It seems a lot of people have been checking out the Zune for the past couple years, and now everyone got a new Zune for Christmas! If you happened to get a Zune instead of an iPod, you will probably need to read the manual to get everything setup. You could go the standard route and head to www.zune.net/setup,or be smart and read our guide right here. (A lot of people were having trouble with the standard zune.net/setup instructions.)

(Beforehand, it would help to have a Zune with a freshly charged battery, a PC, a sync cable, and a Windows Live ID, which could be from a hotmail account.)

Zune Setup Step #1: Download Software.

OK, so you still have to go to www.zune.net/setup to download the latest software that you’ll install on your computer.

Zune Setup Step #2: Install Software.

Now, install the software. Just click the installation icon, accept the license agreement, and it gets going.

Zune Setup Step #3: Connect the Zune.

Here comes the tricky part – getting your Zune connected and configured to work with your computer. Start by connecting your Zune to your PC with the included sync cable (when prompted.) Then sync the Zune with the library on your PC. (Just follow a few simple prompts and click the recommended configuration.)

Zune Setup Step #4: Personalize your Zune.

“Tag” the Zune with your screen name and connect it to your Windows Live account (possibly your “@hotmail.com” email.)

Zune Setup Step #5: Buy stuff.

Once your Zune is synced to your computer with the software, then you can load the Zune store, buy Microsoft points, and download music from Zune Marketplace.

* If you get errors or your system crashes during the install, try uninstalling and starting over. Unfortunately these problems happen too often with Microsoft products…

Zune software is a digital media manager for your computer. Play and organize your collection, rip and burn CDs, create playlists, sync them to your device… even stream music, movies, podcasts, and pictures over your home wireless network.

The Zune software is the hub for all your entertainment. Enjoy, manage, or share your media in one place. With powerful music discovery tools like Smart DJ and Mixview, you’ll revisit old favorites or discover new ones.

Shop Zune Marketplace for millions of songs, videos, podcasts, and TV shows. Search by artist, browse by genre, or choose from over a thousand hand-picked playlists. Found what you like? Just click and buy individual songs, albums, and videos.

Zune unites wireless MP3 players, PC software, an online Marketplace and a Social network together in the ultimate entertainment service.

Zune

In October 2011, Microsoft announced the discontinuation of all Zune hardware, encouraging users to transition to Windows Phone.

First generation

The first-generation Zune device was created by Microsoft in close cooperation with Toshiba, which took the design of the Gigabeat S and redeveloped it under the name Toshiba 1089 as registered with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) starting in 2006. Xbox 360 overseer J Allard ran the project, codenamed “Argo,” staffed with Xbox and MSN Music Store developers who worked on “Alexandria”, finalized as Zune Marketplace.Both products were later united under the Zune brand name in the U.S. market.

At midnight on December 31, 2008, many first generation Zune 30 models froze. Microsoft stated that the problem was caused by the internal clock driver written by Freescale and the way the device handles a leap year. An intermediate “fix” was to drain the device’s battery and then recharge after 12 noon GMT on January 1, 2009.

The first generation and later Zune devices included a number of social features, including the ability to share songs with other Zune users wirelessly. Songs that had been transferred over wi-fi could then be played three times over three days.

To start using your Zune, first get the latest version of the Zune software for your computer from www.zune.net/setup or here. Then charge your Zune and load it up with your music, videos, pictures, podcasts, and friends.

Once done, connect your Zune to your computer. Use a rear USB port if possible for the best charge. You can connect it using the sync cable (supplied with your Zune) or the Zune dock.You might need to wait a few minutes after plugging in your Zune while the battery charges enough to start.

When your Zune turns on, the Zune software will take you through the setup process. Now follow these steps:

• Accept the update. You’ll be prompted for an update to guarantee that your Zune gets all the latest features. When the update is complete, your Zune will restart by itself.
• Name your Zune. When you have wireless on, you’ll be “visible” to other Zune owners nearby, and the name you give your Zune is the name they’ll see.
• Link your Zune to your Zune Tag. A Zune Tag is a name that represents you in the Social. On the naming screen, you have the option to link your Zune to a Zune Tag. If you created a Zune account at any point before or during installation, you’ll already have a Zune Tag. If you don’t have one, you’ll have a chance to create one if you want.
• Link your Zune with your computer. When you link your Zune with your computer, your music, pictures, videos, games, podcasts, and friends are automatically synced to your Zune, according to the preferences you set, every time you connect it.
• Choose what to sync. Decide what gets added to your Zune and what gets skipped every time you connect to your computer.
• Fill up your Zune. The last step is syncing your music, videos, pictures, channels, podcasts, and friends to your Zune. Depending on the storage capacity of your Zune and the amount of stuff you have, this could take a while.

When you start the Zune software for the first time, the software automatically searches the computer for music, videos, and pictures that you can add to your collection. The Zune software monitors the computer regularly for any new music, videos, or pictures that you save. The Zune software can also add any new music or videos that you play on the computer from zune.net/setup.