skype crashing on application launch

I have the exact same issue

I have this issue as well. I disabled both the virus scanner and firewall stuff, but Skype is still crashing upon starting. I am using Windows XP SP3 on VirtualBox 1.6.2. My networking is bridged. I have not tried with NAT yet, nor am I 100% sure of the exact failure condition - but it happens after the application is open for less than 10 seconds.

Kevin

Just to add that I use Ubuntu 8.04 as the host as well, so the problem seems to match.

Replying to kkaland:

I have this issue as well. I disabled both the virus scanner and firewall stuff, but Skype is still crashing upon starting. I am using Windows XP SP3 on VirtualBox 1.6.2. My networking is bridged. I have not tried with NAT yet, nor am I 100% sure of the exact failure condition - but it happens after the application is open for less than 10 seconds. Kevin

I am seeing this problem as well. I am using VirtualBox 1.6.2 to run Windows Vista as a guest on two different host operating systems: Ubuntu 8.04 and OpenSolaris? 2008.05. In both host environments, the Skype application crashes after about a minute of successfully running a chat (instant messaging) session. I am using version 3.8 of the Skype Windows application.

Liaising with the Wine team might help, as Skype also crashes on Wine. Note that 3.8.0.115 does NOT crash, and I'm running it successfully on VirtualBox. Haven't tried that one on Wine, but anyway this bug report is not about that. Just thought to bring that up.

Kevin

Just to clarify - I am using Skype 3.8.0.139 and have the virtual machine's network configured as PCnet-FAST III (NAT).

I can add that I also experienced this on NAT as well, when I tried that.

I'm also having the same problem. I'm using NAT, Ubuntu Hardy Heron host OS, Windows XP SP2 guest OS, NAT networking. Any ideas?

Skype 3.8 was crashing, but Skype 3.5.0.229 seems to be working Ok. I found it here. It did blue-screen my system when I started it up the first time while it was trying to connect (don't ask me why...), but now it seems to be working quite happily. I'll post back if I have any more problems.

Skype 4.0Beta similarly crashes, on WinXP in Vbox, on a Ubuntu 8.04 host.

I also have this problem. I am using guest XP servicepack 3 on Ubuntu Hardy host. Skype version 3.8.0.139

VirtualBox Graphical User Interface version 1.5.6_OSE, open source

Is everyone using XP Service pack 3 ?? Has anyone had this problem with an earlier service pack? Has anyone tried this on a hardware system with windows XP sp3 ? (rather than a VirtualBox VM)?

mine was sp2 and it did the same thing so i installed sp3 with no change in results. on hardware it works with sp2 and sp3 (I dual boot) The problem occurs with both the open source and the closed source version.

Having the exact same issue here as well. Running Ubuntu 8.04 as host and Windows XP Pro SP3 as guest. I hope this gets resolved soon!

Please check if activating VT-x/AMD-V for that VM helps.

Yeah I actually have that enabled already. To resolve the problem I ended up downloading 3.5.0.229 which resolved the issue. I just hope it doesn't get to the point where we can't use older versions of Skype. Obviously if that happens we will be hosed.

Thanks for you quick reply frank.

Please make sure that this setting is enabled. Check the VBox.log file for HWACCM: lines or attach the VBox.log file to this defect.

I tried again just now with the VT-x/AMD/-V option turned on. Same result: Skype crashes. These are the HWACCM lines from VBox.log:

00:00:03.768 HWACCM: No VMX or SVM CPU extension found. Reason VERR_VMX_MSR_LOCKED_OR_DISABLED 00:00:03.768 HWACCM: VMX MSR_IA32_FEATURE_CONTROL=1

Just to reiterate: this is with 1.6.2 on OpenSolaris? 2008.05, trying to run Skype in a Vista guest

hi guys,

Just tried the VT-x/AMD option... no difference. Actually, here I am trying this on a different host machine... The problem exists here as well, with a slight difference (than in my previous post). On my other machine skype just seems to disappear. On this machine, I get a windows exception dialog. If no one else gets this dialog (and the extra information it may/may not provide) let me know, and I can post the details.

gsporar, check your BIOS settings. It appears that either your system has no support for VT-x or AMD-V or the corresponding BIOS setting is disabled (once disabled it cannot be enabled until the next reboot).

svaens, please check your VBox.log output as well. An output like seen from gsporar means that hardware-assisted virtualization could not be enabled.

Hi all,

Frank, you are right. I also had the same result as gsporar, in that the extension was not found error is seen in the logs, and therefore was not able to make a difference. This is now tested on both my (dell) machines.

