Running Zune on Vista!

Published 17 November 06 05:56 AM | mrdecav

UPDATE: I've seen alot of people searching for how to run Zune on Vista, long after Vista was released.  You can run Zune on Vista, and if you're having trouble, go download the latest player software at http://www.zune.net. 

So it is possible!  Zune can run and sync on Vista.  There are some minor quirks (mostly graphical), but it works.

After hacking up the MSI (editing the MSI tables and what not) and doing some other tuning, I've gotten my brand new brown Zune to sync with the Zune Marketplace on Vista RC1.  Right on!

Sure enough, while Microsoft may be worried about stablity, Zune DOES work with Vista

 

 

 

 

Quick disclaimer:  I'm not responsible for you screwing your system up.  Also, please note that I already plugged my Zune into a Windows XP machine and had the firmware update to 1.1.  While I anticipate you can do this on Vista, I HAVE NOT tested this scenario.  Firmware updates are fragile, so don't screw around with it if you don't know what you're doing.  You may have a nice brown paperweight.

  • Download and run orca.exe (this is a disassembler for MSI that is supplied by Microsoft).  Orca is part of the Windows SDK.
  • Pop the Zune CD in the drive and run d:\packages\zune\zune-x86-enu.msi
  • Search your harddrive for "zune.msi" and copy it somewhere (like to your desktop)
  • Open the package in ORCA and navigate to the "LaunchCondition" table.  Remove the condition row that says that the MSI must be running under ZuneSetup.exe
  • Navigate to the MsiDriverPackages table and remove the driver installation.
  • Save your changes and run the MSI.
  • Try to run Zune from the start menu, you will get an error saying that the OS is not supported.
  • Right click on the shortcut, and set compatibility mode to XP SP2.
  • ***You may have to restart the machine at this point***
  • Run Zune again and plugin your Zune.  The device should be discovered and the Zune should be ready for sync.
  • If Windows doesn't auto-install the Zune, you will find the INF in "c:\program files\Zune"
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Comments

# Anonymous said on November 19, 2006 02:08 AM:

I was able to get the zune software to install, and even see the zune in my device list in device manager, but it doesn't show up as a syncable device in the zune software. What should I try?

# Anonymous said on November 19, 2006 03:10 AM:

Nevermind! I figured it out. Clicking the "Run as administrator" checkbox at the bottom of the compatibility tab and it works like a charm.

# Anonymous said on November 19, 2006 01:40 PM:

My install simply rollsback after running the modified .msi?  Any other suggestions?

Thanks!

# mrdecav said on November 19, 2006 07:59 PM:

If the install rolls back in the MSI, you did not properly disable the driver install.  Theres an MsiDriverPackages or something of the sort -- you need to delete the values in there.  The driver install fails the MSI, but works fine from the Zune software (go figure)

# Anonymous said on November 19, 2006 09:04 PM:

Yay, this totally works! You're my hero.

# Anonymous said on November 22, 2006 12:46 AM:

I like it, the community starts the hacks on Zune ;)

# Anonymous said on November 22, 2006 01:46 AM:

Hmmm, Wonder if this works on x64...prob not as the driver is prob only 32bit. I am sure the software can be run under WOW though.

# Anonymous said on November 22, 2006 01:46 AM:

Hmmm, Wonder if this works on x64...prob not as the driver is prob only 32bit. I am sure the software can be run under WOW though.

# aketo.de … ze zune zine » It’s done: Zune unter Vista said on November 22, 2006 10:08 AM:

PingBack from http://www.aketo.de/2006/11/22/its-done-zune-unter-vista/

# RSS fabriek » Blog Archive » Get your Zune to play nice with Windows Vista said on November 23, 2006 04:09 AM:

PingBack from http://www.rssfabriek.nl/?p=1582

# How to make your Zune get along with Windows Vista - TechFresh.net - Tech News - Apple iPods Cell Phones Laptop Digital Cameras HDTV DVR said on November 23, 2006 05:20 AM:

PingBack from http://www.techfresh.net/archives/2006/11/22/how-to-make-your-zune-get-along-with-windows-vista/

# Newset gadgets » Get your Zune to play nice with Windows Vista said on November 23, 2006 06:03 AM:

PingBack from http://www.199keys.com/2006/11/23/get-your-zune-to-play-nice-with-windows-vista/

# Anonymous said on November 23, 2006 05:17 PM:

how about posting the modified msi on filemirrors so the rest of us can get at it the 'lazy' way?

# Kolz Blog » Blog Archive » Get your Zune to play nice with Windows Vista said on November 23, 2006 07:41 PM:

PingBack from http://www.kolzow.com/blog/?p=466

# Anonymous said on November 24, 2006 10:51 PM:

I was able to get the software installed but I am unable to get the driver installed.  Everytime I try to (I try to update the driver via Device Manager) by pointing to c:\program files\Zune it tells me it can't find the drivers.  Any Ideas?

PS I am running the Zune software in compatibility mode and as an administrator.

Thanks!!

# mrdecav said on November 25, 2006 02:38 AM:

The software installed it for me the first time I tried to sync (just plugged it in with the Zune software running).  That being said, make sure zune.inf is in the program files folder.

# Anonymous said on November 25, 2006 01:33 PM:

zune.inf is in the Program Files\Zune folder.  I have tried to install just the Inf (via right click install) but it says it is not able to.

# Anonymous said on November 25, 2006 06:55 PM:

Also, I am on Vista RTM.

