How do I...?

Change those annoying startup and shutdown sounds that Windows XP plays?

1. Locate a couple of wav files that you want to use as a replacement for the startup and shutdown sounds. You can do a Google search to find "sound files" or "wav files".  If you want to use clips from movies, you might try Classic Movie Sounds, for example.  They must be in wav format, not midi or aif or au files.  (To save them locally, right click on the link to the wav file and choose "Save target as...").

2. Using Windows Explorer, copy the files you want to use into the C:\Windows\Media folder.

3. Go to that folder and rename the files "Windows XP Startup.wav" and "Windows XP Shutdown.wav" to something else, like "Old Windows XP Startup.wav" and "Old Windows Shutdown.wav".  (You do this in case you ever need to restore them).

4. Rename the two files you copied into this folder "Windows XP Startup.wav" and "Windows XP Shutdown.wav".  These will become your new startup and shutdown sounds.

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