The character doesn't produce any audio output when it speaks.

This symptom could have several causes. Try the following to isolate the problem:

• Verify that your speakers are plugged in and your sound card is compatible with Windows. It is a good idea to test them with another sound application to confirm that audio output is working properly.
• Verify that no other application is currently using the audio output device.
• Verify that the character you are using has been configured for spoken output. (You may need to check with the Web site or application supplier.)
• Verify that your Microsoft Agent settings are enabled for spoken output using the following procedure:

1. Load a page scripted for Microsoft Agent. When the Microsoft Agent icon appears in the taskbar, right-click it and choose Microsoft Agent Properties from the pop-up menu.

2. When the property sheet displays, select the Output page.

3. Set the Play Spoken Output option and click OK.

• If the character uses a text-to-speech (TTS) engine to produce spoken output, verify that you have installed a compatible TTS engine. For example, when installed as an IE4 add-on component, only the core components of Microsoft Agent are installed. The core components do not include the Lernout & Hauspie TruVoice Text-To-Speech engine. Without this TTS engine (or a Microsoft Speech API-compatible engine), Microsoft Agent sample characters will not produce spoken output. The Lernout & Hauspie TruVoice TTS engine can be found at the Microsoft Agent download page at http://www.microsoft.com/workshop/prog/agent/agendl.htm#speech.
• Verify that Microsoft Agent's use of MIDI is not blocking the audio channel (see the next topic, "Applications that play MIDI have no audio output when Microsoft Agent is running").