Genie and Microsoft Agent 2.0: Difference between pages

Microsoft Agent
	Screenshot of the Properties menu in Microsoft Agent 2.0.
Name	Microsoft Agent
Developer(s)	Microsoft
Initial release	October 12th, 1998 (25 years ago)
Latest version	6.1.7600.16426
Latest version release date	September 21st, 2009 (14 years ago)
Written in	C++
Operating system	Microsoft Windows
Discontinued?	Yes

VisualWikitext

Revision as of 22:03, 9 December 2021

Microsoft Agent 2.0 is the latest version and current release of Microsoft Agent. It is an upgrade to Microsoft Agent 1.5, its predecessor. It featured many changes and also revamped the Microsoft Agent API to the point where most code made for Microsoft Agent 1.5 specifically would not run properly or not run at all if Microsoft Agent 2.0 is installed over Microsoft Agent 1.5. This is also the first public release of Microsoft Agent to install itself in the WINDOWS/WINNT directory instead of the Program Files/Program Files (x86) directory. It is also the first public release to use "CHARS" as the name of the folder ACS files go in, as Microsoft Agent 1.5 used a folder named "Characters".

Development

Pre-release and final builds

The first available build of Microsoft Agent 2.0 is in Windows 2000 build 1723. In Windows 2000 build 1701, Microsoft Agent 1.7 was included, which means Microsoft may have skipped 1.8 and 1.9 or they were in the in-between and undiscovered builds. The version of Microsoft Agent 2.0 inside of Windows 2000 Build 1723 is version 2.0.0.1114. This build has a mention of Microsoft Agent 1.6 inside of it and also has the taskbar icon that comes up when AgentSvr.exe is running removed. This build also faces the same issues as Microsoft Agent 1.7 and will cause MASH, BonziBuddy, and other Microsoft Agent programs to crash.

The next available build is Microsoft Agent 2.0.0.1330 which was found inside of Windows 2000 Build 1773. It introduced the character gallery dialog box which is featured in the final release (build 2202) and also added the colored Microsoft Agent logo. However, it still has the same issues as 1114. The next build is Microsoft Agent 2.0.0.1527, and is extremely similar to the previous build with the exception of all the dialog boxes being moved to a DLL and also including the "intl" folder.

The next available build after this is Microsoft Agent 2.00.0.2031, which added the Microsoft Speech Recognition microphone icon and removed all mentions of Microsoft Agent 1.6. This build also fixed the issues with 1.5 characters and programs crashing but 2.0 characters and programs would still crash. This also happened in the next build Microsoft Agent 2.00.0.2115, where the only difference between the two builds were bug fixes.

The final release build is Microsoft Agent 2.00.0.2022, which became available for download on Microsoft's website on October 12th, 1998. It also became the most common and distributed build of Microsoft Agent, distributed in almost every Microsoft Agent program and download link.

Post-release builds

Despite Microsoft Agent 2.0 already having its initial release with build 2202, builds were still developed after the release. The first build to be released afterwards was Microsoft Agent 2.00.0.2209, which only contained bug fixes.

Non 2.00.0.xxxx builds

Versions of Microsoft Agent present inside of Windows Vista and Windows 7 both had different build numbers instead of the standards 2.00.0.xxxx format. Microsoft Agent 5.2.3790 is one notable example of this in Windows XP x64, and later also Vista. Microsoft Agent 6.1.7600.16426 is also a notable example and is the build that is installed when the user chooses to install Microsoft Agent Hotfix for Windows 7.

