Vista - Print screen command not working

For some reason, I can't seem to access the Print Screen command function. I have followed the directions given in MS Help. They say the following:

To print the ENTIRE SCREEN: click on PrtScrn on your keyboard. This captures and stores in the clipboard everything showing on your screen, including opened property menus and dialogues. If you then open Paint you can use the Paste function to see the captured image.

To print just the ACTIVE WINDOW on the screen: Use Alt+PrtScrn... Copies only the ACTIVE window. So, you would get whatever window is open, neatly cut out already, on the clipboard ready to paste in to your favorite image app.

When I click on PrtScrn or Alt + PrtScrn nothing happens. When I go into Clipboard and Paint, there is no image, and the "Paste" command is grayed out, so I can't even access it. What am I doing wrong??? Please help. I have Windows Vista Home Premium 64x and MS Office Home and Student.

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I was having something similar so I installed the Gadwin one. I removed it later because it didn't hide the mouse pointer automatically. Then the Vista one started working again. Maybe it's something to do with registry settings. In any case there's plenty of free ones out there.

Thanks MilesAhead. Actually, I found out the problem. On my laptop (HP Pavillion dv5t) you have to press the Fn key with the PrtScrn key -- I never knew that, so now, problem solved!

It's always nice to find out stuff ain't really broken(unless you spend a lot of time trying to fix it) I still don't know why mine stopped working, but I'll settle for that it does now.

I am having the same problem here as well. Which key is Fn key?

The Fn key is on the bottom row of your keyboard, left side, between the Ctrl key and the Windows logo key.