Skype 4.2 for Windows hotfix
Today we have released a update for the Skype 4.2 for Windows.
With this update we have addressed a list of issues which you have been reporting to us.
Start downloading it now.
The biggest change is that we have introduced a option to control if you want to keep Skype’s icon in task-bar on Windows 7 while Skype is running or you prefer to have Skype minimized to system tray.
We have also fixed a number of audio and video calling related issues.
Full release notes for 4.2.0.163 are:
Known issues:
* Video may freeze on the other side in the following cases: two incoming calls at the same time > accept first call with video > accept second call with video while putting the first call on hold > hang up first call.
* After holding and resuming a Skype call the video quality may be degraded.
* Mobiola virtual camera software may cause Skype to cause problems with video when selected as a video source, or freeze during start-up.
Current solution: Uninstall Mobiola filter driver.
* High CPU usage on low-end computers during video calls when using a TouchCam N1 or Twincam encoding camera.
* In some rare cases when sending video from a Microsoft LifeCam VX-3000, the local preview may freeze. The other side will still receive video normally.
Current solution: Update video card drivers.
* Late switch to hardware video encoding when using TouchCam N1 or Twincam encoding cameras.
* The Skype video snapshots feature is not working on Windows XP SP3.
* The ASUS virtual webcamera remains open after terminating a video call.
Current Solution: Select the actual camera in Options->Video or uninstall the problematic virtual software.
* The microphones of the TouchCam N1 and Twincam encoding cameras generates CPU spikes in every 20 seconds that may result in lower video quality.
Current solution: Avoid using the encoding camera microphone.
* It rarely happens that calls are not successful when two users call each other at exactly the same time.
* The Call Quality Indicator shows a false error message that your webcam is in use by other application, even if it is not in use anymore. Ignore the message.
* Call Quality Indicator says “Medium” quality for a high quality video call with Logitech pro 9000 webcameras on both sides.
* Transferring a call to a phone contact and Skype user at the same time will cause the call to disconnect for the Skype user when the phone contact answers the call.
* Only one field change is saved when editing phone contacts.
Current solution: For saving more than one field, editing must be repeated.
* Netbooks with Mobile Intel(R) 915GM/GMS,910GML Express Graphics Chipset and Windows 7 can have problems when receiving large screen sharing resolutions beyond 1322 x 823.
Current solution: Set smaller screen sharing size.
* The Skype Access connection offering does not pop-up correctly when trying to connect to supported hotspot after starting Skype up.
Current solution: Connect to supported Wifi hotspot before running Skype.
* Extending a Skype Access session results first in a hotspot not valid dialog and after few seconds session is correctly extended, but cost information and wifi SSID is not shown.
* No warning message is being displayed when closing a conversation with the close button in compact mode.
* The automatic ‘Away’ status setting doesn’t work if it has been set a long time ago.
Current solution: Change the auto away time in options to something else and then back.
* Browsing history is slow while running Jaws.
* Skype fails to detect some screen readers when they are started after running Skype. Workaround: restart Skype.
* Advanced Audio Options resets to Basic view if Tab is pressed while the Cancel button is chosen or if an audio device is moved to a different position in the device list.
* Users with screen readers may have problems noticing the new authorization requests in the Notification tab.
* Skype notifications about account changes can be delayed by a few hours.
* Skype browser plugins for Internet Explorer and Firefox ignore meta tag not to highlight phone numbers.
* When a user opens their web browser with no network connectivity, Skype displays an error message that SkypeNames.exe wants to use Skype. This happens when opening Firefox for the first time after installing Skype with the IE and Firefox add-ons.
* Skype’s Firefox browser plugin can not be uninstalled from the Firefox Extensions panel on Windows Vista and 7.
Current solution: Uninstall Skype web features from Add or Remove programs dialogue.
* The Skype browser plugin highlights phone numbers and names while creating content on various popular websites.
Current solution: Disable Skype browser plugins on affected webpages.
* An error message appears when the Extras Manager is started while Adobe Flash Player is not installed.
Current solution: Install Adove Flash Player before opening Extras Manager.
* DailyMotion videos which have been added to a mood message are not being displayed to other contacts.
