Vista is the first version of Windows to include a non user-customizable startup sound. This is played while the Pearl (or Orb) animates. By default, the sound either plays or it doesn’t. Changing this sound cannot be done using the Sound control panel. Instead, follow these steps:1) For best results, boot out of Vista and into an alternative OS, such as XP. (This is assuming you dual boot.)
2) Locate the file “imageres.dll” in Vista’s System32 folder. For instance, E:\Windows\System32\imageres.dll. Copy that file into a different location, i.e. your desktop.
3) Download
ResHacker.4) Open ResHacker. Open the imageres.dll file in ResHacker.
5) Find the folder that reads “WAVE” and expand everything below that. This is what it should look like:
6) Right click 1033 (this could have a different name depending on your locale), and click Replace Resource. Click “Open file with new resource”, and find the wave file you want to replace it with. Once you’re done, in Resource Type, type “WAVE”, in Resource Name type “5051″, and under Resource Language type “1033″ (or whatever number you have). Once done, click Replace.
7) Click File, then click Save. Now you can copy this file to Vista’s System32 folder. Keep the imageres_original.dll file ResHack left behind in case you want to revert back to the original sound.
source: http://vistahelp.blogspot.com/2007/01/how-to-replace-vistas-startup-sound.html
June 26, 2009 at 11:14 pm |
I try this, but it says it cannot change the file. This is because for some reason, my computer, which only has 1 user, me, decides I shouldn’t be admin. I tried to run the program as administrator, but I get the same error that it cannot replace. I really wanted to go with a windows 95 theme, cause I miss the good ol’ days. =P. I tried a lot, so I have been looking around, but all I could find on the forums are people replying saying they had the same problem.