DOS screen captures in WinXP

[ravashaak]

I have a user at work who uses an older dos-based program. This program runs in full-screen mode and is graphical in nature. Under Windows NT as well as Windows 2000, she could do screen captures from this program with no problems simply by using the built-in screen capture functions. However, under Windows XP, when she attempts ctrl + print scrn or alt + print scrn, there is nothing in the buffer to paste.

I've tried a few things so far. I've attempted to edit the shortcut, thinking that if I could make it run windowed, that she could regain print screen functionality. However, this program runs full-screen regardless of shortcut settings. I've even tried a couple of third party screen capture programs that claim to do full-screen graphical DOS screen captures under winxp. Still, no dice. Even SnagIt (which swears it can do this) failed. It did put something in the buffer, but when I pasted the contents to another program, all I got was a bunch of white nothing.

I plan to continue trying out other third party utilities this weekend. Perhaps I will get lucky. Although, I am not very hopeful on that point. My various web and forum searches have resulted in finding others struggling with this same issue, but no solutions (at least not yet). Maybe someone here at tek-tips can provide an alternate solution or workaround. I'd really like to get this working for her. She's one of my good users. I appreciate good users wherever I run across them.

Thanks!

 

[bcastner]

You may have captured the screen, and not known it.

1. In XP hitting the Print Scrn key captures the screen to the clipboard. Open paint and then Ctrl-C to copy the screen for editing.

2. In XP hitting Alt-Print Scr key captures the Active Window. Open in paint as above and try a Ctrl-C.

It is possible you are in DOS screen modes where a screen capture is not possible with traditional Clipboard services. Therefore:

3. Irfranview is not only a powerful and fast little image viewer and editor, it includes a screen capture utility as well. Freeware. http:\\

http://www.irfanview.com

4. Gadwin PrintScreen is freeware and well praised:

http://www.gadwin.com/printscreen/?prnscr

5. Hyper-Snap DX I like quite a bit. http:\\

http://www.hyperionics.com

6. SnagiIt is very good:

http://www.techsmith.com/

 

[ravashaak]

bcastner,

I'll be trying your proposed solutions beginning tomorrow. First on my list will be IrFanView (ironic because I use it at home, but totally forgot it could do captures).

Solutions #1 and #2 were exhausted by myself prior to posting. However, the remaining proposed solutions give me some additional ammo. I'll post the results during the approaching weekdays.

Thanks for the info!

 

[dbMark]

I've noticed with Windows Millennium that I can paste a DOS screen from the clipboard using Alt+PrintScreen but not copy it directly into Outlook Express. But if I copy it from the clipboard into Word first, then copy it back onto the clipboard, then I can finally get it into Outlook Express. It's a 2-step process, in other words.

Is something similar happening here? Would this roundabout way would resolve the issue?

Also, even if the full screen mode is preferred, can the user Alt+Enter into window mode, paste, then Alt+Enter back?

 

[ravashaak]

Well, I'd first like to thank both of you for responding. I've had time to try all of the proposed solutions. However, none of them have worked.

I do plan to play around a bit more with Hyper-Snap DX. So far it has failed as well. However, it has alot of options, so I should at least explore them thoroughly.

I may even dump VMWare on her box and see if that will prove an adequate workaround.

If anyone else has anything further to try, don't hesitate. And thanks again for the suggestions!

 

[bcastner]

http://groups.google.com/groups?hl=...=windows+print+screen+capture+dos&sa=N&tab=wg

 

[linney]

Did you ever try different Compatibility Modes for this program, or play around with the theme and display settings on the compatibility mode page of the programs properties?

 

[ravashaak]

linney:

Yes, I did try different compatibility modes for the program in question. I just neglected to mention it...sorry. Thanks for the input anyway.

bcastner:

The download links were dead. However, I searched around and found SuperClip v5.26. I'll try it first. If it fails, I will search out a version closer to the version of the links you provided. I'll update after I go into work Monday. Thanks again.

 

[ravashaak]

Sorry about the long delay here. I still have yet to try any further solutions. Last week we suffered some major electrical supply fluctuations which led to a pretty severe network meltdown. Then there was a fire in our server room, I breathed some of the fumes, got sick, etc, etc. I'm still cleaning up the mess in some respects.

I'll update further once I've had a chance to try more solutions. Sorry for leaving everyone hanging. Please don't think I am ungrateful for the attempted help.

 

[drmoran]

Ravashaak et al.,

I have been researching for a solution to this problem for a couple of years and think I can tell you the answer.

It is that XP is, notoriously, so disconnected from DOS --- way more than W2k --- that you cannot capture a full DOS graphic using any tools (shareware or otherwise) made by anyone.

All you get from the clipboard is gibberish characters that represent your DOS graphic. Or with some programs you get a solid black square shot or a solid white one, but that's it.

I have tried probably 8 such programs' 30-day trials (though bcastner lists a couple I had not heard of), and I have communicated with their devos and support people, and all give the same answer --- that what I want to do with my ancient DOS graphing program is a nogo --- and this even when their program is specifically adverted as being able to do DOS screen captures.

The claim is simply not true when the DOS program is text plus graphic. Sometimes their fine print reveals that.

Typically XP will not permit such a program to "subwindow"; when it comes time to make the graph in such programs, the app typically goes to full window, uncapturable.

W2k *does* permit such captures with about one-third of the programs I tried.

And of course with W98 you can do anything using Alt+PrnScrn.

The problem for me in using this ancient DOS program is installing one of those two older OSes *after* the fact on an XP PC.

 

[linney]

drmoran,

98 after XP.


"If your C: drive is not FAT or FAT32, you CANNOT complete this procedure. You will need a 3rd party boot manager. I recommend BootIt Next Generation,

http://www.bootitng.com.

"

http://www.dougknox.com/xp/tips/xp_repair_9x.htm

http://www.petri.co.il/install_win98_after_xp.htm

 

[bcastner]

If it proves an insurmountable issue for critical workstations, consider using Virtual PC:

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/virtualpc/

 

[drmoran]

Hey, thanks. I had never heard of this product!

But $129, ugh.

Still, it sounds easier, and way likelier to have fewer problems, than post-installing W2k or 98 (the latter more difficult in my case because the two identical HDs, C and D, are both NTFS).

Thanks for the heads-up.

 

[bcastner]

You get 45 days for free to test.

This is the path for older Win9x applications I am taking. My own testing is that it works great.

 

[drmoran]

Is it easy (install and use)?

I am loath to do the post-install of W2k because I have already had unpleasant XP experiences with this new Dell (specifically upgrading from XP Home+SP1 to XP Pro without SP1); it also had a HD crash and a complete new reinstall of everything, which took days....

 

[bcastner]

dmoran:

I was suspicious too. But I would immediately do this rather than a dual boot.

See linney's links to comments above, as they mirror mine as well as an experience.

Bill

 

[drmoran]

>>See linney's links to comments above

?? all I see are his links to screen capture shareware...

 

[bcastner]

drmoran,

My apologies, the thread for linney's comments I was referring to are not above but here: thread779-818502

 

[drmoran]

Bill,

After I install MSVM 2004, and then install W98 (e.g.), do I then have to install Word and IE and AOL (old version, I guess) if I need to use them under 98?

thanks,

David

 

[bcastner]

Yes.
You install each application in each virtual machine.
And, they are completely independent once done so, so be carefull of any customizations as you will need to repeat them.