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Edited by Walt Sloan, Ben Rubenstein, Maluniu, GTAddict and 2 others

Are you facing a problem and are unable to explain what is appearing on your monitor to someone else? Follow the steps below to capture an image of what appears on your screen.

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EditSteps

  1. 1
    Windows XP
    • Firstly, search for a key on your keyboard called Print Scr, PrnScr, PrtScrn or the like. It is located above the "insert" key and to the right of the "F12" key on a standard keyboard. It's location may differ on a laptop keyboard.
    • If you want to capture the entire screen, hold down the "ctrl" key and hit the PrnScr key or the corresponding key as mentioned above. If you want to capture just a window, first make sure the window is active. You will know if a window is active if the color of it's Title Bar is darker than the other windows. If the window is not active, simply click on the title bar or any other part of the window to make it active. Now hold down the "ctrl" and "alt" keys and hit the PrnScr key or the corresponding key mentioned as above.
    • Open Microsoft Office Word, Microsoft WordPad or any text and image editing program. Please note that Notepad will not work here because it does not support images.
    • Type a description of what you were doing prior to the problem.
    • Select Edit==>Paste to copy the image into the Document.
    • Select File==>Save to save a copy of the document.
    • Select File==>Print to send the image to the printer.
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  2. 2
    Windows XP Tablet PC Edition 2005 and Windows Vista
    • Firstly, open up the "Snipping Tool" by clicking Start==>All Programs==>Accessories==>Snipping Tool.
    • Select the little drop-down arrow beside the "New" button. Select "Full-screen Snip" if you want a full screen snip taken. The snip will be taken the moment you press it. Select "Window Snip" if you want to take the snip of a particular Window. Then click on the window whose snip you want.
      Now, click File==>Save As and save your image in a safe location.
    • Open Microsoft Office Word, Microsoft WordPad or any text and image editing program. Please note that Notepad will not work here because it does not support images.
    • Type a description of what you were doing prior to the problem.
    • Select Insert==Picture==>From File...(in Microsoft Office Word) or Insert the picture the corresponding way in your other program.
    • Select the image you saved earlier.
    • Select File==>Save to save a copy of the document.
    • Select File==>Print to send the image to the printer.
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EditTips

  • You can use the printed page as your reminder when you talk to Tech Support or to fax to Tech Support, or you can attach the saved file to your email.
  • The easiest way to capture an error message box text is by hitting CTRL-C, which puts the text into the clipboard. Paste that into your favorite text editor, or email program, by hitting CTRL-V (or use the "paste" function).
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Article Info

Categories: Maintenance and Repair

Recent edits by: Holly_101, GTAddict, Maluniu

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