can't open skype. You are already signed in on this computer... [ Edited ]

[steveo_inf]

Hey guys, I'm having the can't open Skype issue. I already browsed over several threads, which gave no permanent solution to my problem. I uninstalled skype -COMPLETELY- following the instructions given on another thread, reinstalled , worked for a few seconds but went back into that limbo mode, in which I can't receive or send any messaged (the loading circle will loop forever).

I already tried the %appdata% way, deleted the files, restarted..opened skype, files came back and problem continued. After the reinstall, the only file that appears on the %appdata%/skype folder is the shared.lck one, the other two annoying temp files are in a folder named DbTemp..and ofcourse, when I try to delete them again it gives me the 'Skype is using the file..etc" ..on top of that, I can't kill skype process..it won't do anything.

I've read threads for the last 3 hours, trying to find a solution, but nothing has worked yet. Hope anyone came to a better solution to this problem and can help me out.. I'm using Windows 7 64 bit.  Thanks 

edit: Thanks for moving my post mod, that was my bad earlier.

ps. whenever I reboot, before skype starts up, I can delete those 2 temp files and the .lck one..after I try to log in, I can no longer delete them ("skype is using these files") message comes up..but since I can't kill the skype processes on the task manager, I'm forced to reboot the computer..I've done that like 6 times already. 

[ruwim]

Maybe you should try once more to delete the whole Skype folder in %appdata%. Do this before starting Skype.

Do you each time receive the message “you are already signed in on the computer”, or just Skype cannot connect?

[steveo_inf]

The only way I can delete the folder, or the temp files, is just after reboot..once skype starts, I can't touch them (obviously)..not even when I "exit" skype..the process still runs in the background and I'm unable to kill it.
When it gives me the *you are already signed in* message, I press ok.. try to log in again, and the loading circle just goes on and on...which brings me to the start (rebooting my computer and trying to do everything again hoping for the best). 

edit: It gives me the *can't log in etc* message whenever I don't delete the temp files and the .lck one. So I reboot, delete the files, log in to skype and it works for a few seconds, then the messages just start loading and I get no messages from people..like if I had lost connection or something.   I check the skype folder on the %appdata% folder, and the 2 temp files are back, as well as the .lck file.   I've repeated this many times now..the problem started like 6 hours ago or so ...sigh 

[ruwim]

The temp and .lck files will always appear whenever Skype is running, but these files should be automatically deleted when Skype is quitted. You should also see several other folders and files in %appdata%\skype folder. First of all, there should be a folder named as your Skype name and a file shared.xml. You may see only “shared” but with description “XML Document” in the Type column.

However, I’m not sure that I correctly understand what you are actually exhibiting. When you are saying that “the messages just start loading”, do you mean error messages or messages from your contacts? What happens next? Is Skype window frozen or you can still interact with it?

How does the connection status icon (the one left of your name) look like? If it is not shown as solid green with a white checkmark inside, then try to change the status using the dropdown arrow next to this icon (if Skype window is still responding).

[steveo_inf]

About the messages loading:
Whenever I reboot my laptop, delete the temp files  and finally log into skype, it will work for a few seconds, in which I will receive messages and am still able to send them. After the 30 secs or so have passed, whatever message that I try to send to any of my contacts, will have the loading circle to the right..just like if you had lost internet connection. The status of my profile remains the same, I'm still able to go through all the options on skype..and if I quit skype using the 'X' or right button on the tray icon 'quit skype', the process will remain on the background..and if I try to open and log in again, I get the 'you are already logged in' message..and when I disregard that, and try to log in again (without closing it), the loading circle on the sign in window will just go on and on.

After this, the only way out is rebooting the machine and erasing the temp files again to repeat the process. Also, I do see the XML file and the one with my profile name. In another thread I read that erasing the XML file helped some people, because it might be corrupt etc.  I tried that, but nothing.  Already erased all skype related files and folders on the registry, the folders on my ProgramFiles folder, and whatever else related to skype..before I did the reinstall, but still the same.

[ruwim]

What Antivirus or other security application are you using?

[steveo_inf]

using microsoft security essentials. Neither the AV or the firewall are blocking skype..it's very weird, it was working perfectly fine just 2 days ago.. yesterday it just went crazy, I downloaded the update like a week ago or so, never had a problem.

[ruwim]

When you have this issue, i.e. you can’t send text messages, can you still make calls? You can try to make a call to Echo Sound Test Service (Echo123).

P.S. Remember that closing Skype using the red “X”, doesn’t actually quit Skype, but only minimizes it to system try. The only what stops Skype from running on the computer is the “Quit” option.

[steveo_inf]

Correct.. when I click on the X, only minimizes it..but here is the thing, when I want to QUIT using the right click on the skype icon at the tray bar, no option window will come up..I even double click it, to make it maximize again..and nothing. So I go to the task manager, click on end process and nothing happens. So to be able to really quit skype, I have to leave it open, not click the red X to minimize it, just directly go into the task manager and kill the process there..THEN it will all close and dissapear. Very strange.

To answer your question about trying a phone call, haven't tried that yet. One thing to note about was that when I scrolled down on one of my conversation windows, to read the new chats that were there (over 1k), the 1k number of unread chats wouldn't go away.. even if I scrolled down to the end of the chat line. So whenever I did the reboot thing, logged into skype again, the 1kish chat messaged would appear again..20 secs later, skype would go nuts, messages wouldn't load etc.   It seems like if skype was isolated from an internet connection(messages unable to be sent or received) + would be frozen (not detecting that I'm reading the new chat messages) ..yet I'm still able to navigate through the tool bar on top.

[g4pilut]

I've been following this thread thought I'd ask...when you say you try to quit using the Skype icon on the "tray" bar, do you mean the system tray / notification area in the lower right hand part of the screen?

Closing Skype any other way can leave over unwanted files and cause others to become corrupt.