Quick tip for Windows 7 users

Isn't it great when you find undiscovered corners of your computer? Well, I wish it was possible to "hear" this hub but never mind.

For those out there with Windows 7 and a bit of a musical bent, here is a quick tip.

If you are like me, you will love playing around with those "dadunk" and other background sounds you get in Windows 7 that signal such things as a device being disconneted or battery low etc...

Go to Start->Control Panel->Ease of Access Center

You should see a Window that looks like the one in Fig. 1 above. You might even hear the (female?) robot speaking out some options for you now that you have arrived at this little corner of your operating system.

Now click on the link near the bottom of the window that says Use text or visual alternatives for sounds.

The next window you arrive at will look like Fig 2.

As you can see in Fig 2, the next thing is to click the link that says "Audio Devices and Sound Themes".

You should now see a window like the one below. Fig 3.

Fun is starting now. Change the Sound Scheme (in Fig 3, City Scape is selected) but there are many other entertaining sound themes to choose from.

Once you have selected a theme, click on one of the Program Events and then TEST to hear the different sounds associated with the events you trigger (some more frequently than others) on your computer if you are using the Windows 7 operating system.

What did you think?

Raga is strange and cosmic, I found. Sonata - well that takes me straight back to violin lessons - it must be a recorded violin and for some events the string section of an orchestra, I'm sure. As for Delta - well that's sure to have been inspired by Mississippi Delta banjo playing wouldn't you think?

Lastly, note the checkbox (ticked) which allows you to Play (or not) the Windows Startup sound.

That's one sound you would be familiar with, but did you know you could turn it off here?

Hope you enjoy playing with the sounds in this little area of your computer if you didn't know about it before!

If you don't like the sounds. Well, Windows 7 is thinking of you. There is a No Sounds theme you know, and as they say sometimes, Silence is Golden.