* The country drop down list in the call phones tab is not localized to Russian.
* Having “IM Magician” installed on your computer may cause Skype to crash.
Current solution:
* The High Quality Video logo sometimes flashed during a video call.
* Outgoing video froze when Skype raised the outgoing video quality.
* When on a video call to an Asus Videophone users, the local video preview sometimes froze and the other side saw a green still image after some time into call.
* Having “IM Magician” installed on your computer may cause Skype to crash.
Current solution: If you are affected by this issue then please uninstall “IM Magican” until the vendor provides patch for this issue.
* Netbooks can experience problems displaying some of the Skype windows.
* Certain graphical components may be misaligned when running Skype with a high graphics DPI setting.
Fixed issues:
* Deactivated the keyboard tapping removal feature during conference calls because of complaints from blind people and gamers.
* Improved call stability between two Skype 4.2 for Windows users.
* Fixed issue causing consecutive call drops right after call start.
* The preferred microphone settings were not saved when the device was set from the Call Quality Indicator device selection list.
* In some languages Skype showed an error message “unterminated tag” which prevented users from logging into Skype.
* The IM notification icon was not correctly displayed during a full screen video call.
* Screen sharing from Skype 4.2 to Skype 4.0 or lower did not show video to the receiver if their computer had Pentium 4 or Pentium 3 processor.
* The High Quality Video logo sometimes flashed during a video call.
* Outgoing video froze when Skype raised the outgoing video quality.
* When on a video call to an Asus Videophone users, the local video preview sometimes froze and the other side saw a green still image after some time into call.
* In rare cases it was not possible to listen to old Voicemails which were received through Online Number.
Nice, thanks for the option on Windows 7 !
finally, thank you very much for control of taskbar
Now if I could just get to where I’m not getting 65 messages that Skype had to shut down in my Windows (7) Action Center. Not to mention the incompatibility with my Adobe Tech Suite. Just gotta love Microsoft.
Installed this version and I can’t call my wife’s account, which she forwards to her cell phone. If she is online, no problem! Any fix for this????????????????
I am increasingly frustrated with Skype. It seems like for months and months, there are always way more known issues than fixes. And, to top it off, they won’t fix stupid “features” like the inability to delete individual history entries/items/events. This is still one of the biggest insults implemented in Skype 4.x.
This “fix” completely dismantled my use of Skype in Windows 7 forcing Windows to shut it down. WTF????
Thanks for the Windows 7 option to keep the application on the taskbar. It’s long overdue, but appreciated.
But please please please actually close the application when I click Close. I don’t want a second menu option to “Quit”, just stick with the inbuilt “Close” option and close (exit) the application. Having two menu items (with one not doing anything) degrades the User Experience on Windows 7 and creates a negative impression.
After trying upgrades to version 4 and beyond on WIN XP SP3 I found that every time I selected video call or tried to test video in tools options my PC would reboot then recover from a serious error. I went back to version 2.6.0.44 and my Logitech camera works fine.
I have HP pavillion DV2000 notebook. However, Camera used to work with 3.8 version of Skype. However, it does not work with Version 4.2.0.163 .
I removed 4.2.0.163 and downloaded the old version 3.8.0.188 and now the camera works.
Any suggestions pls.
Thanx for the recent update!!!!! Now Skype don’t work anymore on Windows 7 64 bit!!!!!
Tried to reinstall several times, after thoroughly cleaning the disk and registry, but still getting that irritating 1603 message. So deleted everything again, and cleaned the system from Skype. Please let me know, when Skype fixed this big problem, if fixing is possible at least.
Version 4.2.0.163 makes the video call crash on my Windows 7 VAIO. The previous version was fine. Anyone knows how to roll back?
I’ve been using Skype for 8 months or so. It was great, no major issues the entire time. Then I upgraded to Windows 7 (previously was using XP) and now I cannot even sign in. Searched blog and countless forums on the web. Did re-install three times, can’t figure out compatibility mode. I’m a tech savvy guy who just doesn’t get why this is so complicated. My issue – when I launch skype it will say it’s signing in, but will never get me in. I cannot cancel sign in during this time. I have to go into task manager and do end processes. Any help is greatly appreciated it.
for ahsiao2005 : uninstall the .163 version and then go to http://www.oldapps.com/skype.php and pick the .158 option. then scroll down again and pick .158. i had problems with the new one and did this and mine’s working fine again.