Builds


Build Number	Earliest compilation date	Source	Notes/Issues	Link
Microsoft Agent 2.0.0.1114	December 11th, 1997	Windows 2000 Build 1723.1	Mentions Microsoft Agent 1.6, removed 1.x taskbar icon, causes Microsoft Agent 1.5 and 2.0 programs to crash	1114.zip
Microsoft Agent 2.0.0.1330	March 14th, 1998	Windows 2000 Build 1773.1	Adds the character gallery dialog box, adds 2 colored icons, same crash issue as 1114	1330.zip
Microsoft Agent 2.0.0.1527	April 29th, 1998	Windows 2000 Build 1796.1	First build to include the intl folder, similar issues to 1527 but some programs do open but crash once an agent is loaded, moves all dialog boxes into a DLL	1527.zip
Microsoft Agent 2.00.0.2031	September 2nd, 1998	Windows 2000 Build 1888.1	Adds microphone icon, removes mentions of Microsoft Agent 1.6, 1.5 Agents and programs work but 2.0 Agents and programs crash	2031.zip
Microsoft Agent 2.00.0.2115	September 27th, 1998	Windows 2000 Build 1902.1, Windows ME RTM	Bug fixes	2115.zip
Microsoft Agent 2.00.0.2202	October 2nd, 1998	Microsoft Agent 2.0 setup	The most common release of Microsoft Agent, formerly hosted on Microsoft's MS Agent download page, included with most 2.0 applications	MSagent.exe
Microsoft Agent 2.00.0.2209	October 15th, 1998	Windows 2000 Build 1911.1	Bug fixes	2209.zip
Microsoft Agent 2.00.0.2317	December 11th, 1998	Windows 2000 Build 1946.1	Untested	2317.zip
Microsoft Agent 2.00.0.2526	December 11th, 1998	Windows 2000 Build 2031.1	Untested	2526.zip
Microsoft Agent 2.00.0.2927	June 26th, 1999	Windows 2000 Build 2072.1	Untested	2927.zip
Microsoft Agent 2.00.0.3106	September 19th, 1999	Windows 2000 build 2128.1	Untested	3106.zip
Microsoft Agent 2.00.0.3422	October 30th, 1999	Windows 2000, Windows XP (RTM)	Untested	3422.zip 3422_amd64.zip 3422.zip
Microsoft Agent 5.2.3790.1240	March 24th, 2005	Windows XP Professional x64 Edition RTM	Entire program ported to x64	3790.1240.zip
Microsoft Agent 5.2.3790.1241	November 2nd, 2006	Windows Vista RTM	Uses SAPI 5.3 and supports Aero	3790.1241_32-bit.zip winvistaagent.zip
Microsoft Agent 5.2.3790.1242	February 16th, 2007	Windows XP Professional x64 Edition SP2	Appears to be a more XP-friendly version of 5.2.3790.1241.	5237901242.zip
Microsoft Agent 2.00.3427	April 13th, 2008	Windows XP build 2600.5512 (Windows XP SP3 RTM)	Most up-to-date non-SAPI 5 version of Microsoft Agent, gives a user warning when opening a Microsoft Agent 1.5 character	agent3427.zip
Microsoft Agent 6.1.7600.16426	September 21st, 2009	Microsoft Agent Hotfix for Windows 7	Latest version of Microsoft Agent, previously available on Microsoft's website	395040_intl_x64_zip.exe (Win7 only) 395039_intl_i386_zip.exe (Win7 only) win7agent.zip (files that work on non-7 versions)

Trivia

Microsoft Agent 2.0 is the default Microsoft Agent installed on old Windows versions.
- The only known exception to this is Microsoft Agent 1.7, which was in a beta release of Windows 2000.
For some unknown reason, early Microsoft Agent 2.0 betas uses 2.0.0 at the beginning of its version while Microsoft Agent Build 2202 uses 2.00.0 at the beginning of its version number.
Microsoft Agent 2.0 has the most available builds of any release due to the fact that some of these builds were included in Windows betas.
Not all Microsoft Agent builds are available in Windows betas as it appeared that Microsoft only occasionally updated the Microsoft Agent after each build. This is also why some builds may contain the same version of Microsoft Agent before the version number changes again.
The most common build of Microsoft Agent 2.0, Build 2202, is over one thousand builds away from the latest build.
It is unknown why Microsoft never updated the 2.0 installer to include the newer builds.

