The Print Screen Key under Windows

Question

Level 1

90 points

The Print Screen Key under Windows

I just picked up my Apple aluminum keyboard (with the numeric keypad) and absolutely think it's the bomb. 🙂 I have gotten to the point where any other keyboard just isn't as easy to use, and I do a LOT of typing at work.

That being said, there are a few keys that I use on a routine basis that don't seem to work under the Apple aluminum keyboard. I found a workaround for the Insert key (press left shift key and the zero (0) on the numeric keypad) and that's fixed, but I am at a loss to find an equivalent keypress for the Print Screen key.

I see a lot of solutions online that recommend obtaining key mapper software to make the keyboard work, but this is a locked-down environment in which all software of that kind will not work; it is therefore not an option in this case.

I'm thinking that, since there is a key equivalent for the Insert key, chances are strong that there is also a key equivalent for the Print Screen key. So, does anyone know which key combination that might be?

Thanks in advance.

Black MacBook (Late 2007), Mac OS X (10.6.4), Plus Windows, Ubuntu, various G4 Macs, etc.

Posted on Jul 4, 2010 7:37 PM

Reply

Answer 1

Fortuny

Level 7

21,461 points

Jul 4, 2010 8:31 PM in response to Art Brymer

Hi Art,

according to this http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1216 Apple has mapped the Windows Print Screen to the 'fn' 'shift''F11' key combo.

Hope it helps

Stefan

Reply

Answer 2

Art Brymer Author

Level 1

90 points

Jul 4, 2010 9:37 PM in response to Fortuny

Thank you very much! I can't wait to try it when I return to work tomorrow.

Reply

Answer 3

Fortuny

Level 7

21,461 points

Jul 4, 2010 10:00 PM in response to Art Brymer

You're welcome anytime.

Let us know of the outcome, please 🙂

Stefan

Reply

Answer 4

Art Brymer Author

Level 1

90 points

Jul 5, 2010 7:57 AM in response to Art Brymer

I tried the suggested steps and they did not work.

Reply

Answer 5

Art Brymer Author

Level 1

90 points

Jul 5, 2010 8:31 AM in response to Fortuny

Aargh! Unfortunately I spoke too soon. The guide referenced is a document about Boot Camp. This is not a Boot Camp situation. This isn't even an Apple computer. This is a Dell.

Does anyone else have any ideas?

Reply

Answer 6

Fortuny

Level 7

21,461 points

Jul 5, 2010 8:16 PM in response to Art Brymer

Hi Art,

now that is indeed a completely different story then...

These keyboard mappings Apples uses only work when the appropriate Apple BootCamp Driver is installed.

But since you have the neccessary OSX Snow Leopard install DVD you might use it for installing that driver.
Insert that DVD while on your Dell PC and sift through the various Driver Folders on it until you find the keyboard driver.
(Can't look for it myself at the moment, so I can't tell you the correct path to that folder)

*Be careful though:* Installing the Apple keyboard driver on a non-Mac might be harmful, so just in case make/have a backup of your Windows before attempting.

Stefan

Reply

Answer 7

Art Brymer Author

Level 1

90 points

Jul 5, 2010 9:25 PM in response to Fortuny

Agh! The dreaded "Go ahead and install this..." phrase again.

Again, my workplace is a locked-down environment in which NO OUTSIDE SOFTWARE CAN BE INSTALLED. We're not permitted, and can get into serious trouble if we attempt it. So, it's really not worth it to try... and as we don't have "Admin" on the desktops anyway, the chances of it actually working are incredibly slim.

In other words, if it ain't in the keyboard itself, as in the "left shift/numeric keypad 0 = Insert" combo, there is nothing I can do.

I do keep the company-supplied keyboard on the same desk, off to the side, so all I have to do is reach over and hit the required keys, but I really thought there might be a way to do this, so long as someone knew the proper key combos. Perhaps there is no answer.

Reply

Answer 8

Fortuny

Level 7

21,461 points

Jul 6, 2010 3:55 AM in response to Art Brymer

Art Brymer wrote:
Agh! The dreaded "Go ahead and install this..." phrase again.

Not many hardware devices ou there that don't need some sort of driver to be installed.
Some drivers are provided by the operating system, some from the hardware manufacturer.

Again, my workplace is a locked-down environment in which NO OUTSIDE SOFTWARE CAN BE INSTALLED. We're not permitted, and can get into serious trouble if we attempt it. So, it's really not worth it to try... and as we don't have "Admin" on the desktops anyway, the chances of it actually working are incredibly slim.

Again ? First time you tell about it. Like the first time you told about the non-Mac you use with the keyboard...

In other words, if it ain't in the keyboard itself, as in the "left shift/numeric keypad 0 = Insert" combo, there is nothing I can do.

I do keep the company-supplied keyboard on the same desk, off to the side, so all I have to do is reach over and hit the required keys, but I really thought there might be a way to do this, so long as someone knew the proper key combos. Perhaps there is no answer.

Perhaps...

Stefan

Reply

Answer 9

Art Brymer Author

Level 1

90 points

Jul 6, 2010 10:01 AM in response to Fortuny

No, seriously. When I say "again," it's for a reason. Please review my initial post if you don't believe me. It's there. I know it's there because in writing my reply, I copied and pasted part of it. No, it's not there word-for-word, but it's there.

I have used several various mice and keyboards in my career there, all without drivers of any kind. I do this because I'm doing my best to avoid RSI-type injuries; I came close to having some serious problems about ten years ago, and don't want to have those problems return in a worse way.

Anyway, I didn't say that solving this dilemma would be easy. I just figured that, since there is a code for the Insert key, there had to be one for the Print Screen key.

Cheers.

Reply

Answer 10

burke166

Level 1

0 points

Aug 25, 2010 10:50 AM in response to Art Brymer

A partial work around might be to use the Windows On Screen Keyboard since there's no default mapping to Print Screen on a Mac Keyboard. Start->Accessories->Ease of Use is where it's at in Windows 7, I think it's in Accessibility Options in XP. I only need to get shots of the active window, not the whole screen, so I just move the on screen keyboard out of the way. Select the window you want, hold down Alt, then click the Print Screen key on the on screen keyboard and it works.

Reply