Print screen of a Windows Server 2008 Remote Desktop via Surface Pro?

Question

I got used to PrintScreen button which worked well in both local and remote desktops. But Surface keyboard lacks PrintScreen button. I know that with local machine you can hold the home button and hit the low sound button, and it does the trick, but it seems not working with remote desktops. I once was on a call with a support person and he asked me to send a screenshot of the desktop of the machine I was connected to. I said 'Sure', and then was greatly surprised not finding the PrintScreen button. My next try was the Windows+Sound buttons, to no luck. (I had to run and find a real desktop to finally be able to send the screenshot, but it was hours late).

Anyone hit the same ball? Any suggestions?

Answer 1

I don't have a Pro myself but when you are using Remote Desktop, do remember that you are remote controlling another system and yours is downgraded to just a terminal and you lose a lot of functions.

What you can try is to plug in a regular USB keyboard and try the Print Screen key on it.  It may or may not work.  That function could be disabled in Remote Desktop because your video memory may be in use almost to the max to perform as a terminal.

Answer 2

Sounds like a solution (while not without a downside). It can be easier sometime to find a spare keyboard around than have a PC nearby, one that you are authorized to log in.

There is a downside though is that I have actually invested in the Surface as to make it to mobile. I want to carry less weight compared to a 'normal' laptop, have a powerful machine in just 2 lbs., and carrying a full size keyboard when I'm on a travel actually ruins all the advantages (or almost all, because the perfect touch enabled screen is still here). I like the keyboard cover, the way it sticks and protects the screen, and I really don't want to part with it (forget about 150 backs that I already parted :) )

What is actually the code of the PrintScreen button? Can the code be sent by combination of any CTRL+, ALT+, some letter, etc.?

Appreciate any light shed on this dark corner of the Windows.

Answer 3

I will look for the code for the Print Screen and post here on this thread.

There is another trick you can try.  When you performed the print screen function on tablet, try opening paint that is on the other computer and see if it will paste.  It is possible that it is sending the command to the other machine.

Answer 4

Keyboard Scan Codes

 When the keyboard forces a hardware interrupt, it passes a Scan Code to
 the INT 09H interrupt handler.  The handler converts this to an ASCII or
 Extended ASCII value.  For compatibility across the various keyboards, it
 is wise to avoid using scan codes and stick to the BIOS translation of a
 keystroke.

��Original PC/XT Keyboard��
  When a key is released, the keyboard sends the same value, ORed with 80H
  (e.g., [Ctrl] sends 1dH when pressed and 9dH when released).

����������������������������������������������������������������������������
Hex Dec Key �Hex Dec Key  �Hex Dec Key    �Hex Dec Key    �Hex Dec Key
����������������������������������������������������������������������������
01   1  Esc �12  18  E    �23  35  H      �34  52  . >    �45  69  NumLock
02   2  1 ! �13  19  R    �24  36  J      �35  53  / ?    �46  70  ScrollLck
03   3  2 @ �14  20  T    �25  37  K      �36  54  Shft(R)�47  71  Home [7]
04   4  3 # �15  21  Y    �26  38  L      �37  55  * PrtSc�48  72  ^    [8]
05   5  4 $ �16  22  U    �27  39  ; :    �38  56  Alt    �49  73  PgUp [9]
06   6  5 % �17  23  I    �28  40  " '    �39  57  space  �4a  74  K -
07   7  6 ^ �18  24  O    �29  41  ` ~    �3a  58  CapsLck�4b  75  <    [4]
08   8  7 & �19  25  P    �2a  42  Shft(L)�3b  59  F1     �4c  76       [5]
09   9  8 * �1a  26  [ {  �2b  43  \ |    �3c  60  F2     �4d  77  >    [6]
0a  10  9 ( �1b  27  ] }  �2c  44  Z      �3d  61  F3     �4e  78  K +
0b  11  0 ) �1c  28  Enter�2d  45  X      �3e  62  F4     �4f  79  End  [1]
0c  12  - _ �1d  29  Ctrl �2e  46  C      �3f  63  F5     �50  80  v    [2]
0d  13  + = �1e  30  A    �2f  47  V      �40  64  F6     �51  81  PgDn [3]
0e  14  bksp�1f  31  S    �30  48  B      �41  65  F7     �52  82  Ins  [0]
0f  15  Tab �20  32  D    �31  49  N      �42  66  F8     �53  83  Del  [.]
10  16  Q   �21  33  F    �32  50  M      �43  67  F9     �
11  17  W   �22  34  G    �33  51  , <    �44  68  F10    �
����������������������������������������������������������������������������
    K indicates a key on the numeric keypad^ (when not in NumLock mode)

