Skype on an USB smart drive
Do you remember the [announcement](http://www.skype.com/company/news/2005/u3_smartdrive.html) we made about Skype for U3-powered smart drive? That work is now nearing completion and you can already [get Skype from U3 Software Central](http://software.u3.com/Product_Details.aspx?productId=56) (note that this requires U3 USB smart drive). This means that you can walk into any Internet cafe or other location with your USB smart drive, plug it in and use your Skype with your own settings, history and other data.
Here’s a related tip that you may find useful, whether you’re using your own removable media or just want to tweak your configuration. Skype for Windows 1.4 has a /datapath:”path” command line option that specifies where all the Skype data is located. So you could do something like ‘skype.exe /datapath:”c:skypedata”‘ and that is where all your user data is stored.
Another parameter you should use when running Skype from a USB drive is /removable – this makes sure you won’t write nonexisting paths into the registry that are only valid when Skype is run from the USB drive, and if you would start Skype from the hard disk next time, you could get some ugly errors. The command also does other optimizations to the operation needed when running from removable media.
sounds great will be very useful for most users
I downloaded the U3 application (http://software.u3.com/Product_Details.aspx?productId=56) which claims the download is 2MB when, in fact, it is 6.37MB? I am runnning Windows 2000 and the download is not recognized and fails to open? There are no instructions on how to run it or configure it only your suggestion on setting a path. This is a poor user experience … both Skype and U3 need to address this problem ASAP.
Note… the file is .u3p not an .exe file. There should be some sort of readme file to point this out to most people. ALSO the listed file size is wrong like you stated. I am assuming that the .u3p type of file is something that you need their equipment to use.
thanks guys – the post actually has two parts. the download only works for a U3 USB smart drive specifically (clarified it now), but you can use the datapath option regardless of any smart drives.
.. and yes, the file size is wrong on the U3 site, telling the right people to fix it.
i’ve tried many times, but the command line option just doesn’t work:(
Hi everybody,
Ey did you guys noticed that you can upack the “Skype_1.4.14.62.u3p” file with 7zip and that you get 3 folders with the “host”-folder containing the 12MB large .exe file wich you can run on the usb stick without the need of an official U3 stick! The only downside is that the program is now more than double the size of the .u3p file, but hey that doesn’t really matter now does it? Not for me, cause I’ve got a 512 MB Voyager USB stick.
bye bye and,…..
enjoy everybody
Hi,
I am personnaly using an excellent flashdrive with integrated soundcard called F1K from MPlat…
It’s the perfect device for travellers or mobile user or people using different computers. I can keep chat records, received files and I just have to plug the key in and I can start to skype without leaving any trace on the computer!
I am also proposing that key on http://www.sos-pc-online.com
All I am now dreaming about is a swiss skypeIn number!
Thank You Jaanus for the (r)evolution you offer to the world!
Follow this URL and you can do it yourself.
http://forum.skype.com/viewtopic.php?t=25052
Worked for me when I went a-travellin’
T
i have only just started to use skype but i have to say its great i chat with my sister in china and could not believe how good it was i have since passed this on to all my friends and now were skype mad ha ha atleast we are not running up our phone bill maureen lancashire
It is a useful device.
Can you advise the brand name
Besides, can you please tell me which WiFI PDA can support Skype software that I can use Skype and talk with my friend with Wi FI PDA.
Thanks.
JLb
I just used the /datapath and /removable parameters on my usb drive (verbatim x90 2GB), it works fine now and I am very happy to be able to keep my skype with me
Only one thing I would like to change , actually skype.exe is a signed exe and I am unable to compress it with UPX, it would be nice to have a NON-signed version so I can compress it. Space on a USB is a concern
This looks very nice, but it seems the download on the U3 site is gone.
Is there anyone who can give an update on the status of this neat project ?
I don’t get it.What does it do?
Hi, the download button for at U3 Software Central doesn’t exist. Is that a special version, or can I hust use the latest skype for windows, when I want to have Skype portable on my new 512MB U3 USB Stick…
Two questions:
1) To run Skype off a USB stick, do we only need to copy Skype.exe and run it with those two parameters, or are there other files that also need copied?
2) When running Skype on my desktop computer, are my Skype data files encrypted? Or should I be using the datapath parameter to redirect data to an encrypted Truecrypt partition?
Actually, a 3rd question:
How do I specify the /datapath parameter if I have Skype starting automatically when Windows boots? Or do I have to uncheck that option and just drop Skype in my Startup group?
How do I tell Skype where to fund my chat history file is now located as I have moved Skype.exe and all the associated folders/files onto a USB flash drive – and what is the ‘name.extension’ of the chat history file?
He Freaks,
nice Skype on USB Solutions you comment here. This is very usefull for travelling and business.
I tried the U3 application and it us running great and it´s running out of the box. I upacked the file with TotalCommander.
Who knows the different between the U3 Solution and the solution from the Forum (http://forum.skype.com/viewtopic.php?t=25052)? Will the U3 Solution leave data on the PC where it was used?
Thanks and free communication
All this options or require me to purchase a USB Drive from another provider, or need me to install some program that edits my registry editor.
No thanks.
For a 5 step process to put skype on any usb drive (even that 32Mb one you got free at the convetion the other day) Go to this site:
http://www.gruups.com/usbskype
The U3.com site appears to have gone away. It could just be down (the dns is still resolving) but it’s been down for a while. Is the skype u3p package available here on skype.com or is U3.com the only site where one could get it?
Would I still be able to run skype with these command line options using the latest version, or is this solution outdated?
Thanks!
I cannot find Skype anywhere on U3 central!! Where I did find it. It said the application was unavailable. The site sickens me so much, I’m half tempted to erase U3 off all my flash drives.
I’m trying to get Skype for my new u3 smart flash drive but don’t know where on earth to find it.
All I have to say, is u3 central has really gone downhill.
I tried very much for installing the skype to my ‘u3 launchpad flash drive’ by your instruction (http://software.u3.com/Product_Details.aspx?productId=56), but not yet done. Even the U3 page is saying that, ‘The product you are requesting is not available. Please use the product category navigation on the left to view available U3 smart software. You can also switch language views to see if this software is localized into another language.’
Please give some other way.
It would seem that either Skype stopped trying to support a U3 Version or the host dropped it. I’d really like to get it on my bigger U3 Flash Drive but atleast I still have it on my other one I wonder if I still have the install if I do then I can get it on it