In a curious twist of fate, the nostalgic boot sound from Windows Vista, which first graced users’ ears in 2006, has unexpectedly resurfaced in the latest preview builds of Windows 11. For those who have recently updated their systems, the familiar chime that once heralded the arrival of Vista now plays upon logging in, replacing the standard Windows 11 startup sound that appears to be absent in this iteration.
A Nostalgic Surprise
This amusing glitch was brought to light by XenoPanther on X, who discovered that the Windows Vista boot sound has been embedded within the system files of the new build. The timing of this occurrence is particularly noteworthy, as it coincides with Apple’s recent announcement of Liquid Glass, stirring memories of Windows Vista and its Aero Glass aesthetic among tech enthusiasts.
Microsoft has yet to clarify the cause of this unexpected return, but the release notes for the current flight do acknowledge the anomaly:
- This week’s flight comes with a delightful blast from the past and will play the Windows Vista boot sound instead of the Windows 11 boot sound. We’re working on a fix.
Many users may associate the Vista boot sound with Windows 7, as both operating systems shared a suite of system sounds. In fact, Windows 7 is often regarded as a refinement of Vista, addressing many of the challenges that users faced during Vista’s initial rollout.
For those who wish to relive this iconic moment, the Windows Vista boot sound is now a nostalgic reminder of the past, echoing through the startup sequences of modern machines.
Latest Windows 11 preview build has a fun bug that restores Windows Vista’s iconic boot up sound. A surprise blast from the past lol pic.twitter.com/YeAeHAiyL5June 16, 2025
As the tech community continues to engage with these developments, the blend of nostalgia and innovation remains a captivating aspect of the evolving Windows experience.
