Windows Live Messenger Build 689 Released

Windows Live Messenger Build 689 Released

Tom Warren on 02 May 2006 - 22:37 · 71 comments & 51505 views

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That's right folks. Microsoft have released their latest Windows Live Messenger Beta Refresh to testers and non-testers this evening.

If you've not yet had the chance to take a look at Windows Live Messenger, now is the best time. The client signs in extremely fast compared to previous versions of MSN Messenger and Windows Live Messenger betas and has improved a lot since the early stages of the project.

The UI is now refined and matches not only Vista but the suite of Windows Live applications and web services.

Remember before you download the beta, you must get your account provisioned from the link below.

Screenshot: Contact | Contact List | Windows Live Call

Download: Windows Live Messenger Beta Build 689

View: Windows Live Messenger Account Provisioning

View: Windows Live

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Post a comment · Send to friend Comments · There are 71 additional comments

#1 mikethemaster on 02 May 2006 - 22:42

wooo 2nd post!!

thanks for the info mate

all installed

(3 replies) #2 Mystical112 on 02 May 2006 - 22:43

nice thx... just need an apatch...

#2.1 Deathray on 02 May 2006 - 22:49

Bingo, a-patch = perfection

#2.2 Youngy on 02 May 2006 - 23:14

yup.. A-Patch or Mess patch. Either will do tbh

#2.3 mikeyj on 03 May 2006 - 03:17

I got it, but i'm gonna wait for the a-patch before i install it.

(10 replies) #3 cashman on 02 May 2006 - 22:49

I still get a crash report as soon as i sign in, very disheartening. There is something wrong with my setup, I just cant figure out what it could be.

#3.1 rIaHc3 on 02 May 2006 - 23:16

Completely uninstall Windows Live Messenger then manually delete the MSN Messenger folder in Program Files

#3.2 zhouij on 02 May 2006 - 23:36

Dude i have the same problam, and even after I delete the folder, reinstall, it's still there. Live Messenger would sign on first, I could even see which of my friends are online. Then after a few seconds it crashes while loading those icons on the left side panel. This is pretty annoying.

#3.3 Lexcyn on 03 May 2006 - 03:19

This happens to me as well. It happened right after I installed IE 7 Beta 2 on my x64 machine. This really sucks.

#3.4 zhouij on 03 May 2006 - 04:38

Oh so it's a problem with IE7... at least we know what the problem is.

#3.5 cashman on 03 May 2006 - 09:10

I don't have IE7, so its definately not that for me

#3.6 BBinder on 03 May 2006 - 09:37

I have IE7 beta 2 installed and the latest version of WLM and i am not getting any crashes so the problem is not IE7

#3.7 synchro on 03 May 2006 - 10:03

I have ie7 beta 2 installed and it won't run for me. I even can't get the old msn 7.5 to run now!

#3.8 NielsJanssen on 03 May 2006 - 12:18

have ie7 and had the same problem, but only on first run. it crashed, i restarted it and its working like a sunshine

#3.9 The Cub on 04 May 2006 - 17:22

Uninstall it using CCleaner, then have a good clean up using the same prog.

#3.10 Rogerdgford on 08 May 2006 - 11:21

If I run build 689 with IE7 installed it crashes, but if I restore IE6, it works fine, so the problem does seem to be connected with some difference between IE7 and IE6.

I note that cashman has the crash problem without IE7 whereas BBinder has no problems with IE7, so is it a question of the default settings in the two browsers? Have cashman and BBinder altered the default settings in any way which might affect WLM?

Any advice much appreciated!

#4 Opio on 02 May 2006 - 22:53

Thanks for the news!

#5 jameseuk on 02 May 2006 - 22:54

Just got this by email notification,Connect is quite busy atm,lol!,13.5mb to 15.1mb,ahh well,downloading it now

(2 replies) #6 Nexus- on 02 May 2006 - 22:56

Shame microsoft is forced to add in the raphsody crap weighing down the download.

And how is this beta testing? releasing a build simultaniously to beta testers and the public?

As far as just the way this beta program is run its the worst beta program ever, from any company. Its a joke. actually its not a joke its just not a beta program either

Edit: HOLY CRAP still has that **** "what im listening to" bug.

Last edited by Nexus- on 02 May 2006 - 23:03

#6.1 jameseuk on 02 May 2006 - 23:00

Raphsody is to do with Real Player aint it?,

Beta testers get better support etc but I understand what you mean.

