The sound was composed by Brian Eno for Microsoft and introduced with the launch of Windows 95 in 1995. Microsoft asked for a short piece that felt inspiring, universal and optimistic, and Eno delivered a miniature composition that became one of the most recognised computer sounds ever made. As Windows 95 spread to millions of home and office PCs, the chime became a daily ritual. It later resurfaced in retro compilations, nostalgia videos and memes celebrating early home computing.