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Hi all!
Chances are, you already know that Microsoft Skype is now only requires the latest version.
And the latest Skype version for Linux not works because SliTaz uses ALSA (Advanced Linux Sound Architecture) but now Skype needs PulseAudio (in fact, PulseAudio has a lot of negative feedback).
Now I'll tell you how you can make good old version of Skype 4.2 work in SliTaz.
TL;DR (too long; didn't read):
wget http://archive.canonical.com/ubuntu/pool/partner/s/skype/skype-bin_4.2.0.11-0ubuntu0.12.04.2_i386.deb
tazpkg convert skype-bin_4.2.0.11-0ubuntu0.12.04.2_i386.deb
su
tazpkg install skype-bin-4.2.0.11-0ubuntu0.12.04.2.tazpkg
echo "127.0.0.1 ui.skype.com" >> /etc/hosts
First. Where to download?
Our get-skype package downloads latest Skype package from the official Skype web site. And really that web site provides only latest version. SliTaz not keeps any Skype packages in its repository because Skype is not free. But here is solution! We'll find trusty old Skype Linux package at the pkgs.org. Great!
Type "skype" at the search entry
Press Enter
Scroll page down
Click "Ubuntu 14.04 LTS"
Nooo, here 4.3
What about "Ubuntu 13.10"?
Yes! Here 4.2 version! For 32-bit architecture:
- skype_4.2.0.11-0ubuntu0.12.04.2_i386.deb
- skype-bin_4.2.0.11-0ubuntu0.12.04.2_i386.deb
Go deeper and I found that I need second package (skype-bin).
Click link
Scroll page down to "Download" and click blue diskette icon
Scroll page down to blue link under "Binary package".
Really you can download this package as you want: you can use your browser or even wget on your terminal.
Second. How to get SliTaz package?
Not too hard.
Imagine, you downloaded this deb file into your home directory. Now open terminal (by default it opened exactly in your home directory) and type next command:
[c]tazpkg convert skype-bin_4.2.0.11-0ubuntu0.12.04.2_i386.deb[/c]
Note that you do not need to type the file name completely (skype-bin......). You can type few first letters of its name (sk) and type "Tab" key on your terminal keyboard. And terminal will write the full name for you. If it not works, type one more letter (sky) and press "Tab" again. Repeat if necessary (with skyp ... skype ... skype- ... skype-b ... etc.)
Now you can make a cup of coffee and wait few minutes.
After process finished you'll get SliTaz *.tazpkg package beside *.deb package. Now you can remove deb package.
Third. How to install?
Double click skype-bin......tazpkg package, enter root password, click Install button, wait... That's all.
And now ... the magic! 
You need to edit /etc/hosts file. You can do it in many ways, but first of all you should have root access.
How to do it?
Open terminal. Type:
su
and blind type root password.
Then type
nano /etc/hosts
Here append file with this line:
127.0.0.1 ui.skype.com
Press Ctrl+O (letter O, not zero) and press Enter to save file.
Press Ctrl+X to exit.
That's all!
Run your Skype-OldStable-4.2-SliTaz-Edition 
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@Aleksej
thank you for this intresting post. i have skype (beta) 2.2.0.35 installed and with this version i was quite happy.
but now, since this version doesn't run anymore, i updated to 4.3. but i#m not really happy with it.
so do you know how i can still use my old skype version? when i start it, it says always "server connect failed".
what are the benefits to run the 4.2 version above?
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Aleksej, thanks for the tip
Anniguenni
It is likely (but not certain) that [c]echo "127.0.0.1 ui.skype.com" >> /etc/hosts[/c] will allow any version of skype that was working in the past to work for the time being
I found 4.2 to be better than the old 2.X i also used for a while
4.3 does not work as well as 4.2 used to work (at least this is the impression I get)
This being said I read Ms is migrating skype from the peer to peer model to a centralised model
I expect there will be new upgrades that will make older versions incompatible (but I have been wrong in the past and have no crystal ball).
In which case pulseaudio will become a must have (until there is a broadly available skype replacement....)
