Brian Jackson's IT Blog » Zune HD

A media usage rights error has occurred…

Brian Jackson — Thu, 03 Feb 2011 19:17:37 +0000

The dreaded Microsoft Zune Software error.

“A media usage rights error has occurred. For help fixing this problem, click Web Help. Error Code C00D12F5″

I have received this message a few times after reformatting or moving things around.
Here are the instructions to fix it.

Step 1

Download the DRM reset exe from Microsoft: http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink?linkid=105000.

Step 2

Run the exe.

Step 3

Restart your Zune Software. That should fix your issue.

Sync Zune Pass Subscription between two computers

Brian Jackson — Sat, 08 Jan 2011 23:32:00 +0000

I have had a Zune Pass subscription for quite some time now and love it for downloading and organizing my music.

Zune Pass

I have the x64 Zune software installed on my home computer, work computer, and laptop; so I am using the three total already that you are allowed. The annoyance I had was syncing the new content between all of my computers. Microsoft’s website and support says that you have to manually click the “Restore All” option when you are at a computer with out of date content.

Zune - Restore All

And that works ok… but there is a much better way that syncs everything automatically, without ever having to manually update it.
I am referring to the new Windows Live Mesh software.

Windows Live Mesh

For those of you who might have tried this software earlier and disliked it, try it again as they have improved it a lot. Basically what we are going to do is setup Windows Live Mesh to sync our subscription folder between computers.

Step #1

Install Windows Live Mesh on each computer you have your Zune Software on.
(Download wlsetup-web.exe)

Step #2

Windows Live Mesh is part of Windows Essentials, and if you are like me, you don’t want all of the software. So after you launch wlsetup-web.exe, select “Choose the programs you want to install.”

Windows Essentials

Step #3

Choose Windows Live Mesh, uncheck everything else, and click install.

Windows Live Mesh Selection

Step #4

Step #5

Click on “Sync a folder”.

Sync Folder - Windows Live Mesh

Step #6

Browse to your Music folder and click on your “Subscription” folder, then hit sync.

Live Mesh - Subscription

Step #7

Repeat this procedure on your other computers and anytime you download new music, podcasts, etc… they will immediately sync with Windows Live Mesh to your other computers. I have been using this method for about 3 months and it works great!

Zune HD 16GB 4.3 Firmware Update Trick

Brian Jackson — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 00:27:45 +0000

If you are like me you probably haven’t been very happy with the Zune HD browser. The 4.3 update fixes a lot of the problems with the browser and it is a lot more responsive. After installing the update you will now have an option in settings that you can have the browser render as “mobile” or as “desktop”. (If only we could get rid of the BING search) All the firmware update changes can be found on Gizmodo. I had trouble updating my firmware, it didn’t say I needed an update, said that 4.1 was the newest version. Here is what I did to fix the problem. (I am running Windows 7, but same options apply under XP or Vista)

Step #1

Unplug your Zune from USB and close your Zune software.

Step #2

Go to your control panel.

Zune Control Panel

Step #3

Click on Clock, Language, and Region

Zune Region Settings

Step #4

Click on “change location”.

Zune Change Location

Step #5

Change your location to “United Kingdom”.

Zune UK

Step #6

Now plug your Zune back in and launch the Zune software. Go to settings at top right and then to “Player Update” on left hand side.

Zune Player Update

Step #7

It should now ask you to upgrade player to 4.3. Select “Upgrade”. This will take a minute or two.

Step #8

You should now see a confirmation screen saying your player is fully up to date.

Zune Player 4.3

Step #9

You can now go back to control panel and change your region back to US.