Microsoft Agent and Microsoft Agent 2.0: Difference between pages

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{{Featured article}}{{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=September 8th, 1997 ({{time_ago|September 8th, 1997}})|programming language=C++|operating system=Microsoft Windows|discontinued=Yes|screenshot=Microsoft_Agent_mash_screenshot_gif.png|caption=Microsoft Agent software being used in the [[Microsoft Agent Scripting Helper]].}}
<div style="padding: 0.5em; margin: 1em 0.5em 0; border: 1px solid #AAA; border-width: 1px 0">[[File:Windows-error-warning-icon_358303_png.png|20px]] This Page Was Raided By: '''The Inbetters'''</div>
<gallery>{{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.}}
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==


Microsoft Agent was a technology developed by [[wikipedia:Microsoft|Microsoft]] that allows for users to interact with animated characters inside applications and web pages. It used text to speech engines to allow the animated characters to speak to the end user. These animated characters were called "Microsoft Agents". It came preinstalled with [[wikipedia:Microsoft_Windows|Windows]] beginning with [[wikipedia:Windows_98|Windows 98]]. Microsoft Agent continued to release alongside all Windows versions until [[wikipedia:Windows_7|Windows 7]] in 2009, following Microsoft's discontinuation of Microsoft Agent. The latest release of Microsoft Agent was version 2.0 on October 12th, 1998.
=== 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.  


== Characters ==
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.
Microsoft Agent allowed for users of the software to make characters through the [[Microsoft Agent Character Editor]]. Four default characters were made by Microsoft on the original page, including Genie, Merlin, Peedy, and Robby. Some other notable characters are those featured in the [[wikipedia:Microsoft_Office|Microsoft Office suite]] throughout 1997 to 2003, including Clippy, Dot, or Office Logo. The Windows XP search assistants are also Microsoft Agents, including Rover. Another mentionable Microsoft Agent is Bonzi, a purple gorilla that came bundled [[BonziBuddy|BonziBUDDY]] until its discontinuation. The Bonzi character later received a lot of attention after being a meme following multiple meme videos on it before [https://vinesauce.fandom.com/wiki/Joel Vinesauce Joel] eventually streamed an XP destruction causing the popularity of the Bonzi character to rise.


== File format ==
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.
Microsoft Agent characters could be exported in the .ACS file extension and served as the character file. There is also a .ACD format used by MACE that is the project file for the character. The .ACF is another format of a Microsoft Agent character meant for web usage.


== Post-Vista support ==
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.  
Although Microsoft Agent was discontinued following the release of Windows 7 in 2009, it was still able to be used via installing Microsoft Agent's components from the Microsoft Agent installer. This allowed for operating systems that came after [[wikipedia:Windows_Vista|Windows Vista]] to run the software. Microsoft also made a hotfix for Windows 7 that allowed for Microsoft Agent to be installed. This version of Microsoft Agent is the same as version 2.0 but with support for Aero and SAPI 5 as the speech engine. The hotfix link was taken down following the end of support for Windows 7 in 2020.


== Online resurgence ==
=== Post-release builds ===
Following multiple memes of the Bonzi Microsoft Agent character and Vinesauce Joel eventually covering it inside one of his Windows destruction livestreams, a large resurgence of popularity in Microsoft Agent. However, this lead to collapse of the [[2nd Microsoft Agent Community]], an entity that had existed since 2001. Afterwards, many small meme-lord communities existed making meme content out of the Bonzi MS Agent, before eventually dying out. Afterwards, [[Spidermanboy13]] and [[Norbika9Entertainment]] had founded [[The Microsoft Agent Community]] sometime in 2015, with Norbika9Entertainment fully taking over by 2016. This community was influenced by [[wikipedia:Vyond|Vyond]] and survived until April 2018, when [[Operation Butler]] had overthrown Norbika9Entertainment causing the influence to shift to object show community influence. This lasted until May 25th, 2018, when [[The Microsoft Agent Frontier Empire]] was founded with mapping influence. TMAFE successfully united many Microsoft Agent communities they could find in 2018 and eventually getting recognition from the 2nd Microsoft Agent Community as the official successor to them.  
{{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.  


