Lisa Santika Onggrid asks:
I know how to use screen capture software, but this question intends to address the usage of one when we have no access to any apps, like when I want to show BIOS menu to my friend, or make a tutorial on how to install new OS (the screenshot of first time booting, what options to choose, etc, BEFORE we actually get into the OS)
14 Answers -
Bruce Epper
September 22, 2012I use a digital camera. If I happen to have a camcorder readily available (not the usual case), I will use that plugged into my TV-out jack on my video card to record what’s on my screen, upload the video and grap my caps from there.
I see. Thanks! It’s exactly what I need.
September 23, 2012Great idea. I have always wonder how to do it. guess this is the best way to do! Thanks
October 31, 2012Mike
September 22, 2012As Bruce said the easiest and probably most reliable option is to use a camera.
There used to be a russian project/tool which can create an actual screenshot and store it to a floppy. Not sure if this is still working.
http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?104408-BIOS-screenshot-tutorial.
Another option would be a capture card or hardware where you plugin in the video output of the computer. But it’s both costly and requires another computer or device to take screenshots.
Yeah, it’s really costly to do it in that way. Thank you for the input.
September 23, 2012Surendra Ghanta
September 22, 2012PrtScn may be helpful, not sure. If you are using Virtual machine or Virtual PC, then it would be easy to take screenshots using regular softwares.
On an old Pentium 100, I pressed the Print Screen key and it printed out the BIOS screens, probably though an old LPT1 port. I tried it on my modern machine and the BIOS did not print out via the USB attached printer
.
I did write a web tutorial with my older machine and for the BIOS screens I just scanned the printed screens. If you have a serial port on your machine you might try to use an parallel-serial adapter and see if it works. There is a report on the Web I think I saw that said it worked.
I think Surendra has the right idea. Install Microsoft’s free Virtual PC: http://www.microsoft.com/windows/virtual-pc/. If it is an XP tutorial the Windows XP Mode is free starting from the same link. If it is A Windows 7 tutorial, install a trial version of Windows 7 if you can find it.
Then see if Virtual PC has a BIOS…
September 23, 2012Good software. I’ll try that out. If it doesn’t work, then I’ll use my digital camera as Bruce said.
September 23, 2012Freecycle Me
September 22, 2012I sometimes use a video out to a dvd recorder, then screen capture the images fullscreen when playing the dvd back full screen on the pc. complicated but better quality sometimes.
Good tips. I guess it’s useful when you have to zoom in to smaller details.
September 23, 2012ha14
September 22, 2012if you can log to your pc from another one like with Teamviewer then you can perhaps use screenshot tools.
How To Take Screenshots Of Your BIOS?
http://techforum4u.com/entry.php/3422-How-To-Take-Screenshots-Of-Your-BIOS
That’s surprisingly easy! I’ll look at the options when I log into the BIOS screen again. I wonder if my motherboard use similar key for that function.
September 23, 2012jrasulev
September 22, 2012You can use camera
planetshiv
September 22, 2012Your handy mobile camera or digital camera will do the job.
illegal3alien
September 22, 2012Either use a virtual machine (the BIOS will be very basic) or hook your video out into a video in of some kind (VCR, DVD recorder, PC TV Tuner card)
You’d probably be best off getting an HDMI tuner card in another PC and hooking your DVI/HDMI out to the HDMI in on the tuner card. Then you can use Windows Media Center or the program that comes with the tuner card to capture everything on the initial computer. If all you have is a laptop, you can get a USB tuner card.
I’ll want to avoid using more hardware, but I’ll keep that in ind if I have dime to spare. Thanks.
September 23, 2012GrrGrrr
September 22, 2012a camera or a Mobile camera is the easiest option.
Ahmed Khalil
September 22, 2012only camera or mobile cam
I have tried mobile cam doesnt really do the job
October 4, 2012Mary Rushing
September 25, 2012An easy to use free software is called “Easy Capture.”
I use it for the same reasons & you can capture a
whole page or just part of a window {rectangle}.
http://www.easycapture.org
– Mary
Ricardo
October 11, 2012I’m trying to archive the same thing. I want to capture my screen when I’m outside of Windows like in BIOS, liveCDs, linux etc.
I tryed to use a hauppauge colossus capture card that has an HDMI input but it seems only to capture the other pc’s video when inside of Windows.
I was able to capture my BIOS using S-Video but the maximum quality is limited by 720×480.
I also don’t want to use a camera or camcoder to capture the screen because the quality is not good and it is not a professional way to make video lessons.
I anyone could help, thanks in advance.
kumar raja
October 16, 2012Camera is the Best Option If U have
Abba Jee
November 25, 2012you need a digital camera or you can use dual display to record it through its source if capable