Apps / Software :: Skype In Windows 8.1 - Return To Classic Performance
Jan 29, 2014
I purchased a new laptop with Windows 8 OS pre-installed and SKYPE application pre-installed as well.
This new way of Skype behavior is very annoying. How I may return into classical use of Skype, as it was in Windows XP and Windows 7, where I had a Skype shortcut on my desktop and clicking the Shortcut opens the Skype application directly in the desktop.
When Skype in Windows 8 opens in a new lay out feature is very uncomfortable and unfamiliar. how to get back to the previous classical way of behavior for Skype.
I never like upgrades, so am planning on a format (Samsung SSD) and a clean install of Win 8.1 from the image I downloaded.
However I have one (biggish to me) concern, I still like to use a program called (Ex7forW8exe) this gives me the Windows 7 lookalike/classic shell, Start button and Start Menu etc, so What program works with Windows 8.1 ?
The latest version of Classic Shell supports Windows 8 Consumer Preview. The new features are:
A customizable start button. You can pick from Classic, Aero and Metro styles, or select your own image. Unlike Start8 and ViStart, this is a real start button. It can extend beyond the taskbar, and works well for any taskbar position, even in auto-hide mode.A new Metro skin for the start menu. For people who like Metro, but not the start screen.All settings are updated to reflect the changes to Windows 8. For example the status bar settings are gone, because the status bar in Windows 8's Explorer can't be customized.The check for new version is more responsive and can be disabled during installation.
The loss of the Classic Shell toolbar in Windows Explorer is still puzzling me.
I've been through all the Classic Shell options (I think!) and messed around with Windows Explorer, but after installing 8.1 the toolbar seems to have disappeared.
I used to have all the View buttons pinned to the bar and I'm really missing it. I know they can be put in the Quick Access Bar, but it's not as usable/fast as the Classic Shell version (the change as hovering I also find very annoying).
EDIT: Just realise I hadn't checked the version I was using. It's 4.0.4 and re-checking the developers site I've now realised that they're up to 4.0.6 ------ Could this be the issue?
I seem to remember that 4.0.6 was not yet stable, or have I dreamt that - I think I probably have
I find that I am using the Classic Shell less, but still want to have the format available. My problem is that every time I reboot my computer, I have to reset the Classic Shell settings.
I just upgraded our computer to Windows 8, but it crashes during a Skype session. I installed the Windows 8 desktop version of Skype, not the app version. I need the small window on top of the screen, and this is only possible with the desktop version, not with the Windows 8 app version!!
I already reinstalled Skype, but the problem persists.
I was wondering if we have a way to customize the Start Orb/Button with this software? I downgraded to an older version because the newest one had a look that literally appears to be the Shell gasoline logo! At least with this version it simulates the Windows color scheme.
I am using Version 3.6.7. The current version is 3.6.8. but it has a blued out background with the Shell logo prominent.
If it were not for Classic Shell I would not be using Windows 8 at all.
I just recently purchased a Skype number and I have a few emails telling me that I have a new voice message and I should sign into Skype to listen to them.
So I signed into the metro style Skype app on windows 8.1 but could not find voice messages. I tried on the surface rt app but no option for voice messages. I tried logging into the Skype website and again could not find my messages.
So how does one listen to their voice messages in Skype?
ok basically, if you look at the pic im providing, you can see how skype is grouping multiple windows in the taskbar consistantly and its the only program thats having this issue
I have a problem which started recently. The problem is that everything closes unexpectedly. I am using the classic desktop environment to use this system and all the 'apps' I use a classing Windows programs.
Randomly all of the programs that are running on the machine close down without warning (And I mean ALL of them, even explorer.exe). I know that this has not been caused by a recent installation of a program as I have not installed anything recently. I also checked the computer with an Anti-Virus software as that could have been a cause but there wasn't anything.
When I opened up my start screen this morning a lot of different apps appeared, most of them were performance and diagnostics apps. I used one to see if there were any problems with the memory on my computer, after it had completed and told me that their were no problems, all of the apps disappeared. Where the apps came from and why they all disappeared.
I just bought a computer with Windows 8 and I have a little problem.
Skype and Messenger are together now. It's ok. But my Messenger contacts are on Skype AND on the app Messages. And when one of them send me a message I receive it on both Skype and Messages apps.
How can I change this ? Can I juste disable Messages app ?
I've been having an issue that popped up today. Out of nowhere, my game (age of empires 2 HD) froze for no reason, my audio cut out completely (was listening to youtube in the background), and my skype crashed, along with videos on youtube not able to be watched anymore (they would sit at 0:00 and never advance). I also tried to launch another game after this, and it crashed immediately. My flash plugin also crashes as well. I have had this computer for about a year, and although I've had bluescreens, I've never had this issue.
So far, I have tried restoring my computer to a previous setting. This works for a few hours, but then it reverts back to the crashing of games/videos/skype.
Edit: just incase this could be relevant, I was experiencing BSOD's early after I bought this computer. Here is a thread from the BSOD section about it: WHEA_UNCORRECTABLE_ERROR on new system
i come across a little issue with windows 8, skype stops responding then once skype stops responding everything else just laggs with it, but by the time i get windows taskmanager open to close other apps it just responds normally. is there a way i can speed up windows 8? i stopped about 14 apps from startup that i thought was the problem then my computer just came up with the same not responding thing for windows 8 skype desktop application not background application, is it because i have a third party app for microsoft ? or should i swich back to the default skype? i don't like the default skype but if i have to use it i will. if there is any tweaks to make windows 8 apps always respond quicker
Have Skype on windows surface, however sometimes when I answer the camera doesn't turn on but I can hear voice. I believe it might be might be that I have two different versions on this computer because I can answer one pop-up but still see it ringing. restart tablet and call the person from my windows app and it is fine.
here's the catch---why when I go to my control panel can I not find the program? it shows up on my app screen but clicking all relevant selections on the control panel-it is no where? my past experience says maybe I have two versions on the computer or I need to install and reinstall the program with the latest, but unless I go looking for the actual folder it is non-existant.
