Windows XP Setup Music

Windows XP Setup Music: The Story Behind Stan LePard's "Velkommen"

Last Updated: October 15, 2025

For many people who grew up building PCs or working in IT during the early 2000s, few sounds trigger nostalgia quite like the Windows XP setup music. Known as “Velkommen” and composed by Stan LePard, this gentle, uplifting track played during the Out-of-Box Experience—the moment you first booted a freshly installed copy of Windows XP. Even if you never heard it back then (thanks to missing audio drivers during setup), the song has since become an icon of early-millennial computing, resurfacing across forums, YouTube channels, and tech nostalgia communities.

What most fans don’t realize is that Velkommen wasn’t originally created for Windows XP at all. Its history stretches back to the mid-1990s, long before XP became the world’s dominant operating system. Today, high-quality versions of the track have re-emerged, along with renewed interest in the life and work of Stan LePard—a composer whose influence extended far beyond a single Windows setup screen.

Internet Explorer Starter Kit box art, featuring "Velkommen"

In this article, we’ll explore the true origins of Velkommen, its unexpected journey into Windows XP, the story of its composer, the differences between various versions of the track, and why this seemingly small piece of audio continues to resonate with tech enthusiasts decades later.

What Is OOBE — Why the Windows XP Setup Music Exists

One of the most overlooked but defining moments in the Windows XP experience is the Out-of-Box Experience (OOBE) — the first-run setup wizard you encountered after installing XP. This installation wizard walked users through crucial steps, like creating an account, activating Windows, and configuring networking. During this guided first boot, a soft ambient track plays in the background: what many remember (or think they remember) as the Windows XP setup music.

Windows XP OOBE screen with setup music playing

Interestingly, some users never actually heard that song during their installation. Why? Because the setup process often ran before your sound driver installed. Without a working driver, there was simply no audio output. That’s why even though the file title.wma resided deep in C:\Windows\System32\oobe\images\, it remained something of a “secret” to many.

Including an ambient soundtrack in the setup reflected Microsoft’s broader goal to make installations feel guided and polished. For tech enthusiasts, this isn’t just a piece of music — it’s part of a UX design decision from a bygone era of PC computing.

Meet the Track — “Velkommen” in Detail

The piece that quietly defined many Windows XP installs doesn’t go by “XP theme”; its real name is “Velkommen”, and its composer is Stan LePard. While most people hear only a short cue, the full track is much more elaborate: over five minutes long in its original mix.

Inside Windows XP, the song usually plays as a compressed, shortened WMA file (title.wma) tucked in C:\Windows\System32\oobe\images. The full version on SoundCloud reveals the lush stereo production, intricate synthesizer layers, and warm, ambient groove that Microsoft’s installer doesn’t fully do justice to.

Some listeners have mistakenly attributed the tune to Brian Eno or other ambient artists — but that myth has been debunked. Instead, LePard’s signature style is evident: melodic, understated, and deeply evocative of early‑to‑mid-’90s multimedia software.

Velkommen wasn’t just background filler. Its steady 101 BPM helps maintain a calm, reassuring pace through the setup process, which is exactly what you want during a potentially stressful OS installation.

Origins — From Internet Explorer Starter Kit (1996) to Windows XP

The real origin of Velkommen predates Windows XP by several years. It first appeared on Microsoft’s Internet Explorer Starter Kit 3.0, released in 1996.

Later, a version was repurposed for Windows 98 Home Edition, edited for size and format. By the time XP rolled around, Microsoft used a shorter file (title.wma) during the OOBE sequence.

A unique point: Microsoft reused a single track across multiple products over nearly a decade, reflecting both resourcefulness and brand continuity.

The Composer — Stan LePard’s Legacy

Stan LePard was a prolific composer and sound designer, active until his passing on February 11, 2021.

He contributed to games like Halo 2–Reach, Destiny, Guild Wars 2, and Age of Empires, as well as Microsoft software like Encarta and Windows. In 2020, he uploaded a remastered original mix of Velkommen to SoundCloud in response to fan requests.

Fans celebrated him not only for his music but for his direct engagement, sharing his work with the community in a personal and lasting way.

