Skype crashes during start

[Andrew Stubbs]

Binary package hint: skype

Skype started fine when I logged on this morning, but then it crashed mid-chat-conversation, and now it won't start again.

I'm not sure if the crash is important - it does that, but perhaps the reason it won't start is related to an update? I have security updates install silently in the background, so I'm not sure. Installing all outstanding updates and rebooting does not clear to problem.

I'm running 11.04.

When I try to run skype from the command line I get this output:

$ skype
/usr/lib/gtk-2.0/2.10.0/menuproxies/libappmenu.so: wrong ELF class: ELFCLASS64

(<unknown>:4151): Gtk-WARNING **: Failed to load type module: /usr/lib/gtk-2.0/2.10.0/menuproxies/libappmenu.so

/usr/lib/gtk-2.0/2.10.0/menuproxies/libappmenu.so: wrong ELF class: ELFCLASS64

(<unknown>:4151): Gtk-WARNING **: Failed to load type module: /usr/lib/gtk-2.0/2.10.0/menuproxies/libappmenu.so

(<unknown>:4151): Gtk-WARNING **: /usr/lib/gtk-2.0/2.10.0/immodules/im-ibus.so: wrong ELF class: ELFCLASS64

(<unknown>:4151): Gtk-WARNING **: Loading IM context type 'ibus' failed

(<unknown>:4151): Gtk-WARNING **: /usr/lib/gtk-2.0/2.10.0/immodules/im-ibus.so: wrong ELF class: ELFCLASS64

(<unknown>:4151): Gtk-WARNING **: Loading IM context type 'ibus' failed
/usr/lib/gtk-2.0/2.10.0/menuproxies/libappmenu.so: wrong ELF class: ELFCLASS64

(<unknown>:4151): Gtk-WARNING **: Failed to load type module: /usr/lib/gtk-2.0/2.10.0/menuproxies/libappmenu.so

/usr/lib/gtk-2.0/2.10.0/menuproxies/libappmenu.so: wrong ELF class: ELFCLASS64

(<unknown>:4151): Gtk-WARNING **: Failed to load type module: /usr/lib/gtk-2.0/2.10.0/menuproxies/libappmenu.so

(<unknown>:4151): Gtk-WARNING **: /usr/lib/gtk-2.0/2.10.0/immodules/im-ibus.so: wrong ELF class: ELFCLASS64

(<unknown>:4151): Gtk-WARNING **: Loading IM context type 'ibus' failed
zsh: abort skype

[Thomas Mortagne (thomas-mortagne)]

Just got the exact same issue with 11.04, was working well before I apply the update but i don't remember what was in the update.

[Gianfranco Costamagna (costamagnagianfranco)]

I'm not experiencing this bug, could you look into /var/log/apt for a possible cause?

Maybe try to wipe out the .Skype folder could help.

[Martin Barriviera (ichikata)]

I also got the same issue. I've got 11.04 64bits, running Skype version skype-ubuntu_2.2.0.25-1_amd64.deb .
This is my output from skype @ command line:

/usr/lib/gtk-2.0/2.10.0/menuproxies/libappmenu.so: wrong ELF class: ELFCLASS64

(<unknown>:5242): Gtk-WARNING **: Failed to load type module: /usr/lib/gtk-2.0/2.10.0/menuproxies/libappmenu.so

/usr/lib/gtk-2.0/2.10.0/menuproxies/libappmenu.so: wrong ELF class: ELFCLASS64

(<unknown>:5242): Gtk-WARNING **: Failed to load type module: /usr/lib/gtk-2.0/2.10.0/menuproxies/libappmenu.so

(<unknown>:5242): Gtk-WARNING **: /usr/lib/gtk-2.0/2.10.0/immodules/im-ibus.so: wrong ELF class: ELFCLASS64

(<unknown>:5242): Gtk-WARNING **: Loading IM context type 'ibus' failed

(<unknown>:5242): Gtk-WARNING **: /usr/lib/gtk-2.0/2.10.0/immodules/im-ibus.so: wrong ELF class: ELFCLASS64

(<unknown>:5242): Gtk-WARNING **: Loading IM context type 'ibus' failed
/usr/lib/gtk-2.0/2.10.0/menuproxies/libappmenu.so: wrong ELF class: ELFCLASS64

(<unknown>:5242): Gtk-WARNING **: Failed to load type module: /usr/lib/gtk-2.0/2.10.0/menuproxies/libappmenu.so

/usr/lib/gtk-2.0/2.10.0/menuproxies/libappmenu.so: wrong ELF class: ELFCLASS64

(<unknown>:5242): Gtk-WARNING **: Failed to load type module: /usr/lib/gtk-2.0/2.10.0/menuproxies/libappmenu.so

(<unknown>:5242): Gtk-WARNING **: /usr/lib/gtk-2.0/2.10.0/immodules/im-ibus.so: wrong ELF class: ELFCLASS64

(<unknown>:5242): Gtk-WARNING **: Loading IM context type 'ibus' failed
Aborted

[Didier Grieten (didier-9)]

I'm affected too after this last update. Skype starts and crashes after 3-4 seconds...

