Skype – How to Install Skype from .tar.gz in Ubuntu 14.04

14.04skypesoftware installation

I need to know how I can install skype-4.3.0.37.tar.bz2 in Ubuntu 14.04.

Best Answer

These are the detailed steps as to how to install Skype from tar.gz in Ubuntu.

  1. Download the .tar.gz from the website.

  2. Now open file-manager and browse to the downloaded file.

  3. Right-click on it and select Extract Here.

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  4. Browse to the extracted folder and open the README file:

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  5. Next, open a terminal and type (editing the relevant parts):

    cd DRAG AND DROP THE EXTRACTED skype-4.3.0* FOLDER HERE

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  1. If you are in a 64-bit machine type the following command:

    sudo dpkg --add-architecture i386

  2. Type the following command:

    sudo cp skype /usr/bin

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  3. Next, type the following command:

    sudo mkdir /usr/share/skype

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  4. Next, type the following commands serially:

    sudo cp -R avatars/ /usr/share/skype/
sudo cp -R sounds/ /usr/share/skype/
sudo cp -R lang/ /usr/share/skype/

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  5. Now, close the terminal.

  6. To launch Skype, type skype in the terminal.

  7. If there are any errors, as shown in the screenshots then type the commands that follow:

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    sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install libqtdbus4:i386 libqtwebkit4:i386

  8. Now, try to launch Skype again by typing skype in terminal. It should launch by now.

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As requested by jeykeu, here are the scripts that automate the above process:

Note: Or you can download the scripts for-installation and for-uninstallation.

  • If required make it executable

    chmod +x /path/to/Skype-installation-ubuntu.sh

chmod +x /path/to/Skype-uninstallation-ubuntu.sh

    then, double-click on it and click on Run to run the script.

For installation:

#!/bin/bash

cd ~/Downloads/tmp
sleep 5
wget -c http://download.skype.com/linux/skype-4.3.0.37.tar.bz2
sleep 5
tar -xvzf skype-4.3.0.37.tar.bz2
sleep 5
cd skype*
sleep 5
sudo dpkg --add-architecture i386
sleep 5
sudo cp skype /usr/bin
sleep 5
sudo mkdir /usr/share/skype
sleep 5
sudo cp -R avatars/ /usr/share/skype/
sleep 5
sudo cp -R sounds/ /usr/share/skype/
sleep 5
sudo cp -R lang/ /usr/share/skype/
sleep 5
sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install -y libqtdbus4:i386 libqtwebkit4:i386
sleep 5
rm -rf ~/Downloads/tmp

exit 0

  • Copy the above and save it as /path/to/anyname.sh also if required make it executable

    chmod +x /path/to/anyname.sh

    then, double-click on it and click on Run to run the script.

For uninstallation:

#!/bin/bash

sudo rm -rf /usr/bin
sleep 5
sudo rm -rf /usr/share/skype
sleep 5
sudo apt-get remove --purge -y libqtdbus4:i386 libqtwebkit4:i386

exit 0

  • Copy the above and save it as /path/to/anyname.sh also if required make it executable

    chmod +x /path/to/anyname.sh

    then, double-click on it and click on Run to run the script.