More info on sync errors

Like 90% of you in the "software:sync" board, my zune (8gb, in this case) stopped syncing after software v4.0 came out.  There's been a lot of talk about Microsoft not giving us the correct drivers, but I have reason to believe that software v4.0 screwed up something even deeper in the software.

After looking up different options for a few days, I was willing to try anything, including formatting my zune (holding three buttons and once... don't do it).  Obviously this didn't help.  It was recognized by my computer, but not by the zune v4.0 software.  My zune needed a firmware fix (via connection to a computer), but the computer couldn't see it in order to help.  I had a bricked zune. 

After trying to fix the software again and again, I thought of a new option.  I found a site with zune software v3.1 (the full 350mb version, not the 50mb version that downloads the latest software straight from microsoft).  I installed this software on a computer which had never touched a zune.  Things worked perfectly.  The software installed, asked if I'd like to update (HELL NO), updated my zune's firmware, and loaded up some podcasts and music from an external hard drive.  This was interesting.  What it told me was the zune drivers from version 3.1 were fine, and no damage was done to the actual zune.  Today I sat on the train with music in my ears. 

I got home today, and uninstalled zune software v4.0 from my main computer, and installed the zune software v3.1 (once again the full version).  I plugged in the zune, but the zune software v3.1 won't recognize it, despite coming with good drivers.  (Yah, I even tried the device manager trick.  No dice.)


This tells me zune software v4.0 really messed things up.  It didn't just bring bad drivers, it left a bug which stays around when you uninstall the software.  Yikes. 
There's some software called Unzoone, which looks through your computer and clears out every scrap of zune related software.  My laptop gives me grief when I try to run it, but hopefully someone else can give it a shot.  Unzoone + zune software v3.1 (350mb version) + a 1/2hr of your time = potential fix. 
Or maybe microsoft will fix their gimped software. 

Nice Icedhat. Got any links for us? Easier than searching I guess. Does the firmware come with the 3.1 software?

---

80GB brick with the word Zune on it.

I completely agree with Icedhat on this one. Unfortunately I have tried every possible user created workaround in these forums and nothing has worked, including using Unzoone.

I have a sticky situation as well.

Basically, as with everyone else, when I upgraded to software 4.0, my Zune30 stopped working. Would not be picked up buy the computer all of a  sudden, yadee yada...and would go through the endless loop of installing and restarted. Followed steps to uninstall driver from Device Manager, and then plug it back in. Picked it up, installed driver, now Software 4.0 picked up the Zune..however it would start syncing and just stall at like 14% or something, and nothing never went over.

So, I uninstalled firmware and media content from Zune30, plugged it into the PC. Software 4.0 picked it up, said it needed to install the firmware...said it was going through, yet at the end I was left with this pleasant error code during the firmware update: C1010007 (player disconnected or something like that ). Checked Zune30, and it said the latest firmware was installed 3.20, yet now it's back to square one where Zune software and my computer attempt to reinstall drivers, but just keeps looping after restart.

So, I said let me try a ZuneHD (figuring it was time for a new one anyhow). Plugged it in, get the SAME INSTALLING DRIVERS, PLEASE RESTART LOOP. Go figure...even the HD messes up.

Called tech support, no answers, but good tries, and they will get "back" to me, as this apparently is a known issue. Just an FYI, after sending MS support my diagnostics, all is well on my side and I am using Vista 64bit Home Premium.

Anyone else with the same issues with Zune30 and ZuneHD?

P.S. Microsoft at least acknowledge there is an issue and a patch is imminent, cmon!!

