Skype crashes

[yonnie]

Using LXDE,
Skype crashes within seconds after establishing calls with 2-way video.  Happens on both Apple and Windows at other end.  It seems to happen during an advertisement running during first few seconds on the other machine.  If I leave my camera off during the first 20-30 seconds of call and then enable it, I can talk for half an hour.  Then the video shuts down and have to re-call and repeat the excercise. 

The crash is repeatable and each time the other end tells me they could observe an advertisement being displayed at bottom of their screen.  I'm guessing that since I'm using Linux, I'm not getting the ad and perhaps this may be the cause?  The video blanking after about a half-hour is still not known and is a new issue.  Have talked in the past for more than an hour with no video issues.

By crash, I mean the system goes down to having to re-log in as user.  Also, when I re-log in after the event, the 'start' menu is missing.  To get it back, I need to re-boot.

[Just17]

For initial crashing on video call I would look to the video codec used by both parties ..... it could be an incompatibility of video.

[yonnie]

In that case, the problem is what PCLinuxOS installed onto my computer by default?  I come to that conclusion merely by the fact that the other systems didn't crash, have been in operation for a long time and each are of different manufacturer: Iphone, Notebook, MSwindows.  I also do not see the ad they claim to see at time of crash.  Perhaps there is a 'video codec' required just for skype?

[Just17]

I have never seen an advert on Skype .....  is this something new (I rarely use it)?

[yonnie]

I used it once many years ago, it didn't work well and the one I knew went offline.  Keeping it installed no-longer had a point.  No one I know now, uses Linux, nor have they the skill to install and use an alternative open-source, nor do their friends that they call.  So it's pointless to ask them to install Ekiga or Linphone just for me.  It's either I use Skype or forget about video phone calls. 

They tell me they see an advertisement displayed for first few seconds of call and that's about the time they lose me and my system crashes.  I don't have windows to try Skype on and verify.  I have only their word.

Windows has turned the computer from a tool into an appliance somewhat like a toaster.  Most people only know if they stick sliced bread in and push a button, out comes toast.  They don't want to spend the time to learn what else their fancy new expensive toaster can do.  They just go to the store and buy a new one when the old one starts taking too long to make toast!

I like the concept that it may be a video codec issue.  I just installed via synaptic all of the windows codecs and will see if that helps.

I have installed Linux Mint on friends machines and they use Skype with no problems.  They don't call me as we're not close friends, I'm just the guy they call when something on their computer breaks.  I'm their help, you're my help.  I don't recall seeing advertisements on Skype running on LM computers.  Installing LM on my computer is a poor reason to switch OS's.  I would rather try to find the solution to this problem and fix it than switch.

[danwhitt1]

seems  to be the sound driver assigned by default , I finally overcame this by changing the sound driver and doing updates , at least this was my solution

[yonnie]

I don't seem to have an alternative other than OSS, I'm running snd_hda_intel ALSA (default).  OSS may not work right.  No hardware drivers available.  I have a Radeon 5700 series sound chip.

What would you suggest?