For many people the phrase "Screen shot" is about as foreign as the phrase "Mi aerodeslizador está lleno de anguilas ." But it should become as common in your tech-repertoire as "Please" and "thank you."

If you’re using a windows based system you can take the following types of screen shots:

• Take a picture of the entire screen : Print screen.
• Take a picture of the currently active (or on-top) window : alt+shift+print screen.

When you’re done you can open Word, Wordpad, MS Paint or any other application that will allow you to insert an image. Press ctrl+v to paste the image. Save the file in a memorable location and email it as an attachment to your tech consultant or geek-friend and it might be that much easier for him or her to figure out what is going on.

Things are a little bit different if you’re using an apple system running Mac OS X. At the basic level:

• Take a picture of the entire screen : Command+Shift+3
• Take a picture of the area you select : Command+Shift+4

These commands will save the document to your desktop. From here you can attach the file using Mac Mail and email it to your tech consultant or geek-friend.