Sync Issues / Updating Songs

if anything else reedwr, it helps me keep my sanity (or at least keeps me from yanking out what's left of my hair)....thank you.

 ReedWr wrote:

Hi Bill,

I've just been following this thread to see what might come out of the research on this issue.  I'll be right up front, I have no idea what the solution could be.  However, I thought it might be helpful in some way to know that either this issue or one that appears to me to be similar to it has been around for a while -- at least since November 2006.

Just follow this link:  http://aranworld.com/article/104/zune-fails-to-import-all-music-files

I responded in the hope that this might be helpful in some way.  If not, I apologize for taking up vaulable time and resources.

Well NSILMike,

I agree that it's embarrassing.  It should be embarrassing for something like this to allowed to continue for so long without apparent resolution.  I wasn't focusing on any particular band - simply the nature of the problem whatever or whoever the artist or band might be.  Maybe this is a specific incident sort of thing, but maybe not.  One would like to think it's a specific incident type of situation but without looking into it, how would you know? 

Certainly, one can assume that software revisions would have addressed past issues but that is only an assumption, especially when similar circumstances arise again.  And if this is occurring in only one program and not others it would tend to lead one to believe there is still a problem of this type in that program. 

thanks, i needed a laugh despirately (ABBA, btw, i'm a closeted fan).

i'd really like to see some recognition of this issue....

Here is part 1 of the pm with the zune team....i've omitted headers and such for brevity.  replies are offset by the line of '==='.

Bill,

Can you explain what you're doing in the software, step-by-step, such that I can follow your instructions like a recipe.  Please list each button you press or link you click on.  I'll start you off...

STEP 1: Launch the Zune PC software.

STEP 2: ?

STEP 3: ?

....

STEP N:

Thanks,

Tom

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step 2:  go to pc with host drive

step 3: copy and paste 5 'artist - album' folders into the folder monitored by the software

step 4: find files that didn't get recognized by the software

the results are posted.

thanks for helping, i really appreciate it!

Bill

do you really need every button pressed?? here are steps 2 and 3 in all their detail, for one test at least. i've tried other variations none of which have shown the ANY change in software recognizing the file or not.

-used the mouse to left-click start menu

-used the mouse to left-click my computer

-used the mouse to double left-click the J: drive

-used the mouse to double left-click the folder containing the 5 test folders

-used the mouse to select the edit drop down menu via left-click

-used the mouse to select 'select all' via left-click

-used the mouse to select the edit drop down menu again via left-click

-used the mouse to select 'copy' via left-click

-used the mouse to left-click the menu button taking the folder up one level

-used the mouse to double left-click the folder monitored by the software

-used the mouse to select the edit drop down box via left-click

-used the mouse to select 'paste' via left-click

============================================================

Bill,

Ok, now I'm starting to understand!  What is the full path on your J: drive that you're copying from, and what is the full path that your copying too? 

An example of a directory path is J:\backups\music\Britney Spears\...Baby One More Time

(I think we're now making positive steps forward here...)

Thanks,

Tom

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"I think we're now making positive steps forware here..."  um, if you say so.

copying folders from

F:\Group of 5\

copying folders to monitored folder

F:\Music

copying files from

F:\5 singles\

copying files to monitored folder

F:\Music

is there some reason you couldn't ask these in the forum?  i see no need to keep others from being able to follow along.

i have tried copying from other folders on other drives and on other computers in different tests, but for all test running since this computer was formatted, the above locations are applicable.

================================================================

We'll move it back to the main thread once the issue is a bit more clear.  Let's focus on the case where you moved the contents of the folder F:\5 singles into the folder F:\Music.  After you copy those files, and then launch the Zune PC software, do the files appear in under COLLECTION > MUSIC? 

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the results are in my posts.....the answer to your question is:  yes, all of those files are recognized by the software.

just because you need clarification is no reason to keep these questions out of the regular forum.

also, you gave step one as turning on the software, i did not have to correct you, for these more recent tests the software is running prior to the cut & paste.....are you even able to keep track of the specifics you are asking??

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So far so good!  Let’s make sure we’re on the same page. 

