Change Windows Vista Start-up Sound

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

Turn off Windows Vista Start-Up sound

Vista plays as sound as it starts up. You can easily disable the startup sound if you would prefer not to hear it as your system is starting up. To disable the Vista startup sound:

1. Click on the Start Button and type in Sound in the search field.
2. Select Sound from the list of results.
3. Click the Sounds tab.
4. Deselect the Play Windows Startup sound option.
5. Click OK.

–lockergnome