well, i downloaded 1.4 beta, & went to back-up before upgrading, & i got an error message, "Error while creating database backup: Backup command failed. Check MYSQLDUMP_COMMAND constant."
i don't want to risk upgrading without backing up, as i have already had to completely redo the whole thing once after my log-in was suddenly not an admin log-in any more. i would rather spend a couple of hours manually entering all my contacts, than risk having to spend more hours reinstalling & re-setting up the whole thing again ...