When you copy the contents of F:\Group of 5 to F:\Music and then launch the Zune PC software, are all of those songs added to COLLECTION > MUSIC?

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could not delete this post

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your process for "then launching the zune pc software" is still backwards

no, not all of those songs are recognized by the software....as clearly stated numerous times in my posts located in the thread.

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For the sake of clarity, let's go over the F:\Group of 5 to F:\Music again.  I don't entirely understand the post from the original thread, so let's revisit what you're seeing here.
 
Can you open a command prompt, navigate to the F:\Group of 5 directory and run the command dir /s > group5.txt.  That will create a file called group5.txt that contains the name of all the files under the folder Group of 5.  Can you send me that file and the zuneStore.sdf file?  You can put those up on a skydrive.live.com folder and share them with the email address <removed>.  Let me know how it goes!

(You can find the zuneStore.sdf file on Vista at C:\Users\<yourname>\appdata\local\Microsoft\Zune\zuneStore.sdf or on XP at C:\Documents & Settings\<yourname>\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Zune\zuneStore.sdf.)

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Here is part 2

you have just demonstrated to me that you aren't even following your own posts!  do you not remember verifying with me that i am using a network drive?

i cannot copy the file you suggest to C:\Documents and Settings...... because that is not where the monitored folder is.

i moved the file you requested with the same results as every other copy & paste without containing folders has gone, yes it is recognized by the software.

if you had actually read my posts it would be more than clear to you that the issue lies when moving files to the monitored folder inside the 'artist -album' folders.

if you wanted the zuneStore.sdf file to report anything other than my last test, then you best request that in advance.

if you still do not understand the problem, then i must ask you if you speak english natively.....please read, and reread all of my posts carefully and thoroughly.

i do not want to anger you, but you have been in the thread for some time now and have had plenty of opportunity to ask these questions in a considerably more timely manner.  this is also exactly why i wanted to keep all this information in the forum, other users need to see for themselves that just because someone with a title such as yours is currently in a thread, does not mean they are paying any attention to it.

at this point i feel it is prudent to officially request that a forum moderator accompany us for the time being and again request all this information be moved to the thread for the public record.  i however, do not want this request to slow down any other troubleshooting requests and questions you may have so that the issue be resolved.

i would really appreciate a question that hasn't already been answered in one of my previous posts.

==============================================================================

Bill,

The Zune Audio folder C:\Documents & Settings\owner\My Documents\My Music\Zune is a music monitored folder by default. This time can you copy the entire folder F:\Group of 5\311 – 311 to C:\Documents & Settings\owner\My Documents\My Music\Zune and let's see if it is added to the collection.

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yes, the software eventually recognized all 14 files:  took nearly 4 times longer than from the designated monitored folder.

you will have to wait a bit for me to verify whether or not the tags on these files are perfect or not; as indicated by my posts it seems the software chokes when a couple of files are missing song names within their tags when located inside 'artist - album' folders.

i have been able to verify that all of my test files now have perfect tags.  i do have plenty of of folders in the master collection available for further tests.....i will be changing out albums on the same random basis as before.  if you don't remember what that is then let me know. 

if you are just limiting me to one folder then this folder meets the criteria "david bowe - sound + vision II" will suffice.

i will post my results shortly.

all 15 files were recognized by the software inside their 'artist - album' folders even though all 15 files were missing song names within their tags....yay for you!!! a clue!!  that's just one album though.

when the host drive computer finishes its routine i will format the drive, reboot the machine and reset the monitored folder in the software in preparation of further tests....is there something else you would like me to check??  i will run this test with the 5 and 10 folder setup as before and see if they are recognized by the software while contained in the computer/drive hosting the software soon.

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Bill,

I'm out sick today, so I won't be on the forums much. 

It looks like you're going to reformat the PC that had the Zune client on it.  Once that machine is back up and you install Zune, go ahead and add a monitored folder that points to your network share again. 

One thing to keep in mind, if the network share you're pointing at has a lot of content, Zune is going to take a really long time to index all of those files (my machine takes more than an hour to index 15,000 songs that sit on a network share).  So just leave the Zune client open and let it chug away for awhile. 

