Snipping tool not able to capture menus in win 7

[Ex_Brit]

Guess we can better use this software; A+ Freeware - Multimedia & Design - FastStone Capture 5.3 (last freeware version) if it doesn't work in Windows 7.

I'm not interested in anything involving editing, shrinking, cropping etc.

It would be so much easier if we could find out why Snipping Tool behaves differently in Win 7 (7100).

 

[Barman58]

Hi Peter,

I agree with you!

It would be interesting if anyone running the later builds (7137?) could try this out and see if it still happens, and maybe one of the older builds too, (7000?)

It may be that the issue is a bug in the 7100 RC, or it is "by design"

 

[Jacee]

I used Irfanview and Faststone Capture

 

[Orbital Shark]

You are wrong, Orbital Shark. I can prove it (I took these from Vista cause I'm currently booted into Vista's partition; if it does work on Vista, it should work on Win7)

Then surely you can post a shot of it working in Se7en, it won't happen for me

 

[Orbital Shark]

Hi Nigel,

I can confirm it's not working in 7137 & i don't think it has for any build, but i could be wrong.

 

[Ex_Brit]

OK, I discovered this online and we have "WindowsITPro" to thank....
I've tested it in Windows 7 and it works..samples below, 1st one is in Firefox.
It's just a variation on what we do in Vista really.

When you attempt to capture an image of the Start menu or context menu, accessing the Snipping Tool causes the Start menu and context menu to close.

To workaround this behavior:
1. Start / Programs / Accessories / Snipping Tool, or select New if the tool is already open so it is in capture mode.

2. Press Cancel or minimize the Snipping Tool.

3. Open the Start menu or context menu that you wish to capture.

4. Press Ctrl + PrtScn to copy the window the screen to the clipboard. Since the Snipping Tool is in rectangular capture mode, you can select the portion of the screen that you desire.

NOTE: Selecting New and minimizing the tool allows you to capture another image.

 

[Barman58]

Thanks Peter,

That one works here too

 

[Ex_Brit]

You're welcome. It was actually an old Vista tip from 2006 according to the article. I tried it and it worked, so all's well that ends well.
Kudos to The Cool Guy for getting me into one of my "determined to solve this" moods.

 

[Dwarf]

Contrary to other reports, it IS possible to use the Snipping Tool to capture menus and context menus.

Start the Snipping Tool.
Click New to return the focus to the desktop.
Open the Menu or Context Menu that you wish to capture.
Press Ctrl and PrtScn. This freezes the screen, and returns the focus to the Snipping Tool.
You can now use the tool to capture the required image.

When I open the Snipping Tool I am able to hit print screen on my Vista computer and capture drop down menus or the start menu without a problem. When I use the Snipping Tool in Windows 7 I'm not able to use the Print Screen button because I have to use the Fn Key to activate Print screen which is non-responsive on the Win 7 side. It works on the Vista side on the same laptop just not on the Win 7 side. Just as a side not I can capture using Win 7 just can't get the screen shots of menus because they go away when the capture because available.

This could indicate that this is a keyboard driver issue.

 

[Ex_Brit]

Dwarf I beat you to it.

 

[Dwarf]

Hi Peter,

True, you did beat me to it. However, I also added the bit about a possible keyboard driver issue at the end.

 

[myzr7]

When I open the Snipping Tool I am able to hit print screen on my Vista computer and capture drop down menus or the start menu without a problem. When I use the Snipping Tool in Windows 7 I'm not able to use the Print Screen button because I have to use the Fn Key to activate Print screen which is non-responsive on the Win 7 side. It works on the Vista side on the same laptop just not on the Win 7 side. Just as a side not I can capture using Win 7 just can't get the screen shots of menus because they go away when the capture because available.

itinva, hello welcome to Seven Forums. Since this works for you on vista the pre installed from the factory os. then stands to reason that you are missing some drivers that win 7 did not load for your laptop when you installed the rc? acpi I think is the device. cp/device manager/system devices/ ACPI feature . you will have to go to your laptops web site and see if you need to install drivers for function buttons, good luck to you. lm

 

[Ex_Brit]

Hi Peter,

True, you did beat me to it. However, I also added the bit about a possible keyboard driver issue at the end.

Correct. I will now fade away into mediocrity once more.



LOL

 

[garysgold]

Thanks Ex Brit. That works for me also.

Gary

 

[Ex_Brit]

I would still love to know why Win7 behaves differently from Vista in this regard.

 

[itinva]

Thanks to all for the great suggestions. I think the driver suggestion might be the way to go. I usually use Camtasia or Snagit when using Screen captures for training manuals and I was hoping that the Snipping Tool functioned the same in Vista as in Win 7. I don't use the Free Paint program (for those that asked) since PowerPoint is way more useful since I can right click on the images as well as the WordArt and 3D effects and Save all the images that I selected as a jpeg, png, or gif. I checked HP's site for the drivers and everything is up to date on my Win7 side. I will continue to look into the ACPI keyboard driver issue, and if anyone is able to capture a drop down menu using a laptop and not a PC (which seems to work) using only the Snipping Tool, and not a full screen print screen cropped to look like a snipping capture I would love to learn how it was done. I think it's a Win7 issue since I can do regular Print screens with the menus remaining visable. Thanks for all the suggestions.

 

[myzr7]

Thanks for posting back. could you tell us your lappy's model number so we could also search for a solution. Fucntion buttons should function I would think. lm

 

[itinva]

System Manufacturer/Model Number HP Tablet PC tx 1320us
OS win 7
CPU AMD Turion 64 Xs Mobile TL-60 2 ghz
Memory 4 GB Installed
Graphics Card NVIDA 6150

Windows Vista Home Premium Pre-installed
SP2

Windows 7 build 7100 RC

 

[The Cool Guy]

You're welcome. It was actually an old Vista tip from 2006 according to the article. I tried it and it worked, so all's well that ends well.
Kudos to The Cool Guy for getting me into one of my "determined to solve this" moods.

Great software, Peter.

 

[itinva]

Unsolved Snipping tool capture menu in Win 7

Thanks to all who have researched this. I Noticed all that said it worked seemed to be using keyboards and PC's which I know works with the Snipping tool to capture menus. However, my problem is using the Snipping tool on a laptop. The ACPI drivers are installed and updated correctly but many of the HP models require the Fn key to access Print Screen functionality which is not needed on a keyboard (I did try reassigning the shortcut). I know there are various programs to use and work arounds, but I have to train co workers on using the features of Vista on soon Win 7 and would like to tell them it's a function that can or can not be done on certain brands of laptops. If you are able to get capture menus using a laptop please let me know what laptop you are using, because in all system specs of those that said it worked appear to be using PC's with keyboards which we all know works well.