The boot-up chime for Microsoft Windows 95 is now preserved in the National Recording Registry by the Library of Congress, as announced this week. This track was produced by renowned songwriter Brian Eno, who reportedly created it using a Macintosh computer.
In a 2009 interview with the BBC, Eno openly discussed the creation of this iconic sound, stating, “I wrote it on a Mac. I’ve never used a PC in my life; I don’t like them.” Despite this, he went on to compile 83 musical soundbites to create the track. Microsoft had provided Eno with “about 150 adjectives” to describe the desired sound, including terms such as “inspirational, sexy, driving, provocative, nostalgic, sentimental…”
Although Eno’s track was twice the 3.8-second length initially requested by Microsoft, the company chose to use the entire composition, as it “conveyed the sense of welcome, hopefulness, and progress they envisioned” for the emerging era of personal computing.
Referred to officially as “The Microsoft Sound,” this track might be considered Eno’s most widely recognized work, given its extensive worldwide exposure. The exact emotions elicited by the track are described as somewhat uncanny, evoking a sense of existing between time and space. During that era, computers were often perceived as magical, and there was a significant sense of optimism about the future. The sound conveys a feeling of transitioning into an entirely new realm.
In addition to the Windows 95 boot-up sound, other 2025 inductees into the Library of Congress include the soundtrack for “Minecraft” and songs by artists such as Elton John and Amy Winehouse. Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden remarked, “These are the sounds of America – our wide-ranging history and culture. The National Recording Registry is our evolving nation’s playlist. The Library of Congress is proud and honored to select these audio treasures worthy of preservation, including iconic music across a variety of genres, field recordings, sports history, and even the sounds of our daily lives with technology.”
