Microsoft Officially Responds on the FroZunes

Early this morning we were alerted by our customers that there was a widespread issue affecting our 2006 model Zune 30GB devices (a large number of which are still actively being used).  The technical team jumped on the problem immediately and isolated the issue: a bug in the internal clock driver related to the way the device handles a leap year.

The issue should be resolved over the next 24 hours as the time change moves to January 1, 2009.   We expect the internal clock on the Zune 30GB devices will automatically reset tomorrow (noon, GMT). By tomorrow you should allow the battery to fully run out of power before the unit can restart successfully then simply ensure that your device is recharged, then turn it back on.  If you’re a Zune Pass subscriber, you may need to sync your device with your PC to refresh the rights to the subscription content you have downloaded to your device.

Customers can continue to stay informed via the support page on zune.net (zune.net/support).

We know this has been a big inconvenience to our customers and we are sorry for that, and want to thank them for their patience.

Q:  Why is this issue isolated to the Zune 30 device?
It is a bug in a driver for a part that is only used in the Zune 30 device.

Q:  What fixes or patches are you putting in place to resolve this situation?
This situation should remedy itself over the next 24 hours as the time flips to January 1st.

Q:  What’s the timeline on a fix?
The issue Zune 30GB customers are experiencing today will self resolve as time changes to January 1.

Q:  Why did this occur at precisely 12:01 a.m. on December 31, 2008?
There is a bug in the internal clock driver causing the 30GB device to improperly handle the last day of a leap year.

Q:  What is Zune doing to fix this issue?
The issue should resolve itself.

Q:  Are you sure that this won’t happen to all 80, 120 or other flash devices?
This issue is related to a part that is only used in Zune 30 devices.

Q:  How many 30GB Zune devices are affected? How many Zune 30GB devices were sold?
All 30GB devices are potentially affected.

Q:  Will you update the firmware before the next leap year (2012)?
Yes.

Source: ZuneInsider

you say this is only happening to the 30 gigs but i have a 80 gig and it is doing it what do i do

I have run the battery down to nothing and I am now recharging it but it looks like it is still locked to the display screen. Is there anything I can do

you have to wait one hour with the dead battery before you try to recharge it.  try that first.  if that fails, you'll have to open the case to unplug the battery and the other connection in there in order to do the hard restart. which is what i had to do.

ok here is exactly what i did.  when you have the case off of it, use your thumb nail to pop open both of the connections where the two ribbons go in, on both sides of the zune.  then, first press down the short ribbon's connector on the left side, then press battery ribbon connector on the right side.  once you do this, the zune should power up with the loading screen, then go to the main menu (but the d-pad will still be unresponsive for navigating).  once you get to the main menu, you need to re-boot it with back+up.  the zune will shut down, and begin to power up again.  as SOON as the screen lights up, press and hold back, center button, and left all at the same time.  this will begin the hard restart.

make sure you reboot it first because otherwise i dont think it will work.  also, make sure your battery is pretty well charged before you do the reset, otherwise it will die in the middle of the reset.  also, you cant have it plugged in while you do this.

so once you do the back, center, and left combo the screen will say that it's resetting or something like that, and it will take a few minutes to clear itself of all data.

 once you clear it, it will prompt you to connect it to your pc.  then you can re-install the firmware to the device.  and finally you can put all of your content back on it too (which only took me about an hour)

  let me know if you get stuck on any of these steps, and if it does or doesn't work for you.  and if my directions give you trouble, you can go to

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/927001/?sd=zune

for a little more detailed directions on resetting it.