00:00:17.616 Guest Additions information report: additionsVersion = 0x00010004 osType = 0x00033000

00:00:17.723 HWACCM: No VMX or SVM CPU extension found. Reason VERR_VMX_NO_VMX 00:00:17.723 HWACCM: VMX MSR_IA32_FEATURE_CONTROL=0

actually.. what am I saying. I have one dell precision M790, and the other is a Toshiba satellite pro 2140 (i think). Both running Ubuntu Hardy.

Unfortunately, Sony does not support VT-x by default on my VAIO laptop. :-/ There is a workaround (http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=189228), but it looks pretty ugly, so I don't have time to experiment with it right now. Sorry.

For me, VT-x seems to fix the issue. I'm running guest XP SP3 on a Ubuntu Hardy host on a Lenovo T60 with an Intel Core Duo processor. I have Skype 3.8.0.139, the most recent build, and it works fine. I haven't actually made a call because none of my friends are on, but the application doesn't crash immediately like it did before I activated VT-x. If anyone wants a log or anything, post here, and I'll help ya.

FYI, Skype 3.6.0.248 works for me. It burns up quite a bit of CPU time even when Skype is idle, but it works.

I have the same issue. I'm running Debian Lenny on the host while the guest is Windows XP SP2. A similar issue exists on a Vista host. Though the program doesn't crash immediately, it crashes once we make a call.

I am running this on an old Dell 510m laptop. Its a Pentium-M processor so no VT extensions. How do I solve it?

Replying to basix:

Windows XP SP2. A similar issue exists on a Vista host. Though the program doesn't

Sorry, meant Vista guest.

I'm running VirtualBox 1.6.2 ( latest Debian Sid snapshot )

Crashes too here. VB 1.6.2, CPU enhancements enabled, hosting on Windows XP SP3.

3.5.0.229 saved the day. I'm running Windows XP SP3 in VB under Ubuntu 8.04. Anyone needing it, you can find it at http://skype.brothersoft.com/skype3.5.0.229

Crashes here as well. VB 1.6.4 on Ubuntu 8.04 (Hardy) and Windows XP SP2 as guest. I've already enabled VT-x to no avail.

I've tried Skype Beta 4.0 and Skype 3.8. Both crash soon after starting up. Any fixes on this?

I thought it might be because of the webcam, but I've tried unplugging it and starting up Skype and I get the same result.

Also, somewhat related to this, has anyone noticed their webcam working reaaaally slowly on VB? I'm must be getting like 2 FPS or something. Real slow!

I took a quick look at Skype running in a VBox VM. Indeed it crashes after 10-15 seconds automatically.

The executable (Skype.exe) is calling a system service, which is a routine in the operating system, generally exported by the Executive, and is not part of the Skype executable. It's crashing at SYSENTER. Maybe it has something to do with the access of some system addresses from user space. For this some special CPU instructions are needed.

Just wanted to confirm this problem..... I am running Hardy x64, the latest skype....

For those touting the skype native in Linux, well, it works very poorly. Skype in fact works worse in every os besides standard 32 bit Windows.

Having it work perfectly in vbox, with the USB 2.0 pass through to my Logitech sphere would be great.

Replying to svaens:

Is everyone using XP Service pack 3 ?? Has anyone had this problem with an earlier service pack? Has anyone tried this on a hardware system with windows XP sp3 ? (rather than a VirtualBox VM)?

I'm using SP2, Virtualbox on an Ubuntu 8.04 host. And it wants to play dirty with me too. Does anyone have any guesses as to what this may be caused by/ how to fix?

You need to run an older version of Skype. http://download.oldversion.com/skype300205.exe

That is the best version with gaming support, and 64-bit vista support, without the bloatware.

Thanks FOBioPatel for the suggestion. I tried installing skype300205.exe and, while it didn't crash initially, I couldn't get it to connect. It would keep "Connecting" forever even though the Virtual Machine *has* full internet access. It eventually crashed so I tried again, same result.

Any word from Sun on this? I, for one, would be really pleased to have Skype with my webcam working in VirtualBox!

I would urge you to disable the XP firewall and try again. You should also try and get older and older versions of Skype 3 from oldversion.com and see which works best for you. Remember to completely uninstall all previous instances of skype, or this WILL FAIL.

