MSPNetworks Blog

A screenshot can be a remarkably handy thing to have on hand, for both your own purposes and especially for the purposes of technology support. While there are many tools out there that can help you take effective screenshots, there is a modern solution available for all users of Windows 11. Let’s look at how you can use it!

How to Take a Screenshot in Windows 11

There is an easy keyboard shortcut to take a screenshot. Hold down the Windows Key and the Shift Key, then press S.

Windows key + Shift + S

You might notice the screen going a bit darker than usual, and your mouse will turn into a plus icon.

From here, you just click and drag your mouse over the area you want to take your screenshot of. You can do this by clicking with the left mouse button. After you let go of the mouse button, your screenshot will be saved to the temporary clipboard.

Plug Your Screenshot into an Email or Document

You can easily share your screenshots through a chat, email, or document. Just click anywhere you want to insert it, then use Ctrl and V to paste the image.

If the application you are using accepts screenshots, you’ll see your image pop up. You can give this a shot in Microsoft Word, Publisher, OneNote, Evernote, Outlook, Gmail, and several other similar applications.

Save Screenshots as Images

You can also save your screenshot as an image for later use. All you have to do is follow these easy steps.

Once you’ve taken your screenshot, use the Windows key on your keyboard to open up the start menu. Use the search box to find “paint,” which will show the Paint app from the options available to you. Open the application by clicking on it.

(If you want to perform this action very quickly, simply press the Windows Key and start typing the word “paint” until the paint app is displayed and highlighted—for most people this will show up by the time you type p-a or p-a-i, so you can save yourself a few keystrokes, and then simply hit Enter to load the application.)

After Paint opens, you can use the same Ctrl and V shortcut to paste your screenshot into the application.

Now that you’re at this step, you can use Ctrl and Shift with the X key to crop the image around your screenshot. This removes the white space around it.

The last step is to save the image; you can do this with Ctrl and S. You can save the image as a JPEG or a PNG, with JPEG being the more compatible of the two formats.

Once you have saved your screenshot as a file, it’s simple to share it or access it as you see fit.

8 Easy Steps to Take and Share a Screenshot

1. Windows key + Shift + S
2. Click and drag your mouse over the area you want to capture.
3. Windows key
4. Type “Paint”
5. Enter
6. Ctrl+V
7. Ctrl+Shift+X
8. Ctrl+S to save.

We hope you find this tip helpful! Be sure to keep visiting our blog for more of them in the future.

The Windows operating system has gradually improved since it was first released back in 1985, bringing us to Windows 11 and its productivity-boosting capabilities nearly four decades later. Let’s take a closer look at just a few of these features so you can make the most of your time using the OS.

The Windows Clipboard Offers Far More Utility

Historically, the Windows Clipboard had a one-and-done level of functionality. You could copy one clip into it and use it for the rest of the time you were on the computer… provided you never copied anything else. If you did, your original clip was lost.

Nowadays, the Clipboard is far more capable than just this. Today, multiple clips can be stored and selected from—and what’s more, these clips can be stored in your Clipboard permanently, potentially making it far more convenient for you to replicate content that you come back to on a regular basis, from multiple devices.

To view the complete Clipboard, press Windows Key + V. A window will open that displays all of the clips you’ve taken during your session. You can also identify anything you want to persist after your device restarts by selecting the three-dot icon on any copied content and selecting Pin. This is great if there’s any boilerplate you regularly need to paste into an email or document template, and it ensures that this content will be there until you actively delete it from your Clipboard.

Focus Sessions Allow You to Eliminate Distractions

For all the benefits that technology and its inherent connectivity bring, it does have one pretty significant drawback: it makes it far more difficult to focus on any one task, with all the reminders and notifications for other things that need to be done popping up and dinging, breaking your concentration. To address this, Windows 11 offers a feature called Focus sessions, which effectively puts the operating system into Do Not Disturb, muting notifications for a time that you determine.

To start a session, search for clock in the Search box and access the Clock app. There, you’ll see the Focus sessions option, where you can set a duration for your focus session. If the session is 30 minutes or less, no breaks will be factored in, but longer sessions will have breaks automatically incorporated into your session unless you check the Skip breaks option. Click Start focus session to get down to business.

You can even link your Spotify account to play music during your session, as well as set long-term goals for its use.

Microsoft Teams is Accessible Via the Taskbar

Many organizations have formalized the use of Teams as their internal communications platform of choice, which makes the decision to incorporate a quick-access tool for it into Windows 11 sound like a smart decision. The operating system now incorporates a simple version of Teams in the taskbar itself, allowing you to repeat your most recent activity on the platform—all you have to do is click the icon or press Windows Key + C. From there, you can start a video call via the Meet option or a text conversation via Chat. If these options aren’t enough, you can also Open Microsoft Teams properly via this easy-access menu.

