1. On the Internet, locate an appropriate WAV audio file and save it in the right place on your own computer's hard disk
2. Configure your Windows program so that it'll use that file when you want it to.

The following more complete directions are for those people using Windows XP, Home Edition. If the directions are different for other Windows editions, please drop me a letter and I'll add the extra instructions here. Here are step-by-step instructions for Windows XP users:

STEP 1: On the Internet, find an appropriate WAV audio file.
One of the quickest ways of doing this is to use a search engine and in the search box type in keywords such as "wav audio frog" or "wav audio bird," or whatever kind of sound you're looking for. You can try it here with the Google Search Engine: 

When I make a search, some particularly promising-looking sites I come up with include the All About Frogs Site and the Animal Sounds page at a1freesoundeffects.com.

STEP 2: Save the WAV file you've found on your own computer's hard disk.
When you find a WAV file you like, do this:

• Be sure no one is telling you not to download the file because of copyright considerations
• If it's OK to download it, click on the file, which will show up as a link
• Your Windows Media Player should automatically come on
• After the Player has produced the sound, click on "File"
• Click on "Save As"
• In the "Save in" box, be sure you are in the folder where later you can find the WAV files you are saving.  You might save it where Windows has its own audio files, in  c:/windows/media
• You may want to rename the file (in the "File name" box) to make it easier to find later -- something like "froggy.wav"
• Click on "Save"

If your Media Player doesn't come on, then go to your Windows Help program and search for information on installing your Media Player.

STEP 3: Configure Windows to use your WAV file

• Click on the "Start" icon on your desktop
• Click on "Settings"
• Click on "Control Panel"
• Click on "Sounds and Audio Devices"
• Click on the "Sounds" Tab
• In the lower "Program events" window, click on the "event" which, when it happens, you want to hear the frog croak. If, for example, you choose "Open program," then every time you open a new program you'll hear a croak.
• When you click on the "event," the "Sounds" window below the "Program events" window brightens. If it says "(None)," then no sound is associated with this event.
• Click on the "Browse" button at the right of the "Sounds" window.
• Navigate to the WAV file you just saved, click on it, and hit "OK"
• Click the "Apply" button at the lower, right.
• Click all the OK buttons that remain, then exit "Control Panel"

Mission accomplished!

Now the next time your computer comes on, it should make the sound contained in the WAV file you found and saved.

If you get tired of your sounds, return to the "Sounds" tab and in the "Sound scheme" window at the top, choose either "No Sounds" or "Windows Default." That'll undo your changes.