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

2011-01-25T19:13:22+00:00

I tried everything mentioned in this thread. Nothing works. Print screen does not work even if I try to capture the desktop. I have a win 7 x 64 desktop. I am using a Microsoft keyboard. I don't care what some people say here; On my PC it does not work.

I feel for the people who have the same problem. To the ones who insist that it does work simply because it works on their pc, I have this to say: You are lucky!

I pray that someday someone will come up with a proper working OS that is user friendly and does not cost an arm and a leg.

I have just given up trying to solve this problem. Microsoft have ignored my pleas and I was hoping to find an answer here. But unfortunately there is no answer. So off I go searching for 3rd party software like I did to find classic menus (using now classic shell) and classic menus for Office 2007. It is a shame to pay so much money and have to search for third party software just to make the damn thing work!
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Anonymous

2011-01-25T18:04:14+00:00

I tried EVERYTHING here. Got no where. Had the same problem. Agree with you completely. No function key, etc.

I used to be able to prtscn anything and pop it in an email. Then it just stopped working.

Finally, went to my control panel and to my keyboard settings,

and restored the default settings and it now appears to be working again. I am completely not techy. Just trial and error...
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Anonymous

2011-01-22T00:36:47+00:00

I ran into the same issue and none of the suggestions here worked. However I found out what was wrong as soon I ran the snipping tool.

The tool told me that something on the screen had protected content. In my case, one of my open emails in Outlook had protected rights (i.e. I am not allowed to forward/copy/save/reproduce the contents of the email in any way). Closing that made the snipping tool work. It also got printscreen to work.

It seems there are different circumstances when printscreen is disabled and you will need to find out what is causing it. It definitely seems like using the snipping tool gives you the reason.
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