We hope these capabilities help you throughout your workday, along with the other tools that Windows 11 makes available to you! For assistance in other ways that your technology can work harder for you, give us a call at (516) 403-9001 today.

Microsoft’s operating systems have been around for a long time, and since Windows 95, Microsoft has published free utilities that can help users make slight adjustments to their operating systems to suit their needs. Microsoft PowerToys are even available now, and we want to explore what they can do for your business, as well as how you can acquire them.

We’ll be delving into what PowerToys can do for users of Windows 10 and Windows 11 today.

What Can PowerToys Users Do?

This is only a small sampling of what PowerToys can do for you. We’ve curated this list for ones that you are most likely to use in a business setting.

Shortcut Guide

While this tool is activated, your Windows Key can be used to provide a list of available shortcuts. If you hold it down, native shortcuts in your active window will display. It’s a great way to see at a glance just what utility is at your fingertips.

Keyboard Manager

PowerToys also lets you adjust your own preferences, including how your device reads your keystrokes. You can replace some shortcuts with others, for example. Just keep in mind that you’ll need PowerToys to remain active in the background if you want your changes to stay applied.

FancyZones

FancyZones lets you keep your desktop and applications better organized, dividing your display into various zones that retain information on display configurations and other settings, allowing you to keep things consistent.

Text Extractor

PowerToys also lets you extract text from anywhere on your screen, including things from images, videos, and the like. It might not always be perfect, so it will need some oversight on your part, but it’s a nifty tool nonetheless.

Always On Top

You will always have applications which you would prefer to be on top of the stack, and this PowerToy allows you to make that happen easily. It will keep your specified window open above the others so it’s easy to get back to, as long as you have it activated. You can customize the shortcut for this feature and turn it on or off at will.

Discuss PowerToys with Your IT First

We know that it can be fun and exciting to play around with new features, especially if it’s your idea to make things better and more streamlined, but we always encourage you to consult your IT first before making any drastic changes to your operating system. PowerToys would have to be downloaded from the Internet, and as such, it could be subject to a threat of some sort. We recommend that only IT download or install any applications on your workplace devices, or an outsourced IT provider like us.

While security is one reason for this, the other is that you want to test any applications you want to install before you actually follow through on the installation to make sure that nothing breaks. There’s also the chance that you could be downloading malware or bootleg copies of the software, and no one wants to be caught with pirated software!

Plus, there’s always the possibility that you already have tools out there that accomplish the same task installed on your infrastructure, or there might be better alternatives to your proposed solution. IT can open your eyes to the possibilities while respecting your desire to make operations and processes better.

Want to get started with IT management from MSPNetworks? It’s simple! All you have to do is call us at (516) 403-9001.

There is one key on the keyboard that might seem a little odd: PrtScn. It’s not immediately obvious what this key does or why you would want to use it, but we assure you that it is an extremely helpful keyboard shortcut once you understand how it works and why you might want to try it out. In reality, the PrtScn key (on some keyboards it might just be PrtSc) is important for taking screenshots on your Windows device.

Windows has a lot of keyboard shortcuts, but PrtScn is perhaps one of the easiest to carry out. When you hit the PrtScn key, Windows will take a screenshot of your computer’s monitor, allowing you to save it as an image.

There are many practical reasons for taking screenshots, many of which you might not have considered. Let’s go over your options for taking screenshots on your Windows device.

Why Take Screenshots?

Screenshots are incredibly helpful for a variety of reasons, one of which is to help IT support determine what the root cause of your technology troubles is. Basically, it lets them see what you see on the screen so they can check off boxes for more common fixes before diving into more technical issues. Screenshots are also helpful for documentation purposes, allowing you to put together guides for workflows and processes for more visual learners.

The PrtScn Key

When you hit the PrtScn key, you might notice that there are no pop-ups or anything that appears on-screen to show that you have taken a screenshot. Basically, the PrtScn key captures an image of your desktop screen and copies it to the clipboard as an image. You can then paste it like you would if it were copied or cut text. The problem with this is that it takes a screenshot of the whole screen, not just one part of it, so for more focused screenshots, you have to get a little more creative. You’ll also want to make sure sensitive information isn’t displayed on your screen if you plan on sharing the screenshot.

Snip & Sketch

This solution is built right into Windows 10 and allows you to snip specific parts of your screen for a screenshot. To use Snip & Sketch, use the keyboard shortcut Shift + Windows Key + S. There are some options here: Rectangular Snip, Freeform Snip, Window Snip, and Full-Screen n Snip. Pick whichever you think best suits your needs. Your selection will then be saved to the clipboard in the same way as PrtScn, allowing you to paste (Ctrl+V) it into an application or edit it in the Snip & Sketch tool.

Third-Party Services, Applications, and Extensions

There are some third-party tools and applications that you can use to take screenshots that let you capture specific parts of your screen in much the same way the Snip & Sketch tool allows. These other solutions may be perfectly effective for taking screenshots, but you should clear any of them with IT first just to make sure that the solution is one that is allowed on your network. Plus, you might already have better tools available to you, so it never hurts to confirm with IT before going all-in on a screenshot tool; and, of course, you have us to fall back on as well!

So, how are you going to use screenshots to take your business to the next level? Let us know in the comments, and be sure to subscribe for more great tips and tricks.

With Microsoft announcing that the Windows 11 release is right around the corner, most users will be looking to upgrade to hardware that supports it. This is a topic for another day. As we approach the Windows 11 launch, Microsoft is gearing up to retire one of its most controversial (and ultimately innovative) operating systems to date, Windows 8.1. Today, we thought we’d talk a little bit about the mixed bag Windows 8.1 is and how it will be important to move off of the software by January 2023.

Windows 8.1 is Only Kind of Windows 8

Windows 8 premiered in August of 2012. Microsoft was trying to make a name for itself in the mobile market and their new OS was described as “metro”. It was for use on touchscreen devices and PCs, but the initial rollout had a lot of people confused. In fact, many reverted to Windows 7, a more traditional form of Windows OS. As time went on, Microsoft was frustrated that their new OS, which came with a lot of criticism, wasn’t catching on so they decided to make a major update in 2013 that added in a lot of the features that people have come to expect from their Windows operating system, such as a start menu. This update, called Windows 8.1 has been the working version of Windows 8 for the past eight years.

The initial version of Windows 8 had its end-of-support date on January 12, 2016, thereby ending all support for that version of the OS. Since Windows 8.1 was more popular, Microsoft set an end-of-life date in January 2023. The hugely popular Windows 10 was released two years after the Windows 8.1 update, and most people took advantage of the free upgrade so as it stands today only about 3.5 percent of all PCs run Windows 8.1, which is why there hasn’t been a major campaign to alert users like there was when they were getting ready to retire Windows 7 at the beginning of 2020. 

What You Need to Know

If you do currently run Windows 8.1 on your device, you should think about upgrading it to Windows 10 now; or you can wait, and if your hardware can take it, upgrade to Windows 11 when it starts to roll out later in 2021 and early in 2022. Either way, it is smart to have a plan to upgrade away from Windows 8.1 before January 2023 as it will no longer be supported by Microsoft.

Why Is It Important to Only Use Supported Software?

Each new iteration of the Windows OS comes with significant security updates and features designed to quell the almost limitless problems that are out there in today’s connected computing environment. If you continue to utilize software that isn’t regularly updated and supported by a team of developers, you will absolutely find that there are exploitable vulnerabilities that emerge. This can especially be a big problem for any business or organization that stores sensitive information, but it will likely be a problem for any user still using an unsupported version of their operating system.

The IT professionals at MSPNetworks can make it easy for your organization to upgrade to a continuously supported version of any software you are using. We can also provide solutions for companies looking to utilize legacy systems that aren’t actively supported. If you would like to talk to one of our IT professionals about getting the software support you need, contact us today at (516) 403-9001.

Windows has no shortage of capabilities to offer its users, with many of these tools coming with an associated Windows shortcut. Since keeping track of all of them can be a challenge, we wanted to assemble a list of most of them for you. This blog will serve as that list, so make sure you add it to your browser’s favorites for quick reference!

Let’s get into it.

The ABCs of Windows Shortcuts

Naturally, almost every letter of the alphabet on the keyboard has a shortcut assigned to it:

• WinKey + A opens your Action Center.
• WinKey + B highlights your notification area.
• WinKey + C launches Cortana in listening mode.
• WinKey + D toggles Show Desktop and the previous state.
• WinKey + E launches File Explorer in the Quick Access tab.
• WinKey + F opens the Microsoft Feedback hub.
• WinKey + G opens the Game Bar tools, if that’s how you spend your time at home.
• WinKey + H opens the Dictation toolbar.
• WinKey + I opens your Settings.
• WinKey + K opens the Connect pane to connect to wireless displays and devices.
• WinKey + L locks the device.
• WinKey + M minimizes all open windows.
• WinKey + O locks the device’s orientation on tablets and mobile devices.
• WinKey + P opens the Project pane.
• WinKey + Q opens Search.
• WinKey + R displays the run dialog box.
• WinKey + S launches Cortana in typing mode.
• WinKey + T cycles through the apps on the taskbar.
• WinKey + U launches the Ease of Access/Display Center to manage your screens.
• WinKey + V opens your clipboard app to view things you have copied to your clipboard with Ctrl + C.
• WinKey + X opens the advanced, Secret Start menu.

