Skype

Using Z6.1 I have loaded reloaded this os seven times now & each time I get different results, minor differences one of those being sometimes skype will work other times it wont, skype will read "problem with Audio playback" all was working fine until I just took the first zorin update now its gone **** up again, I have tried most of the options on this & other forums to no avail all that seems to work is to format & I'm getting a bit bored of it all now.
The checksum is fine & I have compared data on disk to original iso which is also correct, any suggestions before I reluctantly go back to Windows
Edit, since the "update" every time I reboot I loose my desktop picture it goes a purple type colour?

Forgot to mention when skype was working the sound options read as follows;
Microphone default device (default)
Speakers default device (default)
Ringing default device (default)
Now it reads;
Microphone default device (default)
Speakers sysdefault device (Unknown)
Ringing sysdefault device (Unknown)
Their is no longer a "default device (default)" option in the drop down list

Copied from Ubuntu Forums

Skype is working very well on Ubuntu 12.04 64 bit version (using it right now).

How to:

Go to Software Sources, click on second tab Other Software and mark Canonical Partners and Canonical Partners (Source Code).
Open your terminal and add the following command sudo apt-get update.
After the update is completed please type sudo apt-get install skype. This will install skype and will work perfectly.

edited Dec 15 '12 at 2:37

My son found this, so I figured I'd relay it to ya !!!

Thank you for your replies!

If I reboot & open skype it will work fine the setting within skype are:
Microphone default device (default)
Speakers default device (default)
Ringing default device (default)

As soon as I use some other sound apt like VLC or a youtube vid in opera or FFox the settings change to:
Microphone default device (default)
Speakers sysdefault device (Unknown)
Ringing sysdefault device (Unknown)
In the System/settings/sounds/hardware/profile, nothing changes

Datek1 sorry to be such a noob to linux but I cant find Software Sources

Update reboot start skype make a call no other applications sound work, end call sound comes on & skype will no longer work, lol can I bung it out of the upstairs window yet?

Deacus wrote:Thank you for your replies!

If I reboot & open skype it will work fine the setting within skype are:
Microphone default device (default)
Speakers default device (default)
Ringing default device (default)

As soon as I use some other sound apt like VLC or a youtube vid in opera or FFox the settings change to:
Microphone default device (default)
Speakers sysdefault device (Unknown)
Ringing sysdefault device (Unknown)
In the System/settings/sounds/hardware/profile, nothing changes

Datek1 sorry to be such a noob to linux but I cant find Software Sources

Go to System Tools >>>Administration>>Synaptic Package Manager>>>Settings>>Repositories>> (Software Sources/Other Software) < < < That's the folder you'll be working in.

Thanks I would have never found that, still not working though will reboot, first part didn't work though:

mars@mars-M68MT-S2:~$ sudo apt-get update.
[sudo] password for mars:
E: Invalid operation update.
mars@mars-M68MT-S2:~$ sudo apt-get install skype.
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information... Done
Note, selecting 'pidgin-skype-dbg' for regex 'skype.'
Note, selecting 'skype-common' for regex 'skype.'
Note, selecting 'skype4pidgin' for regex 'skype.'
Note, selecting 'skype-bin' for regex 'skype.'
Note, selecting 'skype-mid' for regex 'skype.'
Note, selecting 'pidgin-skype' instead of 'skype4pidgin'
The following packages were automatically installed and are no longer required:
gir1.2-timezonemap-1.0 linux-headers-3.2.0-32 gir1.2-json-1.0
firefox-locale-zh-hans linux-headers-3.2.0-32-generic gir1.2-xkl-1.0
Use 'apt-get autoremove' to remove them.
The following NEW packages will be installed:
pidgin-skype pidgin-skype-dbg
0 upgraded, 2 newly installed, 0 to remove and 96 not upgraded.
Need to get 218 kB of archives.
After this operation, 666 kB of additional disk space will be used.
Get:1 http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ precise/multiverse pidgin-skype amd64 20110407+svn612+dfsg-1.1 [99.0 kB]
Get:2 http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ precise/multiverse pidgin-skype-dbg amd64 20110407+svn612+dfsg-1.1 [119 kB]
Fetched 218 kB in 0s (591 kB/s)
Selecting previously unselected package pidgin-skype.
(Reading database ... 194984 files and directories currently installed.)
Unpacking pidgin-skype (from .../pidgin-skype_20110407+svn612+dfsg-1.1_amd64.deb) ...
Selecting previously unselected package pidgin-skype-dbg.
Unpacking pidgin-skype-dbg (from .../pidgin-skype-dbg_20110407+svn612+dfsg-1.1_amd64.deb) ...
Setting up pidgin-skype (20110407+svn612+dfsg-1.1) ...
Setting up pidgin-skype-dbg (20110407+svn612+dfsg-1.1) ...
mars@mars-M68MT-S2:~$

No change

This is something that you can try with skype at least. That is if you have Windows 7/XP X86. Make a virtual machine with Virtualbox, and run Skype that way. I've never tried it myself, but in theory it should work.

