Skypenames.exe

[ideasguy]

If you have Skype installed and do Alt-Ctrl-Del to look at your windows task manager, then click on Processes, you may see a process called Skypenames.exe appearing and disappearing every few seconds.
It was driving me crazy.

Ive done a bit of research and find it discussed in depth on the forum belonging to the Skype website, in this topic:
http://forum.skype.com/index.php?s=aa11c29ee5534aa4bb4257c275a088a9&showtopic=374041&st=40

I'm all for Skype, but it appears to require a huge amount of memory and my system performance is affected to some degree (hence my reason for checking the processes that were running).

Ive excused it due to the fact that its handling Video, and that in itself requires a huge amount of memory.

But what is Skypenames.exe? What is it doing?
From the above link, Ive found out how to uninstall it, but I'm going to hold back from that so you can see what it is doing, and I can contribute more to this topic.

Go to this web page on my website:
http://www.flowergenie.co.uk/AboutUs/aboutus.html
Ive recently added my phone number, the one on my desk in my new office (hub phone, with broadband).
If you have me set up as a Skype contact, does the phone number have a flag to the left, a phone icon on the right and mouse over effects?
Thats Skype.
Ive read on the above Skype forum that its done by a Browser Extension, or add on.

Heres a comment by an advanced member on Skype Forum:

The browser extension is a nifty tool that detects any phone numbers or Skype Names on a web page and gives you the option to click-to-call them directly from the page, via Skype

Yes it is, but it seems to have a detrimental effect, and judging by the irate postings in that topic, I'm not the only one who was irritated.
Its delaying the page being displayed while it scans each page you load for phone numbers,and rendering it with those "effects".

I have installed Skype. How do I know if I have the Skype addon?
Start your Browser.
If you are using Internet Explorer, click the Tools tab on the menu (top of page)
If installed, you will have an entry:
Skype addon for Internet Explorer
Click on that line:
Dialog box appears.
If you don't want it, click Uninstall

How did it get installed?
When you installed Skype, on the very first screen you see, there is an Options button.
If you were to click the Options, in the lower left corner, there is a Check box:
'Install Skype Plugin for ...' (as appropriate= your Browser)
That is checked by default.
If you didn't uncheck, then you installed the Skype Browser addon

How do I remove it?
To remove the Skype Web Services do this (on XP)
Click Start
Control panel
Add or Remove Programs
Click Skype Web Services
Click Remove
 
At this point I dint know what the other web services are (if any) so I'm leaving it installed until I find out more.
Perhaps some of our members will take up the case.

[roiphil]

Yes i have noticed the phone number highlighted with a flag on many websites, and i assumed it was because i had installed skype, i think i mentioned it in one of my postings somewhere as i noticed it on my website, the reason any phone numbers are highlighted this way is so that you can use your skype to call them, even if the other person does not have skype, this will mean adding funds to your skype account

Quote G

Yes it is, but it seems to have a detrimental effect, and judging by the irate postings in that topic, I'm not the only one who was irritated.
Its delaying the page being displayed while it scans each page you load for phone numbers,and rendering it with those "effects".

I personally have not noticed any pages being being delayed whilst loading, but then again i am in southern ireland and things are a bit slower in these parts of the wood 

[ideasguy]

Yes, its good if you have Skype credit.

Theres another thing you can do:
Start your Browser.
If you are using Internet Explorer, click the Tools tab on the menu (top of page)
If installed, you will have an entry:
Skype addon for Internet Explorer
Click on that line:
Dialog box appears.
Uncheck: Turn number highlighting on
Uncheck: Turn name highlighting on
Click OK

Ive done that in the interim. Pages are loading nice and quick.

[roiphil]

just done that uncheck names and numbers, one thing i have noticed though is sometimes when typing text online, such as now, it seems to be a tad slow to put the letter in, this is also mentioned on that skype discussion

[ideasguy]

Typing is normal on my computer, Phil.

Meciofully, the addon is not required for general Skype use.
Hence, I'll be uninstalling that addon later (after this discussion in this topic is exhausted)

[roiphil]

The slow typing was more on my website builder, i had not noticed it before, unless it was just last night playing up, since unchecking those 2 boxes it does seem quicker here though, will find out more when i go into site bulder next time

[NightHawk]

I'll just jump in here quickly (busy sorting out our 'stuff' for 2 weeks hols starting tomorrow).

I had noticed a slight sluggishness in certain applications since installing Skype.  Since reading this thread I have uninstalled this IE add-on AND Skypenames.exe, and the normal speed has returned.

I don't have Skype Web Services installed though.  I must have declined to install this module during the Skype install.

I suppose if you want people to contact you with Skype from your web sites then you'll need the add-on, and Skype Web Services, installed.  Without these though, Skype can still function. 
I'm not an expert Skype user so the comments here are just through my limited experiences.

Maybe members who have used Skype for longer than we have can also join this thread and give us some more useful info.

Laurie.

[ideasguy]

Ive had another look on the Skype website, and (so far) I don't see any definition for
Skype Web Features
This entry shows up when I look at Add or Remove programs in Control Panel.

Question to you Laurie
Did you look for  Skype Web Features in Add or Remove programs in Control Panel before you uninstalled the addon using the browser?
I assumed that Skypenames.exe is one of those Skype Web Features
I'm wondering if by Uninstalling in the Browser, it also removed the entry in Add or Remove programs in Control Panel

Another useful link:
The Skype Community
http://forum.skype.com/index.php?s=171946d427281778c5aa9c58041b5dae&act=idx

[NightHawk]

George, before I uninstalled anything to do with Skype I did check the Add/Remove Programs section in Control Panel, and Skype Web Services was not listed.

The browser add-on in IE 7 was in my list of enabled Add-ons.

So I deleted the add-on first then Skypenames.exe.

As Skype Web Services was not shown as installed anywhere, I concluded that this feature was asked for during the original installation.
To be honest, I can't say definitely whether I received this option or not when I installed Skype.  I've slept since then. 

Laurie.
 

[ideasguy]

Thanks for that clarification Laurie.

One thing I do like. Skype make it easy to uninstall.
With some software, that is not an easy option.

Enjoy your holidays Kathy and Laurie!
As the "Ever present" we will miss you here!
Hope you find what you are looking for!

[Lyn and Malcolm]

Sounds like a working holiday then.

Whatever it is, then have a good time.

Best wishes

Malcolm

A non Skype user

[NightHawk]

Thanks guys.

It's a holiday, plus checking out Norfolk/Suffolk areas for our planned move next year.

And, a much awaited visit to RSPB Minsmere (never been before.)

I won't go into too much detail here so as not to go off topic.

Laurie.

[ideasguy]

RE:

A non Skype user

There must be a very good reason, Mr Gadget

[Lyn and Malcolm]

Too many gadgets already George 

And not enough time to play with them.

Malcolm

[ideasguy]

I knew there was a reason