What does a question mark mean on Skype? What do the icons mean on Skype? How to change your online status
Error 492 when downloading from the market
Recently a client came to us with a strange glitch on his Android smartphone: when downloading the Viber application from the play market, it showed error 492.
In all my time working with computers, I have never seen a program for speeding up a computer better than Auslogics BoostSpeed. Among many similar programs, it is one of the few that actually effective way to clean and overclock Windows. The main thing I love about it is that it does automatically in 15 minutes what it would take me at least 2 hours to do manually. The program includes a good defragmenter (in my opinion the best) Auslogics Disk Defrag, which quickly and without complicated settings defragments Windows both on demand and on a schedule. Also very often useful Auslogics TweakManager. So, about speeding up your computer in order:
A few years ago, flash drives were a fad that didn't justify the cost. With the development of technology, they acquired enough memory capacity and became significantly cheaper, so they became firmly established in everyday life. The most unpleasant thing is when your pocket file storage is invaded by uninvited guests in the form of viruses on a flash drive. The reason a virus gets onto a flash drive is always the infected computer into which it was inserted. Let's figure out how to protect your computer from a virus on a flash drive, how to remove it and make a “vaccine” against the virus.
Among the many modern social services and interactive opportunities global network Internet Skype rightfully occupies a leading position, as it provides all users with the opportunity to communicate with loved ones and relatives without restrictions in time and space. Besides, this program good not only for experienced users computer equipment, but also for beginners, because it has a very simple principle, a basic menu and control principle. However, many people are interested in how to manage special icons in the design.
The meaning of the main icons in Skype
When you launch your Skype, first of all, you will come across such a thing as an individual Skype icon. This is an indicator of the network status of each user. Therefore, in order to manage them correctly, it is worth first finding out the meaning of each of them:
- Online is the status that each new user automatically receives upon initial registration. It signals the subscriber’s presence on the network and his readiness to receive video calls, instant messages, and other files.
- Offline - this icon appears if the user has chosen this status independently or simply closed the program; he cannot receive calls, so he will receive all notifications immediately after turning on the program.
- Away – an icon that means the user is not directly near the computer, but allows you to message and call him.
- Invisible is a status similar in meaning to the offline icon, however, the user can receive all notifications about the latest events.
- An unauthorized subscriber is a subscriber who has not added you to his contact list, and you will be able to call him if there are appropriate items in his individual settings.
- Do not disturb – this user has launched the program, but does not want anyone to call him or send messages. However, all notifications will be sent as usual.
- Blocked are those users who have been added to your blacklist. You will find out how to remove them from it if necessary.
- Forwarding – this user is not online, but you can call him on a mobile or landline phone.
How to easily change the icon in Skype
After you have learned what the icons mean on Skype, you should deal with the issue of selecting and setting a new status for your account. To make such changes, it is worth performing a number of such actions:
- To begin with, you should run Skype program. After opening the working window, you need to click on your status icon and you will see a whole list of statuses available for installation.
- Or another option for changing the icon is to click on the word Skype - network status in the program menu bar.
Important: if you do not want to perform a series of specific actions, then you can simply type the combination Alt + S + → and using the enter button you can select the desired status.
Thus, icons in Skype are a special image that shows the actual personal network status for each user of the program. Therefore, before you reinstall it. It is worth carefully familiarizing yourself with the meaning of each of the icons.
In fact, users have long been encouraged to register with Skype using account Microsoft, but at the same time the old registration form continued to exist. However, now, when you visit the Skype account registration page, you are redirected to the Microsoft account registration page.
Well, since now we must only use a Microsoft account, let’s try to compile a list of the advantages and disadvantages of this innovation:
| Advantages | Flaws |
|---|---|
|
Two-factor authentication A Microsoft account supports two-factor authentication and, accordingly, it is virtually impossible for malicious users to hack your account. |
Anonymity If previously it was possible to register an account without confirming any data, now it is mandatory to provide only reliable data. |
|
Protection against "clones" Now attackers will not be able to create “clones” by simply registering accounts with a similar victim login and posing as someone else. |
Multi-account With one address Email You can create only one account, whereas previously several accounts could be registered for one email. |
|
Access recovery Since the authenticity of the data is checked during registration, if you lose your password, it will be easier to restore access to your account. |
Easy registration and authorization Previously, you didn’t have to wait until a letter arrived with a four-digit code to confirm your data, and during authorization you entered a short login and password. |
Most likely, the list can be supplemented, and I could have missed something, but I hope for the help of readers. It’s also very interesting to know what you think about this innovation? Which method would you prefer, the old (Skype account registration) or the new (Microsoft account registration)?
By the way, since the old registration form was cancelled, I have seen various questions related to this on the Internet. The answers to them can be read below:
How is a new Skype login generated?
If the option “Registration in Skype using a phone number” was selected, then the login will be a hash of the phone number and will have next view: live:1234567890abcdef . By the way, it’s very good that hashing is used, since the phone number is not revealed.Otherwise, when you select the option “Register in Skype using an email address,” the login will match the username of the email (which is located before the “@” sign). However, if such a login already exists in the system, then it is added to the login "_X", where X is the account number. That is, if you register a new one account with the email " [email protected]"then the login will be "live:vasya_1".
How to log in to Skype without a login?
In the “Username” field, depending on the selected method, enter the email address or phone number you specified during registration.How can they find me on Skype?
