I've come back to Windows after years using Macs, started using Agent
again, and I like it as much as I used to.

But, I'm stuck with Agent 7.2, because it's impossible to buy an
upgrade via the Forteinc.com upgrade page - my name and serial number
have been returning an error for about the last two months.

Like others in the group, I've tried to contact support, and get no
response.

Is Agent dead?

If it is, does anyone know of shared keys that will let stranded users
like me use the last version?

p3dpcaxv@anonaddy.me wrote:

>Is Agent dead?

The company is, the programme is not. If you load a couple of older
messages in this group you will see that someone posted the key to some
version I don't remember. With 7.2 you are not far from the last version
sold, 8. If you do not do binaries you do not really need that version,
there are no new features for text message usenet in it.

-jw-

--

And now for something completely different...

On Tue, 12 Sep 2023 15:33:02 +0200, Joerg Walther
<joerg.walther@gmail.com> wrote:

>p3dpcaxv@anonaddy.me wrote:
>
>>Is Agent dead?
>
>The company is, the programme is not. If you load a couple of older
>messages in this group you will see that someone posted the key to some
>version I don't remember. With 7.2 you are not far from the last version
>sold, 8. If you do not do binaries you do not really need that version,
>there are no new features for text message usenet in it.
>
>-jw-

Awhile back I posted a registration for 1.93 version of Agent.

It is beyond me why people need such "progress" as the later versions
for something as simple as Usenet. Agent ruined itself as far as I'm
concerned with the policy of trying to be all things to all people.

Jeez! It's *Usenet*. How much "progress" does one need to post a
binary of two and text to a group? If they want a database of every
breathe they take on Usenet, get a proggie with a database.

I just don't get all this "progress" stuff for simple usage like
Usenet.

Download the version 8.0 trial and use the serial number you already
have. Maybe Forte will contact you about paying later. I subscribe
to Agent Usenet and they collect my money for that every month.

On Tue, 12 Sep 2023 11:34:12 +0100, "p3dpcaxv@anonaddy.me"
<p3dpcaxv@anonaddy.me> wrote:

>I've come back to Windows after years using Macs, started using Agent
>again, and I like it as much as I used to.
>
>But, I'm stuck with Agent 7.2, because it's impossible to buy an
>upgrade via the Forteinc.com upgrade page - my name and serial number
>have been returning an error for about the last two months.
>
>Like others in the group, I've tried to contact support, and get no
>response.
>
>Is Agent dead?
>
>If it is, does anyone know of shared keys that will let stranded users
>like me use the last version?

On Tue, 12 Sep 2023 10:08:37 -0500, in
<8iv0gid30adb1st7ttfd7ma6hk0hm3mupq@4ax.com>, Puffer Belly
<anonymous@anonymous.org> wrote:

>Download the version 8.0 trial and use the serial number you already
>have. Maybe Forte will contact you about paying later. I subscribe
>to Agent Usenet and they collect my money for that every month.

I wouldn't overwrite the installation you have, in case the old key
doesn't work with the newer version. I was given a new key every time
I upgraded.

As far as features, I could do without anything releated to email
since I use something else, but the Usenet related upgrades that
included YENC (for binaries), plus handling larger folders, and some
other things were valuable upgrades. When upgrading from 7.2 to 8.0
you get... see link to decide for yourself.
https://www.forteinc.com/agent/

--
Jim H

On Tue, 12 Sep 2023 19:04:31 +0000, Jim H <invalid@invalid.invalid>
wrote:

>On Tue, 12 Sep 2023 10:08:37 -0500, in
><8iv0gid30adb1st7ttfd7ma6hk0hm3mupq@4ax.com>, Puffer Belly
><anonymous@anonymous.org> wrote:
>
>>Download the version 8.0 trial and use the serial number you already
>>have. Maybe Forte will contact you about paying later. I subscribe
>>to Agent Usenet and they collect my money for that every month.
>
>
>I wouldn't overwrite the installation you have, in case the old key
>doesn't work with the newer version. I was given a new key every time
>I upgraded.
>
>As far as features, I could do without anything releated to email
>since I use something else, but the Usenet related upgrades that
>included YENC (for binaries), plus handling larger folders, and some
>other things were valuable upgrades. When upgrading from 7.2 to 8.0
>you get... see link to decide for yourself.
>https://www.forteinc.com/agent/

My 1.93 version uses Yenc without a problem. It's an update they had
many years back for 1.93.