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-{{Infobox acs
+{{Infobox software|title=Microsoft Agent|software_name=Microsoft Agent|logo=AgentSvrIconEnlarged64px.png|developer=Microsoft|latest release date=September 21st, 2009 ({{time_ago|September 21st, 2009}})|latest version=6.1.7600.16426|released=October 12th, 1998 ({{time_ago|October 12th, 1998}})|programming language=C++|operating system=Microsoft Windows|discontinued=Yes|screenshot=MSAgent2.0Build2202PropertiesMenu.png|caption=Screenshot of the Properties menu in Microsoft Agent 2.0.}}
-| title = Genie
+Microsoft Agent 2.0 is the latest version and current release of [[Microsoft Agent]]. It is an upgrade to [[Microsoft Agent 1.5]], its predecessor. It featured many changes and also revamped the Microsoft Agent API to the point where most code made for Microsoft Agent 1.5 specifically would not run properly or not run at all if Microsoft Agent 2.0 is installed over Microsoft Agent 1.5. This is also the first public release of Microsoft Agent to install itself in the WINDOWS/WINNT directory instead of the Program Files/Program Files (x86) directory. It is also the first public release to use "CHARS" as the name of the folder ACS files go in, as Microsoft Agent 1.5 used a folder named "Characters".
-| logo = GenieSysTrayIcon.png
+==Development==
-| screenshot = Genie0000.bmp
-| acs_name = Genie
-| developer = Microsoft Corporation
-| released = 1997
-| character description = I am your humble, but powerful, servant of the lamp. Summon me forth to do your bidding.
-| extra data = Your faithful servant and assistant.^^A thousand pardons, Master, but here is something you wished me to remind you. (newer version) <br> {74515580-09AB-11D1-89AB=00C04FC2DAFD}Copyright(c)1997 Microsoft Corporation (MSAgent 1.5 version)
-| animation count = 76 (newer version) <br> 103 (MSAgent 1.5 version)
-| tts voice = Adult Male #1, American English (TruVoice)
-| download = https://bit.ly/3kUxDUK (newer version) <br> https://bit.ly/3oookOQ (MSAgent 1.5 version)
-}}
-Genie is a [[Microsoft Agent]] character released by Microsoft Corporation. He was one of the original four Microsoft Agents to be released by Microsoft, which also include Robby, Merlin and Peedy. His appearance is, as his name suggests, a blue genie.
-==Character data==
+=== Pre-release and final builds ===
-{{Character data table
+The first available build of Microsoft Agent 2.0 is in Windows 2000 build 1723. In Windows 2000 build 1701, Microsoft Agent 1.7 was included, which means Microsoft may have skipped 1.8 and 1.9 or they were in the in-between and undiscovered builds. The version of Microsoft Agent 2.0 inside of Windows 2000 Build 1723 is version 2.0.0.1114. This build has a mention of Microsoft Agent 1.6 inside of it and also has the taskbar icon that comes up when AgentSvr.exe is running removed. This build also faces the same issues as Microsoft Agent 1.7 and will cause [[MASH]], [[BonziBuddy]], and other Microsoft Agent programs to crash.
-| character name = Genie (newer version)
-| file name = Genie.acs
-| description = I am your humble, but powerful, servant of the lamp. Summon me forth to do your bidding.
-| extra data = Your faithful servant and assistant.^^A thousand pardons, Master, but here is something you wished me to remind you.
-| file size = 1.91 MB
-| animations = 76
-| tts voice = Adult Male #1, American English (TruVoice)
-| guid = {C3B28D02-B254-11D0-B464-0080C7F5EE85}
-| ttsmode id = {CA141FD0-AC7F-11D1-97A3-006008273000}
-| tts speed = 157
-| tts pitch = 64
-| width = 128px
-| length = 128px
-}}
-{{Character data table
-| character name = Genie (MSAgent 1.5 version)
-| file name = Genie.acs
-| description = I am your humble, but powerful, servant of the lamp. Summon me forth to do your bidding.
-| extra data = {74515580-09AB-11D1-89AB-00C04FC2DAFD}Copyright(c)1997 Microsoft Corporation
-| file size = 2.65 MB
-| animations = 103
-| tts voice = Adult Male #1, American English (TruVoice)
-| guid = {C3B28D02-B254-11D0-B464-0080C7F5EE85}
-| ttsmode id = {CA141FD0-AC7F-11D1-97A3-006008273000}
-| tts speed = 157
-| tts pitch = 65
-| width = 128px
-| length = 128px
-}}
-==Gallery==
+The next available build is Microsoft Agent 2.0.0.1330 which was found inside of Windows 2000 Build 1773. It introduced the character gallery dialog box which is featured in the final release (build 2202) and also added the colored Microsoft Agent logo. However, it still has the same issues as 1114. The next build is Microsoft Agent 2.0.0.1527, and is extremely similar to the previous build with the exception of all the dialog boxes being moved to a DLL and also including the "intl" folder.
-<gallery>
