Record steps to reproduce a problem

Steps Recorder (called Problems Steps Recorder in Windows 7), is a program that helps you troubleshoot a problem on your device by recording the exact steps you took when the problem occurred. You can then send this record to a support professional to help them diagnose the problem.

Steps Recorder doesn’t record text that you type (such as a password), except for function and shortcut keys.

Some programs, like a full-screen game, might not be captured accurately.

To record and save steps on your computer

To open Steps Recorder, select the Start button, and then select Windows Accessories > Steps Recorder (in Windows 10), or Accessories > Problem Steps Recorder (in Windows 7 or Windows 8.1).

Select Start Record.

Go through the steps to reproduce the problem you’re trying to diagnose. You can pause and resume the recording at any time.

(Optional) As you record, select Add Comment, use your mouse to select the part of the screen that you want to comment on, type your comment, and then select OK.

When you’re done, select Stop Record.

Review the record of the steps you followed to make sure it shows what you want it to show. Select Save, name the .zip file, choose where to save it, and then select Save. Now you can attach and send this .zip file to the person helping you troubleshoot the problem on your PC. It can be viewed in any web browser.

To adjust settings

In Steps Recorder, select the down arrow next to the Help button, and then select Settings.

You can change the following:

Output location. If you don’t want to be prompted for a location and file name every time you save a file, select Browse to set a default location and file name.

Enable screen capture. Select No if you don’t want to capture screen shots—for example, if the screen might reveal personal information that you don’t want to share. The app will still record a text description of your steps.

Number of recent screen captures to store. The default is 25 screens, so if you need to record more than that, increase this number.

Note: Any settings you adjust here are temporary—they go back to the defaults when you close and reopen the program.

Steps Recorder on Windows 10 How to Use and Set

The Steps Recorder on Windows 7 is called Problem Steps Recorder (PSR), and change to Steps Recorder since on Windows 8, and is also used on Windows 10.

You can use Steps Recorder to capture the steps you take on a computer, and save them with a text description of where you clickпјЊa screen shot of each click and the commend you add. You can save them to a file and send to someone else who is helping you with the problem, or use them for a course is very good I think.

Here in this article, we mainly talks about how to use and set the Steps Recorder on Windows 10.

Open Steps Recorder and Start Record

Step 1: On the Cortana search box (right on your desktop), type in: steps recorder.

And then the Steps Recorder will appear on the top of Cortana, click to open it.

Step 2: Or open the Steps Recorder by this way: Start Menu >> All apps >>Windows Accessories >>Steps Recorder.

Step 3: After open the Steps Recorder, click on «Start Record».

And then your operations (including the mouse click, and keyboard action) on windows will be recorded with the screenshot and text description.

Step 4: If want to add commends, click on the «Add Comment» button, click and drag to select the area, and type in a comment on the text box, then click on «OK» to add the comment.

Step 5: If want to end the record, click on the «Stop Record» button.

Save and Use the Records

Step 6: After a while you click on the Stop Record button, the Record Steps will be showed below the Steps Recorder.

The records were displayed with the form: «Step + text description + screenshot + Additional Details»

Step 7: Click on the «Save» button, the recorded steps will be saved to a Zip file.

Step 8: Double-click on the Zip file, you can see a MHTML file, double click on the MHTML file, the recorded steps will be showed on the internet explorer automatically.

Step 9: And then you can copy the screenshots to the other place (world document, PowerPoint, Photoshop, or other picture editor) to deal with it and then use it.

Right-click on the screenshot, click on «Copy», and then press «Ctrl + V» to paste it the place where you want.

Adjust the Steps Recorder Settings on Windows 10

Step 1: Open the Steps Recorder by searching on the Cortana: type «steps recorder» on the Cortana search box, when the Steps Recorder appears on the top, click on it.

Step 2: Click on the down arrow right on the help button, and then select «Settings».

Step 3: Change the Steps Recorder Settings.

1. Output File

You can click on the «Browse» button to set a default output file name, and then you won’t be prompted to save a file after recording.

2. Screen Capture «Yes» or «No»

If you don’t want to show the screenshots on the records, select the «No» option below «Enable screen capture:»

Of course, if you want to capture the screen shots along with the click information, select «Yes» again.

3. Numbers of recent screen captures to store

The numbers of the screen captures is 25 by default, and it can be changed on the right.

The Steps Recorder only records and shows the default number of screen captures. For example, if the default number of screen captures is 25, but you take 30 screen shots during the recording, you will lose the first five screen shots.

So remember to change the settings before taking a record with Steps Recorder on Windows 10.