Use the portible app if you take a wack at it. : Link >> http://portableapps.com/apps/internet/skype_portable

I've tried to run it in a Virtual machine (XP) but it keeps crashing when the other party answers the call.

Hi swarfendor437
Yes that version looks about right the audio interface is identical the version I am using is skype-ubuntu-precise_4.1.0.20-1_i386 anyone know of a reliable source for an older version I could try? I tried the 32bit also cant remember what happened though I have tried so much.

Hi datek1
Good suggestion thanks I have skype running on win7 (dual boot) would be nice to get away from Gates spyware altogether if I can. that said he owns skype too lol

Muzzargh wrote:I've tried to run it in a Virtual machine (XP) but it keeps crashing when the other party answers the call.

Was it on an older machine Muzzargh? I would assume a computer with less than 2 gig ram would probably struggle with such a task & crash, just a thought.

Deacus wrote:

Muzzargh wrote:I've tried to run it in a Virtual machine (XP) but it keeps crashing when the other party answers the call.

Was it on an older machine Muzzargh? I would assume a computer with less than 2 gig ram would probably struggle with such a task & crash, just a thought.

No, it's my new machine with 8 Gigs.

Anyway I tried this from earlier in the thread:

Go to Software Sources, click on second tab Other Software and mark Canonical Partners and Canonical Partners (Source Code).
Open your terminal and add the following command sudo apt-get update.
After the update is completed please type sudo apt-get install skype. This will install skype and will work perfectly.

Just need to test it out.

I just done my second Zorin update & skype is working yippe!
Anyone know why
Do I mark this thread as solved even though I don't know how?
Edit:
In the skype sound menu all devices have switched to "pulseaudio server (local)" I tried to do this manually through the terminal but it did not work so lord knows whats happened?

Muzzargh wrote:

Deacus wrote:

Muzzargh wrote:I've tried to run it in a Virtual machine (XP) but it keeps crashing when the other party answers the call.

Was it on an older machine Muzzargh? I would assume a computer with less than 2 gig ram would probably struggle with such a task & crash, just a thought.

No, it's my new machine with 8 Gigs.

Anyway I tried this from earlier in the thread:

Go to Software Sources, click on second tab Other Software and mark Canonical Partners and Canonical Partners (Source Code).
Open your terminal and add the following command sudo apt-get update.
After the update is completed please type sudo apt-get install skype. This will install skype and will work perfectly.

Just need to test it out.

I tried this & it didn't work I posted about it on page 1

Hmmm, I just tested it (I have 4.1.0.20 now) and it works fine...until I turn on my camera. The picture I see (of me) gets progressively worse then it just freezes and I have to re-connect. If I leave the camera off, all is well. It's a Logitech C500 but the webcam shows in the sound settings as a B500, there is no specific driver for it on the logitech site so I think it's incompatible. I'll start a new thread...

Deacus wrote:Thank you for your replies!

If I reboot & open skype it will work fine the setting within skype are:
Microphone default device (default)
Speakers default device (default)
Ringing default device (default)

As soon as I use some other sound apt like VLC or a youtube vid in opera or FFox the settings change to:
Microphone default device (default)
Speakers sysdefault device (Unknown)
Ringing sysdefault device (Unknown)
In the System/settings/sounds/hardware/profile, nothing changes

Datek1 sorry to be such a noob to linux but I cant find Software Sources

https://support.skype.com/en/faq/FA1108 ... -for-linux
Test call in Linux

Before making a test call, ensure you have the equipment you need to use Skype.

To make a test call:

Plug in your speakers and microphone (if they are not built-in to your computer).
Sign in to Skype.
In your contact list, select Echo / Sound Test Service and click the call button.

Follow the audio instructions.

If you cannot hear any sound at all, follow these instructions.