84,488,480 programs installed

Should I remove Skype?

What percent of users and experts removed it?
1% remove it99% keep it
Overall Sentiment
Very good
What do people think about it?
(click star to rate)
How common is it?
Global Rank #3,233
United States Rank #4,112
Reach 0.1766%
Lifespan of installation (until removal)
< 9.84 days
290.15 days >
Average installed length: 152.45 days

Versions

VersionDistribution
4.2.187 11.49%
4.2.169 53.06%
4.2.166 4.57%
4.2.163 2.01%
4.2.158 3.73%
4.2.155 12.58%
4.2.152 9.62%
4.2.146 2.93%

Typically installed together

Skype 4.2

What is Skype?

Skype is a proprietary Voice over IP service and software application. The service allows users to communicate with peers by voice using a microphone, video by using a webcam, and instant messaging over the Internet. Phone calls may be placed to recipients on the traditional telephone networks. Calls to other users within the Skype service are free of charge, while calls to landline telephones and mobile phones are charged via a debit-based user account system. Unlike most other VoIP services, Skype is a hybrid peer-to-peer and client–server system. It makes use of background processing on computers running Skype software. Skype's original proposed name (Sky Peer-to-Peer) reflects this fact. Skype is claimed to be a secure communication; encryption cannot be disabled, and is invisible to the user.

About  (from Skype Technologies)

You can make Skype calls to people who have emailed you and even call phones and mobile around the world with pretty cheap rates. Why just talk when you can see each other face-to-face? Video call your family in Australia, your friends in Spain or your colleagues in Japan, for free. It’s the next best thing to being th...  Read more
Overview
  • Starts automatically
  • Loads into the web browser
  • Adds a Windows Service

Program detailsProgram details

URL: www.skype.com
Help link: ui.skype.com/ui/0/4.2.0.166/en/help
Installation folder: C:\Program Files\Skype\
Uninstaller: MsiExec.exe /X{D103C4BA-F905-437A-8049-DB24763BBE36}
(The Windows Installer is used for the installation, maintenance, and removal.)
Estimated size: 24.1 MB
Language: English (United States)

Program filesFiles installed by Skype 4.2

Program executable:skype.exe
Path:C:\Program Files\skype\phone\skype.exe
MD5:168b0e595a2eeb4a63f0c1ef7b4662e7
Additional files:
  • SkypeBrowserOptions.dll - Skye plug-in settings dialog (Skype plug-in settings dialog)
  • NameParserComponent.dll - Skype name parser component
  • SkypeIEPluginBroker.exe - Skype broker for IE add-on
  • SkypePnr.dll - Skype Phone number parser
  • SPhoneParser.dll
  • skypeieplugin.dll - Skype Click to Call (Skype Click to Call for Internet Explorer)
  • NameParserComponent2.dll - Skype Toolbars
  • SkypeNames2.exe - SkypeNames
  • SkypeNames.exe - SkypeNames
  • Updater.dll - Skype (Skype Updater Library)
  • Updater.exe - Skype Updater Service
  • skypePM.exe - Skype Extras Manager

Program behaviorsBehaviors exhibited

Internet Explorer BHO
  • skypeieplugin.dll is installed in Internet Explorer as a BHO (Browser Helper Object) under the name 'Skype add-on for Internet Explorer' with the class of {AE805869-2E5C-4ED4-8F7B-F1F7851A4497} (SkypeIEPluginBHO).
Internet Explorer Extension
  • skypeieplugin.dll is installed as an Internet Explorer extension as 'Skype add-on for Internet Explorer (toolbar button)' with a class of {898EA8C8-E7FF-479B-8935-AEC46303B9E5}.
Scheduled Task
  • Skype.exe is scheduled as a task with the class '{C5E77E12-6923-4494-9A07-FE2F2DB64111}' (runs on registration).
Scheduled Task (Boot/Login)
  • Skype.exe is automatically launched at startup through a scheduled task named Skype @ Logon.
Service
  • Updater.exe runs as a service named 'Skype Updater' (SkypeUpdate) "Enables the detection, download and installation of updates for Skype.".
Startup File (User Run)
  • Skype.exe is loaded in the current user (HKCU) registry as an auto-starting executable named 'Skype' and executes as "C:\Program Files\Skype\Phone\Skype.exe" /nosplash /minimized.
2 Windows Firewall Allowed Programs
  • skypePM.exe is added as a firewall exception for 'C:\Documents and Settings\Lonia\Ustawienia lokalne\Dane aplikacji\Skype\Plugin Manager\skypePM.exe'.
  • Skype.exe is added as a firewall exception for 'C:\Documents and Settings\Lonia\Ustawienia lokalne\Dane aplikacji\Skype\Phone\Skype.exe'.