Whilst on holiday I used a friends laptop with Windows 8 so that I could use Skype to call people. It was not set up so I had to do it. I didn't realize that I had synced my Skype to my friends Microsoft account and to her hotmail address. Now whenever I get a call or message to me on skype, she now gets it too.
I have tried to log out and other things, but it says that it is now tied to her. I'm running a different Windows to her so I am unable to work my way around it.
HowI can remove my Skype account from her Windows 8 account?
Ok, I'm using the Modern Skype app and I want to change my picture.
So I click on my user pic and I am taken to My Pictures folder.
But I don't wanna be there, so I "Go Up" to the Users Folder and click/open Play. But I do not see App Data listed.
What I would like to do is browse to this specific folder without leaving the Modern Skype app.
c:UsersPlayAppDataRoamingSkypePictures
Why? Because that is where the picture I wish to use is located. I am well aware that I could drop out of the Modern interface and copy/move the file from there to the My Pictures folder.
I have just refreshed my pc because I was having numerous problems with it and it turned out to be a bad stick of RAM. However, now I am having software issues. Whenever I try to make a call on the desktop version of skype, the program crashes. Whenever I try to open HP support assistant, the program crashes. When i am using the metro app version of skype I get a weird artifacting type problem on any of the buttons. I have this same problem in internet explorer and on Netflix. Netflix will not play on Chrome. It will play on IE, but with the button artifacting problems. My computer will not pair via bluetooth with my phone.
there is no user interface in skype software except for the blue background.There is no Username and password field in the software.I am currently using the most recent skype update.
SKYPE needs an ID (usually a Microsoft ID). Now is there anyway I can test a connection from My computer to phone or the reverse. AS I have only a single Microsoft ID I can't test this. I don't want to wait until I'm over at someone else's house to set this up. Is there a way you can test a SKYPE video call between your own laptop and your mobile. I just want to see if the video works both way.
When I open it and log in it doesn't I'm online. I can't even send IM mesages, I only see gray circle on the right side spining. Sometimes when I restart it It all works. But most of the time it doesn't I tried changing port number, reinstaling skype etc. Also skype.exe can't be killed in TM. I get info that Acess is denied.
he Skype Integrated Metro only works intermittently. I can see the Caller but they can sometimes see but not hear me. I've checked sounds settings within the App without success.
No such problem when using the Desktop Skype. Might the combination of Metro App and Desktop version be causing trouble? Should the Desktop version be uninstalled?
Just tried the Logitech Web Cam software and found a log-jamb with the sound slider. Don't know why but I've now got it working again with both App and Desktop versions and back in business again.
I can access all my browsers but things like Skype and Steam won't open I was having a problem with a program yesterday that unpacked in the temp folder incorrectly and I have been trying to fix that since then I had to work yesterday or I would have resorted to something like this much sooner I am told that my hard drive needs repaired when I try to do a system restore on it to before I had the problem but I do scan and repair and it does nothing I have done scan and repair several times and right now I am using avast for my virus protection and I turned off my firewalls so those aren't a problem I am running a scan with avast right now for the full system but I'm not positive if it will bring up the error so that I can fix it I don't have a restore disk it didn't come with one when I got it and it is set to only do a refresh or recovery with a restore disk after I sent it to the company for a problem that it would randomly shut off when not plugged in and was fully charged I
Ever since skype updated to 6.14, I've been seeing excessive ram use after only a couple hours.
So..I devised a simple test, I closed and then relaunched skype to free the ram and then timed it.. after 3 hours roughly.. heres the ram consumption by skype...
The only things that have business seeing that kind of ram use are games(starwars the old republic can reach a gig and a half's consumption before Windows 8 starts shedding non essential items from the cached memory), flash games, streaming videos, 3d modelling programs, and a few other things I cant think of off the top of my head.
that said..thats grossly excessive use there.
Its not a virus, its not malware or spyware, I've already scanned for that...twice, using extensive scan options.
I cleared my message cache, reset IE as I know skype uses some of those settings, uninstalled and reinstalled skype.. past nuking my current os install I've got nothing left to throw at this.
I've just bought a new Dell desktop computer which came with Windows 8.1 preinstalled. I like using the new Start menu (Metro) and want to avoid Desktop mode as much as possible now, to avoid confusion and flicking between the two modes repeatedly. My Windows boots into Start (Metro), as I want, and then I open an application, for example Firefox or Outlook. So far so good. However after closing any application, I'm returned to Desktop mode. I then have to click on the Windows logo in the bottom left to return to the new Start menu.
How to boot directly into Desktop mode, how to keep a desktop computer with a keyboard and mouse in Start (Metro) mode. Exiting an application should not return me to Desktop mode, it should return me to Start (Metro) mode.
Once something opens, even from desktop, it doesn't have a little red x in the corner and there doesn't seem to be a way to close it and return to where I was before. I can only either hit the windows button and go back to the page with all the apps, or swipe it down and do the same. But say I'm on desktop, I've got the internet open and I open up my pictures and double click a picture to see it larger- it then fills the whole screen and there's no way to go back to my desktop and what I was doing by just CLOSING it, rather I have to go back to the app page and then click on deskptop. Is there a way round this?
