My zune is not detected by my laptop or zune software.

Did you download the Zune software?

The Zune website has the Zune software which must be downloaded for your computer to communicate with your Zune.

And when you connect your Zune to your computer it should begin charging (as I'm assuming this is a new device).

If you have already installed the software I would assume the low battery was slowing the communication between your Zune and your computer.

If you Zune is fully charged and the software is fully installed try plugging the USB cable into a different port. Sometimes the Zune and the connector USB isn't automatically sensed on certain ports and certain moments.

I would first allow the Zune to completely charge (the battery symbol should be full and green[i believe--it's been a while since I first got mine]).

I would then unplug the device and restart the computer. Once your computer has completely rebooted connect the device to the computer and see if it detects the device. It should work. Also you might try another USB port.

I found this on the Zune technical support (if this does help, be sure to rate my solution please):
Your Zune device is not detected by your computer or the Zune software
View products that this article applies to.

SYMPTOMS
When you try to use Zune Software, you experience one or more of the following symptoms:
• The Zune device is not detected by the computer. 
• The Zune device is not detected by Zune Software. In this case, when you pause on the device icon in the lower-left corner, you receive the following error message:
No Zune device connected 
• If you restored the Zune device software, the following messages are displayed on the Zune device:
Connect Zune to your PC
On your PC, open the Zune software and restore the Zune device firmware 

THINGS TO TRY
To resolve this issue, follow these steps:1. Update the Zune software on the computer. To do this, click settings, click software, click GENERAL, and then click CHECK FOR UPDATES.

If the issue is still not resolved, go to the next step. 
2. Restart the Zune device. 

To do this, follow these steps: a. Set the Hold switch to the unlocked position. 
b. Press and hold the Back button as you press the top of the Zune pad. 
When the Zune device begins to restart, release the buttons. 

If the issue is still not resolved, go to the next step. 
3. Disconnect the Zune device from the computer, restart the computer, and then reconnect the Zune device. 

If the issue is still not resolved, go to the next step. 
4. Connect the Zune device to a different USB port on the computer. Use a USB port on the back of the computer. Do not use a USB hub. 

If the issue is still not resolved, go to the next step. 
5. When you connect the Zune Sync Cable to the connector port of the Zune device, make sure that both ends of the sync cable click into position. Additionally, make sure that the sync cable is not connected to the device at an angle. 
6. Connect only one Zune device at a time. If you already have a Zune device connected to the computer, any other Zune that you try to connect will not be detected by the Zune software. Disconnect any additional Zune devices, and then try to connect again.

If the issue is still not resolved, go to the next step. 
7. If a full-screen battery image appears when you connect the device to the computer, you must let the device charge for several minutes before the device will start and be detected by the computer. 

For more information about how to charge a Zune device, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: 
927348 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/927348/) How to charge the battery in your Zune device 
If the issue is still not resolved, go to the next step. 
8. If you are using Windows Vista, install the Cumulative update rollup for USB core components in Windows Vista software update. This update resolves some reliability issues in the USB core components in Windows Vista. You will achieve better reliability in various scenarios by installing this update. 

For more information about this update, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: 
941600 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/941600/) Cumulative update rollup for USB core components in Windows Vista 
If you are not using Windows Vista, or if the issue is still not resolved, go to the next step. 
9. Examine Windows Device Manager. To do this, follow these steps:a. Click Start, right-click Computer, and then click Properties. 
b. Click Device Manager. Zune should be listed under Portable Devices. 
Note If the device was installed incorrectly, Zune may be listed together with a yellow exclamation mark (!). Or, it may be listed under Other devices as USB Device.
Double-click Zune, and then click the Driver tab. The current version of the driver that is installed should be 2.3.1035.0.

If Windows Device Manager indicates a device problem, or if the version of the driver that is installed is not the current version, you must update the driver. To do this, follow these steps: 1. Right-click Zune or USB Device, and then click Properties. 
2. Click the Driver tab, and then click Update Driver. 
3. Click Search automatically for updated driver software. 
4. Click Install if you are prompted to do this. 
5. After the driver installation is complete, click Close. 
If Windows Device Manager found the drivers, click Close. If you want to locate the drivers manually, follow these steps:1. In the Zune Properties dialog box, click Update Driver. 
2. Click Browse my computer for driver software. 
3. Click Browse, locate the \Program Files\Zune\Drivers folder, and then click OK. 
4. Click Next. 
5. Click Install if you are prompted to do this. 
6. After the driver installation is complete, click Close, and then click Close again. 

If the issue is still not resolved, go to the next step. 
10. Examine the computer for conflicts that involve the USB host controller or the root hub. To do this, follow these steps:a. Click Start, right-click Computer, and then click Properties. 
b. Click Device Manager. 
c. Expand Universal Serial Bus controllers. 
d. Verify that no errors appear in the list of USB devices. A yellow exclamation point or a red "X" next to a device indicates errors. If any errors appear, contact the manufacturer of your computer. 

For more information about how to troubleshoot conflicts in Device Manager, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: 
310126 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/310126/) Troubleshooting device conflicts with Device Manager 
If the issue is still not resolved, go to the next step. 

11. Try using a different Zune Sync Cable.

Try this.

Lot's of steps, but one might just work for you.

if it is new you have to set it up with your zune software. if it died then you have to plug it in for a little while until it charges a little. hope it helps.

http://www.rapidrepair.com/guides/zune/zuneassemblyguide.htm

this will help.

Listen everyone this is what happened to me and what I did. Let the battery drain completely (unplugged from computer). It usually takes 5 to 6 hours to drain completely.
Then plug back in and hold the back and down button at the same time. Zune should resume functioning afterwards. All that is needed is a recharge.

Power sources that are supported loadTOCNode(2, 'moreinformation'); To charge the battery in your Zune device, you must connect the Zune device to one of the following supported power sources:

• A computer’s USB port that you can connect to by using a Zune Sync Cable.
• A Zune AC Adapter that you can connect to by using a Zune Sync Cable. Note The Zune AC Adapter is sold separately.
• A Zune Car Charger or a Zune FM Transmitter/Charger. Note These items are sold separately.
• An Xbox 360 console's USB port that you can connect to by using a Zune Sync Cable.
• A “Designed for Zune” mobile battery pack

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/927348

try reinstalling the software

To reset the zune you must press and hold the back button and the top part of the zune pad. Other parts of the zune pad will not work.

When plugging the zune into your PC does the PC detect it (device manager -> portable devices). You should hear the ding sound of hardware connecting.

If it is connecting to the PC and is not detected by the software than it is likely a permissions problem. Right click the software icon and choose run as administrator.

If it is not detected by the PC than check your usb cable and make sure your zune is charged and not frozen.