14 DAY TRIAL // Zune users that have also upgraded to Windows 7 Beta Build 7000 or later have been reporting synchronization issues between the digital media player and the operating system. Various reports, including one from David Szabo, Microsoft IW consultant, indicate that Zune is not synchronizing with the first and only Beta of Windows 7. "More precisely – it’s charging but not syncing (the little Zune icon doesn’t display in the Zune app)," Szabo revealed. Fortunately enough, there is a simple solution available that has the potential to resolve the syncing problems between Zune and Windows 7 Beta.
“Important note after installing Windows 7 Beta: your device may not show up in the software after you install Win7. If this is the case, run the Zune software as an administrator, then connect your device,” revealed Matt Akers, from the Zune Product Team. “To run as an administrator, right click the Zune software shortcut and choose "run as administrator". Once the software launches, connect your device and you should be good to go. You should only have to run as admin once for the Zune to be recognized properly.”
Provided that there are no other issues except the integration of Zune with the Windows 7 Beta, running the app with administrator privileges will allow end users to synchronize the device with the platform. At the same time, this solution might fail at first. In such a case Microsoft recommends that users upgrade to the latest release of the Zune software, namely Zune 3.1.
"If your Zune still doesn't show up in the software after running as administrator try uninstalling the software, then reinstall it from the package," Akers added. Such a scenario also involves launching the Zune 3.1 Setup with administrative privileges, in order to avoid issues where the application will fail to install.
Zune 3.1 is available for download here.