Skype Crashes on startup

HELP! I really need to use skype to contact people but when I turned on my computer today it stopped working. Basically Skype would open for half a second before freezing, this was immediately followed by windows 7 telling me the program had stopped working and that it could not find why. The only option here is to end the process. I have occasionally had this before, but all I needed to do was restart skype and it worked fine. Not this time. Skype crashes within milliseconds of me starting it every time. I have tried reinstalling, but still nothing.

What can I do

My suggestion:

Download & Install CCleaner (if you don't already have it)
Uninstall Skype via Add/Remove Programs
Run CCleaner
Click "Run Cleaner"
Next, in the left pane, click "Registry"
Click "Scan for Issues", let it scan.
Next, click "Fix Selected Issues"
-
Restart your Computer
-
Download & Install Skype again.

Report back with any news.

Thanks for the suggestion! However I looked into it and found that it was because I was running skype in compatibility for vista sp2. The reason for this is you cant fully minimize skype in windows 7, only vista and below, in windows 7 it still stays as a full sized tab in your taskbar no matter how you close it. Plus, the only way to fully close skype (that I know of) when its running for windows 7 is to end the process =/. So the problem is that whenever I run skype in compatibility it crashes. Of course this isnt normal so I will tryout CCleaner and let you know the result.

But maybe in a couple of years I wont have this problem seeing as windows is buying skype forover 7 billion, I just hope they dont ruin it and make it crap like msn.

@ Shadowjk: Thank you for posting that warning.. I should have done so myself, but it must have slipped my mind.

@ Tomha: Try downloading & installing the latest Skype from HERE. It works with my Win7 x64... so it should work for you.

I have the latest version, and it works fine in windows 7 mode, it just really bugs me the fact it wont close.

Oh oh oh... I see what your saying. When you click the "X", rather than closing, it minimizes to the Taskbar. Well, there is an easy work-around. Over in your System Tray, right click the Skype icon and select "Quit".

Yeah, when I first installed Skype on my first Win7 machine that bugged me too.

Wasted so much time on this problem, it's has been driving me nuts for the last week.

This morning deleted the folders as per ADYSANRO and it's now working just fine!

Thanks a million!