Want to stop Skype opening start up

Hi, Since the latest Skype Update to version 5 it opens at start up with the Skype page appearing. It's a bit annoying because I have to close the window each time.Does anyone have a fix for this? To make it clear I do not want to stop Skype starting with Windows I just want to stop the Skype screen opening up at system startup. With previous versions Skype would start up in the background ready to receive calls but would only open when asked to do.The updated version has no manners at all, it just barges right in without an invite !
Thanks Alex

 

I don't have Skype, but since nobody has responded yet, I'll point out the most obvious possibility - check any options/preferences within Skype and see if there is an option/preference that can be set to prevent the unwanted action .

 

I have Skype installed but normally keep it set to not start when Windows starts since I don't use Skype often. Today, I started Skpye to look at settings to see whether I could find a setting pertaining to your question. I could not.

By the way, when I started Skype today, it updated to version 5.3.0.120. Still, I could not find a setting to make it behave as you want.

 

Hi Guys,
Thanks for your kind replies. I have , by default , solved the problem. Not long ago I reinstalled from scratch (including Skype version 5) and had made a disk image of the new install. I decided to put that on and bingo ! Skype was behaving itself . I can only think that something I had downloaded had caused skype to misbehave but I suppose I will never know. Doing a lot of Googling it would seem I am not the only one to have the problem.
Anyway thanks again, your input was appreciated.
Alex

 

How do you stop it? What is the answer?

 

Hi,
It seems that the 5 series of Skype auto launches, at least for me.
After a time my Skype auto updated and started to auto launch again so I went on the net and put a Google search in for "Skype Older Versions" which threw up a site that has all the old issues of Skype. I had to go to the last version in the 4 series, 4.2.0.187. In the options of this series you can opt to stop Skype from auto updating (Tools/Options/Advanced). As the 4 series does not auto launch it has solved the problem but I have sacrificed the option of having the latest version. However as version 4 works perfectly well I am happy to stick with it. Skype launching at every boot up was driving me nuts.When I want to use it I will open it.
Hope this helps.
Alex

 

I don't know why you can't get it set to not launch when Windows starts but I believe you're overlooking a setting or it's just not working right in your computer. Below is the initial screen in version 5 and you can see the option to not have it start when Windows starts:

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y256/farmpond/forums/Skype1-1.jpg

 

Hi usafveteran,
I think you have misunderstood the problem that I am having. As I said in my initial post I want Skype to start with Windows but not to open or launch with Windows.That is I do not want the application to open up onto the page at boot up but I do want it started and ready to accept incoming calls.I want it on but in the background.
The version four I am now using does this but version five opens. If I selected not to start at Windows as you suggest then it would not be able to receive incoming calls.
I would agree on one thing and that is it could well be a system thing, as all our set ups are different and react differently, but I do know other people are having the same problem and there isn't an option in Skype to prevent it. That's why I have resorted to version four which doesn't have this annoying habit and which gives the option to stop auto updates which version five no longer does.
Anyway, thanks for your time and input. It is appreciated. I have learned a lot by visiting this forum, long may it continue
Regards Alex

 

Open Skype, go to tools>general settings and uncheck "start Skype at startup".
Now you won't have it at startup but can use it as you wish from the program itself.

 

Hi peterr,
The problem is that I want Skype to start with Windows in case of incoming calls but I do not want it to open onto the desktop at start-up. The earlier series Skype (Four and below ) did this for me but series five not only starts with Windows but also opens. I have reached a compromise by installing a series four version and deselecting the automatic update option.
Thanks for the input in any case.
Regards Alex

 

Alex

May I ask which version of windows you are using? XP or Win7

I have encountered the same issue on a laptop running XP and have not found a solution either.

 

Hi paramonks,
I am using Win7 and the only solution I have found is to run a series 4 version of Skype and deselect the auto update option found under advanced . To find an old versions of Skype I did a Google search using the term "Older versions of Skype" and found a site with all of them available for free use. I chose the last in the 4 series. It's not an ideal solution but I only use Skype very infrequently and version 4 works perfectly well with no problems so it will do.
I just found the constant opening of the program with start up so annoying as I tend to reboot on a fairly regular basis and it was just unwelcome.
Hope this helps and I am sorry I can't give you a better solution but I have looked and probed without success.

