Microsoft blames clock bug for Zune glitches, promises magic fix |
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Microsoft blames clock bug for Zune glitches, promises magic fix
Microsoft says a problem with the internal clock in its 30GB Zune players, related to the leap year, caused the widespread device failures reported earlier today. However, the company says the device should fix itself as the clock shifts to Jan. 1.
"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 company said in a statement. "That being the case, the issue should be resolved over the next 24 hours as the time change moves to January 1, 2009."
The company is apologizing to customers, and but it's not clear if that will be enough to appease the people affected by the problem. In some of the forums earlier today, Zune users were talking about the possibility of a class-action lawsuit. The ultimate sentiment will probably depend on whether the Zunes actually fix themselves magically.
Read on for the complete statement.
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. That being the case, 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.
All in all, it's still a bizarre incident, given the way the 30GB Zunes just suddenly stopped working, all at once. Even if the devices are able to heal themselves in the next day, there's still a premise for a great science-fiction novel somewhere in here.
Update, 3:20 p.m.: Here's a good one from the funny guys over at the Naked Loon: A live webcam of a 30GB Zune -- "to provide continuing, up-to-the-minute coverage of this important worldwide crisis."
About Todd Bishop
Todd Bishop is co-founder and managing editor of TechFlash. He has covered Microsoft and the technology industry for more than five years, most recently as a daily newspaper reporter and blogger based in Seattle.
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