# Gadgets » Daily news and reviews of the hottest gadgets and consumer electronics. » Get your Zune to play nice with Windows Vista said on November 25, 2006 09:15 PM:

PingBack from http://wims.com.au/2006/11/23/get-your-zune-to-play-nice-with-windows-vista-4/

# Anonymous said on November 26, 2006 06:10 PM:

Just wondering if anyone has gotten this to on vista x64?  Keep getting install ended premature error.  system not modified. Any ideas?  running rc2 x64.

# Gadgets » Daily news and reviews of the hottest gadgets and consumer electronics. » Get your Zune to play nice with Windows Vista said on November 26, 2006 08:37 PM:

PingBack from http://wims.com.au/2006/11/23/get-your-zune-to-play-nice-with-windows-vista-5/

# Trankera Blog » ???????????? » Destravando Zune para copiar arquivos said on November 27, 2006 07:49 PM:

PingBack from http://www.trankera.org/blog/2006/11/27/destravando-zune-para-copiar-arquivos/

# Gadgets » Daily news and reviews of the hottest gadgets and consumer electronics. » Get your Zune to play nice with Windows Vista said on November 28, 2006 11:36 AM:

PingBack from http://wims.com.au/2006/11/23/get-your-zune-to-play-nice-with-windows-vista-6/

# Gadgets » Daily news and reviews of the hottest gadgets and consumer electronics. » Get your Zune to play nice with Windows Vista said on November 28, 2006 07:40 PM:

PingBack from http://wims.com.au/2006/11/23/get-your-zune-to-play-nice-with-windows-vista-7/

# Gadgets » Daily news and reviews of the hottest gadgets and consumer electronics. » Get your Zune to play nice with Windows Vista said on November 30, 2006 09:31 AM:

PingBack from http://wims.com.au/2006/11/23/get-your-zune-to-play-nice-with-windows-vista-8/

# Gadgets » Daily news and reviews of the hottest gadgets and consumer electronics. » Get your Zune to play nice with Windows Vista said on December 1, 2006 07:19 PM:

PingBack from http://wims.com.au/2006/11/23/get-your-zune-to-play-nice-with-windows-vista-9/

# Gadgets » Daily news and reviews of the hottest gadgets and consumer electronics. » Get your Zune to play nice with Windows Vista said on December 1, 2006 11:08 PM:

PingBack from http://wims.com.au/2006/11/23/get-your-zune-to-play-nice-with-windows-vista-10/

# Gadgets » Daily news and reviews of the hottest gadgets and consumer electronics. » Get your Zune to play nice with Windows Vista said on December 2, 2006 07:20 AM:

PingBack from http://wims.com.au/2006/11/23/get-your-zune-to-play-nice-with-windows-vista-11/

# Anonymous said on December 2, 2006 09:04 PM:

For those of you trying to get Zune to work on Windows XP x64 or Windows Vista x64, check out this guide:  http://www.zune-online.com/news/zune/zune-on-windows-xp-pro-64-bit.html.  I followed this process to install on Vista x64 and it worked!

# Gadgets » Daily news and reviews of the hottest gadgets and consumer electronics. » Get your Zune to play nice with Windows Vista said on December 3, 2006 07:26 PM:

PingBack from http://wims.com.au/2006/11/23/get-your-zune-to-play-nice-with-windows-vista-15/

# Gadgets » Daily news and reviews of the hottest gadgets and consumer electronics. » Get your Zune to play nice with Windows Vista said on December 5, 2006 09:43 AM:

PingBack from http://wims.com.au/2006/11/23/get-your-zune-to-play-nice-with-windows-vista-16/

# Anonymous said on December 27, 2006 12:04 AM:

Can this work on Windows Media Center 2002?

# Anonymous said on January 21, 2007 03:28 AM:

i am running rc1 and i can't get the orca file cna u please send it to me at cfkvision@gmail.com and also maybe detailed instructions because i can't get it to work.

# Anonymous said on June 26, 2007 09:55 AM:

i have no idea of computers and cannot install my zune. my computer is a brand new vista operating gateway. it keeps saying there is an error in the driver install. I had installed in on XP at my school. Is there an easy way for computer ignorant people?

# Anonymous said on October 5, 2007 05:54 AM:

Hey guys..

im trying to get my zune to work on my hp Laptop dv2200 i think, its a amd turion 64x2 its the dual.

i have vista installed on it also. it worked when i first got the zune and installed it, but then my vista crashed and had to be reboted and now i cant get it to work i have tried the modoco way and it worked the first time but i shut down my laptop for the night then the next day it wouldnt work and i would keep getting this screen saying "log off and log on and start zune right away"

pls email me johnh7@gmail.com and let me know what i can do with this.

im currently in iraq and this zune would be alot of help with the boredum and stupidety of this war if it would work right.

thanks

# Anonymous said on December 13, 2007 01:04 PM:

The most current problem with my zune and vista are tied with a vista update that somehow messes up my wireless notification with a "Server Execution Failed" message. I have done this now on my third machine with the identical problem and here's what I did:

>>Right click "Computer"

>>Click "Manage"

>>Under the "System Tools" section, Double click "Local Users and Groups"

>>Click "Groups"

>>Right click "Administrators"

>>Click "Add to group..."

>>Click "Add"

>>Click "Advanced"

>>Click "Find Now"

>>Double click "Local Service"

>>Click "Ok"

>>"NT Authority\Local Service" should show up in the list now

>>Click "Ok"

>>Close Computer Management and reboot.

Remember, all credit goes to BlueShot @ Microsoft TechNet Forums!

Trust me, it works, without having to download any package from zune or what not, because they don't even realize that a vista update caused this problem with synchronizing.

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