A Screen Shot is Worth More Than a Thousand Words

Circled All Programs in Paint on a Screen Shot

So you see something that you'd wish your tech nerd friend could see.  Perhaps your friend could explain it, fix it, or show how to work around it.  But they're not available.  What to do?  Take a Screen Shot!

Some Background Info

Ever wonder what the PrtScn (or it might say Print Screen or PrScr) key is for, now? A long time ago, it did what you might think. Push it and your printer would print an image of whatever was on your screen. It was kinda cool.  And helpful.

But that's not what it does in Windows today.

When you press the PrtScn key, you won't see anything happen.  But an image of your entire screen is placed on the Windows Clipboard. Now you can do something with it.

 

Like email it to a friend.

Here's How

We need to make a file out of it. Let's only use what's available in every copy of Windows.  

1. press PrtScn - I know, nothing "happens"
2. open Paint - click on Start, All Programs, Accessories, and then Paint
3. paste - you should now see an image of your screen
4. save this image to a file - but change Save as type to either JPEG or PNG  for a much smaller file
5. email your screen shot as an attachment - remember where the file was saved (usually Desktop, My Pictures or My Documents)

Note:  "click" means left-click. "Right-click" means, well, you got it.  And "double-click" means left-click-twice.... 

Summary

Can you see the value of this?  A picture is often so much clearer than any written explanation.  The screen shot also saves the time in typing.  

Extra Tips

• PrtScn takes a picture of the entire screen, as you see it
• Alt+PrtScn captures only the active window
• Highlight - when in Paint, use brushes to underline, or circles/squares to outline or otherwise draw attention to the part of the screen that's important
• Close Paint as soon as you're done saving the file - you might mistake the Paint image for the programs and desktop behind the Paint window
• PrtScn does not work on blue screens, any BIOS or other startup screen - rule of thumb:  If you cannot open Paint, you cannot take a screen shot

a Blue Screen of Death (BSOD)

Automatic Updates - Things I ... Dislike

Ever wonder why your PC or laptop takes longer & longer to boot, seems a bit sluggish?  You may have a bunch of applications starting up automatically.  Worse, most remain active.  I have chosen Java as my application for this complaint.

Java's default setting, upon install is to automatically check for updates. 

So, after I installed Java the last time, I unchecked this option.  However, Java did not remove the app in the System Configuration's Startup list:

So, I had to reset that option, as well.

Now I have installed the latest update, the settings have returned.  And Java is one of those PESKY program installations that offer a toolbar for Internet Explorer.  Once upon a time, toolbars had some functionality that was useful and downright desirable.  Not anymore.

The only program I permit to update automatically is Norton.  Actually, Norton no longer puts items in the Startup list.  For real-time anti-malware protection, I strongly recommend permitting automatic updates.

I've disabled Windows Updates as well.  I do not need it to run every time I boot my computer.  I don't recommend this to others - as annoying as they are, they are worth installing.

Now, I know everyone screams when they see the Adobe Flash update notice when it appears.  But at least Adobe runs the install, cleans up after itself, doesn't change any user-defined settings, and does not try to upgrade you to a paid version or sneak a toolbar or home page change in with the installation process. 

And they've set it up to only run when booting your system.  You won't be interrupted while streaming a movie or writing in a document where you might accidentally trigger an action from an unexpected pop-up.  That's one thing I like about Flash;  and that's all I have to say about that.

Safe Surfing Starts with Anti-Malware

It's now called "Anti-Malware," as anti-virus and anti-spyware have long since crossed their borders.

I've recommended Norton's Anti-Virus ever since Symantec, Norton's parent company, bought into the IBM Anti-Virus technologies in the mid-1990's and took it over in 1998.  In 2009, Norton Anti-Virus - which resides under Norton Internet Security and Norton 360 as well - was revamped.  It now installs quickly and easily, removes previous versions with virtually no fuss, has a minimal impact on bootup as well as program & definition updates.

For free anti-malware software, AVG Anti-Virus Free 201x gets the nod.  Note that if you're a Comcast Hi-Speed Internet (Xfinity) customer, Norton Security Suite (N360) is available for free.  Install it from your Comcast connection, though. 

Click for Neil J. Rubenking's comparison at PC Magazine:

The Best Antivirus for 2012

*!Grr@$%* Disk is FULL AGAIN!

TreeSize shows you the roots of your hoarding ways.  What's on your hard drive?

Check out Jerry Smith's report in Tech Republic on TreeSize.  I found it very intuitive - especially when I saw the size increasing before my eyes.  It was reading my hard drive as I browsed some folders.  And it shows the files when a folder is selected.  EASY!