I installed the dynamic qt version 1.3.0.53 of skype from generic .tar.bz package for my Slackware 11 system, but I get no sound at all (i.e. from the test-call or trying to play sounds in Options->Sounds). I'm using plain old OSD without arts, esd or anything like that. All the other applications that use sound work perfectly. And yes, the sound setup is correct (/dev/dsp). Any ideas?

Thanks!

Normally; alsa is usually recommended

if you cant get alsa work:
u may try
chmod 666 /dev/dsp
chmod 666 /dev/rtc
chmod 666 /dev/dsp1
chmod 666 /dev/dsp2
chmod 666 /dev/dsp3
chmod 666 /dev/dsp1
chmod 666 /dev/mixer
....
sthg like this for oss

Alsa doesn't work well with my laptop's soundchip. /dev/dsp* and /dev/mixer* have 664, owner root and group audio. I am a member of group audio, so I would gain nothing by chmodding them to 666. /dev/rtc has 444, but is there really a need for write permission with this one? I do not think it is a permission problem since all other audio apps work just fine and Skype refuses to work even if I am root.

I was unable to get 1.3.0.53 to work with the commercial OSS drivers. I did get Skype to work with ALSA, but ALSA consistently locked up X during logout, so I gave up on that. For me, as specified in an earlier thread, the secret is to install the 1.2.0.18 generic tarball. If you're using only the OSS driver without any artsd/artsdsp stuff, that should work fine. You will, however, want to chmod 666 /dev/dsp* beforehand and chgrp root /dev/dsp*. That seems to keep Skype happiest.

You can get the older Skype version here: https://developer.skype.com/Download/OldVersions. You'll need to log in at that server before you'll be allowed to download.

Thanks, that works

I still hope they fix the newer version to work as it's supposed to, it would be nicer to run current software...

I'm really glad that it worked out for you. 1.2.0.18 has been very stable for me. Please note that if you decide to run it with the artsdsp wrapper for KDE/aRts, you'll want to replace the skype executable with the 1.2.0.21 binary in the Mandrake RPM. (Not installing the whole RPM, just yanking the single file out and replacing the 1.2.0.18 version.)