Startup Sound - Change in Windows 7

How to Change the Windows 7 Startup Sound​

   Information

This will show you how to change the Windows 7 startup sound, not the "Windows Logon" sound, to any WAV file of your choice.

You must be logged in as an administrator to be able to do the steps in this tutorial.

   Note

If you run a sfc /scannow command, then you will lose all changes made to the system file in the tutorial below since it and all other system files will be restored back to default by the command.

   Warning

Making a mistake while modifying system files can render your Windows 7 installation unusable. To be safe, you should create a restore point before doing this tutorial in case you need to do a system restore at boot using the restore point to undo any mistakes that may be made.

   Tip

If you like, here are the Startup Sounds from previous Windows releases.

Windows History: logos, bootscreens, startup sounds etc | Redmond Pie

OPTION ONE

To Change Startup Sound in Windows 7 using "Startup Sound Changer"

1. If you have not already, download the StartupSoundChanger.zip file for the free Startup Sound Changer program at the link below, and save it to your desktop.
NOTE: You will need to click on the grey download button at the program's site below. WinAero: Downloads / Software / Startup Sound Changer - change your Windows startup


2. Open the ZIP file, and extract (drag and drop) the StartupSoundChanger.exe to your desktop.

3. Run the StartupSoundChanger.exe file, and click on Yes when prompted by UAC.
NOTE: This is a standalone .exe file that does not install anything on your computer.

4. With "Startup Sound Changer" you can set a .wav file to replace the startup sound, play current startup sound, and restore the default startup sound. (see screenshot below)

OPTION TWO

To Manually Change Startup Sound in Windows 7

1. Do step 2 or 3 below for what you would like to do.

2. To Restore Default Startup Sound in Windows 7

   Note

If you lost your backup or didn't create one, then here's a copy of the default startup sound .wav file that you could use to restore it with using step 3 below.


Download

A) Copy the default backup imageres_original.dll file (step 3O below) to your desktop.

B) Right click on the imageres_original.dll file and click on Rename.

C) Rename it to imageres.dll and press enter.

D) Repeat steps 3Q to 3X below to restore this file.
3. To Change Startup Sound in Windows 7 A) In Windows Explorer, navigate to C:\Windows\System32\imageres.dll. (see screenshot below)
B) Right click on the imageres.dll file, and click on Copy. (see screenshot above)

C) Right click on your desktop, and click on Paste.

D) If you have not already, then download and install Resource Hacker.

E) Right click on the Resource Hacker shortcut in Start Menu - All Programs, then click on Run as administrator. (see screenshot below)
F) If prompted by UAC, then click on Yes.

G) In Resource Hacker, click on File and Open. (see screenshot below)
H) Navigate to and select the imageres.dll file copy on your desktop, and click on Open. (see screenshot below)
I) In the left pane of Resource Hacker, expand WAVE, and 5080, to 1033. (see screenshot below)
NOTE: If 5080 and 1033 is named something else, then that is fine as long as they are still under WAVE. Just substitute what you have instead in the steps below. You can click on the Play WAVE button to hear what the current startup sound is.
J) Right click on 1033 and click on Replace Resource. (see screenshot below)
K) Click on Open file with new resource. (see screenshot below)
L) Navigate to and select the .wav file that you want for the startup sound, and click on Open. (see screenshot below)
NOTE: This .wav file must be unblocked and remain at this same location. For example, move or copy the .wav into the C:\Windows\Media. If you move or delete this .wav file, the startup sound will no longer play it.
M) Under Resource Type, type WAVE. Under Resource Name, type 5080. Under Resource Language, type 1033. Click on the Replace button. (see screenshots below)



N) Click on File and Save, then close Resource Hacker. (see screenshot below)
NOTE: You can click on the Play WAVE button first to hear and verify what the current startup sound is set as in this file.
O) On your desktop, Move and Save the imageres_original.dll file to another safe location of your choice as a backup.