On Tue, 12 Sep 2023 10:08:37 -0500, Puffer Belly
<anonymous@anonymous.org> wrote:

>Download the version 8.0 trial and use the serial number you already
>have. Maybe Forte will contact you about paying later.

Thanks for the idea - tried it, and does not register Agent 8.

The normal purchase form seems like it might work. I'm almost inclined
to spring for the extra ten bucks and buy a new licence, but I'm now
feeling very leery of entering credit card details for a company that
appears to be deceased.

On Tue, 12 Sep 2023 21:13:58 +0100, p3dpcaxv@anonaddy.me wrote:

> I'm almost inclined
> to spring for the extra ten bucks and buy a new licence, but I'm now
> feeling very leery of entering credit card details for a company that
> appears to be deceased.

I entered (actually upated) my credit card details in
Agent Usenet (APN) last time I got a new credit card.
My APN subscription continued on the new credit card
and no other funny transactions appeared.

--
Kind regards
Ralph Fox

️HǷÆT ǷE GARDENA ın ᵹeaꞃ ꝺaᵹum þeoꝺ cẏnınᵹa þꞃẏm ᵹeꝼꞃunon hu ða æþelınᵹaꞅ ellen ꝼꞃemeꝺon.

On Tue, 12 Sep 2023 15:33:02 +0200, Joerg Walther
<joerg.walther@gmail.com> wrote:

>With 7.2 you are not far from the last version
>sold, 8.

This is a good point. I'm on 7.2, it's as usable as ever, I like it.

I do use binaries, though, and I think the added features are pretty
good.

Plus, habit. I bought every upgrade since Agent 2, and it's niggling
at me that I didn't get the last one!

In Message-ID:<30h1gitqi7onjqiiqmt4k0u3qqle6rqtdu@4ax.com>,
"p3dpcaxv@anonaddy.me" <p3dpcaxv@anonaddy.me> wrote:

>On Tue, 12 Sep 2023 10:08:37 -0500, Puffer Belly
><anonymous@anonymous.org> wrote:
>
>>Download the version 8.0 trial and use the serial number you already
>>have. Maybe Forte will contact you about paying later.
>
>Thanks for the idea - tried it, and does not register Agent 8.
>
>The normal purchase form seems like it might work. I'm almost inclined
>to spring for the extra ten bucks and buy a new licence, but I'm now
>feeling very leery of entering credit card details for a company that
>appears to be deceased.

Leery is good. See thread starting with
Message-ID: <hfpl2ihk21qv8p4b0f66g9o90rkaht130d@4ax.com>.

TL;DR version: Someone used the site to buy V8 license, got no
response. We were left hanging as to whether they charged his card or
not.

--
Arthur T. - ar23hur "at" pobox "dot" com

On Tue, 12 Sep 2023 09:44:23 -0500, BenSomethingOrOther@Wherever.com
wrote:

>On Tue, 12 Sep 2023 15:33:02 +0200, Joerg Walther
><joerg.walther@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>>p3dpcaxv@anonaddy.me wrote:
>>
>>>Is Agent dead?
>>
>>The company is, the programme is not. If you load a couple of older
>>messages in this group you will see that someone posted the key to some
>>version I don't remember. With 7.2 you are not far from the last version
>>sold, 8. If you do not do binaries you do not really need that version,
>>there are no new features for text message usenet in it.
>>
>>-jw-
>
>Awhile back I posted a registration for 1.93 version of Agent.
>
>It is beyond me why people need such "progress" as the later versions
>for something as simple as Usenet. Agent ruined itself as far as I'm
>concerned with the policy of trying to be all things to all people.
>
>Jeez! It's *Usenet*. How much "progress" does one need to post a
>binary of two and text to a group? If they want a database of every
>breathe they take on Usenet, get a proggie with a database.
>
>I just don't get all this "progress" stuff for simple usage like
>Usenet.

I used 8 for big binaries because my 1.91 didn't know what to do with
PAR files and the other innovations since the turn of the century. Now
most of those groups are dead anyway so I am just using the old one
for text groups. I did only pay once for 8 tho. I am not sure if I can
even find the key now.

