Solved Skype crashing

[Roman5]

So Windows Live Messenger is about to close it's doors and I can't get it's successor Skype to stop crashing. The Skype messaging box appears with me signed in (I can see my name on it) before it disappears and crashes. Works fine on my desktop (currently disassembled) but not on my laptop. Seems to be to do with my MSN login, which does in fact work as it doesn't have a problem logging me into windows live messenger and logging into the MSN site.

A friend of mine let me test logging into my Skype with his MSN username and password. Bizarrely, Skype doesn't crash when I'm logged into his account, but with mine it crashes. What gives, and how can I fix this? If I can't get it fixed before MSN closes completely, will my contacts still be imported when I do get Skype working? Also, will any other software (AMSN, IM+, etc) work and import my contacts instead of skype after MSN is gone? My version of Skype is the latest, 6.3.60.105.

 

[paulpicks21]

I can't help you with Skype crashing i'm afraid, but regarding using other IM programs, pretty much all have the option to import your contacts from Windows Live Messenger.

I used to chat to a friend on here via Windows Live Messenger, when we found out it was gonna be swapping to Skype we looked for a new IM program to use instead as we both didn't want to use Skype. We started using Trillian, it has the option to log in from your Windows Live Messenger email, and once logged in will show all your original contacts and you can continue chatting to them as you did before, it also has the option to create a Trillian account which can either run independently of your Windows Live account or along side with all contacts from both accounts running.
It will also work with other account types such as yahoo etc.

Of course Trillian is not the only IM program to do this, and like I said before pretty much all have the same options, so if you can't get Skype to work, have a look around for IM programs and find the one you like the best.

I hope this helps a little.


Paul.

 

[Roman5]

Thanks paul. My main concern was being able to use those 3rd party IM programs after the decommissioning of Messenger client. Because someone on another forum I read said "Pidgin is only a front end. It still uses the MSN protocol for MSN accounts. No MSN protocol = no MSN on Pidgin, IM+, Trillian or anything else."

But it seems we can, which is great, and won't need to use Skype.

I just found this alternate client - Microsoft Community


My question now then is, what 3rd party IM apps might not use this XMPP? Because XMPP (whatever that does) is finishing in October.

 

[paulpicks21]

I see your problem Roman, it's not something I actually knew about, I have no idea about this XMPP, they certainly don't make things easy do they!

Thankfully I chat to my friend via the Trillian account we both set up rather than the old Windows Live Messenger accounts we had. But yes I have no way of knowing if I will still be able to speak to my old Windows Live Messenger contacts after October now you have highlighted it.

I will need to do a bit of research online regarding this.

Paul.

 

[paulpicks21]

Ok Roman, this is an interesting article - Cerulean Studios’ Blog » Blog Archive » Trillian and Windows Live Messenger

It does not look good right now.


I guess you need to go back to your original issue of Skype not working and try and get it working. I assume you have tried uninstalling it and reinstalling?

Paul.

 

[Roman5]

Ok Roman, this is an interesting article - Cerulean Studios’ Blog » Blog Archive » Trillian and Windows Live Messenger

It does not look good right now.


I guess you need to go back to your original issue of Skype not working and try and get it working. I assume you have tried uninstalling it and reinstalling?

Paul.

Hmm, interesting paul. Yeah, I've uninstalled and reinstalled Skype a few times.

"2. Some time next year, Microsoft will begin to disable their Messenger servers. This move will impact every client, including Trillian and any other third-party IM software that you and your friends may be using. At this point, the Messenger service as you know it will cease to exist – you will not be able to sign in."

So XMPP stops this October, and then MS stop all 3rd party apps next year by the look of it. The article I linked doesn't say that MS plan to stop 3rd party apps at any time, only that this XMPP ceases in october which apparently stops 3rd party apps working. Oh well, unless anyone else here is in the know, I guess I'll have to wait and see and try and get Skype working meanwhile.

 

[Roderunner]

Hi Roman5,

I had the same problem with Skype, but fixed it by using this.

 

[Roman5]

Hi Roman5,

I had the same problem with Skype, but fixed it by using this.

Thanks Roderunner. Also crashing exactly the same way.
I don't get it. Can't understand why my login makes skype crash but not when I use someone else's.

Hmm, can't uninstall it, there's no trace of it in control panel/programs and features nor in my start menu.

 

[Roderunner]

Hi Roman5,
try using this to find it. Everything Search Engine

 

[Roman5]

Hi Roman5,
try using this to find it. Everything Search Engine

Thanks. It found tons of skype files but there isn't an uninstall one.

 

[Roderunner]

Right click the entries it finds.

 

[Roman5]

Right click the entries it finds.

Nothing. The only entries with uninstall in the context menus are msi files in my program data folder. Clicking uninstall on those brings up "this action is only valid for products that are currently installed'. Those must be for the previous installation of skype.

Also, when I installed portable, it kept saying invalid directory when I tried to install to program files or program files x86. It only installed to the root C:/ folder.

 

[mcbeat257]

I would uninstall skype and then reinstall it.

 

[Roman5]

I would uninstall skype and then reinstall it.

I'd already uninstalled skype full version. I'm trying to find a way to uninstall skype portable.

 

[Roderunner]

Right click the entries it finds.

Nothing. The only entries with uninstall in the context menus are msi files in my program data folder. Clicking uninstall on those brings up "this action is only valid for products that are currently installed'. Those must be for the previous installation of skype.

Also, when I installed portable, it kept saying invalid directory when I tried to install to program files or program files x86. It only installed to the root C:/ folder.

This is how to find:-

 

[Roman5]

Yeah, it shows files I was already able to find in the skype portable folder. There's no uninstall function though, at least that I can find.

 

[Roderunner]

As I said earlier, right click the entries it finds.

 

[Roman5]

As I said earlier, right click the entries it finds.

Yes, I have done. What am I meant to be looking for? These are the right click context menus for the yellow folders and the exes:

 

[Roderunner]

The 'delete' option is 3 from the bottom in both your images.

 

[Roman5]

The 'delete' option is 3 from the bottom in both your images.

With all due respect, your messages were a bit short and cryptic. I thought I was looking for 'uninstall'. I always thought delete just got rid of the files but not registry entries. Thanks though, I'll just delete them.