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I need to send a CtrlAltDelete to a remote machine through Remote Desktop. The CtrlAltDelete is being intercepted by Windows 8, regardless of whether the remote desktop has focus or is in full screen. I'm remoting in to a Windows XP machine, and I've tried launching Remote Desktop through both the desktop and the Modern UI. How can I send a CtrlAltDelete?
I'd rather not install anything on the machine.
Tanner Faulkner
Posted 2012-10-25T16:58:43.010
Reputation: 11 948
464
Try using Ctrl+Alt+End instead.
Graham Wager
Posted 2012-10-25T16:58:43.010
Reputation: 10 589
This only works if the local machine is using mstsc, Running FreeRDP needs other solutions, the Sticky key one was an acceptable workaround for me. – NiKiZe – 2016-04-10T11:35:16.083
Good idea and very handy! However in this particular instance I need a real Ctrl+Alt+Delete. This might end up being all I get though. – Tanner Faulkner – 2012-10-25T17:07:37.057
4I was under the impression that the result would be a "real Ctrl+Alt+Delete". What's missing? – William Jackson – 2012-10-25T17:15:01.527
@WilliamJackson This pulls up task manager. – Tanner Faulkner – 2012-10-25T17:18:45.953
I'm using Windows 8 on my Macbook Unibody Late 2008 and I was unable to do Ctrl+Alt+End using my keyboard (even pressing Ctrl+Alt+Fn+Left). To workaround this, I attached a proper Pc keyboard and Ctrl+Alt+End worked perfectly. – edymtt – 2013-02-03T19:17:38.610
Maybe it works for mstsc'ing to Windows machine. But it doesn't work for me: I want to send it to remote linux. – Andrey Regentov – 2013-03-11T08:27:18.720
17What if you RDP into machine 1, and then use machine 1's RDP to remote desktop into machine 2. How do you ctrl+alt+del machine 2? – user785179 – 2013-03-26T23:37:53.077
2@edymtt Just saw this comment... It's Fn+Right for the End button – Canadian Luke – 2013-06-21T16:18:59.003
36@user785179 on the first RDP session bring up the on screen keyboard applet, and click on the second (inner) RDP session, then click back to the keyboard and press CTRL ALT END with your mouse, which should send CTRL ALT END to the second RDP session. Convoluted, but just got me out of a jam – Matthew Lock – 2013-07-17T08:11:14.137
2On a Win 8 client running vanilla mstsc rdp'ing into a Win2003 server Ctrl-alt-end within the mstsc window does exactly what Ctrl-alt-del would do on the Win2003 server itself... Solved? – sal – 2013-08-22T08:54:00.053
54
If you're using an RDP within another RDP, Ctrl+Alt+End may not work as expected -- it sometimes could bring up the Task Manager / Change Password screen for the outer RDP.
Instead, to bring up the Task Manager / Change Password screen for the inner RDP :
Bring up the on-screen keyboard (Start > Run, type osk.exe)
Hold Ctrl+Alt on the top-level machine and click Del on the OSK.
This should work for any number of nested RDPs.
SNag
Posted 2012-10-25T16:58:43.010
Reputation: 773
This will only work if you are actually able to run a program. In emergency situations when there's no Desktop and no Menu Button, the mentioned Keystroke seems to be the only option. – PoC – 2018-11-25T15:32:55.440
Found this useful for a password reset, using Xfreerdp to connect to Windows. – Sobrique – 2019-03-25T09:33:40.790
49
On a Mac, running OSX, try fn+ctrl+alt+delete
This works with Microsoft Remote Desktop client for OSX.
h q
Posted 2012-10-25T16:58:43.010
Reputation: 631
From there, the 'Restart' option is available under the Power menu in the bottom right corner. – Bill Keller – 2015-02-06T14:00:51.627
18
Scenario: Your PC (node_1) and Remote PC (node_2).
Open the onscreen keyboard Start -> All Programs -> Accesories -> Ease of Access -> On-Screen Keyboard on node_2.