Version Guide — Which “Velkommen” Are You Listening To?

1. Original 1996 Mix

  • Full stereo, original composition.
  • Available on SoundCloud.

2. Windows 98 Remix

  • Shortened, slightly edited version.
  • Distributed on Windows 98 Home Edition.

3. XP OOBE Extract

  • Compressed, mono WMA file (~2:40) located at title.wma.
  • This is the version most users associate with XP setup.

4. Fan Remasters

  • Community edits and cleaned versions emphasize fidelity and modernize production.
  • Examples include the Kaya Rework on SoundCloud.

Unique Insight: Microsoft could have shipped the full stereo version on XP, but prioritized file size for mass distribution, inadvertently limiting the audio experience.

Technical Comparison — Audio Forensics

  • Channels: Original mix is stereo; XP extract is mono.
  • Sample Rate & Bit Depth: Original mix maintains 44.1 kHz, 16-bit or higher; XP extract is lower fidelity.
  • Codec / Compression: XP uses lossy WMA; the original mix is lossless or lightly compressed.
  • Length: Original ~5+ minutes; XP extract ~2:40.

Unique Insight: The XP compression removes subtle harmonics and stereo depth, but the remaster restores these, preserving Stan LePard’s intended experience.

Listening Guide — How to Experience Velkommen

  • Stream or download the original mix from SoundCloud.
  • Extract XP title.wma if you have a legacy system or VM.
  • Compare side by side: listen for stereo depth, clarity, and reverb.
  • Try fan remasters for modern interpretations.
  • Use headphones or DAW to visualize waveform and frequency differences.

Cultural Impact — Nostalgia and Tech Memory

Velkommen resonates as a shared cultural touchstone:

  • Users recall memories of late-night installs or first custom builds.
  • Reddit threads capture personal stories of discovery and emotional resonance.
  • It’s an early example of ambient UX design, creating emotional engagement in software.

Preservation, Ethics & Licensing

  • Authorized Source: Stan LePard’s SoundCloud upload.
  • Redistribution: Community mirrors exist, but copyright remains a consideration.
  • Preservation Importance: Lossless versions are critical for software heritage. (cdm.link)

Aesthetic Analysis — Musical Uniqueness

  • Melody & Harmony: Gentle synth pads, soft lead melody.
  • Tempo: ~101 BPM for a calm, reassuring pace.
  • Instrumentation: Layered synths, mellow bass, soft reverb.
  • Production: Original stereo mix offers spatial depth lost in XP compression.

The Human Angle — Memories and Tributes

  • Fans share anecdotes about Velkommen on Reddit and forums.
  • LePard’s interaction with the community added personal significance.
  • Even a short, background track became a lasting emotional touchstone.

Practical Appendix — How to Hear Velkommen

  • Locate title.wma in XP’s C:\Windows\System32\oobe\images.
  • Convert WMA to WAV or FLAC to preserve fidelity.
  • Compare with the original SoundCloud mix.
  • Recreate OOBE listening experience via VM if desired.
  • Analyze waveforms for dynamic range and stereo vs mono differences.

Quick Takeaways

  • Velkommen is the ambient track behind Windows XP setup music.
  • Composed by Stan LePard, originally for 1996 Internet Explorer Starter Kit.
  • XP installations often didn’t play it due to missing audio drivers.
  • Multiple versions exist: original, Windows 98 remix, XP extract, fan remasters.
  • XP extract is compressed and mono, remaster is lossless stereo.
  • Full fidelity versions available via SoundCloud.
  • The track holds strong emotional resonance in tech nostalgia communities.

FAQs

  • What is Velkommen and why is it called “Windows XP setup music”? Velkommen is the track used during Windows XP OOBE (title.wma).

  • Who composed the Windows XP OOBE music? Stan LePard — composer for games and Microsoft software.

  • Is the XP version the full track? No, it’s a short, compressed excerpt; full mix >5 minutes.

  • Can I listen to a high-quality version? Yes — remastered original mix is on SoundCloud.

  • Why didn’t I hear it during install? Setup often ran before sound drivers were installed.