Microsoft Bob 2.0

Microsoft Bob 2.0

Microsoft Bob 2.0 pre-release with Rocky as the Microsoft Actor.
Name	Microsoft Bob 2.0
Developer(s)	Microsoft Corporation
Latest version release date	1996
Written in	Visual C++
Operating system	Microsoft Windows
Predecessor	Microsoft Bob
Discontinued?	Yes

Microsoft Bob 2.0 is a cancelled consumer-oriented graphical shell and application suite developed by Microsoft Corporation as the successor to the original Microsoft Bob program. It was suspected to be in development from 1995-96 following the release of the original Microsoft Bob, but likely due to the negative reception of the first version, the program was discontinued and never released.

Despite this, two screenshots of the program are known to exist, with both being uploaded to MSBob.org in 2023. Additionally, it is quite likely that some of the Microsoft Bob 2.0 components were recycled for use in the Microsoft Greetings Workshop 2.0 program, a Microsoft Actor 2.0 program that utilizes Rocky instead of Rover as the guide. This theory is currently supported by various strings, GUI similarities, and DLL exports.

Development

The development for Microsoft Bob 2.0 likely began after the release of the original Microsoft Bob, following Microsoft likely believing that their original product would be a success. However, due to the unpopularity of the original, Microsoft Bob was discontinued in early 1996. As a result, any planned release of Microsoft Bob 2.0 was cancelled, and no builds were released to the public.

As of 2025, there is currently one known Microsoft Bob 2.0 build number, build 1405, which was found inside of the Microsoft Agent Beta.

GUI similarity

The graphical user-interface of Microsoft Bob 2.0, specifically the Microsoft Actor 2.0 portion, is quite similar to the Microsoft Actor 2.0 GUI in Microsoft Greetings Workshop 2.0.

Word balloon and buttons

Microsoft Bob 2.0	Microsoft Greetings Workshop 2.0

Exit podium

Microsoft Bob 2.0	Microsoft Greetings Workshop 2.0

Gallery

Leaked images

• 
  Default window of Microsoft Bob 2.0 with Rocky selected as the Microsoft Actor.
• 
  Setup window of the Microsoft Bob 2.0.

Leftovers

• 
  Leftover Bob Alarm notification dialog.
• 
  Leftover Microsoft Bob setup text inside of Microsoft Greetings Workshop 2.0.
• 
  Leftover suspected Microsoft Bob version string inside of Microsoft Greetings Workshop 2.0 that is not found in the Greetings Workshop about window.
• 
  List of 32-bit Microsoft Bob-related DLL functions inside of Microsoft Greetings Workshop 2.0.
• 
  Strings.exe being ran on the Bob-related DLL that mentions a "Bob20".
• 
  A Microsoft Bob 2.0 present in the Microsoft Agent Beta.

Trivia

• In Microsoft Bob 2.0, Rocky succeeds Rover as the default guide.
• Microsoft Bob 2.0 appears to use Microsoft Actor version 2.0, as evidenced by its use of Rocky, a known Microsoft Actor 2.0 character.
• It is unknown if other Microsoft Actor 2.0 characters would have functioned on Microsoft Bob 2.0.
• Rocky, the mascot of Microsoft Bob 2.0, would later be re-introduced as an Office Assistant.