Hi!
New to Linux, been through hell and back with a few distributions out there. Downloaded PCLinuxOS and ran into Skype closing out after log in, not as severe as the OP who, if I understand it, has their computer freeze and/or shut down.
First, I have no idea how to install anything from a tar file. Wish Linux at least had a standard installer system, that would surely relieve a lot of headaches for the various people who help out in forums and such with us newbies to Linux, as well as help the newbie.
The relevance of this is in Skype.com having a Linux version, 4.1.2 I believe, almost 2 full versions above the 2.2 beta version that installs with PCLinuxOS, even after updating.
Skype has a dynamic version to download that specifically mentions installation in KDE, here's the Skype Linux link,
http://www.skype.com/en/download-skype/skype-for-computer/. It goes to the Linux option and asks to pick the distribution. I have no idea what the distribution is for PCLinuxOS, if it's ubuntu, debian, etc., and ran across this article saying PCLinuxOS is a lite version of Mandriva, which Skype doesn't make a version specific for. So I downloaded the dynamic version, which is where it gets complicated for a newbie like me (and why standardization at some level of Linux needs to occur):
"If you are using one of the distribution-specific packages, simply run the
"skype" executable. KDE users should find a launcher for Skype in their
Internet menu if Skype has been installed through one of these packages.
"If you are using the dynamic and statically linked generic versions, you
will need to choose a path for Skype to exist in. We recommend copying the
skype binary to /usr/bin and installing sounds/, lang/ and avatars/ into
the /usr/share/skype directory."
So I extracted the file named skype and that is 29 megs into the /usr/bin directory.
Then I extracted the 4 folder, avatars, users, language, & sound into the /usr/share directory (where the 2.2 beta only had 3 folders originally).
Skype then would run and not blow up, at least initially, I could hear but can't be heard over my mic though, and, when the program comes up it still says it's the 2.2 version, so I am sure I did what I am supposed to do, overwrote something that was extremely problematic, only to have put a minor bandage by accident, as Skype does blow up later on once you keep trying to change the sound config.
So the question that seems the most relevant is how the current distribution of PCLinuxOS does not include an upgrade when I click synaptic, that upgrades the included skype from 2.2 beta to 4.1.
In fact, I had to update 10,000 packages when I installed, which would seem to indicate that the package included in the installer needs a bit of an update.
Just mentioning this because there's a whole group of Windows XP users about to be alienated from their software (as I would have been) if we go to Windows 8. This is a great opportunity for Linux, because I do not have to pay 120 dollars or up to 360 dollars, to install windows 8 and lose all the programs I have. I can do it for much less by going to Linux, and maybe, due to Wine, DOS box and other applications, retain use of what I am used to while acclimating to a much better operating system, Linux, that just needs to be less of a hodge podge of idealism to capture the hearts and minds of the 20% of windows users that are we old XP hold outs.
Until there is an inclusion of the 4.1 update to Skype in Synaptic, could someone please link me to, or explain, after looking at the package, how to install Skype 4.1 and uninstall Skype 2.2 beta? 53 million people using Skype, methinks this one shouldn't be overlooked by Synaptic.
Thank you to whomsoever read this for your time & volunteering to help newbies like me, looking forward to your instruction and guidance with this Skype matter,
Bill Thompson