Не всем известная способность в Windows 7, 8, 10

Уважаемые читатели! В начале статьи я хотел бы поблагодарить Вас за то, что подписываетесь на канал и ставите лайки. Благодаря Вам канал уверенно развивается. Спасибо!

Довольно часто мастер по ремонту компьютеров не всегда может понять путаные объяснения неопытного пользователя о том, что и как не работает или сбоит именно на его (пользователя) персональном компьютере. Для таких случаев в Windows 7 имеется встроенная диагностическая утилита «Problem Steps Recorder», в Windows 8, 10 она тоже имеется, но называется «Steps Recorder». Эта утилита представляет собой простой инструмент для записи последовательности действий происходящих на экране, в дальнейшем неопытный пользователь сможет легко и быстро продемонстрировать мастеру, что в его компьютере не работает или сбоит. Запись проводится не в виде видео, а виде цепочки скриншотов с комментариями. Конечно данная утилита не сможет ничего записать если операционная система не загружается совсем.

Теперь давайте разберемся как работает утилита «Problem Steps Recorder». Для запуска утилиты в Windows 7, нужно войти в основное меню «Пуск» и ввести в строке поиска команду psr.exe , затем в контрольной панели щелкнуть строку psr , как на фото ниже:

Запущенная программа выглядит следующим образом:

Для входа в настройки программы нажмите на черный треугольник расположенный справа в окне программы:

Здесь вы можете указать, чтобы программа всегда запускалась от имени администратора, также можете указать место, где будут сохраняться снимки и можете задать максимальное количество сохраняемых снимков.

Для начала записи в утилите «Problem Steps Recorder» нажмите «Начать запись». Утилита начнет отслеживать действия клавиатуры и мыши и делать снимки экрана, к которым можно добавлять комментарии. Чтобы добавить комментарий нажмите кнопку «Добавить комментарий», появится окно добавления комментариев, после добавления последних жмите «ОК» и запись продолжится.

После окончания записи, утилита сохраняет все снимки в ZIP-архив, содержащий HTML-презентацию из всех снимков. Для воспроизведения снимков вам потребуется распаковать ZIP-архив и двойным кликом по распакованному файлу запустить показ отснятых снимков с проблемой. Показ осуществляется в браузере.

В Windows 8, 10 программа работает точно также, имеются лишь небольшие отличия. Для запуска утилиты «Steps Recorder» вам необходимо зайти в главное меню, щёлкните правой кнопкой мыши или проведите пальцем снизу, выберите «Все приложения» , а затем перейдите к «Windows Аксессуары->Steps Recorder». Вы также можете написать слово « Steps» в строке поиска главного меню и нажать на соответствующий результат поиска «Record steps to reproduce a problem».

Утилита запускается сразу от имени администратора. Для воспроизведения не нужно распаковывать ZIP-архив. Запись воспроизводится в окне программы. Вот и все основные отличия от утилиты «Problem Steps Recorder» в Windows 7. Ну, вот теперь вы сможете показать вашу проблему мастеру наглядно, это очень удобно, особенно если вы пользуетесь онлайн помощью.

Желаю Вам успеха! Ставьте лайк, если понравилась статья, а также подписывайтесь на канал, узнаете много нового!

What Is Windows’ Steps Recorder (PSR)?

The Built-in Windows Screenshot Tool

Steps Recorder is a combination keylogger, screen capture, and annotation tool for Windows. It’s used to quickly and easily document actions made on a computer for troubleshooting purposes.

Below is everything you need to know about Steps Recorder—what it’s used for, which versions of Windows it’s compatible with, how to open the program, and how to use it to record your steps.

Steps Recorder is sometimes referred to as Problem Steps Recorder or PSR.

Steps Recorder is only available in Windows 10, Windows 8 (including Windows 8.1), Windows 7, and Windows Server 2008.

What Is Steps Recorder Used For?

Steps Recorder is a troubleshooting and assistance tool used to record actions taken by a user on a computer. Once recorded, the information can be sent to whatever person or group is assisting in the troubleshooting.

Without Steps Recorder, a user would have to explain in detail each step they’re taking to replicate the issue they’re having. The best way to do this would be to manually write out what they’re doing and take screenshots of every single window they see.

However, with Steps Recorder, all of this is done automatically while the user is on their computer, which means they don’t have to worry about anything but starting and stopping Steps Recorder and then sending the result.

Steps Recorder is a program that must be manually started and stopped by you. PSR does not run in the background and doesn’t collect or send information to anyone automatically.

How to Access Steps Recorder

Steps Recorder is available from the Start menu in Windows 10 and the Apps Screen in Windows 8. You can also start Steps Recorder in Windows 10 and Windows 8 with the command shown below.

