I do recognize that sound!
I didn't start really using Windows and going behind the Desktop, into the Registry, etc... until after Vista came out.
I always had a PC, then laptops as we went through the 1990s as I connected to very large tax and law DBs. So my entire use of Windows <Vista was to click on one of a few desktop icons.
Then I bought a new Fujitsu A-6030 Core2Duo laptop and was asked "XP or Vista"? I had no idea at that time so I called my brother in Florida and asked; he explained. I ended up getting Vista Home Premium x86 and loved it!
I then helped my nieces and nephew out with several Dell XP PCs that they had (XP SP2) and disliked it, but got through XP, then SP3 on all of their systems; all running fine.
Then one night, I encountered my very 1st BSOD ever - and it was on my Fujitsu laptop. I learned about and installed Debugging Tools for Windows/Wimdbg, learned it and the rest is history.
John