Skype can be installed and run from portable flash drives.
Skype is a computer software program that allows you to talk over the Internet for free to others who have Skype accounts. It also allows you to make calls to landlines and cell phones for a small fee if you subscribe to the "SkypeOut" service. When installed on your computer, Skype resembles an instant messaging program. Installing Skype on a flash drive allows you to run and use the program instantly from any computer that has an Internet connection.
Instructions
1. Install the latest version of Skype to your computer. Go to the Skype home page (See Resources) and click on the "Get Skype" section at the top. Click "Get Skype for Windows" and click the "Download now" button on the next page. Double-click the installation file on your computer to install the Skype program.
2. Plug your flash drive into the Universal Serial Bus (USB) port on your computer. Double-click the flash drive's letter and/or icon under the "Devices with Removable Storage" section in the "My Computer" or "Computer" directory to open its contents. Create a new folder on your flash drive and name it "Skype" (without quotes). Double-click this folder to open it. Keep this window of your flash drive visible on your computer.
3. Transfer the Skype ".exe" file to your flash drive. Open a new, separate window of the "My Computer" or "Computer" directory. Find the "Skype.exe" file in the folder or directory where Skype was installed. For example, double-click on the "C" drive, open the "Program Files" folder and double-click on the "Skype" folder to open it. Find the "Skype.exe" file in the folder labeled "Phone." Right-click the "Skype.exe" file and choose "Copy." Right-click in the empty space in the other window pane that contains your flash drive's contents. Click "Paste" in the menu to place the file in the folder named "Skype" on your flash drive.
4. Create a sub-directory within the "Skype" folder on your flash drive. Right-click in the empty space within the "Skype" folder on your flash drive, slide your mouse down to the "New" section and click on "Folder." Type the name "Data" (without quotes) for the newly created folder.
5. Open the "Data" folder on your flash drive. Right-click in the empty space within this folder, slide your mouse down to "New" and click on "Text document." Type "Skype.bat" (without quotes) for the text document's name.
6. Double-click the "Skype.bat" text document to open it. Type or copy and paste this line of text in the document:
skype.exe /datapath:"Data" /removable.
Save and close the text document. Close all instances and windows of the "My Computer" or "Computer" directory.
7. Plug your flash drive containing the Skype application into any computer. Open the "Skype.bat" file you created to start and run the Skype program.
Tags: flash drive, your flash, your flash drive, Skype file, your computer