25. Record Steps To Reproduce A Problem

Important Question! Can your PC Run Faster?

Trying to describe a problem to someone in technical support can be quite frustrating, especially if you have limited technical knowledge. It would be far simpler, for problems that can be regularly reproduced, if you could actually record what is happening and then sent the relevant report to, say Microsoft.

For the first time in Windows 7 Microsoft have actually incorporated this feature, although, sadly, it is rather hidden.

To use the feature, better known as the Problem Step Recorder, proceed as follows:

1. Click the Start button.
2. On the Start menu type: psr.exe into the search box and Press Enter.
3. The Problem Steps Recorder will now open.
4. To begin recording press the Record button and then start to reproduce your original problem. Problem Steps Recorder will take a series of screen shots and will detail what you are doing on-screen giving details of mouse and keyboard.
5. Once you have all the relevant details of your problem recorded then, Click the Stop Record button.
6. Problem Steps Recorder will automatically offer to save the file as a Zip file for you. All you have to do is give the file a name and press the Save button.
7. You can open the Zipped file and view the contents in Internet Explorer. This file can then be sent to technical support or whoever is helping you with your problem.