What to do when you see an "Error Message"?

From time to time, we all receive an error message we don't understand – so you will want to capture your screen so you’ll be able to research the error message accurately, first on Google and if that doesn’t help you then you can show what was actually on your monitor to your favorite tech support person for their help…

FIRST: To capture your screen:

When the error message is on the screen – Hold the CTRL Key down and simultaneously hold the  PRINT SCREEN KEY  on your keyboard (on some laptops you will need to hold the Fn key and simultaneously hold the PRINT SCREEN KEY).  This action takes a copy of everything on your monitor at that moment in time including your Task Bar…

Next, open whatever you use for your word processing program, Word Pad, Word, Word Perfect – and when you have a blank page on the monitor – activate paste and remember there are 5 different ways to paste-use the one you are comfortable with:

1)     Use the right click on your mouse-action list appears, choose paste

2)     Use the action key on your keyboard, tap it & the action list will appear, choose Paste

3)     Use the Paste icon on your toolbar

4)     Use edit on your Menu Bar, when the menu list appears, choose Paste, or

5)     Use your keyboard: by holding the CTRL Key and  V key at the same time 

SECOND: Once the photo of your monitor w/the error message is on your piece of paper, save it (you should have a "troubleshooting folder" on your pc for these things) – Once it is saved, print it off for your reference…note I always put a date on my document so I know when it happened - and once I get the "fix" to the problem I type that on the document also for future reference... 

THIRD: Type the error message into Google Search, so will find recommendations from others who have had the same problem – some will e individuals, but more than likely you will see recommendations from the software company itself telling you how to correct the problem.  It’s recommended that you a few different websites opinions before jumping to a conclusion. 

Remember, we can type any question into Google in plain English, it is the easiest way to search for anything - You can even type in a telephone number and if it’s not a private number/or cell phone you will see the name & address of the person it belongs to..

FOURTH:  If you don’t find a simple solution you are comfortable trying, then talk to your favorites tech support person – you can show them hat was happening or if you are contacting them via email, you can email them the document you created so they can see exactly what was happening at the time you received the error message…

Good luck and remember with a little effort – you are the one in control..…

Print Screen Key - Why & How To Use This

You get an error message on your screen or something happens you don't understand - don't try to write all the information down - simply use your PRINT SCREEN KEY (usually located to the right side of your keyboard-to the right of Function Keys F1-F12)



What the PRINT SCREEN KEY does is capture an image (takes a photo of) your entire monitor screen, also known as a "screen shot" or "screen capture", and copies it to the Clipboard in your computer's memory.

Once you use the PRINT SCREEN KEY - you need to PASTE the image somewhere - Word Pad, Works, Word, an email, wherever... Activate Paste (CTRL+V; or use your action key and click paste; or use the paste icon on your toolbar/ribbon or right click and then left click on paste from the action menu) where you want it and when you do, the entire image that was on your monitor will now be where you pasted it. You can now Save this and/or print the image so that you can show it or discuss it with a technician or whomever...

Note - some OS (operating systems) require you to use:

• the CTRL + PRINT SCREEN KEY, AND/OR



• most laptops require you to use the Fn Key + Print Screen

Having a true photo of your monitor screen is beneficial for discussion and future reference (especially when something happens and you tell someone and they tell you that can't possibly happen) Now you can show it to them...