Microsoft Issues Workaround For Zune Freeze 277
UnknowingFool writes "As a followup to the Zune New Year's Eve meltdown, Microsoft has issued a workaround for what some users have correctly guessed was a bug caused by a leap year. To recover from the problem, let the Zune drain the batteries and restart it after noon on January 1, 2009. Many sites are reporting that Microsoft has 'fixed' the issue, but technically all Microsoft has done is to ask users to wait out the conditions that triggered the bug. Unless a software patch comes out, Zunes will suffer the same problem again in four years." Reader ndtechnologies adds, "According to posts in the Toshiba forum at anythingbutipod.com, the same bug that shut down millions of Zune 30's also affects the Toshiba Gigabeat S. The Zune 30 is based off of the Gigabeat S series and was co-developed by Microsoft with Toshiba."
It probably won't last another 4 years (Score:5, Funny)
Cinderella (Score:0, Funny)
If you think about it, Cinderella was just a piece of pro-DRM propaganda.
Oh shit, my Zune just turned into a pumpkin.
Re:Testing!?! (Score:3, Funny)
What's Y2K? Isn't it 1909 now....?
Re:Can anyone explain this bug? (Score:5, Funny)
if (year % 400 == 0) hard_crash()
else if (year % 100 == 0) boot()
else if (year % 4 == 0) hard_crash()
else boot()
Amazing.. (Score:5, Funny)
The first step to fix any microsoft problem - reboot.
Re:Testing!?! (Score:2, Funny)
Well, judging from the number of Zune owners who couldn't listen to music on new years eve, it probably should be.
What, all three of them?
Instead of bothering with a fix (Score:5, Funny)
Wouldn't it be faster for Microsoft to simply give each of the 8 users a call and walk them through the work-around? If their numbers change in the next four years, they can simply notify Zune support.
My Experience (Score:5, Funny)
I hadn't turned on the Zune before I read about the problem, so I just left it off and turned it on the morning of Jan 1 and everything worked fine, no need to drain battery or anything.
The above is not an admission that I own a Zune, just what I theoretically would have done and the theoretical results, based on heavy pretend observations.
Re:Can anyone explain this bug? (Score:5, Funny)
Typical MS. They're copying Apple again but this time too literally. :P
Re:It probably won't last another 4 years (Score:3, Funny)
That's ok; since I am an American you could have used grams of fairy dust and it would have meant as much to me as pounds and pence.
Workaround for Zune found (Score:2, Funny)