Microphone problems with Skype

[turboczi]

Hi,
I have an annoying problem on my laptop. I have two installations of PCLinuxOS on two different partition sets, sharing the swap partition. On one installation, which is currently a 2012.1 installation, Skype works seamlessly, even after reboot. On the other, however, Skype worked fine just after the installation, but it doesn't work after reboot. This happens to be a 2012.2 installation, but it didn't work with the 2012.1 installation  on this partition either. As far as I know, all other settings (eg. sound card) are the same. What can be the problem? I've gone through all the devides in Skype/Options/Sound devices, but none of them seems/sounds to work.

What can be the problem? It's really annoying, because I need Skype for my work and if I can't use it, I have to revert to Windows, which I hate. I never know that the HDD's doing in my windows sessions, but it never stops, there's always sth very important in the background...

Naturally, I've browsed the posts in this forum, but no solution has worked for me. My friends use Skype on Ubuntu without a problem.
Thanx in advance.

[Just17]

It's really annoying, because I need Skype for my work and if I can't use it, I have to revert to Windows, which I hate.

Really?

On one installation, which is currently a 2012.1 installation, Skype works seamlessly, even after reboot.

Have you fully and correctly updated your install?

[turboczi]

What do you mean by "really"?

And what do you mean by "fully and correctly updated" -- what's the difference? It's but natural that I keep my installation up to date, as far as Synaptic lets me.

[Just17]

And what do you mean by "fully and correctly updated" -- what's the difference? It's but natural that I keep my installation up to date, as far as Synaptic lets me.

It means following the updating procedure as laid out for this distro ......  update everything in the install through Synaptic, and not selectively update ....  a common mistake which can have unknown consequences.

[horusfalcon]

Just for reference, here's the thread where the update procedures are explained:

http://www.pclinuxos.com/forum/index.php/topic,63201.0.html

Good Hunting,
D

[turboczi]

Unfortunately, we're completely off track. As I told you, I regularly update the system, it's but natural. Through Synaptic, as required. I don't know where you got it from that I don't update my system.

I need a solution and not comments and ideas based on false assumptions, even after I clarify that I do my updates "as far as Synaptic lets me".

Anybody any new Ideas?

[Old-Polack]

Unfortunately, we're completely off track. As I told you, I regularly update the system, it's but natural. Through Synaptic, as required. I don't know where you got it from that I don't update my system.

I need a solution and not comments and ideas based on false assumptions, even after I clarify that I do my updates "as far as Synaptic lets me".

Anybody any new Ideas?

Lose the attitude. A question was asked; that's all. You asked for clarification, and it was given. Nothing was implied. If you wish to get help here, we need to know exactly what you've done with your installation to cause the problem you're posting about.

Skype works fine on all of my dozen plus PCLinuxOS installations, and according to you, on one of yours. It also works for the vast majority of the PCLinuxOS users that choose to use Skype. Therefore the problem is not with the software, or the packaging. Being as both of your installations are on the same machine, again, according to you, in your original post, hardware can be ruled out as the source of the problem, which leaves only something you've done, or not done, that makes the difference. We can only determine what that is by asking questions and receiving proper answers. Remember, we can't see your machine; only you can.

So far, you've only told us a story, without providing any real useful information. Basically you've said, "Skype doesn't work. What's wrong?" How are we supposed to know, without you telling us exactly what you've done, step by step, to try to correct the problem?

[horusfalcon]

Hey... we're all still friends here, right?

@turboczi:  Didn't mean to ruffle your feathers, man, just puttin' the information out there to allow you to decide whether or not you had complied with the update procedures.  I even said it was for reference, so it's not like I was accusing you of anything.  I'm cool if you are.

It's pretty much like the Old-Pollack said, in that we've eliminated nearly everything except a variance that exists between the two installations co-existing on this machine.  I think I read that you only share a swap partition - that is probably a good way to go.  Sharing /home, in particular, can lead to odd configuration headaches

Are there any differences in configuration/settings between the two Skype installations?

If both systems are up to date, they should be the same version/same package.  If not, and they are sharing configuration files (i.e., sharing /home), this could have quite unpleasant effects.

I'm not much of a Skype expert, but if we all work the problem, maybe we can come up with a solution that works for you.

Meanwhile, I gotta run - I'm at work and it's time for watch relief.

Later On,
D

[and then..]

turboczi,
Have you tried installing pulse audio?