So called lite applications try to bring down the storage requirements and resource usage of bloatware to increase performance by removing components and features that are not needed by the majority of users. Well known examples for lite applications are Nero Lite or Adobe Reader Lite.
The voice over IP client Skype 4 is another example of a lite application. It tries to optimize Skype 4 by blocking several of its components during installation. There are two ways of achieving this. The first is by downloading a Skype 4 Lite installer which is a execute and install type of approach. The second is by downloading Skype 4 Business which comes as a msi file. This msi file can be run with parameters that block several components from being installed.
The components that will not be installed are the Skype plugins for web browsers like Firefox and Internet Explorer, the Skype Plugin Manager and Skype Toolbar. Furthermore autostart of Skype 4 will be disabled and the generation of the Skype icon on the computer desktop will be blocked.
What are the benefits of this installation method? Skype 4 will noticeable startup faster and overall performance during usage is increased. You can download the custom installer for Skype 4 at the Custom Installers homepage.
Download Skype 4 Business from the Skype homepage for the second method. This will download SkypeSetup.msi to the local computer. To install Skype 4 Lite issue the following command (via MSFN Forum)
start /wait msiexec /i SkypeSetup.msi INSTALLLEVEL=1 STARTSKYPE=FALSE ALLUSERS=1 TRANSFORMS=:removeStartup.mst TRANSFORMS=:removeDesktopShortcut.mst /qr
The most important parameter is setting the installlevel to 1 which will tell the installer only to install the phone components and not the plugins or the plugin manager. The other parameters should be pretty much self explanatory.
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6 Responses to “Skype 4 Lite”
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This is already built-into skype. all you need to do is tell it not to install the plugin manager when you install skype. Better yet, make it portable by following the instructions on TPFC and by getting the skype.exe by installing in a sandbox. No need for this complicated msi business. This is like common sense.
What? TPFC? http://www.google.com/search?q=TPFC&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a
And, isn’t using the Custom Installers (method 1) easier than your sandbox method?
Great program!
The Portable Freeware Collection has instructions on how to make skype portable. Skype v3 AND 4 are actually natively portable. All you need to do is get the Skype.exe file which is the only file you need. You can either get this from an existing installation OR (as TPFC describes) install, then uninstall, while grabbing the Skype.exe file (which is about 23MB). Some people don’t like to install programs (like me) so you can install inside a sandbox and grab the single file you need (Skype.exe). This file only includes the main components, none of the toolbar, plugin manager stuff. Alas, you make a shortcut as described by TPFC with the following argument “Skype.exe /datapath:data /removable” pointing at wherever you put the .exe file, then you run the shortcut. Make sure you make a “data” folder in the same directory Skype.exe is located. See full instructions here.
see instructions here:
http://www.portablefreeware.com/?q=skype&m=Search
Sorry about the first post, i didn’t have the time to type it all out.
Portable means setting Skype up this way allows it to run from any directory you move it to, and you can run it from your USB flash drive or wherever.