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

2011-06-22T20:08:36+00:00

If you are using a keyboard that does not have a Fn key, the Windows key works, too. Win+Print Screen will capture the entire desktop.
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Anonymous

2011-06-23T15:07:30+00:00

None of these workarounds work for me.

The only thing that works is to restart the computer.
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Anonymous

2011-06-29T09:17:50+00:00
All of you giving advise here are missing the point. I have found ZERO solutions to the original question that started this thread. [I have read many rediculas solutions here. I believe some were made up just so the person could post something.....(pause/break
- Printscreen) lmao, that seriously worked for you? Pretty unbelievable.] (Do you honestly expect someone to right-click every application installed on their machine and check the Disable Desktop Composition box on them? seriously? I think not.)
   I too was drawn here over screenshot issues in WIn7. I want to simply press 'Printscreen' and have it work as it always has. No pressing shift/alt/win/ctrl/fcn keys + 'printscreen'. No 3rd party software, no win7 snippit tool. No function lock, ( I use a desktop so I don't have a function key. By the way, the Win Key is NOT the same thing as a function key.). Just simply press 'printscreen' and either have the image saved to a specific location or open paint and paste. Its simple, its easy, no fuss.

   In 6 months of troubleshooting this issue, the solution for me was to revert from a USB keyboard to a PS2 keyboard. Screenshot/printscreen is now working as it always has :D

   My question now is, why isn't this working with a USB keyboard? How can I make it work? It has worked fine for over 3 years on my current build. Why all the hassle now? I am betting someone is going to refer me to seek another needle in a haystack thread where I can spend copious amounts of time reading countless pages of posts for a solution that works. *sigh*

   To those of you that haven't found a viable solution here, try a different keyboard.

This appears to be a hardware compatibility issue for me. When troubleshooting, it is often the simple things that are overlooked.

My USB keyboard: Dell L100

My PS2 Keyboard: Compaq 5107
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