If you're only looking to get Skype running for webcam support, Skype 2 has been ported over to Linux already. http://www.skype.com/download/skype/linux/choose/

I run 64-bit Ubuntu and have Skype 2 with webcam support natively installed. http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=432295

I only use Skype 3 in a Virtualbox XP for Easybits chinese checkers.

I am unable to get my webcam to work at all in vbox. It's a Logitech Orbit AF. I think the drivers require directx or something. At any rate, I wish I could get it working well as the Linux version of Skype is pretty crap.

You have a Logitech Orbit AF, which has phenomenal Linux support. http://www.quickcamteam.net/hcl/linux/logitech-webcams

Are you unable to have video enabled Skype conversations in the Skype for Linux? I know we're deviating away from the immediate issue: virtualbox + Orbit AF in XP... but just getting that information out there.

If you're using Ubuntu, it should 'just work'.

FOBioPatel: I'm aware that Skype has been ported to Linux, however, I'm using Kubuntu Intrepid (which I realize is in beta) and it comes with something called gspca for the webcam driver. I'm not sure if I understood correctly, but a lot of applications (like Skype) still depend on v4l1 while we are now on v4l2. There are many patches being released for different applications that switch to v4l2, however, Skype is not one of them. I tried using the LD_PRELOAD hack that a lot of pages speak of, and while it makes Skype see the webcam, it averages 3 fps. I'm not sure WHAT Windows does with the webcam, but the image looks better on Windows than Linux hence why I gave up on the Linux effort and I was hoping to run it under Windows (VirtualBox).

Anyway, back onto this topic. I did try installing version 3.8.0.115 which kkaland suggested doesn't crash and indeed, it doesn't seem to crash and I was able to connect and even use the webcam! I tried calling someone and even though Skype appears to be sending video, the remote end don't see it. I now have another issue which is the microphone not working, but that's a different problem altogether. Argh!!!

I have same problem, VirtualBox 1.6 and 2.0.4 Too on Unbuntu 8.0.4

I run skype 3.x and 4 beta 2, crashed before login.

Replying to kkaland: I had the same issue as most all of you. Running Ubuntu 8.10, VBOX 2.0 with XP PRO inside. Skype continued to crash after launching. Problem resolved after I removed Skype 3.8 and installed their Beta version from: http://www.skype.com/intl/en/download/skype/windows/downloading/ Skype works perfectly.

Hope this helps

I have Ubuntu 8.10 and virtualbox 2.0.4. I installed the skype version 4.0 beta 2 (windows xp sp2), and skype continued crashing.

I'm running Windows XP SP3 on Virtual box 2.1.0 over Ubuntu 8.10. I just downloaded the latest Skype version and that too crashes!

I had the same problem, but after check "Enable VT-x/AMD-V", it works!

VB 2.1.4, SUSE 11.0 as host, WIN SP2, SP3 as guests. In both skype crashes too. Unfortunately, VT-x/AMD-V is grayed (inaccessible) at all for my laptop ASUS X59SL (and there no such settings in BIOS). Skype 3.5.0.229 seems to work well, but its GUI... not comfortable (no conference tab). So, waiting for the solution!

I've also experienced this problem. The "Enable VT-x/AMD-V" doesn't appear to work for me. When I enabled 3D acceleration I found I could run a little longer before the crash.

I was getting this problem with Skype 4.0.0.224 and VirtualBox 2.1.4 (not VirtualBox OSE) but IT IS NOT CRASHING for me anymore.

I used the time before Skype would crash to get to the options dialog and I disabled everything on the following tabs:
- Notifications > Sounds (mute all sounds)
- Advanced > Advanced Settings

I then restarted Skype and it did not crash. I was able to call the echo123 test number - I heard the Skype recording fine but the message I recorded was broken up. This might just be due to heavy network traffic where I am now, so I'm not bothering to test further.

Interestingly I have since re-enabled all the options I disabled and restarted Skype and I am still not getting crashes (it has been running with me logged in for over 1/2 hour).

Other (possibly) relevant stuff
- Host OS: Ubuntu 8.10 (Intrepid Ibex)
- Guest OS: Windows XP SP2 (with firewall disabled)
- VT-x/AMD-V: Disabled
- Network: PCnetFAST III (NAT)
- Audio: PulseAudio? / ICH AC97

Changing the Audio setting to ALSA / ICH AC97 seems to have improved the audio recording in Skype.

I run a VM farm with different VM software. Interestingly the exact same problem occurs with Skype running with KVM 0.84. I havn't tried plain qemu yet or kqemu. It makes me curious as to what the hell Skype is doing.