Print screen quit working

Two problem began about the same time. First thing I noticed ..I use to be able to copy text then open word and paste them. Now I have to open word first or it dosent copy and wont paste in word.
2nd thing is I can't get the print screen to work.
Are these two problems related somehow?
What do I need to do to figure out what's happened to cause theses problems?

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Lifes A H00T.

Well when you hit Print Screen it uses the clipboard to store the image, so that could be a problem.
What happens if you have Word open and hit Print Screen?

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The cursor blinks and that is it even with word open.

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Lifes A H00T.

Does it actually copy the picture to the clipboard?

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Sorry I don't understand the question. All I know is it dosent seem to do anything. I do know what's suppose to happen....what use to happen...the window opened with the image of my desk top and I could save it. Now when I push the Print screen button on my key board nothing happens. No window opens nothing is copied.
Is there some way a spy ware program or firewall could be preventing it from working or can it some how be uninstalled? Can it be reinstalled somehow? What runs the clip board? Is it part of another program?
I have tried restarting my PC but that didn't help.

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Lifes A H00T.

Occam would first ask: have you tried another keyboard?

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No but what are the odds it just has one key not working besides when you push the print screen key the ...arrow not cursor like I said earlier...sorry... starts flashing and quits flashing when you stop pushing the key. Plus I use my mouse to copy and paste not the key board so I don't see it being the keyboard. Thanks for the try though......

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Lifes A H00T.

Umm..by default when you press Print Screen, no windows should popup and the cursor shouldn't flash. I just tested it-when you press Print Screen on my PC's nothing flickers.
On your computer press Print Screen then open up Paint (Start, Run, mspaint, Enter) and click Edit, then Paste. Does anything show up?

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Well I'll be darned. That worked but I swear to you I didn't use to have to do that. I just pressed the PS key before and a window with choices like save , print to file ..like that came up. This will get the job done though so thanks very much.

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Lifes A H00T.