#6.2 noroom on 03 May 2006 - 07:02

What bug? Maybe you're not using the official plugin. In that case, it's not WLM's fault, it's because the third-party plugin isn't supported. And if it happens with your friends too, it's because they're not using the only supported and official WMP plugin.

(1 reply) #7 mpat1024 on 02 May 2006 - 22:58

Is there a patch or something which will simply upgrade the older builds to the newer ones, so that I don;t have to download the whole 15.1 mb...I'm still on dial-up!!!

#7.1 Max™ on 02 May 2006 - 23:01

Nope, sorry dude.

#8 hotdog963al on 02 May 2006 - 23:01

Hahahaha. And I only just updated Chimera963's MSN to the previous build yesterday!

(2 replies) #9 denzilla on 02 May 2006 - 23:04

UI is very nice. Shame they don't have an ad-free version.

#9.1 Lee® on 02 May 2006 - 23:15

Just use apatch.

#9.2 BBinder on 03 May 2006 - 09:39

the ads arent that bad, if you want u can switch the video ads on

#10 Avi on 02 May 2006 - 23:14

Here is a list of all the new stuff and screenshots: http://spaces.msn.com/MessengerSays/

(2 replies) #11 Quick Reply on 02 May 2006 - 23:33

I also found it very strange that they were bundling Real's Rhapsody! Is that even compatible with MSN Music?

#11.1 jameseuk on 02 May 2006 - 23:51

Quote - Quick Reply said @ #6.2

I also found it very strange that they were bundling Real's Rhapsody! Is that even compatible with MSN Music?

http://spaces.msn.com/messengersays/Blog/c...#33;14406.entry < "Rhapsody Integration, US only...more on this later this week. "

#11.2 PGHammer on 03 May 2006 - 13:58

Apparently it is. What I find hilarious is that didn't MS just recently settle that lawsuit with RealNetworks? I was already a Rhapsody customer (via Comcast), so it's no biggie for *me*. By the way, have you noticed the new default sounds for Messenger? They are different from previous versions...very harpsichordish.

(3 replies) #12 icecaveman on 02 May 2006 - 23:52

This does NOT work for non-testers! Please fix the article as it's incorrect. Now I can't sign in to messenger

Quote -

Error 810003cc: You are not allowed access to this beta version
If you receive this error, your account is not valid for use with Windows Live Messenger beta. For more information about how to get the beta invitation for Windows Live Messenger, see How can I get a beta invitation for Windows Live Messenger beta?

#12.1 creamhackered on 02 May 2006 - 23:57

Clearly you need to read over the article again, properly.

#12.2 Pc_Madness on 03 May 2006 - 00:15

PM Me your email addy and I can give you an invite if you so wish icecaveman.

#12.3 Gibwar on 03 May 2006 - 13:35

Quote - icecaveman said @ #12

This does NOT work for non-testers! Please fix the article as it's incorrect. Now I can't sign in to messenger
How can I get a beta invitation for Windows Live Messenger beta?

If you read the whole article, you might have seen this: "Remember before you download the beta, you must get your account provisioned from the link below."

The link for account provisioning is also listed as part of the article....

(2 replies) #13 Liaqat_ali on 03 May 2006 - 00:03

Damn the Interface is beautiful.
Probably the best of previous msn 8 betas

#13.1 Liaqat_ali on 03 May 2006 - 00:07

Did I mention there is a new sound scheme which is as lovely as the interface

#13.2 vlsi0n on 03 May 2006 - 00:23

I agree completly, it looks and performs great. Really happy with this build.

#14 Mad_Griffith on 03 May 2006 - 00:22

Noooo, they've kept those ugly buttons from the branch version...

#15 )(RockerBoy on 03 May 2006 - 00:30

niiiiiice

#16 ps2rules27 on 03 May 2006 - 01:05

I keep getting multiple errors about "MSOERT2.dll is missing" when I sign in...but it works fine after that.

#17 Smigit on 03 May 2006 - 01:42

Now I just needa wait for A-Patch so I can slim it down a bit. Not to bad but

#18 Dr.Jones on 03 May 2006 - 01:59

what's different from 683 ? UI and sound scheme is the same

#19 ziggie216 on 03 May 2006 - 02:17

eh? looks like the leaked version I got few week ago...

