menus)

What doesn't work:

- Any feature that uses internet. (Like Marketplace, login, usage rights)

- Video playback

What partly works:

- Local music playback. Specifically, the first time after software launch, a non-DRM song will play after about a minute of loading. Sometimes, I can jump to different locations in the song, but it never shows the correct time, just 0:00 or "opening". But I can never successfully switch songs or pause/play or double click another song. Then, playback stops, and it says "opening" until Ctrl + S (stop). No song will play after this point, until I close the application, end the process (it continues running after closing the software), and reopen it. The above behavior is consistent across multiple software restarts.

[I haven't tested all software components.]

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User devices:
 Zune HD 32GB

A few questions and some theories:
With all these PC's is everyone sure that they've updated their graphics card and sound card drivers? Below are some basic links. As always check at your PC vendor's support page first.
Nvidia Drivers
ATI Drivers
Realtek Drivers
Creative Drivers

Is it possible that the Zune software is rechecking your music database, and trying to find links to marketplace artists? I remember when Zune 3.0 launched some people were complaining about the software being sluggish on first run and that was becasue it was trying to link your tracks to their marketplace equivalent. This problem sorted itself by leaving the software open overnight.

Finally, in the software, under settings > device > conversion settings, is the convert in background option checked? If so, try unchecking that as the software is actually preparing videos in your collection to be synced to your Zune when that is enabled.

In the last two instances, if true, I think these operations would be more notable on older machines. Oh and teh marketplace is getting hammered right now, the internet components work albeit slowly.

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Zune MVP
Contributor, http://www.insidethecircle.net

positivecontrol said:

"Same here.  Same computer specs, same problem.  (My Zune computer software has been updated, but doesn't recognize my Zune 30 player.)  Also, I've been watching task manager, and  "Microsoft WinUSB Install" and "update.exe" have been running hard for the last 2 hours to no avail.  Will they eventually do something?  

The optimistic side of me thought this update would go smoothly.  I should have listened to the other side of me.  Never, ever, ever update software that is otherwise working fine.  Ever."

 

 

positivecontrol,

 

Don't be silly. Rarely do updates to Microsoft software have any negative results. Usually updates give you more features and increased ease of use and functionality.

In this case, the problem seems to be a bug that caused the program to use to much CPU. I wish it would go away for me like it did for you!

I think the reason for the bug is Microsoft rushing the software in order to stay competitive with the iPod Touch.

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User devices:
 Zune HD 32GB

RockinRik said:

"OK I had instinct enough to check here first, especially after that last crash we ALL experienced. I am running an old HP pavilion notebook, running on Win XP. If this software was created for Vista or higher, then I will gladly stay with the current software. Thank you all for your input!"

 

RockinRik,

Again, don't be silly. Rarely do updates to Microsoft software have any negative results. Usually updates give you more features and increased ease of use and functionality.

Zune software 4.0 was not made for Windows Vista and up. It was made for XP and up. In this case, the problem seems to be a bug that caused the program to use to much CPU. I think the reason for the bug is Microsoft rushing the software in order to stay competitive with the iPod Touch.

About compatibility with XP, Zune 4.0 specifically is compatible with all versions of Windows XP  32 bit, and all versions of Windows Vista and Windows 7  32 and 64 bit. (It is not compatible with Windows XP Professional x64 [64 bit].)

 

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User devices:
 Zune HD 32GB

Technically, Zune software 4.0 *is* specially enhanced for Windows 7.  Playback controls have been added to the program's thumbnail preview window specifically for 7.

Just thought I'd throw my 2 cents in here.

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Corey Shuster
2009 Microsoft Zune MVP

My responses come only from personal experience.

Zune 4.0 was killing my processor, 100% usage non-stop. After leaving the Zune software open and alone for about 9 hours my CPU usage is back to normal and I can finally use the software without the extreme sluggishness. As a side benefit almost every CD in my collection now has cover art and when clicking on a CD I get the "more about xxx..." link at the botton, where before there were albums this did not work on.

My suggestion, just leave the software open and let it run; the slowness should go away in time. Although I will say that spiking the CPU for about 9 hours to get the software to have any type of usable performance is far from ideal. This is on a 2.66 Ghz single core CPU, XP sp2, 512 MB RAM.

Zune 4 for me is doing Cpu spikes every 10-15 seconds or so as well

I only have some 5000 songs added to it.

Even when just minimized and not even playing anything.

As many people have said i think its just doing some management and gathering info procedures,but this should be more transparent to users and not seem so ambiguous so as to cause an alarm.

Hope MS addresses this issue.

System is more than enough to support it.

Win 7 32-bit

Core 2 duo 3.16ghz

4gb ram

9800 GTX+

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MetalheaD

 Lt Cassio wrote:

Thats an understatment. 512 RAM was bad ass pre XP maybe but now its just sad. If you have a desktop stop being cheap and treat your computer to some more RAM. If you have a laptop I can go out and find you one thats only a few hundred dollars that would fly compared to that.

Yea, but I don't really want to be like "arrgh, get a new computer." Even though, yea, if you're running something that has a Mhz CPU, then, yea you probably need a new machine.

 MusicGamesPCs wrote:

...My system: an ancient beige box, 800 MHz Intell Pentium 3 CPU, 512 MB RAM, 128 MB NVIDIA GPU...

My Pentium 4 computer wasn't even new when I bought it 5 years ago, and it runs incredibly slow. I don't care to install Zune 4.0 on it, and I surely wouldn't install it on a Pentium 3 machine. Sure, Zune 3.0 might've worked, but Zune 3.0 wasn't catered towards a device that's designed for high-definition video.

 MusicGamesPCs wrote:

...I think the reason for the bug is Microsoft rushing the software in order to stay competitive with the iPod Touch.

Umm, I feel like that's complete troll fodder. The reason is probably most definitely more in line with the types of processors and amount of ram the people experiencing problems tend to be using, based on this topic. And initial high processor usage is probably from the software grabbing album art, meta data, etc. The software itself is clearly polished.

Zune Software v.4 is making my computer run extremely slow. Turned off convert in background lowered graphic settings all the way down. when Zune software its running everything else takes about 10seconds up to 5 minutes to get up and running. While Zune software is Idle it will pause for about a minute before it actually response. If Firefox is open while Zune is opened both seem to take a minute before it reponse. Makes it extremely difficult to use Zune when ever you have to wait. Example. I want to rename a song I press right click. wait a minute. select rename wait a minute. erase current name wait a minute. type new name wait a minute...

Windows Vista Home Premium SP2 32 bit
AMD Turion 64 x2 TL-56 1.80 Ghz
2 gb ram
ATI Radeon Xpress ATI drivers are updated.
Free HD space 21.8 GB

Software while running Zune.
Firefox 3.5.3
Yahoo IM
AVG Anti-Virus.

Not sure what could be causing this. Same issues occur when just running the Zune software and nothing else. Vista settings are set low. no Gadgets are turned on. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

I guess it does seem that the slowness is due to library processing and video transcoding. After all, I do have several seasons of TV shows from the marketplace that I purchased during version 3.1. But that does not explain why the software gives these tasks priority over playing songs, signing in, using the marketplace, etc. It could easily run these processes in the background. I think this is either a bug, or because the software isn't designed for old computers and this version is brand new and not yet optimized.

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User devices:
 Zune HD 32GB