;D We have ignition! It's happily chugging along. So in future, if I hit a snag with one program, would you suggest purging it, then updating & upgrading. Then, at some future date, trying to reinstall that program again? Or what? Could there be some snag in the archives? I'm no technical heavyweight, but I'd appreciate any advice you might offer. Anyway, it's late here, and i SINCERELY appreciate you sticking with me on this. I was about ready to just chalk it up to the vengeful gods of software karma. Or their relatives. ps I think I submitted this in the wrong area of the forums ... I'm not used to sending up flares online. Usually, I just Google for answers. Thanks!!!
So the update & upgrade ran to completion with no errors. But when I run Install Updates from the menu, it again throws the same error. So I Completely Remove Skype, using Synaptic aka Install/Remove Programs. Then I run the Purge/Update/Upgrade commands from the Terminal. Again, it runs without errors. And again, when I rerun the Install Updates script from the Menu, it throws the same error. Skype is diseased, or haunted, or whatever.

So be it. Thanks again for your help. I think I may be going back to Mint. I wanted to learn about the workings of Linux, but I think I'd rather just have a system that does NOT back sass me at every turn. And so I bid a fond farewell.
[member=8007]jerry baker[/member]
one of the advanced users will hopefully notice the thread and be able to solve this with you.
Looks like a problem with Microsoft, nothing we can do at the moment. I am trying to contact them, but it's proving to be a nightmare with their online forms.
FYI please use sudo apt-get dist-upgrade in LL and not sudo apt-get upgrade on the cli.
For now, I suggest commenting out the Skype repo until they get their s#@t together.
Code:
sudo sed -i -e 's/^/#/' /etc/apt/sources.list.d/skype-stable.list
This is a workaround
NOT a fix for now. Please direct others with Skype problems to this specific post from now on until a fix is announced. Cheers
Mint discussion -
https://forums.linuxmint.com/viewtopic.p...e#p1530503
This is bound to spread throughout the deb community. Hopefully this will 'self-correct'.
(09-24-2018, 07:10 AM)Jerry link Wrote: [ -> ]FYI please use sudo apt-get dist-upgrade in LL and not sudo apt-get upgrade on the cli.
Please direct others with Skype problems to this specific post from now on until a fix is announced. Cheers 
I will try to remember this for cli.
I have bookmarked this thread to find for the directing of others to the specific post.
I am using what is reported as the latest version of SKYPE - version 8.30.0.50 on LL3.6 64 bit. Did my upgrade about a week or so ago. No red exclamation mark on SKYPE dashboard "Notifications" to say that a new update is available. . Last updated LL et al 19/09/18 19:30. Have now temporarily stopped upgrading LL via synaptic until the SKYPE issue is resolved. SKYPE working OK. Use it regularly.
"FYI please use sudo apt-get dist-upgrade in LL and not sudo apt-get upgrade on the cli.
For now, I suggest commenting out the Skype repo until they get their s#@t together.
Code: [Select]
sudo sed -i -e 's/^/#/' /etc/apt/sources.list.d/skype-stable.list
"r
Thanks to both of you. This solved my System Update re: Skype dilemma. I appreciate your help. 8)
Thanks Jerry. Just updated on LL3.6 64 bit. Confirm test call working. Skype Version 8.32.0.44
I see that a new update of skype is available again. After the problems with a previous version, has anyone just updated to a version NEWER than Skype Version 8.32.0.44? I can't afford to have problems with SKYPE, so therefore hesitant to update until it is given the "all clear". Thanks.