On Wed, 13 Sep 2023 09:09:14 -0400, gfretwell@aol.com wrote:

>On Tue, 12 Sep 2023 09:44:23 -0500, BenSomethingOrOther@Wherever.com
>wrote:
>
>>On Tue, 12 Sep 2023 15:33:02 +0200, Joerg Walther
>><joerg.walther@gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>>>p3dpcaxv@anonaddy.me wrote:
>>>
>>>>Is Agent dead?
>>>
>>>The company is, the programme is not. If you load a couple of older
>>>messages in this group you will see that someone posted the key to some
>>>version I don't remember. With 7.2 you are not far from the last version
>>>sold, 8. If you do not do binaries you do not really need that version,
>>>there are no new features for text message usenet in it.
>>>
>>>-jw-
>>
>>Awhile back I posted a registration for 1.93 version of Agent.
>>
>>It is beyond me why people need such "progress" as the later versions
>>for something as simple as Usenet. Agent ruined itself as far as I'm
>>concerned with the policy of trying to be all things to all people.
>>
>>Jeez! It's *Usenet*. How much "progress" does one need to post a
>>binary of two and text to a group? If they want a database of every
>>breathe they take on Usenet, get a proggie with a database.
>>
>>I just don't get all this "progress" stuff for simple usage like
>>Usenet.
>
>I used 8 for big binaries because my 1.91 didn't know what to do with
>PAR files and the other innovations since the turn of the century. Now
>most of those groups are dead anyway so I am just using the old one
>for text groups. I did only pay once for 8 tho. I am not sure if I can
>even find the key now.

The key is in the DATA folder. Make take me someting time to find that
post. If you save the DATA folder and restore it that will put the
serial back.

KenW

easier than I thought

If you search for the Licence Key:
In your Data Subdirectory in the AGENT.INI file is the key.
[Profile]
....
Key=12345HGSDST--1234567890- and so on...

KenW

On Tue, 12 Sep 2023 14:10:57 -0500, in
<npd1gi152sndv2plu92qrl9dmt4p192v8l@4ax.com>,
BenSomethingOrOther@Wherever.com wrote:

>On Tue, 12 Sep 2023 19:04:31 +0000, Jim H <invalid@invalid.invalid>
>wrote:

I'd have sworn Yenc support came much much later, but you're right!

Lots of stuff in Ver 8.0 if you're into downloading binaries. Nothing
new for text only.

--
Jim H

On Wed, 13 Sep 2023 08:37:15 +1200, in
<0ki1gih9th30djihjbcl0pgt1hlke30a16@4ax.com>, Ralph Fox
<-rf-nz-@-.invalid> wrote:

>On Tue, 12 Sep 2023 21:13:58 +0100, p3dpcaxv@anonaddy.me wrote:
>
>> I'm almost inclined
>> to spring for the extra ten bucks and buy a new licence, but I'm now
>> feeling very leery of entering credit card details for a company that
>> appears to be deceased.
>
>I entered (actually upated) my credit card details in
>Agent Usenet (APN) last time I got a new credit card.
>My APN subscription continued on the new credit card
>and no other funny transactions appeared.

I think it's fairly safe to assume that Forté is being handled
separately from APN... and based on experience so far, being handled
so separately that attempts to purchase Agent aren't being handled at
all. Past tales here involving trying to purchase Agent and failing
remain unresolved.

That said, as long as my copy works I'm sticking with it.
--
Jim H

On Wed, 13 Sep 2023 15:55:33 +0000, Jim H <invalid@invalid.invalid>
wrote:

>
>
>That said, as long as my copy works I'm sticking with it.

Amen! My feelings, too. As remarked by someone else,
I also have the habit of upgrading as new versions come
along *if* they do not overlly disrupt the way you are
used to doing things. So, I guess I will keep ver 8 going
as long as it will work.

As for binaries, it was in this group that I was pointed
to NZBGet and SABnbzd when I ran into a file a wee
bit larger than the 4 GB limit that Agent 8 has. Once
I discovered NZBGet (thanks a million, guys!), I have
stopped using Agent for an binary that has an NZB
file. It is way faster than Agent for one thing. (A
previous post asking why this is did not get a
response ... but I have ideas.)

--
This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software.
www.avast.com

On Wed, 13 Sep 2023 07:37:30 -0600, KenW
<ken1943@invalid.net> wrote:

>easier than I thought
>
>If you search for the Licence Key:
>In your Data Subdirectory in the AGENT.INI file is the key.
>[Profile]
>...
>Key=12345HGSDST--1234567890- and so on...
>
>
>KenW

My agent 8 says
Key="WH6W83K6-LVHG8DMS-MTWFAEAL"

On Wed, 13 Sep 2023 22:55:18 -0400, in
<mft4gipa0jokfq1ar7kvuhtsnhorkrmoel@4ax.com>, gfretwell@aol.com wrote:

