Installing Skype for Linux on the Dell Mini 9
If you have tried installing the .deb package for Ubuntu from Skype you already know that you can’t because of errors relating to improper or wrong architecture. That is being caused by the way that Ubuntu sees the Intel Atom CPU. This is because Mini’s configuration is set to lpia not i386.
You can force the install from the command line. I have, and so far it is working great, including the built-in web cam. Download the current .deb from Skype and save it in your home directory. Open up a terminal window and run the following command: sudo dpkg -i –force-architecture skype-debian_2.0.0.72-1_i386.deb
*Please note that you must use two hyphens / dashes for the FORCE switch to work, Wordpress does not show the command properly.
Obviously, you will need to substitute the package name for the version you downloaded. After running the command, you should be Skyping in no time.
–Himuraken
???????!
Oh poo… this is the kind of thing that makes me realise I’m just not ready for an open source OS like Ubuntu.
I’d really love a new laptop as this 5 yr old jobby is on its last hinges… but prices are so high. So I looked all around, and thought of getting a nice netbook, with an open source OS… but, if my most used applications don’t work, then I guess I have to wait.
iv tried that didnt work for me,would you have idea what this means? dpkg: error processing skype-debian_2.0.0.72-1_i386.deb (–install):
package architecture (i386) does not match system (lpia)
@heather
Well I can assure you that this simple workaround makes Skype work perfectly. I use voice, video, chat and everything else on a daily basis. Don’t be afraid to try Linux out, it is actually quite easy with a distribution such as Ubuntu. I dabbled back and forth for quite awhile before making the total switch to Linux and I am glad that I have.
–Himuraken
@taceone
Yes, the error message that you are getting is the same one that I was having. Following the steps outlined here I have been able to get Skype and other i386 packages installed on my Dell Mini 9 running Ubuntu.
–Himuraken
Himuraken,
thanks for the info but like taceone, it didn’t work for me either. Here’s my result:
dpkg: error processing –force-architecture (–install):
cannot access archive: No such file or directory
dpkg: error processing skype-debian_2.0.0.72-1_i386.deb (–install):
package architecture (i386) does not match system (lpia)
Errors were encountered while processing:
–force-architecture
skype-debian_2.0.0.72-1_i386.deb
Followed your instruction to the letter, not really sure what’s missing here…
OK, it appears there’s a typo in the original post, I may be wrong but it probably should read ‘–force-architecture’…
It actually isn’t a typo, I reviewed the text from the post and it states to use the double hyphen, WordPress just makes it look like one. I will adjust this or make it more clear for future readers.
Thanks for the feedback.
–Himuraken
Where do the two hyphens go?
@Oengland
You need a –force or more easily said dashdashforce
I hope that helps you out.
–Himuraken
Thanks so much for this tip – worked like a charm for me.
Thanks for posting this how to. It was really helpful for my first mini.
It looks like skype has put out a new version that installs on a mini:
http://www.skype.com/download/skype/linux/
I haven’t found a version of Skype that would install without problems and I’ve tried all the instructions, from here and elsewhere, and just can’t make it work
As in, I haven’t been able to install it. The error message I seem to get the most is “Files list file for package `libxcb-shape0’ is missing final newline” though while trying different things have gotten various messages. Any ideas?
what do you mean by 2 hyphan / dashes on the force command?? i dont get it…