Death to the Start-Up sound!

Applescript:
Click here to launch Script Editor.
tell application "Terminal"
if not (exists window 1) then do script ""
do script "sudo sh -c \"echo \\\"osascript -e 'set volume 0'\\\" > /usr/local/bin/mute\" ; sudo chmod 777 /usr/local/bin/mute ; sudo defaults write com.apple.loginwindow LogoutHook /usr/local/bin/mute" in front window
end tell
Please tell me if it works, I haven't tested it.

How do I turn off the start-up sound?

There is a neat little app called Psst (v2.0.6). Look at Version Tracker, at
www.versiontracker.com/dyn/moreinfo/macosx/25458.

Works for w/ OS 10.4.8.

Good luck.

I haven't tested your script either, but I would like to make one suggestion. Since loginwindow hooks run as "root", the permissions the "mute" script ends up with (777) could potentially introduce a security risk since it allows any user to edit the script to run their own evil commands with "root" privileges. Something like "755" or "700" might be more appropriate...

Also, I don't think "/usr/local/bin" exists by default so the ' echo' may fail with a "No such directory" type of error.

Good point, thanks.

Hi Nick!

Here are links to the utilities, to silence or manipulate the Chime

Psst
Startup Chime Stopper
StartupSound.prefPane 1.0.4

I like my chime, as it let's me know that all is well with my Mac!

ali b

You're Welcome Nick!

No, you can't just turn it off.
It's not a preference or function. It is part of the system.

It doesn't necessarily mean that All is well, but if you haven't silenced it, and you start up your Mac, and don't hear it, it may be a signal that something may be amiss.

ali b

Hi Again Nick!

It should also be mentioned, that several troubleshooting procedures, instruct one to press certain key combinations, after the Startup Chime has played.

Just a couple are, resetting the PRAM or Firmware.

ali b

Nick,

In very simple terms, the Startup Chime is an alert, that on startup, some tests have been performed, and the Mac has passed them.

I'm not using simple terms for your benefit. It's because of my limited technical knowledge! I don't know exactly what things are checked!

And Thank You For The Star!

ali b

The chime is the equivalent of BIOS beep codes you hear on standard X86 hardware that uses BIOS. When things are wrong, you will hear different tones. The chime just indicates that all standard tests have passed.

Most Macs are designed to "sleep" instead of be shut down entirely, and by that line of logic you aren't constantly powering the unit up and down, so the chime won't be heard as often as it otherwise would be.

However, the chime CAN be silenced without additional software by holding down the mute key on a standard Apple keyboard, or the F3-key I believe it is, on Apple notebooks while pressing the power button. This setting is not saved, but per-session, so you'll have to do it everytime you power-on if you never want to hear the chime again.

Thank You Nick!

For the stars!
Your consideration is appreciated!

ali b

Not a reply to all brown but to the first post. What I do is insert a blank jack into the line out audio socket. I take the point about the warning but any aerror would probably become apparent in some other way.

At the moment I have the said socket occupied by a link to two external speakers which are not powered up and so do not produce a sound. The speaker power comes via a plug with a radio operated switch.

Hi, I've done the blank jack in the line out audio socket for the last 12 years of Mac use. It's always worked until now...I now have the new iMac and I cannot stop the start up bongs - even with the jack in place. I turn the volume to mute (which works on my identical iMac in the office), sometimes it works sometimes it doesn't. There seems to be no explanation to it??