Windows screen dump with a Macintosh keyboard
25 October, 2008 | Filed under “The Archives”
To grab a screenshot in a Windows environment, one would normally hit the print screen key on the keyboard to capture an image of the entire desktop area to memory (or, in combination with the Alt key, capture the active window). My problem (in this case only, mind you) is that I do all my work on Macintosh computers and run Windows XP on a Boot Camp partition to check web pages in Internet Explorer 6. The Macintosh keyboard does not sport a print screen key, however, so I need an alternative.
If I wanted to, I could take this problem to the next level with dedicated screen capture software such as SnagIt or educate myself with articles like Boot Camp: Apple keyboard mapping in Windows XP and Vista. But quite frankly, I have no patience with Windows XP. “Get in, get out,” is my motivation in this situation.
To cut boring stuff short, mouse down the following path:
1. Start > All Programs > Accessories > Accessibilty > On Screen Keyboard
The Windows XP On Screen Keyboard in all its glory.
2. Move the On Screen Keyboard to the side so as not to obscure whatever you want to grab an image of (and then the limitation of the method is, of course, immediately evident: You need to keep the psc key in view).
3. Click the psc key.
4. Open the Paint program.
5. Paste the image from memory.
6. Save to whatever format is convenient for additional work or clean-up. Personally I prefer the TIF format – and, yes, it is 24-bit.
Not the streamlined technique of my dreams, but get real, it’s a screen dump, not Mona Lisa.
