How to determine the actual battery life of a Zune device

This article describes a standard process that you can use to determine the actual battery life that you experience on a Zune device. You can use these results to compare with the maximum battery life that is possible.

The way that you use the Zune device strongly affects the life of the battery. Additionally, the rechargeable lithium-ion battery in the Zune device has a limited number of charge-discharge cycles. Over time, the battery will lose some of its capacity. Following this process will help determine the battery life of the Zune device.

To determine the actual battery life of a Zune device, follow these steps:

1. Connect the Zune device to the computer that has the current Zune software installed, and then update the device to the current device software version. For more information about how to update the software on a Zune device, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
   926770  (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/926770/ ) How to update your Zune device
2. With the battery in the device at least half empty and in a room-temperature environment, restart the Zune device, and then charge it. To restart the Zune player, follow the instructions for the kind of player that you have:
   • Zune HD player: Press and hold the On/Off button for about 10 seconds until the player restarts.
   • Non-touchscreen Zune player: Set the Hold switch to the unlocked position, and then press and hold the Back button
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     as you press the top of the Zune pad. When the Zune device starts to restart, you can release the buttons.
3. Start the Zune software, and then rip music from an audio CD that you own. Rip the audio content into the Microsoft Windows Media Audio (constant bit rate) format with a slightly above average audio quality of "Uses about 56 MB per CD (128 Kbps)". To locate rip settings for the Zune software, click Settings, click software, and then click Rip.
4. Sync this album to the Zune device, and then exit the Zune software.
5. On the Zune player, select settings, and then configure the following options:
   1. Select wireless, and then set wireless to off.
   2. On the settings screen, select display, set timeout to 1 minute for a Zune HD player or set backlight to 15 seconds for a non-touchscreen player, and then set brightness to medium.
6. Make sure that the device indicates that it is fully charged, and then disconnect the device from the Zune sync cable. Connect earphones to the headphone jack. Keep the device in an environment at room temperature.
7. On the home screen on the device, select music, select albums, and then select the album that you ripped in step 3. Select play all, and then set the volume to 8. Make sure that the album is set to repeat.
8. When you notice that playback of the album stops, make sure thatthe battery has drained. Note the time. This is your end time.

When you follow these steps, the maximum possible battery life depends on the device:

• Zune 4GB, Zune 8GB, or Zune 16GB: 24 hours
• Zune 30GB: 14 hours
• Zune 80GB or Zune 120GB: 30 hours
• Zune HD 16GB or Zune HD 32GB: 33 hours

Use the start and the end times that you noted to compute the actual time that the Zune device’s battery lasted. If your results indicate that you are obtaining significantly less battery life than the maximum possible, your battery may not be operating correctly. You may have to contact support for more help.

For more information about maximizing the amount of time a battery charge will last, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: For more information about the battery in the Zune device, visit the following Zune Web site: