Using the Windows 7 Problem Steps Recorder
One of the brand new features in Windows 7 is the Problem Steps Recorder, which is a very cool screen capture utility, the intended use of which is to allow computer users to do a step by step recording of the actions they take that result in a problem, rather than trying to verbally describe it to a tech support person. You may find other, more creative uses for it, as well. Here’s how it works:
To open the tool, click Start and type psr.exe. Click it in the list and the recorder bar opens, as shown below.
As you can see, the interface is compact and very simple, making it easy for even novice computer users to use. You simply click the Start Record button to beginning capturing what you’re doing on the computer. You can pause or stop the recording at any time.
At any point in the recording, you can click the Add Comment button and the recording will pause, and a text box will pop up where you can type in clarifications or questions you might have about that particular step, or information that’s not visible in a screen capture (such as the computer emitting a sound).
During the recording, the duration of the recording will be shown in the box on the right side of the window. Once you stop the recording, you’ll be prompted to give the recording a name and save it as a zipped file. When you open the .ZIP, you’ll see a file saved in .MHT format, which is a web page archive that can be viewed in Internet Explorer or another web browser, as shown at the right.
Double click the .MHT file, and it will open in your default web browser. You’ll see a series of screen shots, along with the time recorded and even a description of each action that you took during the recording, as shown below. Any comments you insert will be shown.
As you can see, if you have multiple monitors, all of the screens will be shown in the capture. The area where you’re clicking with the mouse is highlighted in green.
This takes much of the frustration out of troubleshooting for both the user and the support tech. You don’t have to worry about the user leaving out steps or not being able to properly describe what he/she did. At the bottom of the page is an “Additional Details” box that contains information such as the version numbers of the programs, user interface elements that were in use during each step, and so forth.
If you click the Down arrow at the very right side of the PSR window, you’ll see options to run the tool as an administrator or to send the recording to an email recipient. You can also click Settings … to change the output location for the .ZIP files (by default, they’re saved to the desktop), to enable or disable screen capture (if you disable it, you will get the text description of the steps only, not the screenshots), and specify the number of recent screen captures to store (25 by default).
Troubleshooting isn’t the only use I’ve found for it. If you want to show someone else exactly how to do something in Windows 7, but you can’t use Remote Assistance, you can perform the task yourself – recording it with the PSR – and send that person the file. Now the person has the step-by-step instructions, along with screenshots. Very cool.
Some have gone so far as to call the Problem Steps Recorder a “miracle tool.” For those whose job it is to sit and listen to users describe their computer problems all day, it just might be.
- Debra Littlejohn Shinder, Microsoft MVP (Enterprise Security)
deb@shinder.net www.debshinder.com
dvd-r on September 16, 2009 at 02:45 AM
Really interesting to see this in action; as I haven’t tried it yet in the beta. It’s good to see Microsoft is going in the right direction in terms of helping users who aren’t very computer savvy accurately explain a problem they are experiencing. From corporate level through to the family “computer guy” it seems like a very useful tool to have included. No doubt it has also been created with specific intentions of streamlining bug fixes and suggestions in the Windows 7 public Beta. Kudos for forward thinking MS.
Name withheld on October 17, 2009 at 12:34 AM
It's not perfect however, If you select part of the screen with comments, it just grays out the other part of screen instead of cropping it.
Also, sometimes just fails to take a screen shot at all, especially in the beginning. Nice concept, needs work.
discount womens moncler down coats onlines sales on February 27, 2010 at 12:02 AM
I admire what you have done here. I like the part where you say you are doing this to give back but I would assume by all the comments that this is working for you as well. http://www.edhardy-buy.com/ Took me awhile to read all the comments. herve leger dress for you !
silver charms on June 30, 2010 at 06:21 PM
Every girl will be happy with inspired links of London jewelry which make her look dazzling and outstanding; every girl will be happier to obtain brand jewelry with less money which makes them a sense of achievement. That's why girls all like links jewelry where various links of London jewelries are at most keen prices
More http://www.linksjewelry.co.uk/Charms/
snap dome on September 06, 2010 at 07:18 PM
I don't know what to say except that I have enjoyed reading. Nice blog. I will keep visiting this blog very often.
more here http://www.china-metaldome.com/, http://www.flexiblecircuitpcb.com/
Tiffany Bangles on October 11, 2010 at 11:18 PM
She will have to clear his belongings. When she was looking thru the
drawers, she saw this insurance policy, dated from the day they
wholesale dropshippers on March 09, 2011 at 01:20 AM
It's really great and strange; strange in that way that i am using windows 7 for more than two years but never see this awesome utility. It may be in the trial version and at the time of launching it's full and final version they may exclude this 'problem step recorder' or if not then I'll surely check it in the evening when i reach home.
france wholesale dropshippers on March 10, 2011 at 02:49 AM
I had use this utility 'problem steps recorder' last night, it was not that i assuming, i thought it will be a screen recorder but it only takes snaps when you click on the screen or any other menu or folder. Not much happy but a good feature for those who want solve their clients problem easily at their office chair.