Skype crashes my MacBook..

[cgd]

I'm running XP Pro via Bootcamp on my white MaBook 1,83, 1GB Ram. I installed Skype 2.5 allright, but every time i start it i get a bluescreen and reboot. Error message is mumbling something like "error in MSKSSRV.SYS", which i googled to be part of the Microsoft Soundcard Drivers.
Obviously, it must be a problem with that darn sound card drivers. Anyone here who tried Skype and got it working? I should add that from the beginning (after Installation of the Mac Drivers CD) i do not see a mic device in my sound/recording devices section...

[XPLORx4]

Why don't you just install the OSX version of Skype?

[cgd]

Actually, i'm rarely ever using OSX on my Macbook. I make a living developing software for Windows (mostly using .NET), so i'm normally using Windows (and am quite happy with it). Apples Design and the very good value for money of the Macbook made me buy one, and apart from the problems with the sound drivers i'm perfectly happy with that, too.
I'm willing to wait for better drivers, but I'd like to know if others experience the Skype problem too - just to rule out all possible hardware defects i might have...

[bdj21ya]

I've been planning to install Skype so I can chat with a buddy while playing BF 1942 (I bought the Windows version before I had ever thought of becoming a Macolyte) I'll install it tomorrow and tell you how it goes. I am using a MBP, and my internal mic works fine in Windows as long as I select it as the device for recording in Windows volume control advanced settings. (So I might not be much help). Are other Macbook users unable to use the internal mic in Windows?

[OptimismPrime]

@cgd

I think your problems with skype crashing your windows are coming from the intergrated iSight Webcam.

There are numerous reports of ppl having crashes when Video-Input capable programs and Videochat Capable IM Clients in particular are 'kind-of' recognising the iSight, but since Apple does not Provide a Driver in the Current BootCamp Beta, and to my knowledge noone has found compatible Windows Drivers as of yet.

To "temporaily" Fix your Problem. Go to your Device Manager and DISABLE all of the Hardware that is not regonised correctly and has the apropriate drivers installed.

The iSight is amongst them, and when Windows explicitly says this device is not to be used instead of - it doesn't know how to use it properly - programs wich would otherwise try to interface with it and fail, will not even atempt to.

[cgd]

@OptimismPrime,

indeed, the problem wasn't the sound, it was the iSight! :)

Disabling the devices in device manager lets Skype run perfectly well for now. Since i have a usb headset, even the unrecognized mic won't bother me too much.

Thanks, mate, you saved my day... :D

[bdj21ya]

Here's my beef:

what is the point of Microsoft writing Windows so it doesn't automatically disable devices that don't work? It seems like it would be too hard to have a set of standards so that devices you needed could be recognized when possible, but then temporarily disabled when they didn't work.

[OptimismPrime]

Um......the point of Microsoft writing Windows,
was to ripoff the Macs GUI to sell alongsinde DOS, so PCs that sell with their products on them are apealing to a broader audience, so they sell more.

The Point of writing Windows NT was to badly copy Unix features and merge them with their badly copied UI

The Point of writing XP was to bring that "better but by no means good" technology under the hood into their consumer Windows.
NOT to have consumers benefit from the features, but to only have to maintain 1 codebase, and develop and bugfix 1 codebase.

The Point of writing Vista is to badly copy OSX 10.4 visual feel and incorporate it in XP.

Independently of the Version, every single Windows Version also was written to drive hardware sales by being bloated and requiring a 2-times faster PC to perform as well as with the version before it

And realy trying to see a logic in how windows works, or most of the time doesn't - and why it doesn't react in the most obvious and logical way to problems as simple as that.....is REALY POINTLESS :D

[bdj21ya]

:rolleyes: Well said Optimism Prime. I just wish they could have copied OS X a little more faithfully. One of the things that annoys me the most is how huge the whole GUI is. I'm sure I'll install a 3rd party GUI on any Vista PC I'm forced to use.