Helping people with computers... one answer at a time.
IE (Internet Explorer) is frequently configured to make a "clicking" sound when you move from page to page. Here's how to turn IE's click sound off, or change it.
Every time I change to another page in IE6 SP2, whether by using the back and forward buttons, clicking on a link, or typing a URL, there's a sound that plays. It sounds like a muffled explosion and it's annoying as hell. I checked all the assigned sounds in the control panel and there's no entry for IE at all, so there are none assigned to it through there. Where else can I look? I'd like to get rid of it, but even substituting a simple beep would be a big improvement.
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Actually you were looking in the right place - Control Panel, Sounds - it's just that it's totally not obvious which item you want to change.
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So everyone else can get there, we'll:
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Open Control Panel
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Open Sounds and Audio Devices
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Click on the Sounds tab
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In the Program events: list, scroll down to the section for Windows Explorer
So "magic item #1" is that Internet Explorer takes some of its settings from Windows Explorer.
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Scroll down to the Start Navigation setting within Windows Explorer
And "magic item #2" is that the setting that controls the sound you want is called "Start Navigation"
Here's where we are at this point:
You can now select different sounds for that setting, using the Sounds: dropdown beneath the list. One of those settings is "(none)" to turn is off completely. Alternately, you can use the Browse button to assign just about any ".wav" file to be played - imagine Homer Simpson saying "D'oh!" each time you navigate.
OK, maybe not.
Article C2763 - August 21, 2006
Leo A. Notenboom has been playing with computers since he
was required to take a programming class in 1976. An 18 year career as a programmer at Microsoft soon followed.
After "retiring" in 2001, Leo started Ask Leo! in 2003 as a place for answers
to common computer and technical questions. More about Leo.
great help
Posted by: dean at March 18, 2010 8:17 PMhaving said that...
how do u turn it back on ???
Yes this does work, but I am using Vista (unfortunately for me) and the process is just a little bit different but once you know the sound to change is "start navigation" then you can locate it.
Posted by: Jonathan Amorosi at April 8, 2010 8:52 AMi found ibSilent, it turns off sound of flash adverts.
Posted by: Jarek at May 12, 2010 12:43 AMI find windows sounds infuriating – especially when I am recording something and want to navigate the computer.
I have tried turning them off, but Windows XP – ‘works the way you want it to’ – doesn’t believe that I really want sound off and turns them back on again!
My foolproof way is to go to Windows/media folder (you may have to unhide the contents) where you will find all those annoying sounds that have been bothering you. Delete the lot! If you are a bit wimpy, then create a new folder in ‘media’ and move all the sound files into it. In either case – the result is blessed silence and Windows cannot reinstate the damn things.
Posted by: Charles at August 17, 2011 5:26 AMSecond time i've had to use this - I made the mistake of not having windows update off since i got the computer and it reverted the sound choice!
Posted by: JN at October 15, 2011 5:37 PM