Did you check that this package was compiled for your distribution? Ie was that .deb for ubuntu hoary, or was it for debian sarge? .deb is just a packaging format, it doesn't magically work on any computer that can install .deb files, just like you can't assume a Red hat .rpm will work on mandriva.

See http://www.skype.com/products/skype/linux/ Debian package <http://www.skype.com/go/getskype-linux-deb> (7.7 MB) Xandros, MEPIS, Ubuntu, other Debian-based distros Apparantely it was. Whether or not "Debian-based distros" is accurate is up to the development team. After reading a bit, I downloaded a version from ubuntuforums.org<http://ubuntuforums.org>that someone had re-compiled to work "correctly" with Ubuntu - which still didn't seem to work.

What provider offers 40mbit connection(s) in NZ ? Seems a rather odd shape for bandwidth allocation.

1. No bandwidth provider offers 40mbit connections in New Zealand. I am currently living in Finland. 2. Yes, you are correct, it is unusual. I think it's actually rated at 48Mbits, but I typically get around 4000 *kilobytes* per second in actual download speed (total). I posted a screenshot of my downloading of the Breezy ISO from Denmark (not using a download manager other than the one that comes with firefox). The file came in at a measly average of 2950 kilobytes per second. (I have also used Ibiblio.org <http://Ibiblio.org> and got similar speeds). The screenshot is at http://www.mathew-carley.com/images/screenshot.png.

Sometimes Debian packages will work on Ubuntu, but that is only coincidence.

If a package doesn?t work because it was made for Debian, not Ubuntu, don?t even dream of installing other Debian packages to make it run. You?ll tear up your system, but you won?t achieve a working install.

I figured that I was having a problem such as this, but wanted to see how far I could take it and if I could actually get it to work. I can load up skype and see my buddy list, but if I want to use voice or even text chat? Forgetaboutit! -- Regards Mathew Carley HostENZ Data Services A Carley Network Media Ltd. (NZ) Company http://www.hostenz.co.nz mathewc(a)hostenz.co.nz Office Phone (Helsinki): +358 9 2316 3712 Cell Phone (Finland): +358 4 0816 2816 Cell Phone (France): +33 6 1811 9475 Skype: mgcarley The information contained in this electronic mail message and any attachments are confidential to Carley Network Media Ltd and it's subsidiaries, and may contain proprietary information or may be legally privileged. See http://www.cnmltd.net/email/ for our standard email disclaimer. Errors & Omissions Excepted. Prices in this email do not include GST unless stated otherwise.