Program resource utilizationResource utilization averages

Skype.exe
Memory:45 MB
21.09 MB average
Total CPU:0.0000654236%
0.031193% average
Kernel CPU:0.00002972%
0.016088% average
User CPU:0.00003571%
0.015104% average
Switches/sec:360
70 average
I/O reads/min:9.87 KB
435.61 KB average
I/O writes/min:15.37 KB
105.02 KB average
skypePM.exe
Memory:12.84 MB
Total CPU:0.0044418892%
Kernel CPU:0.00250564%
User CPU:0.00193624%
Switches/sec:1
I/O reads/min:166 Bytes
I/O writes/min:8 Bytes

How do I remove Skype?

You can uninstall Skype from your computer by using the Add/Remove Program feature in the Window's Control Panel.
  1. On the Start menu (for Windows 8, right-click the screen's bottom-left corner), click Control Panel, and then, under Programs, do one of the following:
    • Windows Vista/7/8/10: Click Uninstall a Program.
    • Windows XP: Click Add or Remove Programs.
  2. When you find the program Skype™ 4.2, click it, and then do one of the following:
    • Windows Vista/7/8/10: Click Uninstall.
    • Windows XP: Click the Remove or Change/Remove tab (to the right of the program).
  3. Follow the prompts. A progress bar shows you how long it will take to remove Skype.

How do I reset my web browser?

If your web browser homepage and search settings have been modfied by Skype 4.2 you can restore them to their previous default settings.
Microsoft Internet Explorer
Mozilla Firefox
Google Chrome

OS VERSIONS
Win 7 (SP1) 51%
Win 7 0%
 
WHEN IT STARTS
Auto-starting? Yes
(Found in the run registry)
 
USER ACTIONS
Uninstall it 1%
Keep it 99%

Windows OS versionsWindows

Which Windows OS versions does it run on?
Windows 7 78.10%
Windows XP 10.05%
Windows 10 6.23%
Windows Vista 5.60%
Windows Server 2003 0.03%
Which OS releases does it run on?
Windows 7 Home Premium 48.12%
Windows 7 Ultimate 12.94%
Microsoft Windows XP 9.87%
Windows 7 Professional 6.89%
Windows 7 Starter 5.47%
Windows Vista Home Premiu... 4.34%

Distribution by countryGeography

35.59% of installs come from the United States
Which countries install it?
  United States 35.59%
  United Kingdom 6.16%
  Germany 5.18%
  Italy 3.73%
  France 3.45%
  Canada 3.03%
  Brazil 2.68%
  India 2.58%
  MA 2.55%
  Iran 2.28%
  Australia 1.98%
  Poland 1.90%
  Spain 1.78%
  Russia 1.35%

OEM distributionPC manufacturers

What PC manufacturers (OEMs) have it installed?
Samsung 30.87%
Dell 25.73%
Hewlett-Packard 14.11%
Toshiba 12.85%
Acer 4.91%
ASUS 2.95%
GIGABYTE 2.49%
Sony 2.49%
American Megatrends 1.11%
Intel 0.84%
Sahara 0.84%
Lenovo 0.81%
Common models
Samsung 300E4A/300E5A/300... 4.65%
Dell Inspiron N5010 3.47%
HP Pavilion dv6 Notebook ... 3.21%
Dell Inspiron N5110 2.82%
Samsung RV410/RV510/S3510... 2.69%
TOSHIBA Satellite C660 2.62%

About Skype Technologies

Skype (now a Microsoft company) developes and operates the VoIP software and service Skype which was released as a simple computer-to-computer, or computer-to-telephone program.
Publisher URL: www.skype.com

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