How to run Skype from a USB flash drive
by Brad Linder Feb 17th 2009 at 11:00AM
It turns out though, that it's pretty trivial to convince Skype for Windows to run properly from a USB stick, which means you can save the program to a flash drive and carry it with you in your pocket. All of your settings and preferences will be saved to the USB stick, so your username, password, and other data won't be stored on your work computer, friend's computer, or other unsecure computer where you use the program.
Here's all you have to do:
- Install Skype on your PC and then find the installation folder. It's probably something like "C:\Program Files\Skype." Copy the Skype.exe file to a folder on your USB flash drive.
- In that same folder on your flash drive, create a subfolder called "data."
- Create a new text file called "Skype.bat" or Skype Portable.bat" or whatever you like.
- Open your new file using Notepad or another text editor and write "skype.exe /datapath:"data" /removable" (without the quotes).
- Save and close your file
via The Portable Freeware Collection and ReadWriteWeb
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Muffin_man said 1:16PM on 2-17-2009
I just tried it on my Vista 64bit system and it didn't work. I'll try it tomorrow on a different computer and see how it goes (although I doubt my work computer allows me to run a batch file).
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monsta said 7:54AM on 2-18-2009
Great article, works for me. What I really want to do is run 2 copies of skype at the same time (one user for business - one for personal) ; anyone know if this is possible?
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hat said 8:43PM on 3-19-2009
you can run skype.exe /second (or was it secondary)
Ethereal One said 11:56AM on 2-18-2009
Skype has been available on Flash Drives by Sandisk and others for a couple of years now.
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KT said 12:35AM on 2-19-2009
I use Skype for U3 as mentioned in previous comment
http://software.u3.com/Product_Details.aspx?productId=56
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Chrisam said 8:32AM on 2-24-2009
Hi, Tried installing the new version Skype 4.0, it didn't launch when i clicked "skype.bat" it actaully launched when i clicked on the skype button: "D:\Skype\Phone\skype" just wondering if i installed it well?
Help!
C
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Reggie said 11:11AM on 4-03-2009
Skype 4.0 for U3 doesn't exist and problably never will. I use the batch file even though I have a U3 drive.
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Pat said 7:11PM on 4-24-2009
This routine can be much easier with Skype Portable Launcher 1.3 from Codyssey.com
Download here: http://www.codyssey.com/downloads/sw/freeware/portables/SkypePortable.exe
or read more here: http://codyssey.com/apps/skype-portable.html
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