Print Screen Key no longer working in Windows 7?

Anonymous

I am running Windows 7 64-bit. I can't get my PrtScn key to capture my screen so I can paste it to another program. I used to be able to do this in XP, and even in my wife's 64-bit Vista. It could also be my MS wireless keyboard 1.1, which as proven to be buggy and requires update fixes from MS.

Anyone else having print screen troubles?

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Anonymous

To everyone still having a problem with Print Screen, and none of the proposed solutions work: I have your answer!

I recently bought a brand new laptop, and I'm running both Ubuntu 10.04 and Windows 7. I'm a Simmer, and I was getting more and more frustrated that I could not capture the screen on my Sims game so I can share my CC. Nothing anyone on here said worked, and then I found this.

http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/windows-vista/easily-disable-vistas-aero-before-running-an-application-such-as-a-video-game/

It worked for me, and I hope it works for you all!

Close out of the program you are having trouble with capturing the screen.

Right click on the shortcut of the program on your desktop (in my case it's Sims 2 Apartment Life).

Click on Properties .

Click on the Compatibility tab.

In the middle area of that tab, there should be a bunch of check boxes under Settings. Click in the box alongsideDisable desktop composition.

Apply the changes, click OK.

Open up you program, press on your Print Screen (Prt Sc) button, open up a paint program, paste your image (Ctrl + C) and voilà! It should work! ^_____^

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Anonymous

Hi drfkv5,

Welcome to Microsoft Answers Forum.

As you are using a wireless keyboard I would suggest you to check on the F LOCK (function lock) key on your keyboard. Check on the top right of your Keyboard for the F Lock Key, which may be stopping you from using the print screen key. The F LOCK key toggles the alternate function keys. An alternate function key is a key that has two possible commands depending on the F LOCK toggle key state.

Check the below Microsoft article for details:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/894513

Also try and check if the status light on the keyboard for the F LOCK key. Refer to the below article for help on status light identification:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/894037

To add on, I would suggest you to try the snipping tool in Windows7. It can help you take the screen shots easily. You can check the snipping tool functionality with the help of these articles:

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows7/products/features/snipping-tool

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows7/Use-Snipping-Tool-to-capture-screen-shots

Thanks,

Hope this helps. Let us know the results.

Meghmala – Microsoft Support

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145 additional answers

Anonymous

2010-10-29T19:33:02+00:00

THE MAJOR MAJOR MAJOR PROBLEM WITH WINDOWS SNIPPING TOOL IS THAT, AS A WEB DESIGNER -- IF I NEED TO TAKE A SCREEN CAPTURE OF A MOUSED OVER STATETO SHOW A CLIENT -- SNIPPING TOOL SIMPLY WILL NOT WORK BECAUSE -- OF COURSE -- I HAVE TO USE / MOVE THE CURSOR/MOUSE IN ORDER TO DRAW THE RECTANGLE AROUND THE MOUSE OVER AREA... THEREBY ONCE I MOVE THE CURSOR TO DRAW THE RECTANGLE THE DAMN MOUSE OVER STATE REVERTS TO THE NORMAL STATE.

FURTHERMORE -- WHEN I AM NEEDING TO DO SEVERAL SCREEN SHOTS OF A CLIENT'S MOVIE IN ORDER TO CREATE BANNER ADS FROM THEM FROM THOSE MOVIE FRAMES.. THEN -- USING TE INSTRUCTIONS BELOW -- ONLY WORKS WHEN PHOTOSHOPIS CLOSED . SO THE MIND NUMBING PROCESS FOR EACH AND EVERY FRAME NEEDED REQUIRES:

CLOSE PHOTOSHOP, HIGHTLIGHT MOVIE WINDOW, HIT PRNT SCRN, OPEN PHOTOSHOP, OPEN DOCUMENT PASTE AND FOR THE NEXT FRAME:

CLOSE PHOTOSHOP, HIGHTLIGHT MOVIE WINDOW, HIT PRNT SCRN, OPEN PHOTOSHOP, OPEN DOCUMENT PASTE AND FOR THE NEXT FRAME:

CLOSE PHOTOSHOP, HIGHTLIGHT MOVIE WINDOW, HIT PRNT SCRN, OPEN PHOTOSHOP, OPEN DOCUMENT PASTE AND FOR THE NEXT FRAME:

CLOSE PHOTOSHOP, HIGHTLIGHT MOVIE WINDOW, HIT PRNT SCRN, OPEN PHOTOSHOP, OPEN DOCUMENT PASTE AND FOR THE NEXT FRAME:

CLOSE PHOTOSHOP, HIGHTLIGHT MOVIE WINDOW, HIT PRNT SCRN, OPEN PHOTOSHOP, OPEN DOCUMENT PASTE AND FOR THE NEXT FRAME:

"FOR DESKTOP ONLY"

Right click on the shortcut of the program on your desktop (ex: GAME or APPLICATION ICON SHORTCUT on YOUR DESKTOP SCREEN).

Click on Properties .

Click on the Compatibility tab.

Check the box of Disable desktop composition

Click Apply and then OK.

F-ING INSANITY -- EXCUSE MY FRENCH. MICROSOFT -- QUIT **"IMPROVING"**THINGS -- !!!!

AND LASTLY -- DOING A SEARCH I NOTICED THE SNIPPINGTOOL.EXE APPLICATION IN C:/WINDOWS --- AS WELL AS IT SEEMS ANOTHER ONE IN C:\Windows\winsxs\amd64_microsoft-windows-snippingtool-app_31bf3856ad364e35_6.1.7600.16385_none_f5b8f3d6a353fa89

CAN I DELETE THIS DAMN THING AND JUST BE DONE WITH IT?

PLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEASE GET BACK TO ME AT *** Email address is removed for privacy *** -- I WANT PRINT SCREEN AND ONLY PRINT SCREEN -- NO MOPRE SNIPPING TOOL -- EVER!!!!!
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Anonymous

2010-10-25T19:29:36+00:00

I had the same problem a lot of you are having.. it happened to me today, when yesterday print screen was working just fine. I tried all the solutions to no avail. Then I tried what I've learned helps many problems on a computer.. I restarted. It works fine now :)
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Anonymous

2010-10-20T07:45:52+00:00

there is never the print screen button not working , but it is not same only in each operating system like 32bit n 64bit i can use it in 32bit window 7 ultimate , just press 1 key , print screen , then can paste to "paint" however , IF U R USING WIN7 64bit , U NEED TO HOLD ON THE BUTTON "pause break" tat beside n beside the "print screen" button for example , hold on "Pause Break" , then press "Print Screen" then u capture the current screen edi i'm a ppl tat come from malaysia(above singapore) sorry for my poor english >.< i hope this hlp a lot of u ppl =)
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