>On Wed, 13 Sep 2023 07:37:30 -0600, KenW
><ken1943@invalid.net> wrote:
>
>>easier than I thought
>>
>>If you search for the Licence Key:
>>In your Data Subdirectory in the AGENT.INI file is the key.
>>[Profile]
>>...
>>Key=12345HGSDST--1234567890- and so on...
>>
>>
>>KenW
>
>My agent 8 says
>Key="WH6W83K6-LVHG8DMS-MTWFAEAL"

That's only 3 groups of 8. My key has 15 groups of 8.
--
Jim H

On Tue, 19 Sep 2023 00:34:26 +0000, Jim H <invalid@invalid.invalid>
wrote:

>On Wed, 13 Sep 2023 22:55:18 -0400, in
><mft4gipa0jokfq1ar7kvuhtsnhorkrmoel@4ax.com>, gfretwell@aol.com wrote:
>
>>On Wed, 13 Sep 2023 07:37:30 -0600, KenW
>><ken1943@invalid.net> wrote:
>>
>>>easier than I thought
>>>
>>>If you search for the Licence Key:
>>>In your Data Subdirectory in the AGENT.INI file is the key.
>>>[Profile]
>>>...
>>>Key=12345HGSDST--1234567890- and so on...
>>>
>>>
>>>KenW
>>
>>My agent 8 says
>>Key="WH6W83K6-LVHG8DMS-MTWFAEAL"
>
>That's only 3 groups of 8. My key has 15 groups of 8.

My key for Agent 2 had 5 groups of 8. Agent 4 through Agent 8,
however, each had 15 groups of 8. Apparently, I skipped Agent 3.

Interestingly, mine all start with the same trigraph.

And, somewhere, I got the impression that the purchaser's name was
encoded somewhere in the key.
--
"Here lies the Tuscan poet Aretino,
Who evil spoke of everyone but God,
Giving as his excuse, 'I never knew him.'"

On Tue, 19 Sep 2023 00:34:26 +0000, Jim H <invalid@invalid.invalid>
wrote:

>On Wed, 13 Sep 2023 22:55:18 -0400, in
><mft4gipa0jokfq1ar7kvuhtsnhorkrmoel@4ax.com>, gfretwell@aol.com wrote:
>
>>On Wed, 13 Sep 2023 07:37:30 -0600, KenW
>><ken1943@invalid.net> wrote:
>>
>>>easier than I thought
>>>
>>>If you search for the Licence Key:
>>>In your Data Subdirectory in the AGENT.INI file is the key.
>>>[Profile]
>>>...
>>>Key=12345HGSDST--1234567890- and so on...
>>>
>>>
>>>KenW
>>
>>My agent 8 says
>>Key="WH6W83K6-LVHG8DMS-MTWFAEAL"
>
>That's only 3 groups of 8. My key has 15 groups of 8.

That's all I got.

On Tue, 19 Sep 2023 00:34:26 +0000, Jim H <invalid@invalid.invalid>
wrote:

>On Wed, 13 Sep 2023 22:55:18 -0400, in
><mft4gipa0jokfq1ar7kvuhtsnhorkrmoel@4ax.com>, gfretwell@aol.com wrote:
>
>>On Wed, 13 Sep 2023 07:37:30 -0600, KenW
>><ken1943@invalid.net> wrote:
>>
>>>easier than I thought
>>>
>>>If you search for the Licence Key:
>>>In your Data Subdirectory in the AGENT.INI file is the key.
>>>[Profile]
>>>...
>>>Key=12345HGSDST--1234567890- and so on...
>>>
>>>
>>>KenW
>>
>>My agent 8 says
>>Key="WH6W83K6-LVHG8DMS-MTWFAEAL"
>
>That's only 3 groups of 8. My key has 15 groups of 8.

Try this
T2BZ6L74-B42DPH7N-F7WHTN9D-6NSNSST3-19G6BN2S-XKUSDYKA
3XFL14ZT-W2NYVJFB-LXLTPWV7-P8VNC8MV-661ENJUW-F56XSGY9
TV4NN23M-LDLE3DVH-DNJ667EV

Serial Number: 100400702

On Tue, 19 Sep 2023 12:52:17 -0400, gfretwell@aol.com wrote:

