Windows Messenger Live forcing update

Been using Windows Messenger Live 2009 for ages. But now they're not letting me sign back in unless I update to the new version, which is probably the shitty 2011 that I've heard about. Anyone know a way of getting around this forced update?

It's not forcing me, though I'm on XP so maybe that has something to do with it.

You could use another client like Pidgin or aMSN I guess ._.

It forced me to too, so I said "screw that" and opened up Pidgin. Cheeky Microsoft, I hate forced updates. =/

Well, I'm on XP too. Not sure why it's doing what it is, but, it is. I can probably switch to something like Pidgin (use it anyways for the IRC), but it's more the annoyance of everything that got me wondering if there was a getaround. I know I had to find one when they shut down the hyperlinks.

There's a patch you can do to re-enable links <3

If you're on XP too, then I'm guessing the next time I restart my PC or MSN I'll be forced to "upgrade" too =|

I'd noticed the hyperlinks thing too, didn't give it much thought, though it was annoying. I remember trying to send some .zip files but being required to first download some Microsoft Virus Scanner BS, so I renamed the .zip to .txt and it sent fine .

I don't really get the point of all this security, it should be opt-outable, rather than forced.

Seriously. I actually sit there while it tries to install it's scanner. It never does. Twenty minutes later it times out. File transfers have failed for me ever since that crap started. Fuck MSN, seriously, I wouldn't use it if so many of my friends didn't already.

Forced me too, but I don't know what it updated.  I updated to 2011 one time.  I can't remember why, but I remember I hated it.  And this isn't it.  Unless they totally changed the look and feel of it.  Now I am just confused o0

MSN Messenger is pretty terribad from what I've seen, this seems like just another reason to ditch it eh? :/
I've used the following in the past and they're all pretty good, sticking to Miranda right now though.

Pidgin
Trillian
Miranda
Digsby

A warning: don't use Miranda if you're not a tinkerer.  It looks disgusting by default and really requires you to put some time in to make it look nice.

Yeah I just got hit with this thing too out of fuckin' nowhere. If I hadn't read this topic I'd have suspected it was something viral. Way to go MS.

I decided to update when i re-installed windows

15% CPU usage when doing nothing

25%+ with webcam

30%+ when sharing pictures

No IM client should use nearly 30% of a quad core

Pidgin uses 0-1% of my dual core idling with 2 convos open.

Finally managed to get around this annoyance with this. Had to use the third option and edit the coding, but it works. Used this:
http://angusj.com/resourcehacker/reshack.zip


There's probably better clients out there, but this is more of flipping the middle finger to MSN for the bullshit they're trying to do than anything else.