digg

Facebook Connect Join Digg About

Gentlemen, start your Vista chimes (or stop them)

arstechnica.com — Early this month, Ars reported on the heated debate over Windows Vista's new startup sound. The uproar wasn't so much over the sound itself (which hasn't yet been finalized, although guitarist Robert Fripp is apparently working on it). Instead, the concern was that Windows would not allow an easy way to change or disable this startup sound.

Who dugg this? Made popular Sep 25, 2006

Digg DudeWhat is Digg?

Digg is a place for people to discover and share content from anywhere on the web. Digg surfaces the best stuff as submitted and voted on by the community. Take the Tour to learn more.

66 Comments

show profanity settings
expand all
  • cyberdork33, on 10/12/2007, -1/+29@djlosch
    Pretty much everyone with a desktop in my business has speakers.

    Also, not all of us have desktops with external volume controls. This would be especially annoying on laptops with software being the only form of volume control. Nothing beats starting up your laptop in an important meeting only for your computer to announce itself to everyone.
  • twistymcgee, on 10/12/2007, -3/+24Did you miss the whole point of Digg? Ars isn't on everyone's RSS reader.
  • Sarki, on 10/12/2007, -1/+19No, this is some chime that Microsoft wants to play when the computer is "ready to use." From what I can tell this means that the chime plays when the system logon screen comes up.

    It's good that it's optional because in some business environments this crap doesn't fly.
  • Topher06, on 10/12/2007, -2/+18Why would it not allow it?

    Currently in Vista RC1, you go to personalize, sounds, and can setup sounds for all events like in any other version of Windows.

    However, one thing I did notice is that there are two startup sounds on Vista, there a startup sound when Vista is first loaded, to the login screen, and then there is a separate sound arger you log on. It might be possible that Microsoft is considering the first startup sound to be something that is tied to the Vista Brand, while the second one is for personal choice.

    So, in reality, how is this any different from the Mac startup sound? I find the Mac startup sound to be annoying and while I have seen ways to disable or change that sound, Apple doesn't provide an easy utility to enable/change/disable it. Consider that Apple also forces the sound out the system speaker rather then optional external speakers, why are people not in an uproar over Apple's lack of customizability? Another double standard imposed on Microsoft when other OS vendors are blatantly doing the exact same thing without a fuss.
  • afex, on 10/12/2007, -1/+16the problem is that although the speakers have the volume control, the user isn't necessarily respectful enough to use it.
  • Destinatus, on 10/12/2007, -2/+16The first thing I do each time I install windows (yeah yeah) is disable the startup and shutdown sounds.
  • drlha, on 10/12/2007, -1/+13Not so sure why you're being dugg down, because you make a good point about the Apple boot up sound. The only argument maybe is that the Apple sound is the "turn on" sound rather than a "OS ready" sound, still its annoying and loud.

    BTW My Windows Laptop emits a loud "beep" when its POST is completed, which is quite annoying and there is no way to turn it off, not that that is Microsoft's fault.
  • Surreal, on 10/12/2007, -0/+10@djlosch
    Laptops have speakers... and sometimes people forget to plug there headphones in.

    All the web developers (myself included) have laptops where I work. Not only that, anyone that is on call 24/7 so that they can vpn. I listen to music all the time with headphones. Also note, the company I work for has standards, and is nation wide.
  • Surreal, on 10/12/2007, -0/+8If you read the article, it said the same thing.
  • halleyscomet, on 10/12/2007, -3/+11So for once, grousing in on-line forums like Digg and Slashdot.org actually accomplished something, and got a company to change their behavior.

    Who's 'a Thunk it?

    I guess there's a first time for everything.
  • farnz, on 10/12/2007, -0/+8@djlosch
    Work supplies a Dell laptop, as I'm often off-site. It has built in speakers, and only software controls for volume. How am I supposed to mute this sound?

