[Solved!] How to install Skype static file in Kubuntu Hardy

[reidun]

Hi, I have been trying to install Skype on Hardy, and it seems that it is no longer in the repository. I got it a few months ago no problem and then I did a fresh install and it is no longer there. I did find some advice to download the static file from the Skype website, which I did, but the instructions for how to install it are for Ubuntu, not Kubuntu, so some of the commands are not recognized. I'm hoping someone can translate it for me. Here is what it said to type:

$tar -xvf skype_static-2.0.0.68.tar.bz2

$mv /yourpath/skype_static-2.0.0.68 /usr/share/

$ mv skype_static-2.0.0.68/ skype

$ cd skype/

$ cp skype /usr/bin/

$ rm /etc/dbus-1/system.d/skype.conf

$ cp /usr/share/skype/skype.conf /etc/dbus-1/system.d/

$ skype

I got as far as the first line, to which it said that "-xvf" is not recognized.

This seems to be the only option to getting this on my machine. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

[askrieger]

Re: How to install Skype static file in Kubuntu Hardy

I believe (I may be wrong) that the first minus sign is your problem. I would try the command as

tar xvf skype[blah,blah].bz2

without that initial minus sign. This should extract the skype_static-version directory tree and dump it in the directory where you had it. The rest of the commands do some renaming and moving. Then the final command should start skype.

PLEASE backup your system before you start using the command line. However it may be that, when you did your "fresh install", you omitted one of the necessary repositories. I have no idea where you get a (*)buntu .deb package for skype.

[Snowhog]

Re: How to install Skype static file in Kubuntu Hardy

man tar

The first argument to should be a function; either one of the letters
Acdrtux, or one of the long function names. A function letter need not
be prefixed with ``-'', and may be combined with other single-letter
options.

So having the - isn't really a problem. What might be though, is not having tar installed (highly unlikely). Check that you have bzip2 installed.

[reidun]

Re: How to install Skype static file in Kubuntu Hardy

Thanks, I tried it without the - and it said:

tar: skype_static-2.1.0.81.tar.bz2: Cannot open: No such file or directory
tar: Error is not recoverable: exiting now

Is there a different way to install this file? That is the file name (a newer version than the one in the instructions), I checked it twice to make sure that I typed it right.

I checked and I do have bzip2 and tar installed.

Thanks.

[Snowhog]

Re: How to install Skype static file in Kubuntu Hardy

You are in the directory where the skype_static-2.1.0.81.tar.bz2 file is located when issuing the command, yes?

[reidun]

Re: How to install Skype static file in Kubuntu Hardy

Yes, I'm in the desktop directory, and the file is on the desktop, so that shouldn't be the problem.

[Snowhog]

Re: How to install Skype static file in Kubuntu Hardy

Well then, take a look at the manual for your installed tar program and see what it's options are:

man tar

[GreyGeek]

Re: How to install Skype static file in Kubuntu Hardy

It would probably be a lot easier to download the 32 or 64 bit version (which every your installation needs) of the Ubuntu Intrepid offering (*.81.deb) and navigate to it with Dolphin and use the rightmouse "GDbi package installer" menu option to install it.

[askrieger]

Re: How to install Skype static file in Kubuntu Hardy

Yet another guess: try uncompressing the file first:

bunzip2 skype_static-2.1.0.81.tar.bz2

Then, untar the resulting tar file with tar xvf {whatever}. This way, you can see whether the problem is in tar or bunzip2. I would also STRONGLY suggest moving the file from your desktop to your /home/[yourname]/downloads/ directory before proceeding further. This keeps your desktop from getting cluttered with things like 19 files named "readme"

[reidun]

Re: How to install Skype static file in Kubuntu Hardy

Grey Geek, I did what you said, got the Ubuntu 8.10 file and the GDebi window came up and said at the top:

Error: Dependency is not satisfiable: libasound2

I checked and I have libasound2 installed and it doesn't show an update for it, so I'm not sure what the problem is.

However, I tried what askreiger said to the static file, moved it into the Downloads folder and ran the code he said. It uncompressed it, and then I un-tarred it using the original command. I think I am now getting somewhere! I'm now going to continue with the rest of the commands and see how far I get.

Thanks!

[reidun]

Re: How to install Skype static file in Kubuntu Hardy

Ok, I got Skype working on my computer! I ended up having to use dolphin to move it into the /usr/share folder because the command kept saying no such file or directory. And it's not showing up under the K menu, but it's okay because the little skype icon is there in the bottom toolbar. Success! Thanks very much!

[GreyGeek]

Re: How to install Skype static file in Kubuntu Hardy

Grey Geek, I did what you said, got the Ubuntu 8.10 file and the GDebi window came up and said at the top:

Error: Dependency is not satisfiable: libasound2

I checked and I have libasound2 installed and it doesn't show an update for it, so I'm not sure what the problem is.

Probably a version dependency problem.

However, I tried what askreiger said to the static file, moved it into the Downloads folder and ran the code he said. It uncompressed it, and then I un-tarred it using the original command. I think I am now getting somewhere! I'm now going to continue with the rest of the commands and see how far I get.

Thanks!

Using the static file was my next suggestion. It looks like you got Skype running.

In a Konsole you can issue

locate bin/skype

or

whereis skype

to see where the skype exectuable is located (probably /usr/bin/skype)

Then, right mouse on the KMenu icon and chose "Edit Menu".

Navigate to the directory in the menu under which you want to put your skype menu item. Then click the "New Item" menu option. In the name text box put "Skype". In the command text box put "/usr/bin/skype" (without the quotes in both cases), choose an icon, then click the "Save" icon in the menu. Then close the menu. Your menu should show the Skype menu option.