Well by dang.
Today finally after (how many days since I first posted? - seems like years) my battery finally drained completely.
(I have been pressing Play and Back whenever possible, since this was the only way to interact with the Zune and drain it faster.)
Finally it was completely dead, and when I pressed Play...
Lo, and behold, the Zune startup screen! Ye Gods! And when I further press Play, it frickin PLAYS.
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I quickly connected my daughter's AC adapter, since I read that USB power doesn't necessarily work, and am charging and LISTENING TO MY MUSIC as I type.
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
OK. Great. All's well. Mr. Bangalore's promised "box," in which I will supposedly be able to put the Zune on the slow boat back to China, will not thank god be necessary. And he had absolutely nothing else to suggest.
Meanwhile, I spent hours today traveling to a different campus to get the lend of a Zune from a friend, bought her lunch, etc. (She, being appropriately skeptical, had never removed hers from the original box.) Not to mention the many hours on various user community support boards. And, have spent many hours of misery on the Connector bus listening to the inane chatter of the Belltown kids. And have had my faith in Microsoft, which unfortunately is my bread and butter, further shaken and betrayed. And the stock is down 65 cents today, meaning I have bought far too much stock at far too high a price.
And there is no guarantee this will not happen again tomorrow.
Come on. This is not ok. Why is this ok? Thanks for the hints about how to quickly drain the battery NEXT TIME THIS FRICKIN HAPPENS.
I'm glad, very glad to have my music back, but the questions remains: Why is this ok? And when will it be FIXED?
Theano
PS - So having calmed down slightly Adam, I see what you are saying is that the problem was perhaps with the Hold switch. Although this switch was supposedly working correctly throughout, in that I could not do anything (not even press Play or Back) when it was engaged, but when it was off, I could press the Play button (and get the Main menu) or the Back button (and get a small flicker and click of the Music item). Furthermore I could see the appropriate lock icon when it was engaged. But are you saying the problem was still with the Hold switch? If so, I hope version 3.0 of the hardware will correct it. Personally, I will never use the Hold switch again... I'll keep the Zune in an envelope where nothing can touch it, and never again attempt to lock it.
