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

2010-11-18T11:04:58+00:00
I had the same problem and both these solutions work:
1. Press the 'prtscn' or 'Print Scr' button (you may need to press FN or similar at the same time if the same key has two functions), open a Word document and press 'Control' and 'v' at the same time to paste your screen print into word.
2. To print a whole web page, not just the part you can see on the screen, find the page you want, go to 'Page setup' in your print options and make sure the following are ticked: 'Print background colours and images' and 'Shrink to fit', then print. It'll print the whole page.
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Anonymous

2010-11-18T14:50:47+00:00

I just have to say, that amongst all these suggestions and "solutions", your solution worked. I don't know what the heck desktop composition is but full screen games don't like it. So, thanks a lot for this. I too have recently bought a win7 64bit laptop and have until now been having no luck taking screen shots of my games. Thanks!!

And to anyone curious about which laptops provide a full hd resolution (1920 x 1080), the one I bought does. It's an Asus g53 jx. However, this model is being replaced by the new Asus g53. Check out xoticpc.com, full customization available.
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Anonymous

2010-12-11T17:26:07+00:00

I recently bought a new laptop with windows 7, and had a similar problem of not being able to use FN+PRTSC and then paste it into microsoft word. However, I could paste it into microsoft paint. I then figured out that the laptop came with a trial version of 2007 microsoft home and student office. When I installed 2010 Microsoft office professional, I was able to paste into microsoft word.

So, this may not be a problem of windows 7, but the trial version of office software may be throttled down. I hope this helps to solve the issue for some of people in this thread, at least.
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