C# Signature:

[DllImport("winmm.dll", SetLastError=true)]
static extern bool PlaySound(string pszSound,
   System.UIntPtr hmod, uint fdwSound);

VB Signature:

<DllImport("winmm.dll", charset:=Runtime.InteropServices.CharSet.Auto)> _
Shared Function PlaySound(ByVal lpszName As String, ByVal hModule As System.IntPtr, ByVal dwFlags As Integer) As Boolean
End Function

Notes:

    [Flags]
    public enum SoundFlags : int
    {
        SND_SYNC = 0x0000,            // play synchronously (default)
        SND_ASYNC = 0x0001,        // play asynchronously
        SND_NODEFAULT = 0x0002,        // silence (!default) if sound not found
        SND_MEMORY = 0x0004,        // pszSound points to a memory file
        SND_LOOP = 0x0008,            // loop the sound until next sndPlaySound
        SND_NOSTOP = 0x0010,        // don't stop any currently playing sound
        SND_NOWAIT = 0x00002000,        // don't wait if the driver is busy
        SND_ALIAS = 0x00010000,        // name is a registry alias
        SND_ALIAS_ID = 0x00110000,        // alias is a predefined id
        SND_FILENAME = 0x00020000,        // name is file name
        SND_RESOURCE = 0x00040004        // name is resource name or atom
    }

Tips & Tricks:

Standard names:

SystemAsterisk - Asterisk

Default - Default Beep

EmptyRecycleBin - when recycle bin is emptied

SystemExclamation - when windows shows a warning

SystemExit - when Windows shuts down

Maximize - when a program is maximized

MenuCommand - when a menu item is clicked on

MenuPopup - when a (sub)menu pops up

Minimize - when a program is minimized to taskbar

MailBeep - when email is received

Open - when a program is opened

SystemHand - when a critical stop occurs

AppGPFault - when a program causes an error

SystemQuestion - when a system question occurs

RestoreDown - when a program is restored to normal size

RestoreUp - when a program is restored to normal size from taskbar

SystemStart - when Windows starts up

Close - when program is closed

Ringout - when (fax) call is made outbound and the line is ringing

RingIn - incoming (fax) call

Sample Code:

    public static void Play (string strFileName)
    {
        PlaySound (strFileName, IntPtr.Zero, SoundFlags.SND_FILENAME | SoundFlags.SND_ASYNC);
    }

Alternative Managed API:

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