Windows issue rectified: Persistency of Vista startup sound discovered on Win 11 computers resolved by Microsoft
In an unexpected twist, some PC users have reported hearing the iconic Windows Vista startup sound when booting up their machines. This isn't a throwback to the past by default, but rather a result of a clever registry hack.
James Bentley, a PC gaming enthusiast and writer who specialises in gaming hardware and graphics cards, cases, and motherboards, has shared his excitement about this development. Bentley, who converted to PC gaming in 2019 after earning a degree in law and media, has been writing about gaming since then.
The Windows Vista startup sound, while considered one of the worst versions of Windows, has a nostalgic charm that has earned it the title of the second most iconic bootup sound, after Windows XP. Despite Windows Vista's less-than-stellar reputation, its startup sound has managed to stand the test of time.
To change your PC's boot sound to the Windows Vista startup sound, you'll need to follow a series of steps. Here's a simplified guide:
- Obtain the Windows Vista startup sound file (usually "Windows Vista Startup.wav").
- Open the Registry Editor (regedit) with Administrator privileges.
- Navigate to the key related to the system startup sound configuration. In previous Windows versions, this was often located under:
- Change the value that defines the sound file to the path or resource referencing the Vista startup sound.
- To enable the startup sound feature, you may also need to ensure the system setting for startup sounds is enabled and that Fast Startup is disabled.
However, it's important to note that Windows 11 typically does not play a traditional startup sound by default, and boot sounds are more restricted. A recent Windows 11 bug briefly reintroduced the Vista startup sound, but Microsoft quickly patched it to restore the official Windows 11 boot sound.
Editing the registry and enabling startup sounds can require additional system tweaks. Make sure to back up your registry before modifying keys and verify the exact registry path and sound file available on your system.
Last month, a bug in the Windows Insider program allowed the Windows Vista startup sound to play in the Canary channel of the preview build. Microsoft has since fixed this bug, indicating that these files are normally locked down and controlled.
For detailed step-by-step instructions, refer to the resources below. Keep in mind that changes in Windows 11 may not fully replicate the Vista startup sound playing at the exact boot phase as in Vista, but this should enable startup sound customization with that audio.
- Windowsreport
- How-To Geek
- Techradar
James Bentley has covered various gaming-related products in his writing, including the Razer Blade 16, HP Omen 35L, Lenovo Legion Go S SteamOS ed., Minisforum AtomMan G7 PT, and Meta Quest 3. As for the future, who knows? Maybe we'll see more throwbacks to our favourite tech memories.
[1] Microsoft quickly fixes bug that made Windows 11 play the Windows Vista startup sound [3] Windows 11 Bug Briefly Reintroduced the Windows Vista Startup Sound [5] How to Change the Windows 11 Startup Sound
- Despite James Bentley's excitement, some PC users might find it challenging to change their boot sound to the Windows Vista startup sound due to the restricted nature of boot sounds in Windows 11.
- In a recent development, Editing the registry and enabling startup sounds in Windows 11 might require additional system tweaks to ensure smooth functioning, given the controlled environment of such files on modern Windows systems.
- As more PC users attempt to customize their system boot sounds, there's a possibility that we'll witnessnostalgic fragments of older technology, like the Windows Vista startup sound, appearing in new and unexpected ways.
