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Printing Error Messages*

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photo credit: pokpok313

NOTE: This tip is an off-shoot of our Print Screen tip that you will also want to read and watch.

We all have computer mishaps and end up having to call for help. One of the first questions the helper (tech support) always asks is, “What was the message you received?”

Most of the time, in our frustration, we failed to write down the content of the message. Here is a tip that will bypass the writing altogether and allow you to answer that first question from your digital helper.

When an error occurs follow these steps:

1. Before Clicking on the OK or Cancel button on the error message press the Print Screen button on your keyboard (it’s located above the Delete, and Home keys on the middle of your keyboard)
2. Close the error message
3. Open your favorite word processing software (Word, Works, WordPerfect, etc)
4. Click Edit
5. Click Paste
6. A picture of your computer screen (with the pesky error window) will appear
7. Click File
8. Click Print

That’s it!! No writing or fumbling for paper, simply press a few keystrokes, and you have a nice clean printout of the error message.

*Note: This tip will not work with the infamous Blue Screen of Death or if the computer freezes

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4 thoughts on “Printing Error Messages*”

  1. Matthew Kettlewell

    If only we’d trained our customers to print error messages back in our ISP tech support days.

    Glad you’re helping people to help those that can help them get out of a heap. (say that 10 times fast!)

    1. Rick

      I’m fighting the good fight Matt. And what about remote access these days? Techs have it easy compared to our old Rural Net days, eh? How much shorter would our calls have been if we could have jumped in and fixed mail servers, and uncheck a box that was mistakingly checked, but took us 45 minutes to flesh out??

  3. les

    I want to thank you for this and the many other tips you have given me in the past. Your information is easily understood and concise. In fact I still refer to the book you wrote on computers and find it extremely helpful as well.

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