How can I run two Skype accounts on the same computer using Skype's free version?

[tutubeck]

Hello,

After following the instructions I found on the Support Network on this subject (below) , I am still not able to run two Skype accounts on the same computer (Windows XP 32 bit). The difference I see is that in my Skype Properties' Target Field it reads:  "C:\Program Files\Skype\". I don't know what else to do.

Thank you in advance for any help.

Tutu

To use more than one Skype account on the same computer at the same time you need to start a new instance of Skype. 

1. From the Windows taskbar, click Start > Run (or press the Windows and R keys on your keyboard at the same time) 

2. In the Run window, enter the following command (include the quotes) and press OK:

   "C:\Program Files\Skype\Phone\Skype.exe" /secondary
   

If you get an error message, copy and paste the exact command from this page and try again.

Be aware that if you have changed the installation path for Skype then you will need to enter the correct path for the Skype.exe file.

If this solution fails, you can try another option: 

1. Find the Skype executable file (Skype.exe) in: C:\Program Files\Skype\Phone\ 
2. Right click on it and select Send to > Desktop (create shortcut) 
3. Locate the shortcut on the desktop, then right-click on it and select Properties 
4. In the Target field, add: /secondary. The Target field should now be "C:\Program Files\Skype\Phone\Skype.exe" /secondary 
5. Click OK. You can now start a new instance of Skype every time you double-click the new shortcut.

[ruwim]

Have you tried to change the Target field of the new shortcut to “C:\Program Files\Skype\Phone\Skype.exe” /secondary?

[tutubeck]

Yes, I did. Although the Target Field on my pc shows the following path:  "C:\Program Files\Skype\"

[ruwim]

Are you sure that you are not seeing this in “Start in” field?

What actually do you see if you open this folder on your computer?

C:\Program Files\Skype\

[tutubeck]

I shows two folders titled:

1. Phone
2. Updater

Third Party Attributions (Text Document)

Desktop (Configuration Settings)

[ruwim]

.. and if you open the Phone folder, do you see there Skype.exe file?

[tutubeck]

No, the Phone folder contains the Skype program (Skype Technologies). I click on it and it opens Skype. Weird, uh...

[ruwim]

This is not weird at all. This is how it should be. The Skype program is the Skype.exe file. It is just shown as Skype only, because your Windows is set to not show extensions for known file types.

Right click on this Skype.exe file and select Send to – Desktop (create shortcut).

Right click now on this new shortcut, select Properties and then the Shortcut tab.

In the target field you should see now:

“C:\Program Files\Skype\Phone\Skype.exe”

Click with your mouse on the text in the Target field and move your curser one space after the last quotation sign and add the text /secondary. The text in the Target field should now read:

"C:\Program Files\Skype\Phone\Skype.exe" /secondary

Click OK to save the changes.

Use now this shortcut to start the secondary Skype account.

[tutubeck]

This is what I get after creating the Shortcut to Skype Properties: 

Target: "C:\Program Files\Skype"

The only difference is that the Start in box is empty, as well as the Comment box.

[ruwim]

This is how the new shortcut looks like when created on my older Windows XP SP3 machine. The PC is with a Danish Windows and so the name of “Program Files” is “Programmer”. The titles on the tabs are “Generalt” -> “General”, “Genvej” -> “Shortcut”, “Kompatibilitet” -> “Compatibility”. Can you make a screen shot of the shortcut that is created on yours PC?