OK, let’s do this one step at a time … but refresh the webpage often whilst awaiting a response.
Close ALL open applications (if asked if you want to save, select close without saving.
When you’r at the desktop … open a terminal and run:
sudo gedit /etc/apt/sources.list
Did gedit open ?
Yes Mark.
OK, make it read:-
# deb cdrom:[Peppermint 3 _Three_ - Release i386 (20120423)]/ precise main multiverse restricted universe
# See http://help.ubuntu.com/community/UpgradeNotes for how to upgrade to
# newer versions of the distribution.
deb http://gb.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ precise main restricted
deb-src http://gb.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ precise main restricted
## Major bug fix updates produced after the final release of the
## distribution.
deb http://gb.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ precise-updates main restricted
deb-src http://gb.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ precise-updates main restricted
## N.B. software from this repository is ENTIRELY UNSUPPORTED by the Ubuntu
## team. Also, please note that software in universe WILL NOT receive any
## review or updates from the Ubuntu security team.
deb http://gb.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ precise universe
deb-src http://gb.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ precise universe
deb http://gb.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ precise-updates universe
deb-src http://gb.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ precise-updates universe
## N.B. software from this repository is ENTIRELY UNSUPPORTED by the Ubuntu
## team, and may not be under a free licence. Please satisfy yourself as to
## your rights to use the software. Also, please note that software in
## multiverse WILL NOT receive any review or updates from the Ubuntu
## security team.
deb http://gb.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ precise multiverse
deb-src http://gb.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ precise multiverse
deb http://gb.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ precise-updates multiverse
deb-src http://gb.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ precise-updates multiverse
## N.B. software from this repository may not have been tested as
## extensively as that contained in the main release, although it includes
## newer versions of some applications which may provide useful features.
## Also, please note that software in backports WILL NOT receive any review
## or updates from the Ubuntu security team.
deb http://gb.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ precise-backports main restricted universe multiverse
deb-src http://gb.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ precise-backports main restricted universe multiverse
deb http://gb.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ precise-security main restricted
deb-src http://gb.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ precise-security main restricted
deb http://gb.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ precise-security universe
deb-src http://gb.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ precise-security universe
deb http://gb.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ precise-security multiverse
deb-src http://gb.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ precise-security multiverse
## Uncomment the following two lines to add software from Canonical's
## 'partner' repository.
## This software is not part of Ubuntu, but is offered by Canonical and the
## respective vendors as a service to Ubuntu users.
deb http://archive.canonical.com/ubuntu precise partner
deb-src http://archive.canonical.com/ubuntu precise partner
## Uncomment the following two lines to add software from Ubuntu's
## 'extras' repository.
## This software is not part of Ubuntu, but is offered by third-party
## developers who want to ship their latest software.
deb http://extras.ubuntu.com/ubuntu precise main
deb-src http://extras.ubuntu.com/ubuntu precise main
(probably easiest to copy everything from above and paste it into gedit, overwriting what’s already there)
Then click the SAVE button.
did it save ?
–
Generally both Skype and Google hangouts work flawlessly on Ubuntu, so once you get Skype installed you should be ok. In the meantime, try Google hangouts, IMHO they’re better … 
Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 2
Hi guy,s thank you both once again, I now have Skype and Thunderbird installed. All I need to do is get my Keyboard to behave and type in English UK format.
I,ll go back over Marks previous instructions, and see what happens from there.
Cheers all,I owe you.
Regards Eddie. ;D
What’s the contents of:
gedit /etc/default/keyboard
?
I see what you mean Mark, This is the output in Terminal
XKBMODEL=“pc105”
XKBLAYOUT=“us”
XKBVARIANT=“”
XKBOPTIONS=“”
Mark, How do I go about setting this up properly, step by step if possible.
Went to hospital came back and nothing is there again, even keyboard is back to English US. 
(2.00pm today)
Mark, would it not be simpler doing a full Re-install of peppermint 3 or is that not possible.?
Will await your guidance,
Thx regards Eddie.
Went to hospital came back and [b]nothing is there again[/b], even keyboard is back to English US.
Are you saying that you have lost the freshly installed Skype & Thunderbird? ???
Also have you modified the /etc/default/keyboard file, and it lost the settings?
Mark went over everything once again, I,ts now all back.
How can I make sure it stay,s there.? I have Firefox ,Skype, Thunderbird,and Keyboard working also. I,ve looked in geddit It say,s Server for United Kingdom.
I,ve ensured all boxes are ticked in peppermint, Other Sources— all are ticked except the First box – [ ] CD*********packages etc, this left UN-ticked.
Went then to the reload In sources, waited until all was downloaded then exited sources. Is this Right so far.? now just waiting for instruction.
Mark went over everything once again, I,ts now all back. :)
OK if Mark is instructing you outside of this forum then I will leave it at that.
How can I make sure it stay,s there.
Once you have installed something it should not just disappear by itself without your intervention.
Same goes for your keyboard settings
Went then to the reload In sources,, waited until all was downloaded then exited sources. Is this Right so far.?
That depends on what are you trying to achieve.
Hi Sezo, had n,t realized you,d come in ::). Yes that’s exactly what happened, you,ve probably guessed this post is after my last two or three previous.
Anyway for now its back, but I,m sort of Hesitant to log off for some food just in case.
Regards Eddie.
As SeZo says … once you change something it shouldn’t change back … that sounds like the behaviour of a LiveCD or LiveUSB without persistence.
How exactly did you install Peppermint to your hard drive ?
For the keyboard … run:
sudo gedit /etc/default/keyboard
If there’s a line that reads:-
XKBLAYOUT=“us”
change it to:-
XKBLAYOUT=“gb”
then SAVE the file.
Nope, I only deal with problems on the forum … occasionally in chat, but then I always say “go to chat” in the topic, and post any solution found back to the topic.
It’s not my job to deny the forum searchable content that may help others 
Yes Guy,s its saved.
Will log off and try again in 30 mins.
Cheers
Eddie.
No Mark,s, not instructing outside the forum Sezo. but to be honest I guess it is difficult to grasp the thread if you don,t know the back ground to the original problem. anyway guy,s thank you both, for your Help as I would be well stuck without that help.
Regards to you both.
Eddie.
Well I,m Back and everything Has Gone Again.
Please please help
Hi Eddie
I think it would help Mark help you if you answered the question he asked in a previous post
How exactly did you install Peppermint to your hard drive ?
Good luck
Graeme
Yes everything was saved. Question:- Have I got a virus.?
Do I do a full Re-install.?
May be a step by step approach is better, then others learn also. I,ve gone through 20 fags already