The Windows XP startup melody and the Mac startup chime both became instantly recognisable boot sounds for rival personal computers in the early 2000s, which is why swapping one for the other works as a joke. Fan editors later began rebuilding the Windows tune from Mac chime notes, and this deliberately rough version followed an earlier, smoother take that circulated online. It spread through meme edits and YouTube Poop-style videos, where the clash of Microsoft and Apple sounds signals old-school tech humour, and it remains popular as a short, shareable gag and a novelty startup sound for custom setups.
About this sound
A janky remix that plays the classic Windows XP startup melody using the Mac startup chime, perfect for nostalgic tech memes, funny edits and retro videos.
This extremely short clip takes the familiar rising four-note Windows XP startup tune and rebuilds it entirely from the bright, bell-like Mac startup chime, so the melody feels instantly recognisable yet slightly off. Because the creator edited it to sound deliberately rough and lo-fi, like a YouTube Poop edit rather than a polished studio remix, each note lands with a wobbly, homemade charm that makes listeners do a double take. It is only a fraction of a second long, but that brevity makes the joke hit harder, triggering a rush of early-2000s nostalgia mixed with surprise at hearing two rival operating systems fused into one absurd, cheerful greeting.
