Skype

[JTH]

I have downloaded Skype and according to the information I get, it has been installed. On my desktop I have a a "box" with 'skype-1.4.0.118-fc5.i586.rpm' written under it. I do not have the skype logo on my desktop which I did have when I used 'Windows'. When I try the sound check I can hear the intial instruction telling me to say something but my message is not played back to me. Is there something else I should do to finalise the installation?. My os is fc5. My attempts to sort this out myself resulted in the following message:-
<!-- ../system.conf have denied everything, so we just punch some holes -->
<policy context="default">
<allow own="com.Skype.API"/>
<allow send_destination="com.Skype.API"/>
<allow receive_sender="com.Skype.API"/>
<alllow send_path="/com/Skype"/>
<policy>
</busconfig>

Can someone please help.

JTH

[peteh]

First of all, the file on your desktop is the Skype rpm which you used to instal Skype itself. Think of it as vaguely similar to a zipped 'exe' file in ms - you double-click it and it instals itself. Well, the rpm is not exactly like that but, as I said, a similar concept.
If you want to start Skype from your desktop you need to create a link to the executable which is probably '/usr/bin/skype' - check it with your file manager.
Your main problem, though, seems to be with your sound mixer rather then Skype. Open your mixer (I'm actually not too familiar with FC5, but if your desktop is KDE then it's probably kmixer in your system tray).
In the input section make sure the mike is switched on. If it is kmixer then the mike should have the red and green buttons 'on' (showing brighter).

PS Try Skype beta (2.0 +) - it has videocam support.

[Dapper Dan]

I agree with peteh that it is a sound configuration problem. Open from the command line:

gnome-volume-control

Go to "file" then "change device." There you should see your headset/microphone listed. Choose it and configure from there.

[JTH]

Hi, Many thanks for your suggestions, I now have the sound on, but I still have a problem. When my pc is booted up I can sign in to Skype and receive a call (my son has called me) however I could not call him back. I closed down Skype and started again, this time when I signed in I got a message saying "Another Skype instance may exist" and got no further. I haven't got another Skype program so I'm a little baffled. I have sent an e-mail to Skype but don't know if the problem is their end or mine, I'm waiting to see. If I close the pc and the router down I can sign in again, but that's all. I can't imagine this being a common fault but I'm keeping my fingers crossed hoping someone will have an answer.
Kind regards
JTH

[peteh]

Make sure Skype is closed, look for "/.skype" in your home folder and change it to "/.skypeold" and then open Skype again. It will ask you for signon etc. and recreate a "/.skype" folder for you.
I think this will clear your problem. Let us know if it does.

EDIT: That should read "/.Skype" by the way but I'm sure you would have worked that out.

[JTH]

Hi, You say to look in my house folder for / .Skype and change it to / .skypeold
I haven't got that in my house folder, should I be looking in 'terminal' for this?. The only things refering to Skype that I can actually see are on the desktop and they are the rpm file and a folder, they each have 'skype.1.4.0.118-fc5.i586.rpm.rpm' under them.

[peteh]

All folders that start with a "/." are hidden folders, so when you look in your /home folder make sure you change to "Show hidden files". This will be in the menu bar of your file manager ("View" on mine - but I'm in KDE).

[peteh]

You could do it from a terminal/console with

mv .Skype .skypeold

That way you don't need to see the hidden files and folders.

[JTH]

Tried the 'terminal "mv .Skype .skypeold", unfortunately it hasn't worked.
I have changed the setting to "show hidden folders"
I looked in 'home folder' but there was no Skype so I then right clicked on 'home folder', selected 'brouse folders' and all the were shown. There was one named .Skype, but not /.Skype. I've checked back in the home folder and I now have the skypeold folder as well as the plain Skype one. I can still get connected to skype on my first try but not the subsequent attempts.

[peteh]

When you close Skype do you just close the window or do you quit from the icon in the system tray?