Windows 8 launched in 2012 and was followed by Windows 8.1 in 2013, introducing a touch focused start screen and flatter design that divided desktop users. Its system sounds were kept soft and minimal compared with a loud error sound, which helped the interface feel lighter in everyday use. Clips of the operating system later circulated on soundboards and in edit packs, where creators reused the background tone for nostalgia, parody interfaces and retro tech compilations long after most PCs had moved on to newer Windows versions.