[Gianfranco Costamagna (costamagnagianfranco)]

maybe dup of 646862

[stuart (stuart-c-scott)]

Exactly the same problem for me this morning, as you describe including the error message. I've tried the obvious things including purge and re-install of Skype but looks like there's no easy solution...
System:
Dell Studio 1517; 2.6.38-8-generic #42-Ubuntu SMP Mon Apr 11 03:31:24 UTC 2011 x86_64 x86_64 x86_64 GNU/Linux
Skype download:
skype-ubuntu_2.2.0.25-1_amd64.deb

[Amit Sengupta (amit-ksengupta-t)]

I am getting the same from today morning. I am running 10.10. The only updates today morning were :

Start-Date: 2011-05-26 06:16:22
Upgrade: rdesktop:i386 (1.6.0-3ubuntu2, 1.6.0-3ubuntu2.1), google-chrome-stable:i386 (11.0.696.68-r84545, 11.0.696.71-r86024)
End-Date: 2011-05-26 06:16:56

Start-Date: 2011-05-26 08:38:49
Install: libpng3:i386 (1.2.44-1, automatic)
End-Date: 2011-05-26 08:38:56

[Alwin Egger (alwin-egger)]

Had exactly the same issue. Removing the ~/.Skype folder helped for me. Skype works again.

[Stefano (santacrab-it)]

Exactly the same problem for me.
I performed the system uptade and I'm no more able to start it. Same error in the console.

[David Dixon (david-glencroft)]

Same problem here.

Deleting the .Skype folder solved the problem.

[Thomas Mortagne (thomas-mortagne)]

Works well for me when removing ~/.Skype

[Leo Unglaub (leo-unglaub)]

I have the exact same problem on my natty computer. The funny think is, that it worked normal the last month and today ... the bug affect me. Wipe the .Skype Folder or reinstall don't help in my case. Here the error message.

$ skype
/usr/lib/gtk-2.0/2.10.0/menuproxies/libappmenu.so: falsche ELF-Klasse: ELFCLASS64
(<unknown>:2426): Gtk-WARNING **: Failed to load type module: /usr/lib/gtk-2.0/2.10.0/menuproxies/libappmenu.so
/usr/lib/gtk-2.0/2.10.0/menuproxies/libappmenu.so: falsche ELF-Klasse: ELFCLASS64
(<unknown>:2426): Gtk-WARNING **: Failed to load type module: /usr/lib/gtk-2.0/2.10.0/menuproxies/libappmenu.so
(<unknown>:2426): Gtk-WARNING **: /usr/lib/gtk-2.0/2.10.0/immodules/im-ibus.so: falsche ELF-Klasse: ELFCLASS64
(<unknown>:2426): Gtk-WARNING **: Loading IM context type 'ibus' failed
(<unknown>:2426): Gtk-WARNING **: /usr/lib/gtk-2.0/2.10.0/immodules/im-ibus.so: falsche ELF-Klasse: ELFCLASS64
(<unknown>:2426): Gtk-WARNING **: Loading IM context type 'ibus' failed
/usr/lib/gtk-2.0/2.10.0/menuproxies/libappmenu.so: falsche ELF-Klasse: ELFCLASS64
(<unknown>:2426): Gtk-WARNING **: Failed to load type module: /usr/lib/gtk-2.0/2.10.0/menuproxies/libappmenu.so
/usr/lib/gtk-2.0/2.10.0/menuproxies/libappmenu.so: falsche ELF-Klasse: ELFCLASS64
(<unknown>:2426): Gtk-WARNING **: Failed to load type module: /usr/lib/gtk-2.0/2.10.0/menuproxies/libappmenu.so
(<unknown>:2426): Gtk-WARNING **: /usr/lib/gtk-2.0/2.10.0/immodules/im-ibus.so: falsche ELF-Klasse: ELFCLASS64
(<unknown>:2426): Gtk-WARNING **: Loading IM context type 'ibus' failed

[Selrach (charleswrobertson)]

Removing ~/.Skype worked for me.

[Thomas Mortagne (thomas-mortagne)]

But https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/skype/+bug/764473 is back...

[John McCarty (gtree)]

Removing ~/.Skype worked for me too

[stuart (stuart-c-scott)]

Trashing the .Skype folder was a little too much for me as it contains too much value :-)
So I renamed it ".Skype_old", restarted Skype from the command line (it works but throws the same errors as above). The newly created .Skype folder contains two sub-folders ("shared_dynco" and "shared_httpfe") as well as two files ("shared.lck" and "shared.xml"). I copied over my user folder from the .Skype_old backup, and everything works fine it seems. I only needed to enter the password again on restart.
I assume that some kind of re-write of the "shared.XYZ" files and folders helps get you running again if you have this problem.

[Michel Machado (michel-digirati)]

Thanks Stuart! I just replaced .Skype/shared* as you suggested and it worked fine!

