[K-Man]

Wouldn't it be easier to just be able to SHOW someone what's happening on your screen? I recently learned this easy way to do just that:

When you want to save what's on the screen as a graphic file, hold down ALT and press PRINT SCREEN. Next: Open an image editor (like paintbrush), hold down CTRL and press V. This should paste the screenshot right in there.

I always save the image as a JPEG to save space, and the degredation is minimal (unless you resize it TOO small). You can save it in whatever format is available though of course.

Hope this helps someone, and I hope everyone doesn't already know about it; because then I'll REALLY look like a newbie.

[Big-K]

Sorry to break your heart, but alot of people do know about that. It's how most of This thread was made.

[K-Man]

Thanks Big-K!

Here I thought I had this great tip. I'm behind the times I suppose.

My last computer was a 486 25Mhz, with windows 3.1! I remember going through every computer magazine I could find, trying to find a way to get a screen capture like this. I only learned it recently, when Microsoft instructed me to do it for a tech issue. I thought it was some big secret.

Funny thing is; almost everyone I know, DIDN'T know about this little gem. I should have guessed that most people here would though.

I really do love this feature though. I use it if a pop-up manages to get through my pop-up blocker, so I can report it to the blocker's manufacturer. Take that you pop-up pushers!

Really though: thanks for the reply Big-K!

[hewee]

Nice to learn new things is it not?

[Big-K]

I didnt realize what ctrl+x did until a few days ago. Plenty of small things you learn every day.

[hewee]

You mean ctrl+c to copy and ctrl+v to paste?

[Big-K]

No, i mean ctrl+x to cut, ctrl+v to paste. I already knew ctrl+c/ctrl+v

[K-Man]

I didn't know about ctrl+c OR ctrl+x...

That reminds me though: does anyone know what is different about .bmp files and .pcx files? These are both bitmaps, right? I have old disks with .pcx stuff, but only Microsoft Word can read them now. I could have sworn that Paintbrush supported this format. I thought I used to use it because it made smaller size files.

Of course; that was a FEW years ago...

[Flags]

Thank you Big K. I've been wondering how to capture a screen for quite a while.
I tried your suggestion and saved it as a jpeg, but when I tried to open it a pop-up said that it was 'saved with a wrong extension, would you like to change it?' I clicked you and it showed up as a bitmap. Problem is, the data was somewhat corrupted.
But it did work although a bit difficult to read.

[Big-K]

That was his suggestion not mine, I just said that alot of people knew.

[hewee]

OK I forgot about cutting and was thing copy.

[John Burns]

Not sure if this applies to what you are trying to capture, but I use a neat little "free" program called "PrintDesktop" which captures everything on screen and prints it. It is at www.printdesktop.com if it would be helpful. I may be way out in left field on this one, but thought someone might be interested since it does show - and print what's happening on your screen.

[hewee]

I love the MWSnap, screen capture utility.

http://www.mirekw.com/winfreeware/mwsnap.html

I use the zip version that does not need to be installed.

[Knotbored]

I just reloaded WINME and got a reminder of an included but never discussed program named CAM STUDIO. It makes an .AVI movie of screen including cursor movement and screens that are clicked. These are identical to the tutorials sent with windows. The .AVI files are huge but an appropriate way to send information via disk to a confused relative.
I would even like to see some of the experts on this site provide a few tutorials using this program to explain the more confusing computer conditions.

[K-Man]

This thread seems to have taken on a life of its own.

It's Aliiiiiiive! Mwahahaha!