The Default Beep sound is played instead of the Low Battery Alarm sound or the Critical Battery Alarm sound on a Windows XP-based computer (307154)

RESOLUTION

Hotfix information

A supported hotfix is now available from Microsoft, but it is only intended to correct the problem that is described in this article. Only apply it to systems that are experiencing this specific problem. This hotfix may receive additional testing. Therefore, if you are not severely affected by this problem, we recommend that you wait for the next Windows XP service pack that contains this hotfix.

To resolve this problem immediately, contact Microsoft Product Support Services to obtain the hotfix. For a complete list of Microsoft Product Support Services telephone numbers and information about support costs, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://support.microsoft.com/contactus/?ws=support

Note In special cases, charges that are ordinarily incurred for support calls may be canceled if a Microsoft Support Professional determines that a specific update will resolve your problem. The usual support costs will apply to additional support questions and issues that do not qualify for the specific update in question.

Prerequisites

Windows XP Service Pack 1 or Windows XP Service Pack 2

Restart requirement

You must restart the computer after you apply this hotfix.

Hotfix replacement information

This hotfix does not replace any other hotfixes.

File information

The English version of this hotfix has the file attributes (or later file attributes) that are listed in the following table. The dates and times for these files are listed in Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). When you view the file information, it is converted to local time. To find the difference between UTC and local time, use the Time Zone tab in the Date and Time tool in Control Panel.

   Date         Time   Version           Size     File name
   --------------------------------------------------------------
   13-Aug-2004  23:24  5.1.2600.1579     398,848  Licdll.dll       
   13-Aug-2004  23:00  5.1.2600.1584     482,816  Winlogon.exe     
   13-Aug-2004  23:01  5.1.2600.2505     502,784  Winlogon.exe

WORKAROUND

Warning If you use Registry Editor incorrectly, you may cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that you can solve problems that result from using Registry Editor incorrectly. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.

To work around this problem for the original release version of Windows XP, you can add a registry sub key for both the Low Battery Alarm and the Critical Battery Alarm. To do this, follow these steps.

Click Start, click Run, type regedit, and then click OK.
In the left pane, locate and then right-click the following registry subkey:
HKEY_USERS\.DEFAULT\AppEvents\Schemes\Apps\
Click New, click Key, type Powercfg for the new key name, and then click Enter.
Right-click Powercfg, click New, click Key, type LowBatteryAlarm for the new key name, and then click Enter.
Right-click LowBatteryAlarm, click New, click Key, type .Current for the new key name, and then click Enter..
Right-click .Current, click New, click String Value, type (Default) for the string value name.
Double-click the string value, type the full path of the sound file that you want to play in the Value data box, and then click OK
In the left pane, locate and then click the following registry subkey:
HKEY_USERS\.DEFAULT\AppEvents\Schemes\Apps\PowerCfg\LowBatteryAlarm\
Right-click LowBatteryAlarm, click New, click Key, type .Default for the new key name, and then click Enter.
Right-click .Default, click New, click String Value, and then type (Default) for the string value name.
Double-click the string value, type the full path of the sound file that you want to play Value data box, and then click OK.
In the left pane, locate and then right-click the following registry subkey:
HKEY_USERS\.DEFAULT\AppEvents\Schemes\Apps\PowerCfg\
Click New, click Key, type CriticalBatteryAlarm for the new key name, and then click Enter.
Right-click CriticalBatteryAlarm, click New, click Key, type .Current for the new key name, and then click Enter.
Right-click .Current, click New, click String Value, and then type (Default) for the string value name.
Double-click the string value, type the full path of the sound file that you want to play Value data box, and then click OK. .
In the left pane, locate and then right-click the following registry subkey:
HKEY_USERS\.DEFAULT\AppEvents\Schemes\Apps\PowerCfg\CriticalBatteryAlarm
Click New, and then click Key.
Type .Default for the new key name, and then click Enter.
Right-click .Default, click New, and then click String Value.
Type (Default) for the string value name.
Double-click the string value, type the full path of the sound file that you want to play Value data box, and then click OK.
Quit Registry Editor.