1. After 12 seconds of ringing (I’m set for 20), caller was sent to system VM and not mine. That message was not reported to me. This has happened several times within the last 3 days that I know about. I was asked who recorded the out going message as she sounded better than me.
2. Also sent a Microsoft 3 error reports on Skype shutting down wile dialing dialing a number that I have called many times. Reloaded Skype and it seems to have gone away.
3. Still not all calls are being recorded. Pamela software “see” them in Skype box and reports but nothing shows up in Skype conversations.
Skype does not work with Microsoft LifeCam Show. It will shut down as soon you try to make a video call or try to change video settings (anything that involves the webcam). It works fine with Skype 4.1.0.179
I’m using Skype 4.2.0.163 with latest LifeCam show drivers and it crashes skype every single time i try to start video.
Screen Share has disappeared from Version 4.2,0.166, on three computers. Was preesent before this upgrade.
jacksaul
Hi Folks
My Skype didn’t working well. My friend call my skype from Canada to Hong Kong and I have SKype to Phone (skype-out). The phone connection is bad and bronk all the time.
Is it something wrong with his or my setting ?
Or the service problem?
Thank you
Skype 4.2.x pretty much always keeps one of my cores pegged at 100% CPU usage. This is exceptionally annoying, especially because it forces me to shut Skype off during doing work on games that i’m developing.
Thnks for ur help….
I upgraded to version 4.2.0.169 and have not been receiving email notifications even though my account has been set up tohave email notifications of missed calls delivered. Do I need to go back to an older version so I can get my email notifications? What’s the use of upgrading then?
i also upgraded skype…and as a result with internet explorer the searchfunction did not automaticly made possible words anymore…you know ??…so i had to go back to the older version of skype…to bad…………….
Hey. i still cant LOGIN TO MY SKYPE THIS FEW DAYS. I WAITED SO LONG BUT NO ONE REPLYS.
Hi, I finally upgraded to 4.2 and now I cannot make any calls to Canada. Skype stops responding when I try. suggestions?
My audio all seems to work fine on my pc, but the moment I try skyping it says I have problems with my microphone and the other person can’t hear me.
Anyone else got the same problem?
I have a NEC laptop running XP SP3. Error 1603 was my problem.
Uninstalled 4.1. Reset my Anti Virus programme (Spyware Terminator) to enable any new activity – especially windows/installer/ .tmp.
Download 4.2 programme only, no extras.
Error 1603 is fixed, Skype function checks OK.
We have recently upgraded 50 or so PC from W2K to Windows 7 running Skype 4.2. Ince upgrading to Windows 7 Skype calls last for a few minutes then the call is dropped and we receive the following error message “Database error. Please close Skype and sign in again.”
Not seen a fix for this on the forums yet.
please when i am trying to install skype it keeps on giving me a 1603 error how can i fix this
I haven’t seen a fix for the Windows 7 issues reported on this forum. My issues are similar with one added problem. When I attempt to close, Skype minimizes to the taskbar. However, if I attempt to quit, Skype doesn’t quit but rather, opens a Windows Explorer window with the System32 folder displayed.
The last comment I see posted is for July 15th. Is Skype still being supported?
Working with Skype updates and downloads is impossible. Each dowload that I have installed from the Members Area has a problem and it appears that it is with the Windows 7 64bit installation. Keeping up with all technology going forward is a must for any software developer and Skype needs to adhere. Also as a side note, all of the calls that I attempt to make contain a vast amount of static as opposed to voice quailty and clearness.
I have the same problem as quietpro67: on closing, minimises to the taskbar at the bottom of the screen, and when quitting from the menu, opens windows explorer at system32 folder.
Seriously, this is a fairly major bug – just bought a new laptop and very disappointed find this bug, having updated to latest version of skype. Also, concerned at the delay in support for quietpro67 – is there a fix planned for this?