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TMAFE Help:Restoring Microsoft Agent transparent backgrounds

From Agentpedia, the Microsoft Agent encyclopedia
An example of a Microsoft Agent character with a glitched transparency background.

Following the release of Windows Vista, Microsoft Agent characters do not display their transparency color properly on modern Windows releases, usually appearing as a magenta, green, cyan, red, blue, or any other color that is set in the Microsoft Agent Character Editor for transparency. To restore Microsoft Agent transparency, you may use one of the following methods:

AgentPatch

Main article: AgentPatch

AgentPatch is the recommended community method to restore transparency with Microsoft Agent characters, especially on Windows 11.

Steps

  1. Download AgentPatch from its homepage: https://alexparr.net/msagent/agentpatch.
  2. Extract the AgentPatch.zip, and launch AgentPatch.exe.
  3. A command prompt window will appear and configure AgentPatch.
  4. After this step, AgentPatch should be installed properly.

Compatibility mode

If you are on Windows Vista through Windows 11 21H1, setting the compatibility mode of the Microsoft Agent program you are using (MASH, BlobBUDDY, etc.) to Windows 98 / ME will usually fix the transparency problem.

Steps

  1. Right-click the Microsoft Agent program you are trying to use (MASH, for example).
  2. Select "Properties" in the right-click menu, and then click the "Compatibility" tab.
  3. Under compatibility mode, check the "Run this program in compatibility mode for:" box and select Windows 98 / ME (Windows 95 may also work).
  4. Apply the settings, then click OK. Upon launching the program, it may give you prompt to which you click "Yes".
  5. Microsoft Agent characters in the program should now have their transparent background.

Double Agent

Main article: Double Agent

Following the discontinuation of Microsoft Agent in 2009, Cinnamon Software launched an open-source program called Double Agent, which restores Microsoft Agent functionality on Windows 7 or later, though works as an alternative on earlier Windows versions. However, Double Agent has a reputation for having glitches, usually with Text-To-Speech voices.

Steps

  1. Download Double Agent from https://tmafe.com/downloads/DoubleAgent_x86_Installer.msi
  2. Run the installer, and let Double Agent install.
  3. Once it is completed, Double Agent should be enabled by default. If not, you may enable it manually in the Windows Control Panel.
  4. Any installed Microsoft Agent programs will now use Double Agent.

Disabling Aero

If you are on Windows Vista or Windows 7, disabling the Aero theme will fix the transparency issue with Microsoft Agent characters.

Steps

  1. Right-click anywhere on your desktop, and click "Personalize".
  2. Scroll down to the "Basic and high contrast themes" section.
  3. Select the Windows Basic theme or another theme in this section.

Remarks

Upon the completion of any of these steps, Microsoft Agent character backgrounds should display correctly. If you are on Windows XP or earlier, these steps are not necessary.

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