Regards Alex

 

Hi Alex,

I wondered if it might be something unique to XP, but you're running Win7. So that nixes that idea. What strikes me as similar is that you rarely use it, and that is alike with the user of the Laptop here. I did update the laptop to 5.5.0.115 recently, so may be I'll have to revert for them, so it stops annoying the person who uses it. (they think it's Skype's way of saying your not using the programme enough).

I've got 5.5.0.115 version on a desktop unit and I cannot locate the automatic update option in it. :confused But I'm not having problems with the desktop and skype. Too weird.

Thanks for the input :wave

 

Hi paramonks,
You will not find the option regarding updates in any version five as Skype have removed it. There are ways you can alter the registry to avoid updating :See this
http://www.martynwalker.com/2011/05/23/how-to-block-skype-upgrades/
but I am sure it will only work to stop the auto launch as opposed to just auto update if you apply it to a version that is not auto launching on your PC.
For me that meant going back to a version 4 and as this allows you to deselect auto update that is what I did. I am sure that if I allowed my 4 to update to a 5 then it would start launching again.By the way I think you can get older versions at filehippo if you are tempted to go that route.

Regards Alex

 

Hi again.
Sorry that link was broken. It is :
www.martynwalker.com/2011/05/23/how-to-block-skype-upgrades/

Regards Alex

 

Hi yet again !
It would seem that this site is not allowing me to post the link for some reason.It may be a rule that I have forgotten about. If you wanted it then perhaps it can be sent by PM.

Regards Alex

 

Alex

No trouble with the link, and not seeing any problem either, :confused I'll read it over and proceed from there. Thanks for your input.

 

Hi paramonks,
On my Major Geeks page the link has a bit missing in the middle with some dots in place of the text. When I copy and paste I get to a page that says the requested page does not exist. Let me know how you get on.

Regards Alex

 

Alex

I've just finished reading the web page detailing the issues they have found with Skype. I can see their frustrations with the software. The issue you describe in your 1st post doesn't sound like the issues they raise, (they talk about the forced update and not having the option to turn that update off rather than skype automatically opening on your desktop each time you boot the computer). The link to earlier versions of Skype is helpful and I'll revert the laptop to a version 4 at some stage to relieve the angst for the Laptop user.

 

Hi paramonks,
You are absolutely right in that the thread was concerned with auto update rather than launch but may be useful if you have a version that is not auto launching and wanted to stop it auto updating to a version that does auto launch. That scenario happened to me. Anyway I hope it works out OK on your laptop. Just remember to go to Options then Advanced and stop it from updating if you go for an older version.

Regards Alex

 

Check out WhatInStartup 1.33
http://majorgeeks.com/WhatInStartup_d6353.html
Rating: 5 (7 votes)

It is the best program I have come across for managing what starts up in my Win 7 laptop. 5/5 from me.

The "Permanent Disabling" feature may solve the OP's problem.
See edited Attachment

Bazza

 

Don't copy and paste on any link with dots. They will never work.:cry
You are meant to double click on the link. :major

Bazza

===

 

Hi bigbazza,
I will take a look at the app but it sounds like it is intended to prevent programs starting with Windows which is not what I want. I want to prevent the program from opening onto the desktop. That is I want it started and ready to accept incoming calls but in the background waiting. Version five not only starts but opens onto my PC desktop meaning I have to shut it after each reboot. Version four does not open but still starts.
Thanks for the input.
Regards Alex

 

A workaround might be:

• Install WhatInStartup 1.33
• Set it "Permanently disabling" at Startup
• Have a Shortcut (or whatever you use) to startup Skype when you really want it to open up.

If this works, it should stop Skype from opening up UNTIL you want it.

