The shutdown melody comes from Microsoft Windows XP, released in 2001, whose startup and shutdown chimes became instantly recognisable to a generation of PC users. Online, creators paired that nostalgic system sound, close in spirit to the Windows XP error sound, with gaming slang where noob means an inexperienced player. The combination spread through meme edits, soundboards and short gaming clips as a shorthand logout joke. It remains popular because the chime signals a definitive ending, making any defeat feel like a complete system shutdown.