   Warning

THIS IS YOUR ONLY BACKUP OF THE ORIGINAL IMAGERES.DLL FILE WITH THE DEFAULT STARTUP SOUND.

P) Check to make sure that the Play Windows Startup sound is checked in Sound so that it is turned on. (see screenshot below)
Q) Restart the computer and boot into the System Recovery Options (WinRE) screen, then select the Command Prompt option and press enter.
NOTE: If you do not have a retail Windows 7 installation disc, then you can create a System Repair Disc to use to boot to the System Recovery Screen instead.
R) In the command prompt, type diskpart and press enter. (see screenshot below step 3V)

S) In the command prompt, type list volume and press enter. (see screenshot below step 3V)

T) Make note of what the drive letter is for your Windows 7 partition or drive. (see screenshot below step 3V)
NOTE: The Windows drive is not always C at boot. For example, mine is listed as D here. Look at the volume name and size to help you determine which letter is the one that you have Windows 7 installed on.

U) In the command prompt, type exit and press enter. (see screenshot below step 3V)

V) In the command prompt, type the command below and press enter. (see screenshot below)
NOTE: Substitute D in the command below with the drive letter you have listed in step 3T for your Windows 7, and substitute username in the command below with your user account name.

COPY /V /Y "[B][COLOR=red]D[/COLOR][/B]:\Users\[B][COLOR=red]username[/COLOR][/B]\Desktop\imageres.dll" "[B][COLOR=red]D[/COLOR][/B]:\Windows\System32"

W) Close the command prompt, and click on the Restart button. (see screenshot above)

X) As Windows 7 restarts, you will hear your new startup sound.

   Tip

If you ever wanted to change the startup sound again anytime after the first time you did this tutorial, you would only need to replace the .wav file at the exact same location in step 3L in Windows Explorer with a different .wav file that you want to use now instead, then rename the new .wav file with the exact same name as the old .wav file. No other steps would be required.

That's it,
Shawn

Related Tutorials

---

• How to Change the Event Sound Effects in Windows 7
• How to Enable or Disable the Startup Sound in Vista and Windows 7
• How to Allow or Prevent Changing Sounds in Windows 7
• How to Create a Custom Logon Sound that Speaks What You Like
• How to Change the "Welcome" Text Message at Log On in Windows 7 and Vista

 

[Brink]

first of all i would like to apologize... im clueless about computer... i downloaded the theme pack halo reach art from microsoft and the startup sound is the same as the log in sound and i wonder how was it put inside the pack in the first place..? is it through the method from the tutorial? and as i made my own theme pack using wav sound edited an converted on my own, the log off sound just doesnt work.. this is one of the themepack that i made for a friend of mine..

Hello Astrum, and welcome to Seven Forums.

Not sure if that would be startup sound in the MS theme, but instead the Windows Logon sound. Did you have your logoff sound set for the Windows Logoff sound?

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/2026-theme-pack-create-save-install-delete.html

 

[astrum]

i did set them both the log in and the log off sound.. the themepack i attach on my previous comment must have them... did it not? i cnt seem to find the solution and i made sure the length of the wav to be below 5 seconds. edited them using audacity...

 

[Brink]

Astrum,

Your log off an log on sound played just fine for me when I installed your themepack. The log on sound is not the same as the startup sound though.

 

[astrum]

im sorry for not explaining from beginning.. when i log off my computer, the sound is there but when i shut down the computer the sound should also be played, right? because the computer is logging off before shutting down.. but, in my case it didnt. when i used the halo reach themepack, the sound played perfectly.. where did i screw up, really...? the same case applied to the log in sound.. and may i ask where should i ask for .dll files related problems? thank you very much in advance....

 

[Brink]

Astrum,

No problem.

It doesn't use the log off sound for shut down. For shut down, you would want to set a sound for the Exit Windows sound instead.