    Note that I'm forgetful; if I have to remember to plug headphones in before starting up, I'll not remember.
  • Linkage155, on 10/12/2007, -0/+7get a mac; and hear a longer startup sound.
  • inactive, on 10/12/2007, -1/+7to quiet a laptop just cut the 1/8" plug end off of a pair of cheap headphones and stick it in the headphone jack. it mutes the speakers. regardless of the software settings.
  • inactive, on 10/12/2007, -2/+7Right! And why not? I'll just go and blow $1500 on an inferior piece of hardware (and software) just to fix a problem with Vista which is dwarfed by the gaping holes of your suggested operating system.
  • dmurray14, on 10/12/2007, -1/+6djlosch:

    YOU must not work in a corporate environment. all of our DELL desktops have built in speakers, inside the tower case. No external volume buttons.
  • Singee15, on 10/12/2007, -2/+7As of build 5728 you can go to the control panel and disable the sound.

    "Just before the login screen comes up, Vista displays a awesome animation of the the Windows Orb glowing with a start sound that plays. In previous builds, this sound that plays with the animation was hard-coded in - unable to be deactivated or muted.

    In Build 5728, you can now go to the Sound Control Panel and disable this sound from playing when you start up your PC!"

    Here is the description from the actual windows designers:
    http://www.mstechtoday.com/2006/09/22/mute-the-windows-vista-start-sound/
  • paku, on 10/12/2007, -1/+5Seriously..Who cares?

    I don't need to upgrade my OS so they can better control what I install on the PC, the way my PC looks, or what content I have on my PC. And pay for the privilege??!?! I'm sure the ONE cool feature of the three dimensional switch of applications will get old in 10 minutes.

    How about I keep my XP on my machine, and play Counter-Strike and BF2 bug free, and save $400 for the Wii or something else more fun.
  • repruhsent, on 10/12/2007, -1/+5Some of us (including me) can't justify spending $300 - $400 more for a Mac when they're just PCs with EFI and a TPM chip.
  • inactive, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4They'll find a way. That's if their half-finished OS will let them.
  • Eminemdrdre00, on 10/12/2007, -2/+6Is there a link to the sound file anywhere?
  • nofxjunkee, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3Why do people keep comparing Apple's POST chime to the Windows start up sound? They're completely different. Compare the POST beep with Apple's chime, that would be a real comparison.
  • Rikkochet, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4That kinda like if you don't want your airbags to deploy for some reason, rather than having a disable switch in your car, you should just not fasten your seatbelt so it doesn't detect a passenger?
  • repruhsent, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Wow, thanks a lot for contributing so much. It's comments like these that keep me coming back to digg.
  • bitcloud, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3yes... you really are the only one who thinks we should have to exert this pointless effort to correct a huge programming oversight.
  • licoricewhip, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2dang skippy on that one.

    There is a problem with changing themes as well... you have to go back and disable those sounds if you didn't save a modified/customized theme.
  • repruhsent, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2I bet Windows File Protection will complain about this, though. I don't have my RC1 yet (pathetic Internet connection so I had to order the DVD kit) so I can't confirm this.
  • repruhsent, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3I guess this means Ubuntu fanboys will have to find some other reason to bitch about Vista.
  • bluehouse, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3this is BS. I have Vista installed and I can modify any of the sounds in the scheme including the startup one.
  • Grimdotdotdot, on 10/12/2007, -2/+4BETA SOFTWARE IN NEW FEATURES BEING ADDED SHOCKER!
  • bunni, on 10/12/2007, -2/+3OK, this is lame.
  • JamesWilson, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2They can either give us the ability to change or disable it,

    or we will reverse engineer it, and take the ability ourselves.
  • BobMysterioso, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2One could, easiliy, make a wav of nothing and replace the wav that was there. Thats what I would have done. Sure, I'd have to turn off the system file checker, but whatever.

    A workaround like that is lame though, just give me the option to turn it off.
  • pillfred, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Very lame indeed. And marked as such.
  • obijohn, on 10/12/2007, -4/+5This is a follow-up article with almost no new information. Here is the only new info in the article:
    Now, in a more recent (5728) build of Vista, the ability has now appeared to turn off the startup sound in the Control Panel. Vista product manager and Nick White explained:
    "We heard you loud and clear when it came to discussing our plans to include a default start-up sound that plays as you boot-up Windows Vista," he wrote on his blog. "You said you wanted to have the opportunity to mute it if and when you felt it necessary."


