startup sound Archives

Winsage

August 24, 2025

Why Microsoft defined the modern PC with Windows 95

Windows 95 was released on August 24, 1995, in the United States, and became a cultural phenomenon, supported by a significant advertising campaign featuring the Rolling Stones' song "Start Me Up." The operating system introduced the "Start" menu and was technically advanced for its time, despite some user interface challenges. Microsoft faced intense competition from IBM's OS/2 and the growing home PC market, which included the rise of gaming consoles. Windows 95 was made available for testing through a beta program, and its launch was backed by a 0 million advertising budget. The operating system included a "Plug & Play" feature, although it often led to crashes. Windows 95 relied on a DOS substructure and introduced DOS version 7.0, allowing better use of 32-bit processors. Microsoft also launched "The Microsoft Network" (MSN) alongside Windows 95, but Internet Explorer was only available in the additional "Plus!" package. By the end of 1995, Microsoft sold 40 million licenses for Windows 95, which continued to receive updates until 2001. The startup sound composed by Brian Eno was later added to the US Library of Congress in 2025.

Winsage

August 24, 2025

On This Day in 1995, Microsoft Debuted Windows 95, Complete With Music Composed by Brian Eno

On August 24, 1995, Microsoft unveiled Windows 95, a significant operating system in the Windows 9x family. The startup sound for Windows 95, known as “The Microsoft Sound,” was created by musician Brian Eno, who was approached by Microsoft in 1994. Eno produced a six-second audio clip that replaced the previous Windows 3.1 sound and also served as the shutdown audio. He created eighty-four variations before finalizing the sound, which was designed to be inspiring and universally appealing. The sound's cultural significance led to its preservation by the Library of Congress in 2025.

Winsage

August 24, 2025

30 years since the launch of Windows 95, the 90s still has some of the best sonic branding

Microsoft's Windows 95 startup sound was created by Brian Eno and became a significant part of the National Recording Registry. Other notable sounds include Apple's serene Mac startup sound, PlayStation's auditory experience, Sega's 'SEGA' chant, Nokia's ringtone derived from Francisco Tárrega’s Gran Vals, and AOL's "You've got mail" voice notification by Elwood Edwards. Today's sound landscape is cluttered, leading to alert fatigue, and modern designers face the challenge of creating distinct sounds adaptable to various environments. Effective sound design involves establishing a cohesive sonic language that resonates across contexts, prioritizing emotional connections, and recognizing the importance of silence. Brands like Mastercard and Netflix exemplify this approach by adapting core melodies for different markets while maintaining their identity. Sound should be treated as essential infrastructure, and brands need to monitor and refine their sonic strategies for effectiveness.

Winsage

August 4, 2025

Windows 11 bug that “unexpectedly” trolled Apple squashed by Microsoft — Vista startup sound removed

The Windows Vista boot chime has been officially retired from Windows 11. A bug caused the Vista sound to play during the startup of Windows 11, which Microsoft acknowledged in June and confirmed it was a bug, not an intentional feature. The issue was resolved in Windows 11 Build 27913, which stated that the unexpected use of the Vista boot sound was fixed. Microsoft first introduced startup sounds with Windows 3.1, and they were omitted in Windows 8, but a startup sound was reinstated for Windows 11.

Winsage

August 2, 2025

Microsoft has fixed the only Windows bug I’ve ever liked: the Vista startup sound ‘unexpectedly’ playing on Win 11 machines

Microsoft addressed a bug in the Canary channel of the Windows Insider program where the Windows Vista start-up sound was unexpectedly used instead of the Windows 11 boot sound. The company reverted to the standard Windows 11 boot sound and clarified the issue. The Vista boot-up sound, which is also associated with Windows 7, is considered nostalgic by many users. The latest update also fixed other issues, including audio playback interruptions when casting to a TV and crashes in the power and battery settings menu. Users can modify the registry to change startup sounds, allowing them to enjoy a unique 'tada' sound upon booting up their computers.

Winsage

August 1, 2025

Microsoft has fixed the only Windows bug I’ve ever liked: the Vista startup sound ‘unexpectedly’ playing on Win 11 machines

The Windows Insider program allows users to test new features before public release. Recently, some users experienced the Windows Vista start-up sound instead of the Windows 11 sound. Microsoft quickly addressed this issue in the Canary channel, reverting to the standard Windows 11 boot sound, noting that the Vista sound was used unexpectedly. The Vista sound, which is nostalgic for many, was also present in Windows 7. The latest update not only fixed the sound bug but also resolved issues with audio playback when casting to a TV and crashes in the power and battery settings menu. Users can customize their startup sounds by editing registry settings, although the option to revert to the Vista sound is not available in the sounds folder.

Winsage

July 30, 2025

Microsoft finally exorcises the ghost of Windows Vista that’s been haunting the testing channels

Microsoft has addressed a bug in the Windows 11 testing channels that replaced the startup sound with that of Windows Vista. This issue first appeared in the Beta and Dev channels, then resurfaced in the Canary branch. A new patch for the Canary branch has restored the correct Windows 11 boot sound and fixed other bugs, including black desktop backgrounds and crashes in the Settings application. Key changes in the latest update include: - Restoration of the correct Windows 11 boot sound. - Improvements to the desktop experience, resolving unexpected black backgrounds. - Stability enhancements for the Settings application, particularly in the Power & Battery section. - Repositioning of the search functionality in the Settings menu for easier access. Additional fixes include resolving an audio issue after casting to a TV, addressing system crashes for some users after upgrading, and fixing display issues in the Group Policy Editor for certain languages. Known issues that remain include complications with Windows Hello PIN and biometrics for users transitioning to the Canary Channel and visual glitches during upgrades.

Winsage

July 22, 2025

Windows XP returns from Microsoft’s graveyard in a nostalgic browser reboot — but don’t expect Internet Explorer to work

Windows 11 has surpassed Windows 10 in market share as Windows 10 nears its end-of-life deadline. A Reddit user created a web-based emulator that recreates the Windows XP experience, complete with classic features and preloaded games, to evoke nostalgia. This project, shared on July 13 to mark 25 years since Windows XP development began, is not a fully functional operating system and has limitations, such as no internet access and sound issues on certain browsers.

Winsage

July 13, 2025

The ghost of Windows Vista continues to haunt Windows 11 as its startup sound reappears out of nowhere

Recent test builds of Windows 11 have been playing the startup sound from Windows Vista due to a bug. Although Microsoft fixed this issue in the Dev and Beta builds, the sound has reappeared in the Canary branch, where the fix was not applied. A patch for the Canary build is expected soon.

Winsage

July 13, 2025

Windows Vista startup sound is back in Windows 11 once again

Microsoft has released Windows 11 build 27898, which includes features such as smaller taskbar buttons and Quick Machine Recovery, along with various improvements. The build has also unintentionally revived the startup sound from Windows Vista, causing nostalgia among users. This sound reappeared due to a bug, which Microsoft clarified was not an intentional homage. Despite attempts to fix it, the Vista sound returned in the latest build, while a future update is expected to restore the modern startup sound from 2021. Brandon LeBlanc from the Windows community confirmed that the fix is forthcoming.