Don Lueders referred to Snipping Tool for screen shots in a reply to Ron Bayne in a post below.
I thought I'd post this in a new thread in case it might help someone not reading that string of posts.

Here's how to set a "Hot Key" to bring up Snipping Tool for use.

Click on START and type in snipping in search menu.
Right click on Snipping Tool and in the Drop Down Menu click on Properties

A Pop-up Menu will appear and in the Shortcut key: type a letter, any letter you select.
Click Apply then click OK

When you press Ctrl + Alt + "letter" it will bring up Snipping Tool on your screen.

To use just hold down the left button on your mouse and drag an area around what you want to take a picture of.
Then save to a file.

Disclaimer: I use Windows 7 Ultimate.

Bring up Snipping Tool and try to get a screen shot of Snipping Tool image (3rd image down).
Not the image I posted, your Snipping Tool image on your monitor.
It won't work!