Hey guys,

For the life of me I cannot find the site where I originally downloaded version 3.1, but I found a new one.  Download it while you can before microsoft takes down this thread / contacts the site with a cease and desist. (and maybe come back here to let everyone know that it worked).

http://findfiles.com/list.php?string=ZunePackage31.exe&size=387983200&db=Mirrors

If it's down by the time you read this, search for "zunepackage31.exe".  It should be about 350mb

Remember, you'll have to install this on a computer which has never touched zune software v4.0

believe it or not icehat, reverting back to the 3.1 software has now allowed me to sync with me zune software and here's how. (remember this is in reference to my above post)

(keep in mind, i had software 4.0, and the latest firmware on the zune30, but it would just not read and would do the infinite driver install loop)

so, re-installed 3.1, and the first thing I did was attach the zune30. pc picked it up, and it was up and running and syncing. so now i was literally back to square one as if 4.0 was never installed.

next, i made sure my zunehd was in software recovery mode.

next, i installed software version 4.0. i now attached the zunehd, and i got the message that it was installing the drivers and i needed to restart (*mood went down*). so i did as such, and restarted, started zune 4.0, and attached the zunehd. still infinite loop.

next i did the most common tip here and i uninstalled the driver, and then reconnected the device. this time, device recognized! installed the latest firmware for zunehd, and after such, it is now currently syncing my music..whatcha know.

so with this being said, i may try the same process with my zune30 (which again has latest firmware), and see if it will now sync to that device too...

i suggest to anyone who is still having the sync inifite loop problems...try reverting back to software 3.1 from above link...ensure that your device works with the software..install software 4.0...uninstall driver, and then re-connect device.

Ralph, that's fantastic.  I'm glad we may have found a solution. 
I've posted a link to this thread in a bunch of other threads.  I'm hoping the zune employees don't freak out over a link to software they've moved on from (v3.1). 

Good luck everyone, and post your results!

 CrazyRalph023 wrote:

believe it or not icehat, reverting back to the 3.1 software has now allowed me to sync with me zune software and here's how. (remember this is in reference to my above post)

(keep in mind, i had software 4.0, and the latest firmware on the zune30, but it would just not read and would do the infinite driver install loop)

so, re-installed 3.1, and the first thing I did was attach the zune30. pc picked it up, and it was up and running and syncing. so now i was literally back to square one as if 4.0 was never installed.

next, i made sure my zunehd was in software recovery mode.

next, i installed software version 4.0. i now attached the zunehd, and i got the message that it was installing the drivers and i needed to restart (*mood went down*). so i did as such, and restarted, started zune 4.0, and attached the zunehd. still infinite loop.

next i did the most common tip here and i uninstalled the driver, and then reconnected the device. this time, device recognized! installed the latest firmware for zunehd, and after such, it is now currently syncing my music..whatcha know.

so with this being said, i may try the same process with my zune30 (which again has latest firmware), and see if it will now sync to that device too...

i suggest to anyone who is still having the sync inifite loop problems...try reverting back to software 3.1 from above link...ensure that your device works with the software..install software 4.0...uninstall driver, and then re-connect device.

Microsoft already took it down, it isn't downloading onto my computer.  It's either saying it can't find the download or the page itself just won't load.

I had the infinite loop problem as well.  After uninstalling and reinstalling Zune 4.0 many times following the instructions here:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/929358?sd=zune

Nothing worked.  Same old loop of device driver installing.  Ugh.

I finally was about to give up then I tried one last thing.  This worked for me - hope it helps someone.

Unplug the Zune.  Go into the drivers list (right click my computer icon or link; Manage; Device Manager) then under Portable Devices right click Zune - select uninstall. If you get a message to remove drivers from your computer, say yes.   

Now plug your device back in - device should be recognize and drivers should install once again. 

At this point Zune 4.0 started right up for me, as I had "start when device gets connected" selected in my settings.   You may have to start your Zune software at this point.    

PS - I never did the whole install of old version part. 

Vista 64 ultimate - Zune 30

 

---

Zunitarian 
"Different People. Different Beliefs. One Zune."

I'm having similar problems. I have a zune80GB and it worked perfectly for almost 2 years untill my computer got a virus last month and my dad did something to the computer. This was around the time when the 4.0 version came out. My Zune hasn't connected to the computer since. Yesterday I finally got the computer to reccognize my zune but it says that its missing "ZuneUsbTransport.dll" I'm like ?????? Then I also can't access Device Manager either...