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christophe,
Yes, you're right.
Original solution with /etc/hosts I've found here. And seems you're right too that it's only temporary solution. But it works now for me.
aniguenni,
Really I run Skype hardly ever. I just do not to talk with anyone. And the first version of Skype, with whom I met, was one of the fourth branch. You can try the trick with the /etc/hosts, but I do not know if that helps you.
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@aniguenni - first question - did you get 4.3 working in SliTaz?
and old 2.xxx linux versions do not work anymore - I could not find any 3.xxx old linux versions. So this 4.2 ubuntu version seems to be the only one, that works with alsa in SliTaz - thanks Aleksej for finding that possibility
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christophe,
Aleksej,
kultex
yesterday i tried the above to get run the mentioned 4.2 version without success. but also my 2.xxx version doesn't run with this solution for me. it still says "server connect failed".
So at the moment i run the last 4.3 version and worry about the power consumtion and the not movable chat windows, wich are always placed automaticly at the up left corner.
But thank's to you three all for spendig your time to fix my and others problems.
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@aleksej
where do you run it - on aktual rolling I get this error:
tux@slitaz:~$ skype
process 8257: D-Bus library appears to be incorrectly set up; failed to read machine uuid: Failed to open "/etc/machine-id": Datei oder Verzeichnis nicht gefunden
See the manual page for dbus-uuidgen to correct this issue.
D-Bus not built with -rdynamic so unable to print a backtrace
Abgebrochen
tux@slitaz:~$
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Hi kultex,
No, my SliTaz system can not be called clean. It's Rolling with more than 700 packages installed. Sorry, I not tested Skype on the clean installation.
Maybe this post helps you:
http://forum.slitaz.org/topic/slitaz-50rc1/page/3#post-29685
...
Skype
#tazpkg -gi skype then $skype returns error with /etc/machine-id
This problem is solved with #dbus-uuidgen > /var/lib/dbus/machine-id
Now $skype starts skype and stop right now.
This problem is solved by #mkdir /var/run/udev then #/etc/init.d/dbus start and check if UDEV="yes" in /etc/rcS.conf
...
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ok thx aleksej - skype 4.2 works now, but I cannot connect to my account.
Please can you try it again, to be shure, that Microsoft did not stop this possibility in the meantime
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kultex,
Ok, I tried just now and it still works.
Seems like autologin helps me.
And in general it is like joggling of 4.3 and 4.2 versions. So, seems we need both 4.3 (latest) and 4.2 (latest working with ALSA) binaries.
Maybe this helps you and other:
1. Install latest Skype 4.3 using get-skype package. Rename its binary /usr/bin/skype to /usr/bin/skype43. It works for me but it have no sound (no sound in the speaker, and it not see my microphone). But I can log in using it.
2. Install Skype 4.2 using method described above.
3. Run Skype 4.3, log in with autologin checkbox checked. Quit Skype 4.3.
4. Since now for everyday using you can run Skype 4.2. I read somewhere that it helps up to 30 days (it is a some sort of cookies that can remember you not longer than a month).
I know that final of using Skype 4.2 is somewhere in not far future. But today it works.
PS. Also, I installed and removed pulseaudio package which not help me with sound. Not remember if pulseaudio needs to start Skype 4.3 or not.
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thx Aleksej - works now like a charme!!! - I will write a howto ......
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Kultex,
I'm glad it works for you.
... or anyone will create "monster package" Skype-2-in-1 with two binaries and two menu entries?
Sorry, now I not interested in Skype -- only working under tramys2 web service (web design, CSS, javascript, etc.)
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Aleksej - I am also not interested in Skype,
but I need it to communicate with my east european friends and collegs (Lithuanians, Polish, Russians) - they are Skype addicted and nobody wants to change to linphone and also we have the problem, that linphone does not work at the moment in SliTaz.......
so its good to have skype again, even I really hate it - skype calls are 100% controlled by NSA
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Thanks for support .. this helps me a lot 
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@Aleksej: thanks, man! your method worked. what a great trick
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I used your method to the letter, Aleksej.
