How to Use Problem Steps Recorder in Windows 7

Windows 7 comes with a wonderful feature for report problems to your IT helpdesk or a IT helper to help you, called ‘Problem Steps Recorder’.  This article explains how to use the Problem Steps Recorder in Windows 7.

Most of the helpdesk officers, system and IT supporters or even your fiends would have been irritated by the way you conveyed the problem or how they understand it.  Most of the time we would have wasted lot of  time on identifying problem than fixing them, because of the communication and explanation.

Microsoft has come up with a solution in Windows 7 by Problem Steps recorder to help IT supporter and IT support seeker. All the steps an user trying to do will be captured with explanation and stored as ZIP file to send via email or other mediums.

By the following example you will get an idea how to use problem steps recorder in windows 7 by system administrators and normal users.

Let’s assume one user is trying to download gadgets from online, but internet is not working.  How to Use Problem Steps Recorder in Windows 7 in this case?

1) Tell the user to start problem steps recorder in windows 7, easy methods is Start Button -> Search Box and type ‘ psr ‘ and press Enter 

2) Press ‘Start Record’ and tell the user to do the steps what he/she trying to do which is failing. Let’s assume the user is right clicking on desktop, then Gadgets and selecting get more gadgets online then waiting for the internet explorer to open a website with latest gadgets for downloading. But… nothing.
System capture screens with description what the user is doing, it’s an automated setup, but user also can comment on problems steps recorder process anytime by pressing ‘ Add Comment’

 3) Once the user decided to stop the problems steps recorder, press Stop Record button. Save the file in desired location.

File will be a ZIP file and it contains MHTML file.

4) I just opened the file it’s been created by problems steps recorder, find the some of the interesting Windows 7 problems steps recorder screen shots.

5) As I said earlier, it’s very useful for users and system administrators. Some more additional options also available, such as View the steps by slide show, and view the details with additional information.

6) Some basic settings can be done in user side problem steps recorder such as, recording problems without screen capture and file saving default location.

To go to problem steps recorder settings, click on the drop down arrow, as shown below.

7) Ask the user to send the ZIP file created by Problem Steps Recorder in Windows 7. (If your exchange supports .ZIP files )

For your reference, find the ZIP file created by Problem Steps Recorder here.

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