 

[astrum]

omigod... thank you very much... it worked, but how bout the log in sound.. since ima noob im afraid of hearing the word hacking on the windows startup sound. as for the log in sound it doesnt play like the halo reach themepack (i seriously refer to that themepack for any abnormalities... ahahaha...) thank you again...

 

[Brink]

You're most welcome. Unfortunately, the only way to change the startup sound (not the same as log on) is using the method in the tutorial. I'm not aware of a way to include it in a themepack. The work hack is misleading though since you're just using a resource editor to change what startup sound file is referenced in the dll file instead.

 

[derfuhrer]

hey shawn wazzz up man no news from you.....how are you and the things goin on my alien friend!!!!i missed seven forums and you folks greatly

 

[derfuhrer]

omigod... thank you very much... it worked, but how bout the log in sound.. since ima noob im afraid of hearing the word hacking on the windows startup sound. as for the log in sound it doesnt play like the halo reach themepack (i seriously refer to that themepack for any abnormalities... ahahaha...) thank you again...

astrum please folllow the spoon feeding procedure that brink has given then you will come to a conclusion

 

[Brink]

hey shawn wazzz up man no news from you.....how are you and the things goin on my alien friend!!!!i missed seven forums and you folks greatly

Hello Derfuhrer,

I'm doing well. I hope you are as well.

From your last post below, that could be used as another option, but I prefer the way in the tutorial.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/63398-startup-sound-change-windows-7-a-12.html#post1848303

 

[azmizryk]

thanks i have done...

 

[burnsmh]

Please Assist

When I go into the system32 file,I take ownership then I copy the .dll then I paste it on my desktop. Then I run RH and replace it with the sound I want and put in the WAVE, 5080 and 1033. Then I save it. I move the 'orignial' into the folder on my desktop then try to move the edited file back into the system32 file. This is what happens.

(Please note I am logged into an administrator account on this PC. But I still take ownership and run as administrator)

I have also tried to move the original .dll out of system32 into a folder on my desktop then moving the edited version off my desktop and into the system32 folder. And it moves in there but then if I restart it doesn't play any sound at all. (Yes play windows sound is clicked in the sound option) And if I open the edited one inside system32 it plays the original windows startup sound not my edited .wav file.


Anyone else having this issue got a workaround?

 

[Brink]

Hello Burnsmh, and welcome to Seven Forums.

You will not be able to copy and replace the imageres.dll file like that since it will always be in use while in Windows 7. The "in use" is why you are getting "Try again". Instead, you must do steps 17-24 in OPTION ONE at boot to be able to replace it with the modified one on your desktop.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[burnsmh]

So, now that Im off work I tried what you said with the recovery disk. And it said it copied it but when I clicked re-start it didn't play any sound and if I click it in system32 and use resource hacker it plays the default music. But if I copy it and paste it on my desktop and use resource hacker it plays the one I want it too.

 

[Brink]

Sounds like it may be an issue with the .wav file. A couple of things to check:

• Do you have the .wav file saved in the C:\Windows\Media folder?
• Did you unblock the .wav file before moving it to the folder above?

If you like, upload the .wav file in a XIP file, and I'll be happy to test it on my system to see if there may be an issue with it.

 

[burnsmh]

Im trying to move it to the media folder...But Resource hacker isnt finding the windows folder in my c drive. Ill try removing read only.

Nevermind that will take forever.

Ok, I got into the media folder and Im going to try replacing it once more. If that doesnt work Ill try to upload the .wav

 

[Brink]

Ok.

 

[burnsmh]

Ok, I got the .wav file in media. I got the .dll updated on my desktop. I put in the CD and ran command prompt. I did as the instructions said. And I got "Access denied, 0 files copied."

Any ideas?

 

[Brink]

It sounds like you may not have used the correct drive letter for the Windows 7 partition in the command.

 

[burnsmh]

It's C drive. It worked the first time around, when I did it when the .wav was in a folder on my desktop. But once I moved the .wav and re-edited the .dll it gave me that error.