1: Windows does let you do this... Have you even tried selecting a dialog window and hitting ctrl-c then pasting it somewhere?

If the error box that pops up does not allow copy/paste, you can take a screenshot with the PrtScrn key and paste into Paint. Save as JPG for posting.

ZellSF wrote:

1: Windows does let you do this... Have you even tried selecting a dialog window and hitting ctrl-c then pasting it somewhere?

No, that just creates a graphical image, not text.

clueless1 wrote:

If the error box that pops up does not allow copy/paste, you can take a screenshot with the PrtScrn key and paste into Paint. Save as JPG for posting.

I know, thanks, but that way you run the risk of passing on the typing to someone else, as that person (someone who tries to help with your query) might need the error message, or part of it, as text, say for a google search. You'd think you could, for example, right-click over the error box, then select "Copy text from error box", and then paste the text into any text editor.

1. When a system errors occur on a modern Windows system, details about the error are tracked and recorded into the administrative logs. You can access these by going into the Control Panel, accessing "Administrative Tools", and going into the "Event Viewer". You may be surprised at the sheer amount of things Windows is tracking all day, every day. For errors generated by programs, it really depends on how the program was written, as most developers aren't really thinking about this sort of thing. Many programs keep log files at the very least which may record these kinds of details.

2. Try altering compatibility settings for the program. If a program immediately closes without generating an error message it means the program is telling itself to shut down for whatever reason, which again, is likely going to be a developer oversight more than anything else, unless the program is actually a virus or malware in disguise. Run it through your scanning programs just to be safe and if it comes up clean then the best guess is it simply doesn't work properly on a modern Windows system.

Kerr Avon wrote:

ZellSF wrote:

1: Windows does let you do this... Have you even tried selecting a dialog window and hitting ctrl-c then pasting it somewhere?

No, that just creates a graphical image, not text.

It definitely does not:

[Window Title] Confirm Save As […]
Show full quote

[Window Title]
Confirm Save As

[Content]
New Bitmap Image.bmp already exists.
Do you want to replace it?

[Yes] [No]

All text. What you get when you copy most dialog boxes in Windows. If you're getting a screenshot from hitting ctrl-c, you have some weird third party program interfering.