(1 reply) #20 Lino en Kuldes on 03 May 2006 - 03:20

Looks lovely in my opinion

Too bad they can't get right the whole UNIFIED look that you should get with Windows Vista... they are not sure wether they want this to be for XP or Vista in looks so they mixed both in... which yields some interesting results... ho well.

Waiting on A-Patch though, friggin banner ad.

#20.1 PureLegend on 03 May 2006 - 06:27

I hope that in a later Windows Live, they'll integrate Glass

(1 reply) #21 saymaad on 03 May 2006 - 03:24

Nothing new same like build 683

#21.1 PureLegend on 03 May 2006 - 06:26

I assume it's some bug fixes

(1 reply) #22 chrischua83 on 03 May 2006 - 03:32

May I know does it available for Traditional Chinese version.?
Thanks.

#22.1 mrvc on 03 May 2006 - 10:27

http://g.msn.com/1csbeta/Mess80_zh-TW

#23 Dan Williamson on 03 May 2006 - 04:25

Got it earlier today and the interface is hot as well as the new spam feature..

(2 replies) #24 jadkins555 on 03 May 2006 - 05:17

Live Messenger sounds intruiging but all of my friends use AIM. Some day the networks will be compatible, some day.

#24.1 Synthetic on 03 May 2006 - 05:31

Don't hold your breath...

#24.2 PureLegend on 03 May 2006 - 06:26

Yahoo! will be first...

(1 reply) #25 PureLegend on 03 May 2006 - 06:34

Why is mine still marked Branches?

Build 8.0.0689.00_Branches

#25.1 rob.derosa on 03 May 2006 - 07:51

mine is too. so shouldnt worry

#26 b0m8er on 03 May 2006 - 06:35

Looks nice!

(1 reply) #27 nexus291 on 03 May 2006 - 07:08

Looks a lot better then previous build, is this another leaked build or official beta build from MS

also, what is apatch, where how can i download it, i m new to WLM

#27.1 PGHammer on 03 May 2006 - 13:59

Official from Microsoft. The Welcome Surprise is that this build went to everybody (I'm in the beta, and would have had access anyway, but they let *everyone* in on this build, so they are feeling pretty confident in it).

#28 Xavien on 03 May 2006 - 08:06

I believe this is official considering that it comes directly from MSN.

A-patch is used to remove annoying parts of MSN messenger (like Ads and such) you can find it (when he releases a compatitible version) at www.apatch.tk the apatch version you are looking for has to be compatitible with 8.0.0689.00_Branches version of Windows Live Messenger.

may have to wait a while, since it usually takes a few days before the guy releases a new patch.

(1 reply) #29 markoajda on 03 May 2006 - 08:57

Darn it I get this error when installing!

What gives? And can someone upload previous bulid somewhere so I can reinstall it. thank you.

Last edited by markoajda on 03 May 2006 - 09:37

#29.1 Xavien on 03 May 2006 - 09:49

have you completely uninstalled the old version AND deleted the WML folder too?

#30 markoajda on 03 May 2006 - 10:08

Scratch that... just installed over the old build works now! Sorry about that.

(2 replies) #31 Smigit on 03 May 2006 - 14:04

A Patch has been released

http://apatch.ikhost.com/

#31.1 justrezzo on 03 May 2006 - 17:42

Great!

#31.2 castor_troyuk on 03 May 2006 - 18:27

Hmmm maybe it's just me, but upon testing a-patch, it seems that removing the Windows Live Today button, makes WLM refuse to load.

(3 replies) #32 Dalius on 03 May 2006 - 16:05

I love how conversations changed in this one... no more "____ says:" after every damn message. Reminds me of Adium for Mac... this is the best version of Messenger to date, IMO

#32.1 markoajda on 03 May 2006 - 16:15

Agreed. Best change ever!!

#32.2 PureLegend on 03 May 2006 - 17:06

Will take me some getting used to...

#32.3 netizen on 03 May 2006 - 17:29

I hate it!
It looks like i'm writing in haiku all the time!
Like this
Very cluttered in my opinion
(i know the above isnt haiku)

#33 [xNet]DrDre on 05 May 2006 - 14:56

You can turn that off in the options to make it not append to last message.

My only problem with it is showing Offline contacts in the Send an Instant Message window....

at least sort them by online/offline ><

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