-File:Genie0000.bmp|The default animation frame of Genie.
-File:GenieSysTrayIcon.png|The system tray icon of Genie.
-File:Geniecolors.png|The color table used by the Genie Microsoft Agent character.
-File:Genieanimations.gif|All frames inside of the newer Genie.acs. The 1.5 version's frames could not be extracted due to format differences.
-File:Btn genie.gif|The Genie download button that Microsoft allowed to be added to websites to promote the character.
-</gallery>
-== Trivia ==
-* Genie was created in 1997.
-* For an unknown reason, some of his animations from the MSAgent 1.5 version were removed in the newer one.
-* He was one of the four original Microsoft Agents to be released by Microsoft Corporation.
-* As with most classical Microsoft Agents, he has his own color table to utilize multiple unique colors to make the character seem higher quality.
-* His extra data section and pitch also differ between versions.
-[[Category:Characters]]
+The next available build after this is Microsoft Agent 2.00.0.2031, which added the Microsoft Speech Recognition microphone icon and removed all mentions of Microsoft Agent 1.6. This build also fixed the issues with 1.5 characters and programs crashing but 2.0 characters and programs would still crash. This also happened in the next build Microsoft Agent 2.00.0.2115, where the only difference between the two builds were bug fixes.
+The final release build is Microsoft Agent 2.00.0.2022, which became available for download on Microsoft's website on October 12th, 1998. It also became the most common and distributed build of Microsoft Agent, distributed in almost every Microsoft Agent program and download link.
+=== Post-release builds ===
+{{Stub_section}}Despite Microsoft Agent 2.0 already having its initial release with build 2202, builds were still developed after the release. The first build to be released afterwards was Microsoft Agent 2.00.0.2209, which only contained bug fixes.
+=== Non 2.00.0.xxxx builds ===
+{{Stub_section}}Versions of Microsoft Agent present inside of Windows Vista and Windows 7 both had different build numbers instead of the standards 2.00.0.xxxx format. Microsoft Agent 5.2.3790 is one notable example of this in Windows XP x64, and later also Vista. Microsoft Agent 6.1.7600.16426 is also a notable example and is the build that is installed when the user chooses to install Microsoft Agent Hotfix for Windows 7.
+== Builds ==
+{| class="wikitable"
+|+
+!Build Number
+!Earliest compilation date
+!Source
+!Notes/Issues
+!Link
+|-
+|Microsoft Agent 2.0.0.1114
+|December 11th, 1997
+|Windows 2000 Build 1723.1
+|Mentions Microsoft Agent 1.6, removed 1.x taskbar icon, causes Microsoft Agent 1.5 and 2.0 programs to crash
+|[https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/746450775487545364/901535135252504637/1114.zip 1114.zip] {{Exclusive/x86}}
+|-
+|Microsoft Agent 2.0.0.1330
+|March 14th, 1998
+|Windows 2000 Build 1773.1
+|Adds the character gallery dialog box, adds 2 colored icons, same crash issue as 1114
+|[https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/746450775487545364/902441826806562857/1330.zip 1330.zip] {{Exclusive/x86}}
+|-
+|Microsoft Agent 2.0.0.1527
+|April 29th, 1998
+|Windows 2000 Build 1796.1
+|First build to include the intl folder, similar issues to 1527 but some programs do open but crash once an agent is loaded, moves all dialog boxes into a DLL
+|[https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/746450775487545364/901540016105340998/1527.zip 1527.zip] {{Exclusive/x86}}
+|-
+|Microsoft Agent 2.00.0.2031
+|September 2nd, 1998
+|Windows 2000 Build 1888.1
+|Adds microphone icon, removes mentions of Microsoft Agent 1.6, 1.5 Agents and programs work but 2.0 Agents and programs crash
+|[https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/746450775487545364/901556801407955015/2031.zip 2031.zip] {{Exclusive/x86}}
+|-
+|Microsoft Agent 2.00.0.2115
+|September 27th, 1998
+|Windows 2000 Build 1902.1, Windows ME RTM
+|Bug fixes
+|[https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/746450775487545364/902293086242242620/2115.zip 2115.zip] {{Exclusive/x86}}
+|-
+|Microsoft Agent 2.00.0.2202
+|October 2nd, 1998
+|Microsoft Agent 2.0 setup
+|The most common release of Microsoft Agent, formerly hosted on Microsoft's MS Agent download page, included with most 2.0 applications
+|[https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/746450775487545364/901438445493301248/MSagent.exe MSagent.exe] {{Exclusive/x86}}
+|-
+|Microsoft Agent 2.00.0.2209
+|October 15th, 1998
+|Windows 2000 Build 1911.1
+|Bug fixes
+|[https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/746450775487545364/901558739260305428/2209.zip 2209.zip] {{Exclusive/x86}}
