Skype
How to run Skype from a USB flash memory stick
Skype is the popular computer program that can be used to make free telephone calls over the Internet to other Skype users. It also has additional paid for features such as Skype Out (making calls to standard telephone numbers) and SMS messages. The Skype program can be downloaded free of charge from the Skype Website www.skype.com and installed on your computer.
Using Skype installed on your own computer is fine but what if, like me, you wanted to use it on any computer where you happened to be such as an Internet Cafe, at work or on a friend's computer which does not have Skype already installed? Not everyone would allow you to install a program on to their computers so that you could use it.
Fortunately, it is possible to run Skype entirely from a USB flash memory stick. This step by step guide shows exactly what you need to do.
A few things to note first. This has been tested using Windows XP. You do not need to have a U3 type USB memory stick and the U3 program version of Skype. If you do not know what U3 is, here is a link to the Website. www.u3.com. My solution will work on any USB memory stick with a sufficient memory capacity to store the files (approximately 24.5MB). Skype may not always work on your employer's or Internet Cafe computers because the administrator has changed certain network settings to prevent it.
Download and install the current version (3.1.0.152 - when I wrote this document) of Skype onto your computer if you do not already have Skype installed.
Plug your USB memory stick into a computer where Skype is installed.
Create a directory on the memory stick and name it skype
In the skype directory create a new directory called data
Copy the Skype.exe file into the skype directory on your USB memory stick. This will normally be found in C:\Program Files\Skype\Phone\Skype.exe on the host computer.
When you have copied Skype.exe the Skype folder on your USB flash stick should look like this
*Open Notepad and type the following lines.
*Save the file as SkypeStart.bat in the skype directory. When you have saved the batch file the Skype directory on your USB flash disk should now look something like this.
Double-click SkypeStart.bat to run Skype from your USB flash stick (do not double-click Skype.exe). You now have a fully portable version of Skype that you can take anywhere with you.
Please note that when you run Skype for the first time from your USB memory stick you will be prompted to set up a Skype account. If you already have a Skype account, click on the cancel button and then enter your user name and password as normal on the main program screen. You will also need to click on which country you are dialing from. This information is then stored on your USB flash disk for future reference.
*To make the process even easier. You can download the batch file mentioned above from my website.
Click on the zip icon to download skypestart.zip. This archive file contains SkypeStart.bat.
File Name: skypestart.zip MD5: d85fa643a2ee102ff9c25b0cb06e9ca0.
File Name: SkypeStart.bat MD5: 18b3737d98187117f86cb20640e20a6e