Adjusting Your Open Windows

Some of Windows’ shortcuts are designed to help the user arrange their display to the appearance that best suits their needs. For instance:

• WinKey + Left/Right Arrow will take the active window and adjust it to fill the left or right side of the monitor it is displayed in. 
• WinKey + Shift + Left/Right Arrow will move the active window over to another display.
• WinKey + Up Arrow will maximize the active window. 
• WinKey + Down Arrow will minimize the active window.

There are, of course, many more Windows shortcuts to take advantage of, as well as plenty of other tips to help make your workday more efficient. We often share them in this blog, so make sure you come back often to check in!

Okay, so first off: when it comes to taking a screenshot, today’s user has a lot of options baked into Windows. Of course, there’s the Print Screen key on most keyboards—but that only allows the user to literally take a screenshot of their entire display and edit it down in some other program.

This simply isn’t a convenient enough option for today’s productivity-focused workflows. Instead, let’s go over how to use Windows’ integrated Snip & Sketch tool, which gives you greater functionality at comparable ease.

Using Snip & Sketch

Snip & Sketch is a utility that offers four options for you to use in terms of your screenshots and can be easily called up by pressing Windows Key+Shift+S. There, you’ll have access to four different screenshot format options at the top of your screen:

1. A basic box selection, where you click and drag to encompass your selection
2. A freeform selection that allows you to draw out your boundary
3. Window snip, which allows you to select an active monitor to screenshot
4. Fullscreen snip, which takes the place of the Print Screen key and allows you to take a picture of all your monitors simultaneously

Any of these can be useful in the right situation, and these situations are only too common in the workplace.

Hopefully, this will help you communicate more clearly in the office, using images to help get the message across. For more handy tips and other useful IT information, make sure you check back here every so often—and don’t forget to give our team a call at (516) 403-9001 for more direct assistance from us!

Microsoft is the world’s most profitable software company, and if your business is like any of the millions of businesses that rely on Microsoft’s servers, you know they are both useful and secure. Occasionally, however, Microsoft will retire older software titles as they need constant care and support. On July 9, 2019, Microsoft will officially retire their SQL Server 2008 and SQL Server 2008 R2 operating systems. If your organization still uses this software there is no time like the present to get you systems updated, as losing support will be a major problem.

What is SQL Server?
Microsoft SQL Server is a relational database management system (RDBMS). SQL server is used to securely manage the storage and retrieval of, and access to, large amounts of data. Often line of business apps like your CRM system, inventory management, and other business applications use these databases to store their information.

That’s the exception here. Since the only reason you would need a database is if you had, or will potentially have, a lot of data, the only reason you would need a RDBMS is to manage the data within. In order to quickly retrieve the queried information, you need a management system that integrates with the applications you are using.

Essentially SQL Server is Microsoft’s Database Management Software, and with Microsoft software on the majority of enterprise servers in the world, plenty of people utilize Microsoft database products. If your business has been using one of the SQL Server 2008 versions, your time is running out to upgrade your SQL Server before you are put into a real bind.

SQL Server 2008/SQL Server 2008 R2 End of Life
As we come up on July 9, the 2008 versions of SQL Server will be losing their support. After previously stopping mainstream support in July of 2014, Microsoft has decided to pull the plug on SQL Server 2008 and SQL Server 2008 R2 five years (to the day) later. Organizations that don’t upgrade away from SQL Server 2008 or SQL Server 2008 R2 could be looking at immediate security problems and potential data loss. These factors could completely decimate your reputation, which could cause your entire business to collapse.

Your Options
For the business that is on the clock, they’ll need to consider moving quickly to upgrade their database management system. MSPNetworks can provide you with solutions that could completely change the way you look at your business. Today’s RDBMS is light years past 2008s in terms of integrations and intelligence. Any RDBMS can be locally hosted, but we can also implement a cloud-hosted database, that can be used to make your business even faster.

No matter what option you choose, you have to have your SQL Server migrated by July 8, 2019 to ensure that you have the security and data protection you need to keep your business’ most powerful asset safe. Call MSPNetworks today at (516) 403-9001 and see how we can help your business get all the technology it needs to succeed.