Windows 11 bug causes it to play the startup sound and music from Windows Vista

Microsoft uses its Windows 11 Insider Preview Build program to roll out new Windows features, updates, and changes to a community of testers and early adopters before release. Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26200.5651 is the latest preview release, and it's a big one, as it adds a few new Copilot+ experiences.

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The big one is an AI agent integrated into Windows Settings. If you ask a question or describe an issue, like "my mouse pointer is too small," the AI will point you in the right direction. This feature is currently only available on Snapdragon-powered Copilot+ PCs, with Intel and AMD systems set to get the AI-powered Settings update in the future.

Old-school Windows fans might be pleased to note that Microsoft is bringing back the bigger clock that shows seconds above the date and calendar when you click on the bottom right of the taskbar. That's not the only blast from the past featured in the latest Windows 11 Insider Preview Build. There's a bug that plays the "Windows Vista boot sound instead of the Windows 11 boot sound."

Windows Vista was Microsoft's follow-up to Windows XP in 2007, introducing the transparent 'Aero' interface. For those who recall using Windows Vista, you probably remember it being buggy, slow, and not great for gaming, even though it introduced DirectX 10, forcing most PC gamers to switch to Vista early. After a few Service Packs, most of the issues surrounding Vista were resolved, but for most, it paved the way for the well-received Windows 7 in 2009.

As far as Windows 11 bugs go, this one is pretty fun, though one has to wonder how the sound file from Windows Vista ended up in a Windows 11 build. Naturally, this has led to many believing that it was intentional. Either way, it could be a fun addition to Windows - let users choose from a list of classic startup sounds. For me, that would be the iconic Windows 95 startup music from Brian Eno.