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I'm running skypeforlinux under Ubuntu 14.04.5 LTS (Long Term Support”).
After the login procedure the skype window becomes white, allowing me to open each of the commands-menu, but practically allowing me only to minimize the window itself or to close the program.

I've tried to update skypeforlinux, then to upgrade all the system with no success.
I've tried to reinstall the package with no success again (sudo apt-get remove skypeforlinux then sudo apt-get install skypeforlinux, eventually even using the --purge option for the removing command).
Even if not usually needed under Linux, neither expressly request by the update procedure, I even reboot the system. Same situation.

From apt-cache policy skypeforlinux I obtain

skypeforlinux:
  Installed: 8.13.0.2
  Candidate: 8.13.0.2
  Version table:
 *** 8.13.0.2 0
        500 https://repo.skype.com/deb/ stable/main amd64 Packages
     8.11.0.4 0
        500 https://repo.skype.com/deb/ stable/main amd64 Packages
        100 /var/lib/dpkg/status
     8.10.0.4 0
        500 https://repo.skype.com/deb/ stable/main amd64 Packages
     8.9.0.1 0
        500 https://repo.skype.com/deb/ stable/main amd64 Packages
     5.5.0.1 0
        500 https://repo.skype.com/deb/ stable/main amd64 Packages

The issue started after an update (sudo apt-get upgrade), but I didn't notice it in the beginning because skype starts minimized and it didn't throw out errors. Moreover I cannot be sure if it happens after a skypeforlinux update or after some other library update, but I think after the update of the skype package.

Update:
Same problem with the following versions 8.14.0.10, 8.15.0.4.

1 Answer 1

1

Update

With the last version (8.16.0.4) but after around 3 weeks, the update will solve the problem.

sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get upgrade

Quick & dirty solution

This seems to be a recurring bug (see below).

A quick & dirty working solution is to to install a previous working version
(in this case the 8.11.0.4 0).

sudo apt-get install skypeforlinux=8.11.0.4

Unfortunately this seems to be a recurrent behaviour (or bug) that we find not only on the specific Ubuntu version [1,2], or on the current one (8.13.0.2): it is reported such a issue starting from the 8.9.0.1 [3], bug fixed at that time installing the Preview version 8.10.76.2 as you can find as the only working suggestion in the official microsoft forum for skype.
Notes: For that version there was not a previous working one other than the 5.5.0.1 I think already disabled by MicroSoft.
Moreover it may result useful to read this answer to the question "How to install skype in Ubuntu 16.04" and its links.


Now the output of apt-cache policy skypeforlinux should give something similar to

skypeforlinux:
  Installed: 8.11.0.4 
  Candidate: 8.13.0.2
  Version table:
     8.13.0.2 0
        500 https://repo.skype.com/deb/ stable/main amd64 Packages
 *** 8.11.0.4 0
        500 https://repo.skype.com/deb/ stable/main amd64 Packages
        100 /var/lib/dpkg/status
     8.10.0.4 0
        500 https://repo.skype.com/deb/ stable/main amd64 Packages
     8.9.0.1 0
        500 https://repo.skype.com/deb/ stable/main amd64 Packages
     5.5.0.1 0
        500 https://repo.skype.com/deb/ stable/main amd64 Packages

Update: The new versions (8.14.0.10, 8.15.0.4) continue to spring but the problem persist. This solution continue to be the only working I found.

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