>On Tue, 19 Sep 2023 00:34:26 +0000, Jim H <invalid@invalid.invalid>
>wrote:
>
>>On Wed, 13 Sep 2023 22:55:18 -0400, in
>><mft4gipa0jokfq1ar7kvuhtsnhorkrmoel@4ax.com>, gfretwell@aol.com wrote:
>>
>>>On Wed, 13 Sep 2023 07:37:30 -0600, KenW
>>><ken1943@invalid.net> wrote:
>>>
>>>>easier than I thought
>>>>
>>>>If you search for the Licence Key:
>>>>In your Data Subdirectory in the AGENT.INI file is the key.
>>>>[Profile]
>>>>...
>>>>Key=12345HGSDST--1234567890- and so on...
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>KenW
>>>
>>>My agent 8 says
>>>Key="WH6W83K6-LVHG8DMS-MTWFAEAL"
>>
>>That's only 3 groups of 8. My key has 15 groups of 8.
>
>Try this
>T2BZ6L74-B42DPH7N-F7WHTN9D-6NSNSST3-19G6BN2S-XKUSDYKA
>3XFL14ZT-W2NYVJFB-LXLTPWV7-P8VNC8MV-661ENJUW-F56XSGY9
>TV4NN23M-LDLE3DVH-DNJ667EV
>
>Serial Number: 100400702

That works, thank you sir.

Now that it seems to be impossible even to buy a new Agent licence,
this is probably the only way for new users to get the software.

If the Forteinc site ever starts doing business again, I'll buy the
upgrade.

Would be nice to see a 64 bit version eventually.... but probably
never gonna happen.

me

On Tue, 19 Sep 2023 19:38:35 +0100, "p3dpcaxv@anonaddy.me"
<p3dpcaxv@anonaddy.me> wrote:

>On Tue, 19 Sep 2023 12:52:17 -0400, gfretwell@aol.com wrote:
>
>>On Tue, 19 Sep 2023 00:34:26 +0000, Jim H <invalid@invalid.invalid>
>>wrote:
>>
>>>On Wed, 13 Sep 2023 22:55:18 -0400, in
>>><mft4gipa0jokfq1ar7kvuhtsnhorkrmoel@4ax.com>, gfretwell@aol.com wrote:
>>>
>>>>On Wed, 13 Sep 2023 07:37:30 -0600, KenW
>>>><ken1943@invalid.net> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>>easier than I thought
>>>>>
>>>>>If you search for the Licence Key:
>>>>>In your Data Subdirectory in the AGENT.INI file is the key.
>>>>>[Profile]
>>>>>...
>>>>>Key=12345HGSDST--1234567890- and so on...
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>KenW
>>>>
>>>>My agent 8 says
>>>>Key="WH6W83K6-LVHG8DMS-MTWFAEAL"
>>>
>>>That's only 3 groups of 8. My key has 15 groups of 8.
>>
>>Try this
>>T2BZ6L74-B42DPH7N-F7WHTN9D-6NSNSST3-19G6BN2S-XKUSDYKA
>>3XFL14ZT-W2NYVJFB-LXLTPWV7-P8VNC8MV-661ENJUW-F56XSGY9
>>TV4NN23M-LDLE3DVH-DNJ667EV
>>
>>Serial Number: 100400702
>
>That works, thank you sir.
>
>Now that it seems to be impossible even to buy a new Agent licence,
>this is probably the only way for new users to get the software.
>
>If the Forteinc site ever starts doing business again, I'll buy the
>upgrade.

On Wed, 20 Sep 2023 13:01:12 -0600, james moffat wrote:

> Would be nice to see a 64 bit version eventually.... but probably
> never gonna happen.

Pan is the open source community’s ‘clone’ of Agent. If you want
64-bits, you may want to try the 64-bit version of Pan for Windows.

* Pan: <https://pan.rebelbase.com/>
* Pan for Windows installer: <https://sites.google.com/site/paninstall/>

--
Kind regards
Ralph Fox

𝓈ℯℯ𝓀, 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝓎ℯ 𝓈𝒽𝒶𝓁𝓁 𝒻𝒾𝓃𝒹

On Thu, 21 Sep 2023 07:36:50 +1200, Ralph Fox <-rf-nz-@-.invalid>
wrote:

>On Wed, 20 Sep 2023 13:01:12 -0600, james moffat wrote:
>
>> Would be nice to see a 64 bit version eventually.... but probably
>> never gonna happen.
>
>
>Pan is the open source community’s ‘clone’ of Agent. If you want
>64-bits, you may want to try the 64-bit version of Pan for Windows.
>
>* Pan: <https://pan.rebelbase.com/>
>* Pan for Windows installer: <https://sites.google.com/site/paninstall/>

I had never heard of Pan before. You say ‘clone’ of Agent. Can you be
more specific? How much like Agent is it? What are the differences? Is
it better than Agent in some ways? Worse in others?

I don't care about it's being 64-bit, but if there are advantages to
it over Agent, I might want to try it. Do you recommend it?