Microsoft Agent 2.0
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 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 |
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
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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
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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 Vista and is present in Windows Vista SP1. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| Microsoft Agent 2.00.0.2115 | September 27th, 1998 | Windows 2000 Build 1902.1 | Bug fixes |
| 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 |
| Microsoft Agent 2.00.0.2209 | October 15th, 1998 | Windows 2000 Build 1911.1 | Bug fixes |
| Microsoft Agent 2.00.0.2317 | December 11th, 1998 | Windows 2000 Build 1946.1 | Untested |
| Microsoft Agent 2.00.0.2927 | 1999 (not yet known) | Windows 2000 Build 2072.1 | Untested |
| Microsoft Agent 5.2.3790.1241 | January 18th, 2008 | Windows Vista build 6001.18000 (Windows Vista SP1 RTM) | Uses SAPI5 and supports Aero |
| 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 |
| 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 |
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.
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