Windows 7: Screenshot Utility

Hi,
in the Windows 7 Beta, I could press PrtScr and I would be prompted to select an area of the desktop that I wish to capture (I used Snagit in XP for that).



However, I can't get this to work in Windows 7. The Snipping Tool is still there, but pressing PrtScr doesn't do anything and I have to manually start the application.
Not even assigning a shortcut works (so I can start it with Ctrl+Alt+P), since the tool starts, but I can't actually select a screen area.

What happened? Is there a way to make it work again WITHOUT pinning it to the taskbar? It was working before...

markstar

Do you want snagit, prtscr like in beta, or snipping? Snagit works in 32bit, prtscr works the same way for me that it did in beta (7000) but even in beta it didnt give me the ability to select an area just the whole screen. You sure you didnt have an app installed in beta?

Ken

Well, I do what the SnagIt-functionality (being able to select parts of the screen, which obviously can become the whole desktop). I actually like the Snipping Tool, but being able to use a shortcut-key (preferably PrtScr) without using the taskbar is mandatory for me.

Yes, absolutely. I barely installed any apps in the beta and actually found it by accident (and thought of the poor SnagIt-developers).

Bummer if it doesn't work anymore - even though I am really curious why not even assigning a shortcut works. The only explanation I can think of is that they are afraid of a lawsuit like the IE-integration.

Edit: Never mind, Ctrl+Alt+P does work now after a reboot. Strange, but I guess it's okay for now (even though I would still prefer using the PrtScr-button).

markstar

You can program the snipping tool to launch with whatever key you want. I dont know if it would let you use a key that is already in use. If you right click the snipping tool you can specify the key combo you want. try it and see if it will let you use prtscr

Hello Mark,

You could use Paint in Windows 7 for screenshots of menu items.

Screenshot with Paint

Hope this helps,
Shawn

Thanks for your answers!

However, the problem is not solved at all:

Assigning a key does work, as I have written in my last post, BUT the desktop changes before the screenshot is actually taken (try opening the start menu, for example, and then take a screenshot -> the start menu disappears any action can be taken). This also applies to the taskbar solution and means that calling the Snipping Tool via a shortcut is not adequate for certain situations (unlike the PrtScr, where the image is transferred to the clipboard right away).

The PrtScr and Ctrl+V solution is as old as Windows (well, at least Win95, I have forgotten if it also worked in 3.11), but IT IS a workaround and a lot more work than it needs to be. Then I would prefer to wait for an updated version of SnagIt.

But why is this so difficult? It worked perfectly in the Beta (at least for me) and why limit the application when it's already there (OT: that's also why I think it's ridiculous that they had to remove the IE for Europe).