Is it safe to update Windows Live Messenger?

My MSN is notifying me that my beta version needs to update. Is this safe?

I'd generally say that anything is better than a Beta version.

Beta versions might still have bugs in them and are mostly released to publicly test for these bugs and see what kinds of bug reports and complaints the producers get.

But it mostly depends on if you're happy with the version you currently have. Newer isn't necessarily better.

For example:
I usually take to the versions I have if I see nothing wrong with them. I keep the oldest working version of AIM because I haven't seen a reason to update yet. I have the second newest Yahoo! because the new one's new features don't grab my attention. I have the second newest Internet Explorer, the new one wouldn't work on my computer. I have Firefox 1.0.7, version 2 doesn't have many new features and those that it has are not used anywhere yet. I have the latest version of AOL is all.

SP2 of Windows doesn't work on my computer, neither does anything past WMP 9.0 or the newest version of Java.

So if you like the version you have and have no problems then keep it.

If you're curious about the new version and don't want to take risks, it's a good idea to make a backup of the current version (like a Zip file), backup of your registry** (http://wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_Regist... use System Restore*, and update.
* This is 100% safe and reversible.
** Though backing up your registry is as safe and easy as saving a picture in paint, if you don't know how to use RegEdit, don't touch it. It's very dangerous if you don't know how to use it and you can accidently cause irreversible damage.

If you don't like the new version, you could uninstall it and get the backup of the current one set up. Do a System Restore and if you can't find it, reinstall the current one, and if you really really needed the same settings then use RegEdit.

Yes

Yes. Just make sure it is done through the windows live messenger itself. Dont download the exe. Select update from the messenger menu.

Yes it's very safe and more upgraded.

yes

Beta versions are for people who like to tinker and try to find bugs. They are test versions and you are supposed to be testing them for the MSN people. MSN is telling you that the beta version has been tested and the next version is ready to go. No problem! At least no more than in any release.