How to erase all content from your Zune device

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SUMMARY

This article describes how to erase all content from your Zune device. Erasing the hard drive will remove all apps, music, videos, pictures, podcasts, and friends that are stored on the Zune device.

When possible, we recommend that you sync your Zune device with the Zune client software on your computer to back up any Zune Marketplace content before you perform the following steps. For more information about how to back up your content, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

952590 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/952590/ ) How to back up content that you purchased from the Zune Marketplace

To erase all content from your Zune device, follow these steps:

Start the Zune software on the computer.
Connect your Zune device by using the Zune Sync Cable.
Click settings, and then click device.
Click Sync Options, and then click Erase All Content.
When you receive the following message, click Yes:
Please Confirm. Are you sure you want to erase the contents of the connected Zune?

You receive the "Erase All Contents" message. This may take several minutes. Do not move or disconnect the Zune device until the message disappears.

If you applied a custom background picture, the erase procedure will not remove it.

For more information about how to remove the custom background, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

926918 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/926918/ ) After you erase all content from your Zune device, the picture that you applied as the background is still visible