Quiet Start is a system extension which will keep some Macintosh models from making the usual chime at startup or restart. I made it particularly for those PowerBook users who may really want to use their computer as a laptop and may find themselves in an environment where the chime would be disturbing to others (like in a classroom).
As Quiet Start loads, the animation of its startup icon will tell you a couple of things. First, you will see the power key depress and return to normal which means that Quiet Start's shutdown code was successfully installed. Second, an indicator will appear showing the volume setting which was restored from the information saved at the previous shutdown. So, the first time it runs you will see only the animation of the power key. All other times you should see both of the animations. If the system doesn't have the resources required for Quiet Start to run, no icon at all is displayed.
Quiet Start takes advantage of a change in Apple's ROM on some later models (like my PowerBook 160). With this change, the volume level of the startup chime depends on what the user has set it to with the normal control panel. Quiet Start sets the volume level to zero† just before your Macintosh shuts down. When the system extension is loaded at startup, the volume level is restored to what it was before you shut down.
Please be aware that because your Macintosh may not have a ROM which checks the volume level before making the chime, this program may have no effect on your computer. Sorry, there's nothing a program can do until it's running - and bootstrap ROM always goes first.
†For those of you whose Macintosh doesn't have the desired behavior with the volume level set to zero (i.e. Quadras), you can hold a number key (0-7) while Quiet Start is loading. The volume level used during the boot process from then on will be that of the key held instead of the normal zero. A dot will be displayed in the lower-left of the startup icon to indicate that your selection has been saved.
Quiet Start may be freely distributed, but may not be modified in any way. If you use this program, please e-mail me comments on the Internet at: tbridgwa@cymbal.calpoly.edu
Version History:
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1.0 - initial release which prompted tons of e-mail telling me it didn't work on various mac models (sorry).
1.1 - Included resetting of the volume at startup, which was left out because another extension was doing it for me during debugging and I forget to do it myself. Also, some significance was added to the animation on the startup icon.
1.2 - Fixed a bug which would often keep the volume at 0 after startup. Added an indicator in the startup animation showing the volume level set. Gave the pref file it's own icon and cleaned up the other icons.
