Skype downgrade

Something goes wrong with Skype 5.8. After returning from a sleep or hibernate on Windows7, Skype hangs as soon as there is a new incoming message or event when you try to open it from a tray. Not simply hangs, but starts consuming 100% of CPU. Weird. It looks like it comes into collision with some other (relatively rare) software as otherwise it would have been reported and fixed very quickly. Thanks to software collections, it is possible to go back in version and stick to one which is working. First let's check what functionality we loose if we go back from v5.8 to v5.7:

• Full HD video-calling
• Support for Facebook audio and video-calling (beta)
• Group screen sharing
• Hide offline Facebook contacts
• Push to Talk
• Skype updater service
• Bing Toolbar integration

I am not Facebook user, I don't have any relations with Bing (MSN). Full HD is cool, group screen sharing looks to be introduced in 5.7.0.123 (and perhaps improved / bugfixed in 5.8), but I can sacrifice it: I haven't used group conferencing so often and especially with screen sharing. Also Skype version 5.5.0.119 has no more annoying Skype Home page pop-up in compact mode.

Now comes the interesting part: how to disable the updates? It turned out that there is no way to do it via settings dialog nor via any other option in the menu (reported as issue SCW-3173). You may find the reference to DisableVersionCheck registry key but it was reported that this registry setting does not prevent forced updates by the skype network. So finally the only reliable solution is to block outgoing packets to IP addresses 204.9.163.158 (from Jan 2012: 204.9.163.247) which unfortunately will effectively break the lightweight installer which utilises the same mechanism for installation so you will have to download the full Skype version each time when you want to update. Another advise: create a dummy file named SkypeSetup.exe in %temp%  and assign the security Everyone: deny.

And now the final accord. From ongoing discussion I've found out that as to terms and conditions §5.3 Updates to the Software Skype may require you to automatically download and install Updates from time to time in order to allow you to use the Software which means "if you don't update, Skype may stop working". How do you like this?

P.S. List of IP addresses to block:

Skype Ad Servers:

• 8.19.18.0/24
• 4.26.45.0/24
• 65.54.93.0/24
• 74.217.34.0/24
• 74.217.59.0/24
• 75.98.29.0/26
• 173.194.37.27
• 173.194.37.28

Skype update servers:

• 204.9.163.247
• 204.9.163.158