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(2003) Fake Windows Longhorn Startup

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A fake 2003 Windows Longhorn startup sound, styled like an early Windows XP boot chime. Creators use it for retro tech jokes and parody operating system intros.

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About this sound

A fake 2003 Windows Longhorn startup sound, styled like an early Windows XP boot chime. Creators use it for retro tech jokes and parody operating system intros.

This short clip imagines what Windows Longhorn might have sounded like when it booted up in 2003, long before it became Windows Vista. It opens with a soft, polished chime that builds into a smooth, hopeful melody, closely echoing the familiar Windows XP startup style but with a slightly more futuristic sheen. The tone feels clean, optimistic and unmistakably early-2000s, which makes it instantly recognisable to anyone who grew up hearing a PC switch on. Played over a video, it creates a wave of tech nostalgia and a playful sense that something new is about to begin.

Pro tip

Drop it right as a fake desktop appears or a parody loading screen fades in, and cut it the moment the chime resolves. Pair it with old Windows pop-ups or dial-up visuals, but avoid modern UI sounds that break the early-2000s illusion.

How people use it

Opening a parody video about an old computer booting up.
Faking a Windows startup in a retro tech meme.
Introducing a nostalgic throwback to early 2000s software.
Soundtracking a joke about installing a fictional operating system.

More information

Windows Longhorn was the codename for the operating system that eventually became Windows Vista, and during its long development after Windows XP, enthusiasts shared imagined concepts for its look and sound online. This clip is one of those fan-made fakes from 2003, created in the style of the XP startup rather than by Microsoft itself. It has survived in soundboard collections because it captures a specific what-if moment in Windows history, and creators still reuse it for retro computing jokes, fake OS videos and nostalgia edits about early-2000s PCs.

FAQ

What is the fake Windows Longhorn startup sound?

It is a short fan-made audio clip from 2003 that imagines how Windows Longhorn, the system later released as Windows Vista, might have sounded when booting up. It mimics the style of the Windows XP startup chime.

Was this startup sound made by Microsoft?

No, it was not an official Microsoft sound. The clip is labelled as a fake created in 2003, and its style was inspired by Windows XP, but Microsoft did not release it as part of Longhorn or any later version of Windows.

How do creators use this sound in videos?

Creators place it at the start of retro tech parodies, fake operating system intros and nostalgia edits to signal an old PC booting up. It works best over a fake desktop or loading screen, before the main joke or scene begins.