Quick wins for a faster PC:
Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →On April 9, 2025, the Library of Congress selected two recordings linked to Microsoft for its 2025 National Recording Registry: the Windows reboot chime associated with Windows 95 and the game soundtrack album Minecraft – Volume Alpha. Microsoft Corporation was not inducted; the recordings were.
What the Library of Congress selected
The Registry’s 2025 class included two distinct recordings connected to Microsoft products or culture. The Library called the first “Microsoft’s reboot chime” and also selected the Minecraft soundtrack.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
Zune HD 16 GB Video MP3 Player (Black) | $249.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
|
earlife ZUNE Charger Cable, USB Sync & Power Charge Cord for Microsoft Zune | $7.95 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
|
Zune 120 GB Video MP3 Player (Black) | $799.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
|
Zune HD 32 GB Video MP3 Player (Platinum) | $299.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| Recording | Creator and connection | What the selection covers |
|---|---|---|
| Windows reboot chime, commonly called the Windows 95 startup sound or Microsoft Sound | Composed by Brian Eno and commissioned by Microsoft for Windows 95. | The chime—not every Windows startup sound or the entire Windows sound library. |
| Minecraft – Volume Alpha | Composed by Daniel Rosenfeld, known professionally as C418, and associated with the Minecraft game. | The game-associated soundtrack album—not the soundtrack to the Minecraft film or every piece of music used in the game. |
The Library’s April 9 announcement placed both recordings among 25 selections. The class also included recordings associated with Elton John, Chicago, Broadway’s Hamilton, Mary J. Blige and Amy Winehouse.
How Brian Eno made the Windows 95 chime
Microsoft commissioned Brian Eno, the English musician, producer and ambient-music pioneer, to create the Windows 95 sound. Eno composed and recorded it; Microsoft’s role was to commission it and make it part of the operating system’s experience. Calling it “Microsoft’s” chime describes that association, not the identity of its composer.
#1 Best Overall
- Works with the following models: Microsoft EHD-00001
In an interview recounted by Thurrott, Eno described a brief asking for something inspiring, universal, optimistic, futuristic, sentimental and emotional, yet extremely short—about 3.25 seconds. That figure describes the requested brief as reported by Eno; it should not be mistaken for a Library of Congress measurement of the final recording.
The sound’s cultural significance comes partly from its unusual scale: a brief piece of interface audio became attached to people’s experience of personal computing. For many users, a few seconds of music evokes the Windows 95 era, demonstrating how software sounds can become part of shared memory as well as functional design.
Rank #2
- Brand new and high quality: Includes 3.3ft USB Power Charger Cable,which can be used for microsoft zune MP3 player
- Easy to use: Compatible with ZUNE 80 ZUNE 120 ZUNE 4 ZUNE 8 ZUNE 16 ZUNE 30GB 4GB 8GB 80GB 120GB ZUNE HD 16GB 32GB 64GB
- Recharge using a car charger, phone charger, tablet charger, computer USB port, or USB battery pack
- Charge your Microsoft zune MP3 system from any USB port. Can carry 2A currency
- High Quality PVC material
Why the Registry selected Minecraft music
Minecraft – Volume Alpha is a soundtrack album associated with the game, composed by Daniel Rosenfeld, or C418. Its selection recognizes recorded game music as a cultural work in its own right, rather than treating it merely as background to software. The distinction matters: this is music connected to the game, not the later movie adaptation.
The recording also illustrates a different route into mainstream culture from Eno’s commissioned interface sound. C418’s music emerged from an interactive game that became a global cultural phenomenon; its association with Microsoft comes through the company’s ownership of the Minecraft franchise, not through Microsoft composing the music. The creators’ roles and the company’s connection are not interchangeable.
Rank #3
- IMPORTANT: Allow your Zune to charge for 30 minutes then disconnect and reconnect the cable to turn on the player
- Listen to your favorite FM radio stations and click to tag the songs you like for later purchase when you sync your device with your PC
- Download millions of tracks, whole albums, or playlists with the Zune Pass subscription service; extend your subscription online or by purchasing a Zune Pass card
- Connect to your home wireless network and remotely sync your Zune device with your PC collection from your dock, AC adapter, or speaker dock accessory
- 120 GB capacity for up to 30,000 songs, 25,000 photos, or 375 hours of video
What National Recording Registry selection means
The National Recording Registry is a Library of Congress preservation program for recordings considered culturally, historically or aesthetically significant to the United States. The Library described the 2025 selections as defining sounds of history and culture and as recordings worthy of preservation. Selection is recognition of a recording’s importance and a preservation priority, not a corporate induction.
- It is not a music-industry prize or a ranking of the “best” recordings.
- It does not transfer ownership or copyright to the Library of Congress.
- It does not automatically make a recording public domain, freely downloadable or cleared for reuse.
The Library’s announcement identifies recordings as the selected works. “Microsoft was inducted” is therefore catchy shorthand, but “the Windows chime and Minecraft soundtrack were selected” is more precise.
Rank #4
- This refurbished product is tested and certified to look and work like new. The refurbishing process includes functionality testing, basic cleaning, inspection, and repackaging. The product ships with all relevant accessories, and may arrive in a generic box
Why these selections broaden the idea of recorded-sound history
The two selections represent different ways technology enters cultural memory. The Windows chime shows that an interface sound can carry meaning beyond its original task: it is both a designed cue and an audible reminder of a period in personal computing. Minecraft – Volume Alpha shows that video-game music can circulate and matter beyond the moments when a player encounters it in-game.
Together, they make the Registry’s subject broader than conventional albums and performances. Everyday software, games and the sounds associated with them are also part of how people remember technology and culture. The 2025 recognition is for those recordings—not for Microsoft as an institution.
Recommended Free Tools
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
