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Ubuntuser
Asked: 2011-02-17 08:59:57 +0800 CST

How to take screenshot on Ubuntu-guest (Virtualbox)

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I am running Ubuntu 10.10 amd64 in a Virtualbox on windows host. whenever i try to take a screenshot by pressing the print screen or by launching the gnome-screenshot option the screenshot appears completely black. any idea how to get a screenshot inside the Virtualbox?

10.10

8 Answers

  1. Best Answer

    Ok guys! I have found out the problem and the solution. :P

    The problem is Compiz and the solution is to disable it using the command:

    metacity --replace &

    Now, I can take screenshot of any window inside the VirtualBox.

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  2. VirtualBox provides a menu option to take screenshots of the guest, View --> Take Screenshot (Host+E). Alternatively, just Host + E (that's usually Right Ctrl + E).

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  3. In Ubuntu guest go to System -> Preferences -> Keyboard Shortcuts. On the following window define a new shortcut to take a screenshot (e.g. in this example ShiftAltP):

    enter image description here

    Thenafter a screenshot will be taken whenever you press your keyboard shortcut. The default setting using Print is not available in the guest (host only).

    Taking screenhots will not work with desktop effects activated, i.e. when Compiz is running (see here for reference).

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  4. A workaround would be to switch to windowed mode and take a screenshot of the VM window contents from the host OS.

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  5. I'm on windows 7 and you can use the snipping tool to take screenshots on ubuntu guest. I'm on a dual monitor setup though.

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  6. I'm on Windows 7 running Ubuntu 11.10 on VirtualBox. Taking screenshots doesn't work for me either, but here's a workaround:

    Press [Host Key] + Alt + Print Screen.

    You can now access the screenshot from the host's (Windows) clipboard. The Host Key is by default Right Ctrl.

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  7. In VirtualBox 4.2.6 with Windows7-host and Ubuntu12.10-guest, I took correct screen shots before installing Guest Addition tools. After this, I get only black screens and desktop background image.

    After disabling VirtualBox 3D acceleration in VM configuration, the problem seems to be gone.

    Now I can use PrintScreen to take the full screen and Alt + PrintScreen to take a window screen shot through the gnome default capture utility.

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  8. for linux host

    Disable "Auto capture keyboard" from virtualbox preferences.

    Main virtualbox window (not running guests) -> File -> Preferences -> Input -> Unselect "Auto capture keyboard"

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