Correction: I meant to say "...right-clicking skype.exe"

You can try using a program launcher that supports relative paths, such as PStart (http://www.portablefreeware.com/?id=374. Another possibility is to look at Portable Skype (http://portableapps.com/node/246.

Here's a simple step by step instructions on how to do it.

http://www.gruups.com/usbskype

The easiest way to get around the problem with non-relative paths in shortcuts would be creating a simple batchfile in the directory where skype.exe is stored. My solution: open command line (or prompt), switch to the folder containing skype.exe (using the cd command) and write

echo .\Skype.exe /datapath:"Data" /removable > skype.bat

This would save this simple batchfile, all one have to do is doubleclick it :)

If you use a .bat file but don't want the DOS window to stay open:

start Skype.exe /datapath:"Data" /removable

forget skype, use voicestick. it's designed for portability and is far more advanced in terms of features & freebies. skype is in revenue maximization mode now (i.e., milking the user base)

[[skype is in revenue maximization mode now]]

That is incorrect. Voicestick's unlimited US and Canada plan is 20.00 a month. Skypes unlimited incoming and outgoing works out to 5.66 a month. Now i'm not sure about calling other countries but let's face it the unlimited US and canada plan covers almost all the calling done by people from these 2 countries and for an additional 38.00 per year each you can get up to 9 phone numbers in other countries which makes calling those countries from another country the same as calling from within that country.

was skype free before ebay got there dirty hands of it? or is it still free to call? this page kind of turned me off http://www.skype.com/products/skypeout/

Skype-to-Skype has always been free, but SkypeOut, SkypeIn etc. are not.

I get to work after same time
did not understand datapath story.
Then i found commando lines in Pstart. Bingo ...
Three folders was Skype and not Pictures not wallpappers but others , copies this two so now i think it works ....
Everything is not green must grey ...

and what about making pamela portable ? Pamela is used to record audio and video conversations in skype, it would be great...

hello,

can anybody help me how to make a portable pamela for portable skype ?

http://www.pamela-systems.com/

I'm a french teacher in China and I use skype from a usb key to help my students all around China. But sometimes I need to record the audio/video conversation so i can replay them.

It would be great...

Arnauld
http://arnauldenchine.hautetfort.com

since Version 3.5 the "USB-installation" slightly changed.
there are no "pictures" and "wallpapers" anymore.
just copy the skype.exe in a dir of your choice. copy "Plugin managers" and "toolbars" in the same directory.
create a batch with "skype.exe /removeable" and thats it.
hope this helps
Heisenberg

@Heisenberg: I just downloaded the latest version 3.5. I still see the "Pictures" and "Wallpapers" subfolders, but don't see the "Plugin managers" and "Toolbars" subfolders. Am I missing something here?

also cant see any picture or wallpapers

need help - the mic does not work from USB, works fine from version installed on drive c. I checked it from 5 difrent PCs - the same problem

thanks

@Andrew and @Heisenberg .... I have directory "Plugin managers" and "Toolbars" since 3.2 .. Stop

I think it can be diffe... because of Language ...
Europe or not ... I am in sweden . Heisenberg maybe Germanytalks and Andrew not in Europe ... something like that.

There ain't ANY folders in \Phone. So I just created Data folder on USB drive. That was enough.

Sorry, misprint. I meant, in my case there ain't any subfolders in (my Skype installation folder)\Phone. So I didn't bother about them.

update.skype.cmd:

md %~dp0ex

REM get skype, extract msi, del old skype backup, make skype backup, copy new skype
start /wait ../wget/wget http://www.skype.com/go/getskype-msi & start /wait ../../util/lessmsi/lessmsi.exe -x %~dp0SkypeSetup.msi %~dp0ex & del skype.exe.bak & ren skype.exe skype.exe.bak & copy "%~dp0ex\SourceDir\Program Files\Skype\Phone\Skype.exe" %~dp0Skype.exe

rd %~dp0ex /s /q
del %~dp0SkypeSetup.msi
EXIT

Anyone know how to take care of those pesky reg entries?

Not a big fan of Skype after they attacked the license that made an enormous amount of the software on this site possible:

http://yro.slashdot.org/yro/08/05/08/1440256.shtml

Damien's instructions were super easy and worked great. Thanks!

Does anyone know if the Skype 4.x beta series be made portable the same way as the Skype 3.8 versions?

After doing the copye and the Data subfolder.
Right-click on skype.exe, then "Create Shortcut"
Right-click on the newly created shortcut
First line: Target, add the following after Skype.exe

/datapath:"data" /removable
For me that was not working well without the " " around data.

then copy the shirtcut to the Desktop

does PortableSkype leave trace on machine after used?

trace: Yes, it creates empty [User Profile]\Application Data\Skype

Here's a link to PortableSkype
http://members.gamedev.net/robloach/portableapps/PortableSkype.zip

Just follow the instructions provided and it will solve all your problems.
Take care

There is something wrong with the description for version 4, I only get a folder called phone - nothing of the other stuff...

Kermode: I used the same method. Just dropped all except Phone in Data folder, placed Skype.exe near and created .bat file with string. It seems working fine.

To Kermode. I had the same problem. Found the Wallpaper and Pictures folders under Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Skype

Does skype V4 have the skype me option, as I cant find it.
used to enjoy speaking to people all over the world, now i feel issolated, no one invites me anymore

look at:
http://www.softpedia.com/get/PORTABLE-SOFTWARE/Internet/Chat/Skype-Portable-Launcher.shtml

best alternative for instaling portable skype!!!!

Create a TXT-file named "start-skype.txt" and write into it:

@echo off
cd Phone
set datadir=%~dp0/Data
start Skype.exe /removable /datapath:%datadir%
exit

Then rename "skype-start.bat" and put it in the Skype Portable folder. Double-click skype-start.bat to start Skype in real portable mode.

If you don't want bat-file, you can convert bat-file to exe-file with icon, so you have a nice launcher then.

If this is all too complicated for you or you are lazy, download my ready-made launcher from here:

http://rapidshare.de/files/46881948/start-skype.zip.html

The file is 100% clean. Scan with virustotal.com if you don't trust me.

Enjoy!

Skype 4.0.0.206 complete with launcher in self-extracting 7-zip archive (just extract to the place where you want to have it):

http://rapidshare.de/files/46881803/Skype_Portable_v4.0.0.206.exe.html

The file is 100% clean. If you don't trust me, check with virus scanner before you unpack.

@freewarelover : is it possible to use plugins with your build hosted on rapidshare?

The rapidshare file freewarelover links to is NOT CLEAN according to F-Secure. F-Secure reports Trojan-PSW.Win32.VKont.o. in start-skype.exe

It create a registry key , with the username and password and 2 folders Skype My / Skype Received Files

skype 4.2 is out

Does anyone know if the latest skype v4.2.0.187 is still portable or not? The main program Skype.exe is about half the size now compared to all previous versions before it.

V5.0.0.152 is NOT Stealth !!! It leaves a lot of registry junk and creates new folders

Can anyone else confirm that Skype 5 is not portable?

It's annoying to have to close a window busily proposing to upgrade Skype every time you turn Skype on.