Zune - Firmware update leads to C00D1249

Zune - Firmware update leads to C00D1249 15 Jan 2008 21:34

Ive started using my Zune again lately and a couple of days ago it wanted me to update to the 2.3 firmware. Apparently this happens once a month. No problem. Lets go!

For those of you without a Zune, the firmware update process consists of a the Zune software uploading a new CAB file to the Zune and then triggering a series of reboots. Cool!

For those of you without a Zune, you will also be blissfully unaware of how brittle this process can be, you see 20 seconds after my firmware updated started, the Zune rebooted and displayed a very unhelpful message "Please connect the Zune to your PC and reinstall the Firmware" - eh?

On the PC side I get an even less helpful message stating "Your device failed to update, error C00D1249". And then you guessed it, time to update the firmware all over again ;)

Unfortunately once you have entered this cycle you are largely trapped and left with a nice Brown, Black or White brick on your desk.

So how to fix it? Well the KB article on my subject is decidedly unhelpful other than to tell me that there are quite a few nasty errors I didnt encounter (except I probably hit the worst one - typical luck..). Some better documentation would be nice, although I did enjoy the suggestion of "5. Try to update the software on the Zune device again. You may succeed on the second try." :)

Thankfully for them and me Im a little more persistant about fixing these things and after trying a fair number of combinations and learning about all the fancy shortcut keys for rebooting or reformatting your Zune (none of which helped much either) I found that the problem seems to stem from being connected to a particular USB port which the device doesnt like. On plugging the Zune in to a new USB port on a seperate PC the firmware update finally succeeded. Daringly (or insanely?) I reformatted the Zune and reproed the issue (and fix) again just to verify the behavior - again a different USB port on another PC and sorted.

So looks like that USB port is off the menu for my Zune for now. For those of you with bricked Zunes desperately searching for some help, I hope this solves your problem since it sorted mine.

kmvargo - @ 25 Jan 2008 03:21
Just bought a slightly used second hand 30GB Zune. Ran into the same issue. Hooked it up to my 2nd PC and it updated without a hitch. Thanks for the suggestion.

Flamer - @ 30 Jan 2008 11:37
Good to know... :)

PeterLePresident - @ 20 Feb 2008 11:25
Thank you so much for the info it was driving me insane! It has been a week since this happen to me and I was starting to desperate. Thank you again :)

4802027675 - @ 23 Apr 2008 08:01
i tried it and it didnt work if anyone knows of another way please call

Liz - @ 02 Jun 2008 11:07
I tried as well and it still didn't work. Hmm.

J. Santiago Scarfo - @ 03 Jul 2008 04:55
I have a small Zune shop in Mexico and have had several Zunes with errors like these. Zunes are very sensitive to connection problems. Your first option is to try a different port on your computer, USB ports on the back are better... you're looking for the USB port with the best connectivity to the motherboard, some trial and error might be necessary. Your second option is to try another Zune cable, I've seen this a couple of times... your Zune will charge but will have trouble syncing and installing. If nothing works, your hard drive might be damaged. Good luck!

J. Santiago Scarfo - @ 03 Jul 2008 04:56
I have a small Zune shop in Mexico and have had several Zunes with errors like these. Zunes are very sensitive to connection problems. Your first option is to try a different port on your computer, USB ports on the back are better... you're looking for the USB port with the best connectivity to the motherboard, some trial and error might be necessary. Your second option is to try another Zune cable, I've seen this a couple of times... your Zune will charge but will have trouble syncing and installing. If nothing works, your hard drive might be damaged. Good luck!

dcgalley - @ 20 Jul 2008 06:29
It worked! I was hosed until I tried this...Thanks!

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