Windows 7 Favorite Features – Problem Steps Recorder

Problem Steps Recorder (PSR) is a great tool that can be used to greatly assist in troubleshooting or ‘need help’ situations. As an end user, how many times have you encountered an error of some sort but can’t find the best way to describe the problem to someone if they are not sitting there with you? Or maybe you are learning a new program but run into an issue and the results are not what you expected? How about if there was a utility that could just record what you are doing and then allows you to email that recording to someone who can help you? PSR is that utility.

As a tech, how many times have you had someone call you asking for assistance but they can’t articulate the issue or clearly describe the steps that resulted in the error? End users are not usually up to speed all the computer lingo and proper naming so it can be hard for them to describe what they are doing and seeing on the screen so wouldn’t it be nice if they could just record it and send you the recording so you could see for yourself?

PSR is the answer many end users and techs have been looking for. New for Windows 7, users have a built in utility that will monitor everything they do so that they can send a tech a step-by-step recording of what lead up to the error or problem and any resulting error messages, complete with screen shots.

To run PSR, just type “psr” or “record” into the Start Menu Instant Search box. If you type “psr” you can click on either psr.exe or Record steps to reproduce a problem, both run the same utility. If you type “record” into the Instant Search box, you will only see the Record steps to reproduce a problem link. After you launch PSR, you simply click on the record button, then reproduce the issue you are having. When you’re all done, stop the recording, save it somewhere when prompted (saves in the Desktop by default), then email the recording (it’s a Zip file) to your tech for review.

Problem Steps Recorder is an application that every tech and Windows 7 user should become familiar with; it can save a lot of headaches.

For a short video of PSR being used, you can watch this TechNet video.

There are many more on YouTube as well… example below (Chris Pirillo is pretty exited about PSR).