How to Copy the Entire Screen on Windows XP

You can send images of your Windows XP screen to assist remote tech support.

Copying the entire screen in Microsoft Windows XP is useful in a variety of circumstances. Aiding remote technical support and enhancing instructional presentations are two common applications. The process requires a copy-and-paste operation using a special key on the keyboard. You can paste the image into graphics-capable software, such as Microsoft Outlook or Paint. Then you can email the image, save it as a file, edit or process it in any way the software allows.

Instructions

1. Prepare the screen as desired. Only what is seen on the screen will appear in the copied image.

2. Press the "Print Screen" button. This is usually located in the upper right area of the keyboard, near the "Scroll Lock" and "Pause Break" buttons.

3. Open Paint or another software program to receive the screen image. Open a blank page within the program.

4. Paste the image into the application by holding down the "Ctrl" key and simultaneously pressing the "V" button. The "Paste" option from the "Edit" menu is an available alternative in many programs.

5. Perform the desired function with the copied screen image. Software limitations dictate which operations can be performed.

Tips & Warnings

• Hold down the "Alt" key while pressing "Print Screen" to copy only the active window.

• Special software programs are available to capture screen images and perform related functions. Some of these include Snagit by TechSmith, ScreenHunter by Wisdom-Soft and CaptureWizPro by PixelMetrics.

• Performing another copy operation before pasting the copied screen image removes it from memory. This necessitates repeating the procedure from the beginning.

References

• Microsoft Windows XP; Take a Screen Shot; Sept. 7, 2006

Resources

• TechSmith: Snagit
• Wisdom-Soft: ScreenHunter
• PixelMetrics: CaptureWizPro