Zune Software v.4 is Killing my Processor!

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!

________________________________

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.]

---

User devices:
 Zune HD 32GB

I have the EXACT same problem! It's making my computer's processor want to commit suicide!

And I have decent specs as well (Core 2 Duo at 2.0GHZ running Windows 7 RC with 2GB RAM)! My computer ran Zune 3.0 with no issues whatsoever, and now my computer's CPU spikes sky high just trying to play music.

I DID notice that the CPU usage goes way down if I use the player in mini mode, but that still is no excuse for the software to be eating my processor alive.

This issue NEEDS to be fixed.

It's a shame they run the requirements so high on programs like these. I never dreamt of the day I would have to go out and buy a brand new desktop so I can transfer some files over a usb cord. My computer plays and holds mp3 files just fine, it transfers over usb just fine, but the Zune software says it is not good enough. I know my computer is very old but I see no reason why I would need anything faster to copy files over usb.
Since I've plugged my Zune into my computer with 4.0, it now refuses to sync to other computers in the house that have not been upgraded to 4.0.

With no other way to update my usage rights or update songs on my zune my monthly Zune Pass subscription is becoming useless and microsoft may lose a customer due to software that tries to do too much in addition to "transfer file over usb to player".

Yes, all your computers will need to be updated to the latest version of the Zune software in order to sync with an updated Zune device. The device cannot sync with multiple versions of the software, and old software versions definitely will not recognize devices with newer firmware versions. The reason for this, believe it or not, is your own security. Ever since Zune generation 2, the firmware and media contents of the Zune device, and all communication and data transfer between your PC and Zune device is encrypted. Each new release of the Zune software and device firmware has new encryption and access methods. This prevents your device from picking up a virus from your PC during sync (assuming you have a virus; generally speaking). More importantly, it prevents hackers from hacking the Zune device firmware and giving users illegitimate firmware, which could download viruses and pass them to your PC, use your stored credit card information fraudulently, or use the internet to steal your personal information; and would have trouble syncing, signing in, validating Zune Pass content, etc., and would put your data and personal information at risk in other ways.

However, this is not why the sofware is slow. Zune software version 4 has to support new Zune devices, a new Marketplace, and new built-in features. I think Microsoft rushed this version in order to stay competitive. If this is the case, then it has not been optimized yet. Version 4.1 should fix most problems in version 4. As a matter of fact, if you read back in the forums, you may come across posts from the beginning of previous major releases of the Zune software, and see that many people had the same issues, which were fixed in subsequent versions of the software.

________

Update: Microsoft seems to have dropped support for computer hardware older than five - six years, since Zune software version 3. If your computer is any older than that and you have problems, buy a new one!

 

---

User devices:
 Zune HD 32GB

I'm posting this in various locations that are talking about slowness with software/marketplace, because I just managed to fix all of my problems with a simple change:

I just made the smallest change to my computer and all of a sudden the software/marketplace saw an INCREDIBLE improvement. Usually when downloading from the marketplace, the software was unusable. However, after changing my storage location (An SD card) from FAT32 to NTFS it is at least 10 times faster. Incredible. I highly suggest people give this a try if they are using FAT32 for their storage media

---

Zune 30 and 32HD owner

Zune Product Team confirms that enterprise connectivity is being considered:

http://bit.ly/FXrHQ

no help here, all my drives are ntfs

Only guess I can make at this now is that some people may be having trouble because their driver (not hard drive) software is having compatibility issues with the Zune software...

I noticed that my auto-generated playlists were all randomly updating at very frequent intervals (approx every 5 seconds).  I decided to delete all my auto-generated playlists and this dropped the CPU usage from 100% to about a very good 5-10% avg.  Hopefully, this helps.

 positivecontrol wrote:

Well, I guess the solution was to wait 2 hours and then post a complaint on this forum.  Cause it finally worked.  

Now the program is busy rebuilding my collection.  Nice.  Maybe when I get up in the morning it will be done?  Seriously, there is no earthly reason why software meant to connect an mp3 player to a computer should need to hog so much processing power. 

Anyway, I'm just glad it finally did connect to my player.  Hope it eventually worked for you too CJFS93...

It worked & installed fine on my desktop pc and my laptop. my desktop has windows xp and my laptop has vista. it could just be ur pc and the fact that ur pc is probably trippin on you installin it lol

cause it doesn't hog my running memory, although my pc was tweaked before i bought it. do u have a anti-virus scanner? or an adware scanner? make sure to keep your systems clean. it's a good move.

---

I love Michael Jackson's music. So what??? :P

Well, as far as I'm concerned, it's not the hardware these folks are using. I'm running a fast system, with dedicated video, plenty of RAM, 64bit, Windows 7 yadda yadda, and trying to do anything on the Marketplace is unbearable. Oh, I also have a high speed connection. So, there is something wrong in Marketplace land since the upgrade. I'm not experiencing the processor kill that others are seeing, it just takes forever to bring up a page on the Marketplace, search for an artist, anything. Downloads are painful now. It's ridiculous. All my drives are NTFS, so that won't help me either. No clues.

The software seems to run okay, but it takes forever for anything on the marketplace to show up.  For instance clicking on Marketplace > Videos, it takes a good 30 seconds before anything is displayed, then switching to another genre of movies it takes another 30 seconds to load the images of the movie boxart.

I know it's not my computer as my specs are quite high - Windows 7 64-bit, Core 2 Extreme Quad Core 3.47 Ghz, 8 GB Ram, and a gtx 285 - 1gb video card.  It's definately not my computer or internet connection.  All websites and many games work fine on my system without any speed issues. 

Its your firewall.  Fix it, open the right ports and connections.

---

Zune HD FAN/OWNER!