Office Assistant requires Microsoft Agent error

Installing Office 2003 on Windows 7/8 and enabling the Office Assistant will result in this error:

The Office Assistant requires Microsoft Agent 2.0 or later versions. This product is available in the Office System Pack.

Because Agent is not included in Windows 7, anyone who tries to use the Office Assistant will receive this error. The solution is to not use the Office Assistant.

If you’d like to keep using Merlin (the only agent now supported), Microsoft has released a hotfix:

Microsoft Agent-enabled programs may not work in Windows 7
//support2.microsoft.com/kb/969168

To disable the assistant:

• Deselect Show the Office Assistant on the Help menu.

Published February 16, 2011. Last updated on October 25, 2020.

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