Install Skype on Ubuntu 8.04 (Hardy Heron) + configure sound

Here are a  quick set of steps to install skype on Ubuntu 8.04.

  • Download skype static from here
  • Execute the following commands at the terminal:

$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

Sound configuration:

  • Execute the command below in a terminal

$ apt-get install alsa-firmware

  • Open volume control and click on File -> Change device. Make sure the Alsa mixer is selected.
  • Click on Edit -> Preferences and check microphone, mic boost, internal mic boost — whatever applicable
  • Try a skype test call!

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24 Comments

  1. Hey DD,
    Awesome post! Although i wonder if it’d be easier to install the deb package instead.

    But this is a more generic solution…

    - Sahil

  2. Yo Sahil!

    Yeah installing with the deb would be easier, though on 64 bit OS, this would be ideal in addition to the 32 bit libraries. Also, when I figured out this method of installation, skype beta (with video and stuff) had just released and it wasn’t available with apt-get and the deb also gave some problems as far as I remember (I have AMD you see!).

    Anyways…. :-) A more geeky way of getting skype up and running!

  3. Does not work here. Skype doesent even show Alsa. The only option, Pulseaudio doesent work as we know so far.

    Also, the Perfect Setup is scam! http://www.pulseaudio.org/wiki/PerfectSetup#Skype

    Now I should google how can I get rid of pulse audio on Hardy..? :)

  4. @Olli

    I’m not sure whats going wrong though the pulseaudio problem maybe causing alsa not to be detected…

    I’m sure it works!

  5. Skype installed easily in Ubuntu Hardy.
    Using Alsa mixer the test message works OK.
    But when in contact with a caller the audio is not duplex as with Skype in Windows. How to change to duplex??
    Volume is also low even though set at maximum – using Asus Laptop – wifi.

  6. thanks a lot

  7. No problem!

  8. I did all google found fixes and had same ” Problem with audio playback “. BUT, if you right click on Skype icon on panel, go to Options, Sound Devices and try all of the ” Sound Out Options ” you will find one of them that will work, has worked on 2 PC’s one with 7.10 other with 8.04. Hardware 0 seems to work well. Thanks for your post, got me thinking.

  9. @Steve

    Oh thats great. Probably you had alsa firmware already installed. Thanks for your comments.

  10. mv: cannot move `/home/silkko/skype_static-2.0.0.72′ to `/usr/share/skype_static-2.0.0.72′: Permission denied

    i keep getting this error, i use ubuntu 8.04

  11. @silkko

    $ sudo mv /home/silkko/skype_static-2.0.0.72 /usr/share/skype_static-2.0.0.72

    • Hello there,
      I am using ubuntu 8.04.
      I would like to set up the webcam on this and I am not able to.
      The webcam I am having is Creative live cam video IM pro (VF0230.
      Do you know if ubuntu 8.04 support this. And if then commoands should I do to make it work..
      I am kind of new to Linux so please give me line by line instructions..
      I really appreciate your help,
      Thanks, Gaurav

  12. Hi you’all, this is R. in Boston, first time Linux user (hardy heron) trying desperately to install Skype in order to be able to communication with my boyfriend back home.

    I typed this in the terminal: “$ sudo apt-get install Skype” & entered my sudo password. I got a good reaction: “reading package lists & building dependency trees,” etc. But then I got a line that said: “0 upgraded, 0 newly installed” and then nothing. I have skype static donwloaded, but am not sure what to do at this point. Thanks for humoring my bumbling questions.

    Cheers, RM

  13. That means the installation is done. Just hit Alt+F2 and type skype… skype will launch….

  14. Thank you so much for that help! One more question: From my searches it looks like there is not video support for Linux’s SKype version yet. Is this true? How long do we think until we can video conference? Thanks and take care.

    Cheers,R

  15. There is video support for skype on linux… you just need to have the right drivers.

  16. I get this error:
    ALSA lib pcm_dmix.c:874:(snd_pcm_dmix_open) unable to open slave
    Any ideas? Thanks :)

  17. Great post. Thanks!

  18. I couldn’t find a package for
    $ apt-get install alsa-firmware

    I did find that ubuntu had a
    $ apt-get install alsa-firmware-loaders

    Worked fine from there on.

  19. I am running Hardy Heron 64-bit, and this didn’t work for me until I installed the 32-bit libraries using
    $sudo apt-get install ia32-libs. It seems to work fine now. Just posting this in case anyone else has the same problem that I did.

    Oh yes, great post, thanks.

  20. aplay -l gives card 0:SB[HDA ATI SB], device 0:ALC268 Analog [ALC268 Analog]
    Subdevice:1/1
    subdevice #0:subdevice
    Skype plays sounds but does not get sound from mic.
    Toshiba laptop

  21. I can’t hear the other abonats but they hear me :S where is the problem ?


2 Trackbacks/Pingbacks

  1. By Toshiba laptop microphone not working on Ubuntu using skype : Laptop microphone settings for skype on 17 Mar 2009 at 3:09 pm

    [...] So to sum up, I don’t really know how to solve this problem but that solution is about as good as I can find on the internet. Find a how to on installing skype on Ubuntu 8.04 here. [...]

  2. By Install Skype on Ubuntu 8.04 (Hardy Heron) + configure sound | 雷人的生活 on 12 Apr 2009 at 10:49 pm

    [...] http://divyad.wordpress.com/2008/05/01/install-skype-on-ubuntu-804-hardy-heron-configure-sound/ 作者：雷立辉 来源：http://www.leilife.cn 【转载请保留上面所有内容】 [...]

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