+|-
+|Microsoft Agent 2.00.0.2317
+|December 11th, 1998
+|Windows 2000 Build 1946.1
+|Untested
+|[https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/746450775487545364/901563310141501520/2317.zip 2317.zip] {{Exclusive/x86}}
+|-
+|Microsoft Agent 2.00.0.2526
+|December 11th, 1998
+|Windows 2000 Build 2031.1
+|Untested
+|[https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/746450775487545364/901527502797811712/2526.zip 2526.zip] {{Exclusive/x86}}
+|-
+|Microsoft Agent 2.00.0.2927
+|June 26th, 1999
+|Windows 2000 Build 2072.1
+|Untested
+|[https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/746450775487545364/901236647235039302/2927.zip 2927.zip] {{Exclusive/x86}}
+|-
+|Microsoft Agent 2.00.0.3106
+|September 19th, 1999
+|Windows 2000 build 2128.1
+|Untested
+|[https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/746450775487545364/901531125577556058/3106.zip 3106.zip] {{Exclusive/x86}}
+|-
+|Microsoft Agent 2.00.0.3422
+|October 30th, 1999
+|Windows 2000, Windows XP (RTM)
+|Untested
+|[https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/746450775487545364/902465514901753896/3422.zip 3422.zip] {{Exclusive/x86}}<br>[https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/746450775487545364/918623675761172501/3422_amd64.zip 3422_amd64.zip] {{Exclusive/x64}}<br>[https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/746450775487545364/904420789833576548/3422-ia64.zip 3422.zip] {{Exclusive/itan}}
+|-
+|Microsoft Agent 5.2.3790.1240
+|March 24th, 2005
+|Windows XP Professional x64 Edition RTM
+|Entire program ported to x64
+|[https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/746450775487545364/918619773066170428/3790.1240.zip 3790.1240.zip] {{Exclusive/x64}}
+|-
+|Microsoft Agent 5.2.3790.1241
+|November 2nd, 2006
+|Windows Vista RTM
+|Uses SAPI 5.3 and supports Aero
+|[https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/746450775487545364/918613626938613780/3790.1241_32-bit.zip 3790.1241_32-bit.zip] {{Exclusive/x86}}<br>[https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/746450775487545364/901010001739542528/winvistaagent.zip winvistaagent.zip] {{Exclusive/x64}}
+|-
+|Microsoft Agent 5.2.3790.1242
+|February 16th, 2007
+|Windows XP Professional x64 Edition SP2
+|Appears to be a more XP-friendly version of 5.2.3790.1241.
+|[https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/746450775487545364/904424989304950825/5237901242.zip 5237901242.zip] {{Exclusive/x64}}
+|-
+|Microsoft Agent 2.00.3427
+|April 13th, 2008
+|Windows XP build 2600.5512 (Windows XP SP3 RTM)
+|Most up-to-date non-SAPI 5 version of Microsoft Agent, gives a user warning when opening a Microsoft Agent 1.5 character
+|[https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/746450775487545364/901010358557364244/agent3427.zip agent3427.zip] {{Exclusive/x86}}
+|-
+|Microsoft Agent 6.1.7600.16426
+|September 21st, 2009
+|Microsoft Agent Hotfix for Windows 7
+|Latest version of Microsoft Agent, previously available on Microsoft's website
+|[https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/839134762697752617/900647855470039091/395040_intl_x64_zip.exe 395040_intl_x64_zip.exe (Win7 only)] {{Exclusive/x64}}<br>[https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/839134762697752617/900647894716125225/395039_intl_i386_zip.exe 395039_intl_i386_zip.exe (Win7 only)] {{Exclusive/x86}}<br>[https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/746450775487545364/900660863466352650/win7agent.zip win7agent.zip (files that work on non-7 versions)] {{Exclusive/x64}}
+|}
+==Trivia==
+* Microsoft Agent 2.0 is the default Microsoft Agent installed on old Windows versions.
+** The only known exception to this is [[Microsoft Agent 1.7]], which was in a beta release of Windows 2000.
+* For some unknown reason, early Microsoft Agent 2.0 betas uses 2.0.0 at the beginning of its version while Microsoft Agent Build 2202 uses 2.00.0 at the beginning of its version number.
+* Microsoft Agent 2.0 has the most available builds of any release due to the fact that some of these builds were included in Windows betas.
+* Not all Microsoft Agent builds are available in Windows betas as it appeared that Microsoft only occasionally updated the Microsoft Agent after each build. This is also why some builds may contain the same version of Microsoft Agent before the version number changes again.
+* The most common build of Microsoft Agent 2.0, Build 2202, is over one thousand builds away from the latest build.
+* It is unknown why Microsoft never updated the 2.0 installer to include the newer builds.
+{{MSAgent namespace navbox}}
+[[Category:Software]]