I know the subject is old but I have something important to add
Namely, I had a similar problem.
Only for other reasons. Because nothing on the computer changed. There were no updates.
Skype has lost connection after clicking "log out".
XP system. Skype was version 7.33.
There is no firewall. Even the Windows firewall is turned off (but even if it's just Skype is on the list of programs whose traffic is allowed through).
The internet works on the computer.
I also noticed that Skype itself in some sense sees the internet.
Because when you click "Retry" you can see the packet traffic on the network:
I will add that file shared.xml I didn't find it on the disk at all.
I started XPk in safe mode but then Skype did not want to turn on at all.
I have reinstalled Skype and it is now 7.36. But the problem still occurs.
Maybe someone already knows what causes such a problem?
I separated as a new topic. Do not connect to other people's threads.
RADU23

Namely, I had a similar problem.
Only for other reasons. Because nothing on the computer changed. There were no updates.
Skype has lost connection after clicking "log out".
XP system. Skype was version 7.33.
There is no firewall. Even the Windows firewall is turned off (but even if it's just Skype is on the list of programs whose traffic is allowed through).
The internet works on the computer.
I also noticed that Skype itself in some sense sees the internet.
Because when you click "Retry" you can see the packet traffic on the network:

I will add that file shared.xml I didn't find it on the disk at all.
I started XPk in safe mode but then Skype did not want to turn on at all.
I have reinstalled Skype and it is now 7.36. But the problem still occurs.
Maybe someone already knows what causes such a problem?
I separated as a new topic. Do not connect to other people's threads.
RADU23