Windows 3.1 PRINT SCREEN May Fail in Low-Memory Situations

 Last reviewed: November 21, 1994
Article ID: Q84143
The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Windows operating system versions 3.1, 3.11

SYMPTOMS

You may be unable to use the PRINT SCREEN key to capture a full screen image from MS-DOS Prompt under Microsoft Windows version 3.1 in low-memory situations. For example, if you have a system with 2 MB of memory, MS-DOS loaded high, and several device drivers loaded, there may not be enough memory for Windows in 386 enhanced mode to capture a full-screen image of your MS-DOS-based applications.

WORKAROUND

To work around this problem, either add more RAM to your computer or select and copy the desired text when MS-DOS Prompt is run in a window.

To select text from MS-DOS Prompt running in a window:

  1. Choose the Control Menu (press ALT+SPACEBAR).

  2. Choose Edit.

  3. Choose Mark.

  4. Use the mouse or SHIFT+ARROW keys to select a specific area, or select all of the text in the window. Selecting all of the text is the equivalent of doing a Print Screen from a full screen MS-DOS Prompt session.

  5. Press ENTER to copy the text to the Clipboard.

KBCategory: kbprint kbdisplay kbprb
KBSubcategory: winmem win31
Additional reference words: 3.11 3.10 low memory command

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Last reviewed: November 21, 1994
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