Bazza

 

Bazza, if you look at the OP in this thread, and the one you just responded to, the OP wants Skype to start with Windows, but ONLY run in the background (not open the main screen).

I don't think the program you mentioned is going to help with that.

 

Sorry but I disagree slightly. What I suggested is a workaround. The OP has the option to start Skype whenever he wants to, but stops it automatically opening when Windows starts up. As I don't use Skype, you may be correct.

Bazza

===

 

Even it Skype opens a window on the desktop when Windows starts, minimizing it to the taskbar is a single-click action, right? So, I'm wondering, why all the fuss over this issue?

 

Hi usafveteran,
You are quite right in two respects. firstly bigbazza's workaround doesn't achieve what I want as Skype would not be ready to accept any incoming calls until I opened it. Secondly it is no big deal to minimise Skype to the task bar but I have other stuff opening onto my desk top at startup that I do want there and Skype is just getting in the way. Can you imagine what would happen if all our programs that start with Windows actually opened onto the desk top ?
Anyway thanks to everyone for their thoughts and time, it is appreciated.
I have a compromise by using an old version that does not open but was looking for a registry hack to enable me to use the latest version with no opening but that still eludes me. If anyone does have a registry hack then please post, otherwise I suspect this thread is dead.

Thanks again, Alex

 

Minimizing Skype is a band aid measure to use to resolve what Skype is doing at boot up time. If you re-boot several times a day, then your doing the same task each and every time, when something is as repetitious and bothersome as Skype has become, it generally sparks action to seek answers about how to remove (or make tolerable) the annoying behaviour of the program.

Skype opening directly onto the desktop is not the normal behaviour. Usually it starts and just sits in the systray with the little green tick to show that your connected and online.

Also annoying and inconvenient is that Skype is doing this on different machines with different operating systems and there is no explanation why?

What you see as a fuss, is to us who are afflicted by it, a complete nuisance and irritation that would be nice to have a resolution for.

Reverting back to earlier version 4 seems to provide a resolution to the issue, which Alex, like most people, has found by, searching the web, posting on tech forums, discussing with others and by trialling it himself.

 

I'm glad I have not lost my mind. My wife's Toshiba Netbook with Win7 Starter has the same issue. She asked me to figure it out because like the OP she wants Skype to start but not open and for the life of me, I could not find anything in settings to disable the auto-open. Will be keeping an eye on this post to see if there is some resolution.

All the best,

Ian

 

Hi ichase,
You know I am just not sure if the later versions of Skype have been written to open at start up or if it is an incompatibility issue with some systems. What I have found out since looking for a solution is that it's not just you and me, there are a number of people having the same trouble.
Regards Alex

 

Looks like the http://www.oldversion.com motto is right on the ball, again. :-D

:-D:-D

Bazza

 

uninstall the old version.
install the latest version from http://www.skype.com/intl/en-us/get-skype/on-your-computer/windows/
once installed, remove the checkmark to disable the welcome screen from starting up.
next, go to tools/options/advanced
remove the checkmark from "keep skype in the taskbar while Im signed in".
logout of windows and back in.

once the changes were made, the startup registry entry for skype will look like the photo in this post.

 

Hi techsent,
Could you please confirm that once I follow these directions that Skype will START with Windows and be ready to receive incoming calls but it will not OPEN onto my desktop at start up. Sorry to ask for this clarification but there is a lot of confusion as to my problem and what I want Skype to do. As I have said I want it to start but not open up onto my desktop. At the moment the latest version is starting but also opening with Windows whereas the version 4 only starts which is what I want.
Thanks Alex

 

Hi techsent,
Why did I ever doubt you !?
I decided to give your solution a go and it works !
I had already stopped the welcome screen and I had seen the Keep Skype in the taskbar option many times but I never thought to uncheck it as it didn't seem in any way related to the program opening. I think Skype need to clarify that one.
In any case thank you so much for your input and also thanks to everybody else who tried to help.

Regards Alex

 

Welcome. Yes, that setting is somewhat subjective as I thought if the checkmark was cleared, skype would display on the screen.