PC Win: How to Customize Mail 3.x MailBeep under Windows 95 (139463)

SUMMARY

On multimedia enhanced IBM-compatible computers, (computers that have a sound card and speakers), Mail for Windows supports substituting a .WAV file for the standard beep that is played in the PC speaker when the spooler detects new mail.

To enable this option, from the Mail menu, choose Options. Then select New Mail and Sound Chime.

NOTE: Microsoft Mail for Windows MailBeep can still function under Microsoft Windows 95, but configuring the custom sound file requires a different procedure.

MORE INFORMATION

In Windows 3.1, the WIN.INI file parameter can list a custom sound for New Mail notification using the following syntax:

[Sounds]
MailBeep=<valid path>\<soundfile>.WAV,MailBeep

In addition, the following line should exist in the MSMAIL.INI file under the [Microsoft Mail] section:

[Microsoft Mail]
MailBeep=<valid path>\<soundfile>.WAV

Microsoft Windows 95 moves the MailBeep entry in the WIN.INI file (if one exists) to the following registry key every time you exit Microsoft Windows 95:

HKey_Current_User\AppEvents\Schemes\Apps\.Default\MailBeep\.Current

In addition to the registry entry, the following line must exist in the MSMAIL.INI file under the [Microsoft Mail] section:

[Microsoft Mail]
MailBeep=<anything, but not NULL>

Configuring a Custom Sound for Mail under Microsoft Windows 95

It is not recommended that the registry be edited directly. When you run Mail for Windows under Microsoft Windows 95, the following steps are recommended to assign a custom .WAV sound for New Mail notification:

Edit the MSMAIL.INI file, and ensure that only the following MailBeep entry exists under the [Microsoft Mail] section:
MailBeep=x
Edit the WIN.INI file. Add the following entry under the [Sounds] section:
MailBeep=<validpath>\<wavefilename>.WAV,MailBeep
Shutdown Microsoft Windows 95.
Restart Microsoft Windows 95.
Restart Mail