[Sotir Rangelov (rangelov)]

Thank you Stuart!
All I did was
sudo rm shared.lck
sudo rm shared.xml

[Franco Vite (f-vite)]

Is the same also for me, with the ubuntu package (2.2.0.25-1maverick1).

But with the official package, skype works

Linux ozio 2.6.38-9-generic #43-Ubuntu SMP Thu Apr 28 15:23:06 UTC 2011 x86_64 x86_64 x86_64 GNU/Linux

[Thomas Mortagne (thomas-mortagne)]

Thanks stuart it worked like a charm (I just deleted them instead of getting the new ones)

[Thomas Mortagne (thomas-mortagne)]

By the way looks like Windows clients have the same issue (fixed the same way) too so it looks like a conjunction of a bug and something that changed in the protocol.

[Bado (robertobado)]

is this related to:

http://heartbeat.skype.com/2011/05/problems_signing_into_skype_an.html

???

[Thomas Mortagne (thomas-mortagne)]

From what I understood yes, at least it happen at the same time and can be fixed the exact same way.

[Teo Siang Hoe (andy1116)]

May I please get a dummy's instruction for the fix. I am still new to this.

[axion (bugzilla-axion)]

I wouldn't hesitate to pinning this bug on Microsoft buying skype and changing something in the protocol or something

[Péter (fourdots)]

me too:
 Natty 64-bit
 2.2.0.25-1maverick1 (skype)

stuart's solution (#16) worked for me.

[Felipe Micaroni Lalli (micaroni)]

The same problem here guys. How can I solve it?

[Felipe Micaroni Lalli (micaroni)]

The same problem here guys. How can I solve it?

Linux mangava 2.6.35-28-generic #50-Ubuntu SMP Fri Mar 18 18:42:20 UTC 2011 x86_64 GNU/Linux

felipelalli@mangava:~/wa/movile-git/L3$ skype

(<unknown>:5350): Gtk-WARNING **: /usr/lib/gtk-2.0/2.10.0/immodules/im-ibus.so: wrong ELF class: ELFCLASS64

(<unknown>:5350): Gtk-WARNING **: Loading IM context type 'ibus' failed

(<unknown>:5350): Gtk-WARNING **: /usr/lib/gtk-2.0/2.10.0/immodules/im-ibus.so: wrong ELF class: ELFCLASS64

(<unknown>:5350): Gtk-WARNING **: Loading IM context type 'ibus' failed

(<unknown>:5350): Gtk-WARNING **: /usr/lib/gtk-2.0/2.10.0/immodules/im-ibus.so: wrong ELF class: ELFCLASS64

(<unknown>:5350): Gtk-WARNING **: Loading IM context type 'ibus' failed
Aborted

<CRASH>

[Felipe Micaroni Lalli (micaroni)]

RT @Alwin Egger "Had exactly the same issue. Removing the ~/.Skype folder helped for me. Skype works again."

[axion (bugzilla-axion)]

axion@axion-hp:~$ rm .Skype/shared.*

should solve this problem, all you have to do afterwards is start skype and login anew.

[creativetux (creativetux)]

Hi,

Removing the ~/.Skype folder has got my Skype working again. 64bit install if it makes any difference.

Thanks for everyone who suggested it!

[David (dgil-argus)]

Removing .Skype folder worked perfectly. Thanks

[Christopher Zehner (zarlan)]

Removing the ~/.Skype/shared* worked for me as well. Thanks.

[hansmuc (hansmuc)]

Removing the ~/.Skype/shared* worked for me as well. Thanks.
natty 11.04 64bit

[Th3D0c (th3d0c)]

Removed ~/.skype folder solved the problem here. On a Natty 11.04 64bit
Thanks folks for the tips and quicke solve ;)

[casey02 (chansenco)]

TQ !! Same by removing the 2 files in ~./skype.

Just re-login again and it works like a charm again :)

[Gianfranco Costamagna (costamagnagianfranco)]

The fix as described in the official post is here http://heartbeat.skype.com/2011/05/an_update_on_todays_downtime.html

Just do in your bash
rm .Skype/shared.xml
and start skype again!

setting as fix released.

[alecive (alecive)]

This fix doesn't work for me on skype 4.0 64bit. Even removing the whole .Skype folder doesn't work!

[Traxpoint (traxpoint)]

Skype 4 on Ubuntu 12.04 TLS list same fault. The solution discussed here will not solve the problem in this environment. Look at BUG # 783073.

[Gianfranco Costamagna (costamagnagianfranco)]

Hi alecive and Traxpoint, please open a new bug by doing ubuntu-bug skype after a crash, the crash is not related from this one.

[jlfigueras (jlfigueras)]

Hi, I had Skype 4.0.0.8 crashes right after starting. I am on Thinkpad T61 Ubuntu 11.04 (natty) 64bits. I enter in the terminal:

joseluis@joseluis-ThinkPad-T61:~$ rm .Skype/shared.*

The rebooted. As I started Skype I had to accept the licence stuff. I worked like a charme. Thanks axion!