    Here's the original article with the whole story about the "controversy":
    http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20060901-7643.html
  • twistymcgee, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2That says exactly what the post indicated though. The sound can be muted. What is wrong with that?
  • Surreal, on 10/12/2007, -3/+4Are you being sarcastic? Mac's are mostly a consumer product, not a "business world" product.
  • Surreal, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2The value with any application and most definitely, operating system comes with how much you can customize it. I love any application that gives me more control on what it does and what it does not do. So, this is relieving. Now, is the issue that important? Not exactly. But, if we let this issue slip by, there's no telling what else MS may try to limit us from doing in Vista. I feel we would encounter "You let us force the boot up sound, so... we can do "x" and you shouldn't fuss about it.)

    So, by that, I feel this victory as important.
  • tapo, on 10/12/2007, -2/+3Yeah, I mean "I'm a Mac, I'm a PC, and we're both pretty good computers but because you're more familiar with PCs you should just stick to them but I'm always here if you want to try something else"

    Would just be a fantastic ad campaign.

    Apple is trying to advertise the Mac platform in the best way possible, comparison. And not technical specifications, the average user doesn't give a damn. They need to know why the Mac will work better for them then the PC currently sitting on their desk, without going into overly technical debate and with a sense of humor.

    I think the Apple ads are pretty good.
  • inactive, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2In the latest beta release, that was released somewhat quietly, there is the option to disable the startup sound.
  • gravedigga, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1"you should just not fasten your seatbelt"
    LMFAO
  • Surreal, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1I'm in agreement with Skinwill. All of these default options are just one more thing that I have to disable on a new install. We should enable them if we want them, and if we don't care it should not be enabled at all. Not the other way around.

    I don't see why anyone needs or wants a sound at bootup. It's just for show.

    That is why I like to use nlite or some other unattended windows installation cd... still I wish I didn't have to!
  • gulliver, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1If the volume is down on your Mac when you restart it, it doesn't make the sound. Also, I noticed my Mac Pro only makes the sound on cold boot, not a reboot.
  • Surreal, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1This is exactly what the article in mention is about. RTFA!
  • skinwill, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Like I said, third party software.

    Let me just add that to my list of "things to fix" whenever I touch a new Mac.

    My point is it is not part of the Mac OS by default and while it has been easy on Windows to change it is still yet another thing to make sure you do when you are going to use these machines for a presentation. And a solution that survives an OS revision would be nice.

    And thank you I had no idea that Google was anything more then a close acquaintance.
  • Surreal, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2@Rikkochet

    Hahaha! Work on your anologies! Wow.
  • repruhsent, on 10/12/2007, -2/+2@PJBonoVox:

    Agreed. I used to think OS X was better than Windows, but my opinion of Macs is souring pretty quickly with the new "I'm a PC, I'm a Mac" commercials. Can you say "elitism?"
  • philz, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1StartupSound.prefPane is the software which controls the volume of the startup sound of your Macintosh computer. StartupSound.prefPane mute the startup sound without changing the output volume setting.
    http://macupdate.com/info.php/id/16425
    http://www5e.biglobe.ne.jp/~arcana/StartupSound/index.en.html

    or

    http://www.mistatree.org/Freeware/Psst/


    Google is your friend.
  • cquinnd, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1This was not about modifying the sound, it was about not having to play it at all.
  • obijohn, on 10/12/2007, -2/+2@twisty
    No, the post does not indicate that in the new build you CAN disable the startup sound, just that there is a controversy about it. And the article linked to is only 3 paragraphs long (I quoted 1/3 of the article in my post). That article itself links to the original article, so I figured I'd save diggers some trouble and give them the new info and the original link.

    Go ahead, digg me down for being helpful, as I see you've already done so.
  • Fetching more discussions...
    Show 51 - 67 of 67 discussions

  • Add a Comment

    Login or register to comment!
    Or, sign-in super fast with your Facebook account ...


© Digg Inc. 2009 — Content created and posted by Digg users is dedicated to the public domain | Terms of Use Updated | Privacy Policy
DIGG, DIGG IT, DUGG, DIGG THIS, Digg graphics, logos, designs, page headers, button icons, scripts, and other service names are the trademarks of Digg Inc.