Getting Skype to work properly

I have Ubuntu 14.04 LTS and a HP Spectre x360 machine.

I am trying to get Skype to work but I always have the same problem - once I put my webcam on, it goes crazy and flashes blue and my self-image is only a close up up my eyes!

Someone suggested the new Skype for Linux alpha - but there is no video calling on that.

I'm new to Linux and just wanted someone to explain what the deal is with Skype. Am I wasting my time trying to get Skype to work on Ubuntu or is it possible if I find the right version?

Thanks.

What worked for me was using the nomodeset option in the grub bootloader. There are two methods to set nomodeset:

1. Temporary:
   • While booting press and hold shift in order to see the grub menu
   • Choose the entry you want to change (in a normal installation the first entry) and press e to edit it
   • Look for quiet splash and add nomodeset before it
   • Finally press F10 to boot.

If this worked for you, you can use the permanent way for all bootups.

2. Permanent:
   • edit /etc/default/grub (for example: sudo nano /etc/default/grub)
   • change the line GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT="quiet splash" to GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT="nomodeset quiet splash"
   • Finally update the grub config: sudo update-grub

The next time rebooting, you don't have to specify the boot option.

I run Ubuntu 16.04 LTS with 4.4 kernel on Lenovo i310 laptop.

The output for sudo lshw | grep -A9 VGA is the following:

description: VGA compatible controller

product: Sky Lake Integrated Graphics

vendor: Intel Corporation

physical id: 2

bus info: pci@0000:00:02.0

version: 07

width: 64 bits

clock: 33MHz

capabilities: pciexpress msi pm vga_controller bus_master cap_list

configuration: latency=0

This answer is partially copied from last answer at When I start my camera in video call on Skype 4.1. incoming video is flashing blue?