== Versions ==
=== 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"
{| class="wikitable"
|+
|+
!Version number
!Build Number
!Date
!Earliest compilation date
!Confirmed?
!Source
!Notes/Issues
!Link
!Link
|-
|-
|[[Microsoft Agent Beta]]
|Microsoft Agent 2.0.0.1114
|October 28th, 1996
|December 11th, 1997
|Yes
|Windows 2000 Build 1723.1
|N/A
|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 Beta 2.0
|Microsoft Agent 2.00.0.3106
|June 18th, 1997<ref>https://news.microsoft.com/1997/06/18/new-microsoft-agent-beta-2-0-allows-creation-of-interactive-characters-for-internet-and-activex-based-applications/</ref>
|September 19th, 1999
|Yes
|Windows 2000 build 2128.1
|N/A
|Untested
|[https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/746450775487545364/901531125577556058/3106.zip 3106.zip] {{Exclusive/x86}}
|-
|-
|Microsoft Agent 1.0
|Microsoft Agent 2.00.0.3422
|1997
|October 30th, 1999
|No
|Windows 2000, Windows XP (RTM)
|N/A
|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 1.3]]
|Microsoft Agent 5.2.3790.1240
|1997
|March 24th, 2005
|Yes
|Windows XP Professional x64 Edition RTM
|N/A
|Entire program ported to x64
|[https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/746450775487545364/918619773066170428/3790.1240.zip 3790.1240.zip] {{Exclusive/x64}}
|-
|-
|[[Microsoft Agent 1.5]]
|Microsoft Agent 5.2.3790.1241
|September 8th, 1997<ref>https://news.microsoft.com/1997/09/08/microsoft-agent-released-to-the-web-for-free-download/</ref>
|November 2nd, 2006
|Yes
|Windows Vista RTM
|http://www.sc36.net/agent.html
|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 1.6]]
|Microsoft Agent 5.2.3790.1242
|1997
|February 16th, 2007
|Yes
|Windows XP Professional x64 Edition SP2
|N/A
|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 1.7]]
|Microsoft Agent 2.00.3427
|1997
|April 13th, 2008
|Yes
|Windows XP build 2600.5512 (Windows XP SP3 RTM)
|http://tmafe.com/downloads/MSagent_1.7_files.zip
|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 2.0]]
|Microsoft Agent 6.1.7600.16426
|October 12th, 1998<ref>https://news.microsoft.com/1998/10/12/microsoft-agent-2-0-adds-a-more-human-touch-to-computing/</ref>
|September 21st, 2009
|Yes
|Microsoft Agent Hotfix for Windows 7
|http://www.sc36.net/agent.html
|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}}
|}
|}


== Version History ==
==Trivia==
 
* Microsoft Agent 2.0 is the default Microsoft Agent installed on old Windows versions.
* October 28th, 1996 - Microsoft Agent Beta announced on MSDN.
** The only known exception to this is [[Microsoft Agent 1.7]], which was in a beta release of Windows 2000.
* 1997 - Microsoft Agent 1.0 released.
* 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.
* September 8th, 1997 - Microsoft Agent 1.5, the first public version, was released.
* 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.
* October 12th, 1998 - Microsoft Agent 2.0 released.
* 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.
== Trivia ==
* It is unknown why Microsoft never updated the 2.0 installer to include the newer builds.
 
{{MSAgent namespace navbox}}</gallery>
* Microsoft Agent utilizes animated desktop assistants alongside text to speech engines.
* Microsoft Agent first came bundled with Windows 98 and continued to be bundled with Windows until Windows 7.
* Microsoft released a hotfix for Microsoft Agent compatibility on Windows 7 following announcing the discontinuation of Microsoft Agent.
** The version in the hotfix is Microsoft Agent 6.1.7600.16426, but a bug causes it to appear as 6.01.7600.16426 in the Properties menu. It is very likely that it is the same bug that makes 2.0's version appear as 2.00 instead of 2.0.
** The hotfix link was taken down following the end of support for Windows 7.
* Genie, Merlin, Peedy, and Robby were the original four assistants developed by Microsoft.
* The release date of Microsoft Agent 2.0 is disputed. The 2nd Microsoft Agent Community had documented Microsoft Agent 2.0 releasing on October 12th, 1998, while the build date of "AgentSvr.exe" stating October 2nd, 1998. However, a Microsoft news article confirmed that the 2nd Microsoft Agent Community is right, and that there tends to be small gaps between build dates and release dates in Microsoft products.
* The "AgentSvr.exe" program is strangely compiled in Visual C++ debug mode rather than in Visual C++ release mode.
* Despite Microsoft Agent 6.1's and Microsoft Agent 5.2's version numbers, they are still Microsoft Agent 2.0 but with bug fixes and SAPI 5.0 support.
* Microsoft Agent was removed early on in Windows 7's development, as the earliest available build (Windows 7 build 6469) does not contain the files for Microsoft Agent.  
 
== References ==
{{reflist}}
[[Category:Software]]
[[Category:Software]]
{{MSAgent namespace navbox}}

Revision as of 20:46, 13 January 2022

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