Shoutbox

Go back to Windows ME or Win98 and use MSN Messenger 7.0...or on XP use Windows Messenger or another IM client....

or...prepare (make sure you name all your emoticons to prevent you having to restore them later, back up contactlist, export Plus! custom sounds to a soundpack etc. to be fully safe) and accept the fact that you can't escape upgrading and upgrade to Windows Live Messenger already (you will have to eventually anyways).

This might sound harsh but a workaround is still a workaround an nothin more than a temporary solution (and you are putting your computer at risk whilst doing so).