In Windows 7, Problem Steps Recorder, the tool’s official name in that version of Windows, can be accessed most easily by executing the following command from the Start menu or Run dialog box:

Steps Recorder isn’t available as a shortcut in the Start menu in Windows 7.

How to Use Steps Recorder

See How to Use Steps Recorder for detailed instructions or you can read a quick overview of how PSR works below:

Steps Recorder records lots of information very useful to someone troubleshooting a problem, including every mouse click and keyboard action.

PSR creates a screenshot of each action, describes each action in plain English, notes the exact date and time the action took place, and even allows the recorder to add comments at any time during the recording.

The names, locations, and versions of all programs accessed during the recording are also included.

Once a PSR recording is complete, you can send the created file to the individual or group helping to solve whatever problem is occurring.

The recording made by PSR is in the MHTML format, which is viewable in Internet Explorer 5 and later in any Windows operating system. To open the file, first, open Internet Explorer and then use the Ctrl+O keyboard shortcut to open the recording.

How to Use Steps Recorder

Document computer issues in Windows with Steps Recorder

Steps Recorder is a tool available in newer versions of Windows that helps you document an issue with your computer so someone else can help you troubleshoot it and figure out what’s wrong.

With Steps Recorder, formerly called Problem Steps Recorder or PSR, a recording is made of the actions you take on your computer which you can then send to the person or group helping you with your computer problem.

Making a recording is extremely easy to do which is a major reason it’s such a valuable tool. There are other programs that can record your screen but Microsoft has made this process very easy and specific to problem-helping.

How to Use Steps Recorder

Open the Start menu or the Run dialog box (WIN+R or with the Power User Menu in Windows 10/8).

Enter the following command to immediately open Steps Recorder:

This is an unusually small, rectangular program, and it often appears near the top of the screen. It could be easy to miss depending on what you already have open and running on your computer.

Close any open windows other than Steps Recorder.

The tool will make screenshots of what’s on your computer screen and include those in the recording you save and then send off for support. Unrelated open programs in the screenshots could be distracting.

Before you start the recording, think about the process involved in producing whatever issue you’re trying to demonstrate.

For example, if you’re seeing an error message when saving a new Microsoft Word document, you would want to make sure you’re ready to open Word, type a few words, navigate to the menu, save the document, and then, hopefully, see the error message pop up on the screen.

In other words, you should be prepared to properly reproduce whatever problem you’re seeing so Steps Recorder can catch it in action.

Select Start Record.

Another way to start recording is with the Alt+A hotkey on your keyboard, but this only works if the program is «active» (i.e., it was the last program you clicked on).

Steps Recorder will now log information and take a screenshot every time you complete an action, like a mouse click, finger tap, program opening or closing, etc.

You can tell when it’s recording when the Start Record button changes to a Pause Record button.

Complete whatever steps necessary to show the problem you’re having.

If you need to pause the recording for some reason, select Pause Record. Use Resume Record to continue without fully stopping.

During a recording, you can also press the Add Comment button to highlight a section of your screen and manually add a comment. This is really useful if you’d like to point out something specific that’s occurring on the screen to the person who’s helping you out.

Select Stop Record to quit recording your actions.

Once stopped, you’ll see the results of the recording in a report that appears below the original Steps Recorder window.

In early versions of this tool, you may be first prompted to save the recorded steps. If so, in the File name: textbox on the Save As window that appears, give a name to this recording and then press the Save button. Skip to Step 10.

Assuming the recording looks helpful, and you don’t see anything sensitive in the screenshots like passwords or payment information, it’s time to save the recording.

Choose Save and then, in the File name: textbox on the Save As window that appears next, name the recording and then select Save.

A single ZIP file containing all of the information recorded by Steps Recorder will be created and saved to your Desktop unless you chose a different location.

You can now close the program.

What to Do With Your New Steps Recorder File

The only thing left to do is get the file you saved to the person or group helping you out with your problem.

Depending on who’s helping you (and what kind of problem you’re having right now), options for sending the Steps Recorder file might include:

• Attaching it to an email and sending it to tech support, your computer expert friend, etc.
• Copying the file to a network share or flash drive.
• Attaching it to a forum post and asking for help.
• Uploading the file to a file sharing service and linking to it when asking for help online.

More Help With Steps Recorder

If you’re planning a complicated or lengthy recording (specifically, more than 25 clicks/taps or keyboard actions), consider increasing the number of screenshots it will capture.

You can do this by choosing the down arrow next to the question mark. Go to Settings and change Number of recent screen captures to store from the default of 25 to some number above what you think you might need.