Windows Vista / Getting Started

My Print Screen Key Does not Work

Windows Vista takes over the Print Screen key (labeled PrtSc, PrtScr, or something even more supernatural on some keyboards). Instead of sending the stuff on the screen to the printer, the Print Screen key sends it to Windows Vista's memory, where you can paste it into other windows.

If you hold the Alt key while pressing the Print Screen key, Windows Vista sends a picture of the current window - not the entire screen - to the Clipboard for pasting.

If you really want a printout of the screen, press the Print Screen button to send a picture of the screen to its memory. (It won't look like anything has happened.) Then click Start, choose All Programs, select Accessories, open Paint, and choose Paste from the Edit menu. When your picture appears, choose Print from the File menu to send it to the printer.

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In this tutorial:

  1. Some Things You Don't Like in Windows Vista
  2. Can't Stand Those Nagging Permission Screens
  3. Can't Copy Ripped CDs and Purchased Music to My iPod
  4. The Menus All Disappeared
  5. Parental Controls Are Too Complicated
  6. The "Glass" Effects Slow Down My Laptop
  7. Can't Figure Out How to Turn Off My PC
  8. Windows Makes Me Log On All the Time
  9. The Taskbar Keeps Disappearing
  10. Can't Keep Track of Open Windows
  11. Can't Line Up Two Windows on the Screen
  12. It Won't Let Me Do Something Unless I am an Administrator!
  13. Don't Know What Version of Windows I Have
  14. My Print Screen Key Does not Work