��84-key AT Keyboard��
  The 84-key keyboard sends the same scan codes as the 83-key (original PC)
  keyboard with the addition that

              [SysReq] sends scan code 54H (84 decimal).

  However, the BIOS never lets an application program see this scan code.
  Instead, it invokes INT 15H 85H on make or break of the SysReq key.

  The 'break' (release of a key) is handled differently.  Upon a break, the
  keyboard sends a two-byte sequence:  0f0H, followed by the 'make' scan
  code.  See AT Keyboard Functions for information on programming this
  keyboard.

��101-key Keyboard��
  This keyboard has three separate mappings of the scan codes, selected by
  communication through port 64H.  The keyboard comes to life with scan code
  set 2 (which is wildly different from the 84-key mapping.  However, the
  scan codes are translated by the hardware keyboard interface before they
  are made available to programs that read the keyboard.

  The result is that all of the scan codes identified in the above table are
  valid when the 101-key 'board comes up naturally.  The following table
  lists the additional scan-codes that are sent by the 101-key 'board.  Note
  that all keys mentioned here refer to the keys that are unique to this
  keyboard; e.g., [Insert] is the dedicated insert key (not KeyPad Ins).

  ������������������������������������������������������������������������
  Key                       Hex Sequence      � Key           Hex Sequence
  ������������������������������������������������������������������������
  F11 ..................... 57                � Home ........ e0 47
  F12 ..................... 58                � Shft-Home ... e0 aa e0 47
  Right-Alt ............... e0 38             � End ......... e0 4f
  Right-Ctrl .............. e0 1d             � Shft-End .... e0 aa e0 4f
  PrintScreen ............. e0 2a e0 37       � ^ ........... e0 48
  Shft-PrintScreen (SysReq) e0 37             � Shft-^ ...... e0 aa e0 48
  Ctrl-PrintScreen (SysReq) e0 37             � v ........... e0 50
  Alt-PrintScreen ......... 54                � Shft-v ...... e0 aa e0 50
  Pause ................... e1 1d 45 e1 9d c5 � PageUp ...... e0 49
  Ctrl-Pause (Break) ...... e0 46 e0 c6       � Shft-PageUp . e0 aa e0 49
  Insert .................. e0 52             � PageDown .... e0 51
  Shft-Insert ............. e0 aa e0 52       � Shft-PageDown e0 aa e0 51
  Delete .................. e0 53             � > ........... e0 4d
  Shft-Delete ............. e0 aa e0 53       � Shft-> ...... e0 aa e0 4d
  < ....................... e0 4b             � K Enter ..... e0 1c
  Shft-< .................. e0 aa e0 4b       � K / ......... e0 35
                                              � Shft-K / .... e0 aa e0 35
  ������������������������������������������������������������������������
                 K indicates a key on the numeric keypad^

  Note that in cases where a key is similar to another (pre-101) key, the
  second scan code byte is the same as the original key.  Thus, some
  programs that work at the scan-code level can get away with simply
  ignoring the e0H prefix.

NOTE: it might need a little reformatting and the older keyboard codes not needed but it should do the trick.  Hey, "Bing" web search is good for something!

Answer 5

I think all the above means there is no any key combination that could be used instead of real PrintScreen key.