But Skype simply won't let me connect. It just says "Skype can't connect"...
Same here. worked like a charm when i last used it last week, cant connect anymore right now.
any tricks/workaround about yet?
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Not sure why you would want to do that.
Pulseaudio is available in the repo (at least it is for RC2).
Once you have installed pulseaudio latest version of skype should work right away with zero effort.
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Sadly, christophe is right. There's just no way you can make the old Skype 4.2 work anymore.
I got the latest version to work although I don't like it but... meh. It gets the job done.
First - get pulseaudio (you find it in tazpanel)
Then go here: http://www.skype.com/en/download-skype/skype-for-linux/downloading/?type=ubuntu64
(just download that file regardless if you use 32-bit or 64-bit. I use 32-bit but it still worked)
Download the file. Then go to the location where you download the file and execute the command "tazpkg convert skype-ubuntu-precise_4.3.0.37-1_i386.deb" (and then wait)
Once the installer is created - launch it and click install. And... that's it since you already should have your hosts file edited.
It will bring you to the latest Skype version and it should work (it works like a charm on my end).
I should note that I use the "Cooking" version (the 42MB ISO).
same here.
didnt work couple months ago, now it does.
@Lucian-V: looks like you did get the 32-bit version, though (according to the "i386" in the filename)
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@K3nn3th - indeed you are correct. It was roughly 4 A.M. in my area just a little after Christmas and a bit dizzy when I posted that.
Still, the solution works - I have in the meantime tested it on a 64-bit box and had no issues whatsoever with it.
This issue occurred mecause Microsoft really wants to ditch all the older versions so the loopholes allowing folks to use older versions are rapidly closing.
I think this topic should be closed.
Happy New Year everyone!
skype 4.3 is working, but it wont recognise my audio hardware (which worked in 4.2), i get "Virtual device" in every list
does anyone have the same trouble?
any solution?
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You mean it doesn't recognize your sound card or your special USB microphone/camera?
My camera is Mircosoft so I won't even try to make it work on SliTaz (not in the next few months at least since I don't have the time) -> but my audio and the microphone from my headphones (which fits straight into the sound card) works like a charm.
You don't even get audio output, K3nn3th (e.g. when you call Echo)?
@Lucian-V: i mean my soundcard, i dont use any external USB hardware with skype.
my camera works, but no audio.
in skype 4.2, it wouldnt show "Virtual Device" in the hardware selection drop-down, but the actual name of the hardware.
in 4.3, i cant choose from anything else but "Virtual Device". Test Call and sound test wont give me any output.
EDIT:i have a feeling it has something to do with pulseaudio.. i get an error when trying to start it.
$ pulseaudio --start
E: [pulseaudio] main.c: Daemon startup failed.
not a very informative error message -.-
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Hmmm... for some reason it stopped working on my end as well. Except I get:
pulseaudio --start
W: [pulseaudio] main.c: This program is not intended to be run as root (unless --system is specified).
W: [pulseaudio] authkey.c: Failed to open cookie file '/root/.config/pulse/cookie': No such file or directory
W: [pulseaudio] authkey.c: Failed to load authorization key '/root/.config/pulse/cookie': No such file or directory
W: [pulseaudio] authkey.c: Failed to open cookie file '/root/.pulse-cookie': No such file or directory
W: [pulseaudio] authkey.c: Failed to load authorization key '/root/.pulse-cookie': No such file or directory
E: [pulseaudio] main.c: Daemon startup failed.
Hmmm...
But after a reboot it worked again.
Apparently there is indeed a pulseaudio issue (many Linux users on all distros have complained).
Also, whilst on my main computer Skype does seem to work, I have so far been unable to make any other computers in my home to work with Skype (neither on SliTaz, nor on Linux Mint - my previous favorite Linux distro).
The whole issue seems to come from the fact that Microsoft dropped all the support for ALSA and only uses pulseaudio (which is moronic to say the least, but anyway).
Now I also have the question why is it working on this computer and not anywhere else.
Hmm... further research is needed (which I'll do, today).
If I get to a satisfactory result, I'll post a new thread.
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