Tom

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i did not reformat the drive hosting the software, i reformatted the drive hosting the monitored folder.

renamed the origination folder to:  test 5 folders

renamed the monitored folder to:  zune music

reran the test with 5 new folders, the only issue with these tags is a missing song name.  software recognized 61/62 files....much much better improvement, but i do not know whether it is the reformat of the monitored folder drive or the fact that i repaired all the tags in my collection with the exception of the song name......i will run this test again later with the track number removed from the tag also.

i am sick also, and this stuff is nasty, so take care of yourself.  i'll repost when i have results

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reran the exact same test with the track numbers removed from the tags and the horrendous results return.....

the software only recognized 54/63.

this software is choking on its advance read.

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moving the conversation back to the main thread.  just wanted to talk over PM in order to get to the point where I understood the problem you were running into.  thanks for hanging in there so far. 

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i appreciate you hanging in sick and all.  i've been working on this issue for 6 months now; having evidence that email and telephone support are completely incapable of resolving this issue with me, i am glad that you and mike have noticed.

glad to have you onboard (and caught up)!

everyone still needs to see all of these posts.

**at this time i would like to take the time to officially apologize to tmis in public for being so short with him.

for anyone new investigating this issue you should know that i have also done the following in regards to this issue.....

contacted email support with 14 specific emails/questions regarding this issue.....

----none of the emails were read by a human, all were automated responses.

----only 3/15 of the automated responses had anything to do with the issue whatsoever, and all 3 were made moot by the email/question envoking the response.

contacted telephone support regarding this issue.......

after finally breaking through level one tech support, i spent months troubleshooting this issue over the phone.

----telephone support requires you to follow a complete procedure even if you are capable of proving that the steps are moot and a complete waste of time.

----zune's highest level of customer support has zero employees who speak english natively. since i spend a majority of my time instructing users with learning disablilities complex pc operations--and repairing the damage they've done; i can confidently say they are incapable of comprehending the issue.

was also on the thoughts media forum, they were unable to help, but i have not presented them with the troubleshooting steps we have accomplished within this thread.....i will do so a week from today.

Hello,

Would you please see if you could help with my problem.  My zune has been working fine till the last updates...now I have after connected and syncing...all my music files say "item is missing or can't be played"  I can't redownload all my music b/c there's too much and my old computer crashed and can't retrieve all my music on it... I've tried turning the player on/off and tried to resync...nothing...

someone please help... my zune is 30 GB and only 2-3 years old... I don't want to just get a new one, but don't want to lose all my music either..

Thank you,

Ana

 IndianPrincess7 wrote:

Hello,

Would you please see if you could help with my problem.  My zune has been working fine till the last updates...now I have after connected and syncing...all my music files say "item is missing or can't be played"  I can't redownload all my music b/c there's too much and my old computer crashed and can't retrieve all my music on it... I've tried turning the player on/off and tried to resync...nothing...

someone please help... my zune is 30 GB and only 2-3 years old... I don't want to just get a new one, but don't want to lose all my music either..

Thank you,

Ana

i'm starting to think the zune development team either doesn't exist or they don't have the skills necessary to help troubleshoot this.

and since no one person with the title zune team is able to provide any troubleshooting steps, i will contend that advanced customer service DOES NOT EXIST!!

c/s has been set up to bury and hide all potential issues with this product.

microsoft has set up the c/s dept like other corporations used shell companies to hide money, the only difference is ms is hiding their issues.

--no real persons work in email support

--ppl working telephone support have admitted they do not speak english natively and have no additional information available to them than what is already posted on the web.....not to mention they are not msce certified nor do they have any practical networking experience.

--if there is someone who actually works for the zune team in this website trying to resolve issues they have yet to make an appearance within this thread!  i contend the c/s dept is more than happy to have ppl who's greatest desire is insult others pc and pc skills piss off the newbies until they just go away.

i will be posting this warning to new ppl in a different thread and warning anyone thinking of purchasing this device.

NOW IS THE TIME FOR REAL SUPPORT TO SHOW UP!!