If you specified an email address during registration, tell it to your interlocutor - he should copy the email in the search bar and press Enter.Unfortunately, some users do not pay attention to online statuses or do not know what they are for. In such cases, you need to explain to them what’s what, or give them a link to this page. As a rule, there is no need to tell you a second time that, for example, when the red Skype icon is installed, this means and you have every right ignore any messages.
In the table below, I want to show a list of all statuses and tell you what they are intended for.
| Status | Meaning | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Online | By default, this status is automatically set for all users, and means that their friends can contact them in any way. If you send him a message or make a call, he will receive a notification about it immediately. | |
| Offline | Shows automatically if the user has closed Skype or manually selected this status. In such cases, the user cannot receive calls or instant messages. He will receive notifications about them when available again. | |
| Absent | This status suggests that the user has moved away from the computer, and most likely will not respond to you in the near future. However, you can send him messages or call him - the user will receive notifications, and if he is nearby, he will hear the corresponding sound signals. | |
| Do not disturb | The user is online, but does not want to be disturbed. If you send a message or call him, notifications will not be accompanied by sound signals and will only imperceptibly (the number next to the Skype icon in the notification area) prompt the user that someone has tried to contact him. | |
| Invisible | As you can see, this status has the same icon as the status - therefore, without the user’s desire, you will not be able to find out whether he is offline or has set an invisible status in Skype. If you message or call him, he will receive notifications, but if he doesn't respond, you won't know he's seeing them. | |
| Blocked | This status is shown for those users you have added to the blacklist. They won't know that you blocked them and will think that you. If they send you messages or try to call you, you will not receive any notifications. It should be noted that you will receive all old messages and notifications when you unblock the user. | |
| Unauthorized | This user until I added you from my contact list and provided you with my contact information. When attempting to make a call or send a message, the user will only receive notifications if Skype's security settings allow receiving messages and/or calls from anyone. | |
| Forwarding | This status means that the user is , but since he has set up call forwarding, you can still call him. Depending on the forwarding settings, it will respond from mobile or from landline phone(for you this will be normal and free call on Skype). | |
| Connection | A single animated online status icon that is typically only shown for its own status. Display this status means that Skype cannot connect to the Internet, and the icon will spin until the problem is resolved. |
Below you will find answers to the following questions:
How can I change my online status?
Change your online status in Skype program, Can different ways- and each of them is convenient in certain situations. For example:If you are not a big fan of clicking the mouse, then there is another way for you to change your network status in Skype using only the keyboard (although it works this method only if the program is open). So, to change the status using the keyboard only, press: Alt + S + → and using the or ↓ buttons select the status by pressing Enter
How to set the Out of Office status?
Typically, the status is automatically set when you do not use the computer for a certain time. To disable this option or change after how many minutes of computer inactivity your Skype network status will automatically change to:- In the Skype menu bar, select “Tools” → “Settings”
- In the “Basic” tab, select the group “ General settings»
- Find the option Change my online status to "Away" if I'm gone for more than [x] minutes and configure it as needed. If you uncheck this option or set the value to "0", Skype will not automatically change your status.
Sometimes when you log into Skype and open messages from friends, you see squares instead of text and there is no way to find out the contents. Let’s try to figure out what this could mean and how to get rid of such phenomena.
Why do you see boxes and question marks instead of text?
The main reason why such problems occur is a failure of encodings. The integrity of the registry is violated and it crashes.
Another factor that affects the correctness of the letter is the installation of a localizer on the device that is not compatible with the operating system.
In any case, the breakdowns need to be repaired. We will now tell you how this is done.
How to solve the problem by updating the application
The first step is to reinstall the messenger on your computer, and also clear the settings and temporary files. This can be done in several ways.
Method 1. Reset
- close the program;
- in the lower right corner near the clock, hover your mouse over the Skype icon and click “Exit”;
- then click on the “Start” button;
- select “Run”, after which a window will appear on the screen in which you need to enter the following text: “%appdata%\skype”;
- click on “Enter”;
- A folder with files will open in front of you, where you need to find “shared.xml” and delete it.
Method 2. Deleting a profile
- press simultaneously Windows keys+R;
- in the “Run” window that pops up, enter “%appdata%” in the “Open” line without entering quotes;
- then rename the “Skype” folder or delete it;
- then launch Skype. Please note that dialogs existing in the application will not be saved; this does not affect contacts.
Method 3. Deleting a messenger
- in the lower left corner, click the “Start” button;
- select the line “Control Panel”;
- then go to “Programs and Features”;
- find Skype and delete it.
If you have Windows 7, delete the profile at this address:
c:\Users\re\AppData\Roaming\Skype\Skype username;
When using Windows XP:
C:\Documents and Settings\username\Application Data\Skype\Skype username\
After this, install CCleaner program and clean the system and registry. Reboot Personal Computer. Download new version Skype and launch it.
Arial, Tahoma and other working fonts in Skype
You can also try to eliminate problems in the form of small squares and question marks by changing the font in Skype. For this:
- go to “Settings”;
- select the “Chats and SMS” option;
- go to “Visual Design”;
- Click Change Font.
From the standard set, choose Arial or Tahoma.
If none of the suggested options help, check if OS updates are available from Windows Update.
We hope our tips helped you get Skype back to working order.