When you want to send ctrl+alt+del, press Ctrl+Alt in node_1 and click del in node_2. (Worked for me in node_1=XP and node_2=Win7)
salsengsangma
Posted 2012-10-25T16:58:43.010
Reputation: 181
15
STICKY KEYS IS THE ANSWER
There is another way which will work regardless of OS and as many nested RDC sessions as you can wrap your head round. With the focus in the inner most RDC session, quickly press the shift key 5 times. This will bring up the Sticky Keys window, and one window for each level of nesting. When prompted to turn on sticky keys, click Yes/Ok for your most nested session, and No/Cancel for the outer sessions. Now with the focus still on the inner most nested session, press ctrl (then let go), press alt (then let go), press delete.
Tadah!
To turn off sticky keys, with the focus on the nested session, press shift 6 times and click No/Cancel.
Brian Galea
Posted 2012-10-25T16:58:43.010
Reputation: 151
This is not an answer to the original question. To critique or request clarification from an author, leave a comment below their post - you can always comment on your own posts, and once you have sufficient reputation you will be able to comment on any post.
– DavidPostill – 2015-02-04T17:15:42.2104I disagree. I don't have win7 to test the solution, but if it works as advertised, it does exactly what the OP wanted. – Dmitry Grigoryev – 2015-05-25T02:28:02.633
Worked for me inside an RDP session within a VMware VM. Thank you! – jocull – 2016-04-29T14:32:30.467
This works. Seems so damn clunky but, it is Windows. The nested RDP sessions are a pain. You'd think they could make an alternative. – andrunix – 2019-07-01T14:57:52.993
This was the only answer that worked for me for a RDP inside a VMWare Horizon session inside a RDP (don’t ask why) – bugybunny – 2020-01-21T10:00:56.580
13
It is CTRL + F1 for people using Citrix.
Janaaaa
Posted 2012-10-25T16:58:43.010
Reputation: 231
8
It isn't a very quick or graceful solution, but if Ctrl+Alt+End doesn't work for what you need, you can open the on-screen keyboard in the remote desktop, and click the Ctrl+Alt+Delete keys with the mouse.
Nick Orlando
Posted 2012-10-25T16:58:43.010
Reputation: 590
2doesn't work with Windows-8 (I'm not talking about RDC). On your Windows 8 system, hitting Ctrl + Alt + Del on would thrown a message asking you to use your mouse and click on the user tile:) – agirish – 2012-10-25T17:15:39.833
@GrahamWager actually suggested this in chat. Unfortunately, it doesn't work. – Tanner Faulkner – 2012-10-25T17:16:53.473
6
You can also try installing Autohotkey on the server, and create a key binding that works to send Ctrl+Alt+Delete without Windows 8 intercepting it. A mini-tutorial is available as well
Canadian Luke
Posted 2012-10-25T16:58:43.010
Reputation: 22 162
Pretty sure this doesn't work. – Bob – 2014-07-15T13:59:36.457
1The OP specifically specified 'no additional software'. – AStopher – 2015-01-06T14:54:21.767
@cybermonkey not specifically, he requested it. Still doable – Canadian Luke – 2015-01-06T15:35:47.580
4
Hope it will help for Windows 8 too.
Problem
Unable to use Ctrl+Alt+Del feature on remote desktop running Vista OS/ Windows 7/ Windows 2008.
Cause
Problems to use Ctrl+Alt+Del feature on remote desktops running Vista OS/ Windows 7/ Windows-2008 may occur due to one or more of the following reasons:
User Access Control(UAC) is disabled in the remote machine running Vista OS/ Windows 7/ Windows 2008.
Secure Attention Sequence(SAS) is disabled in the remote machine running Vista OS/ Windows 7/ Windows 2008.
Resolution
Enable UAC in the Remote Desktop running Vista OS/ Windows 7/ Windows 2008
Goto Start → Run → type msconfig. This opens the System Configuration Window.
Click on Tools tab.
Locate and Click
on "Enable UAP" or "Enable UAC" option item. This opens a Command Prompt window that automatically executes and runs certain process to Enable UAC.
Close the cmd window when done. Also close msconfig window.
Restart the computer for the changes to apply.
Set the Policy :
Execute Gpedit.msc from Run prompt.
Goto "Computer Configuration" -> "Admin Templates" -> "Windows Components" -> "Windows Logon Options"
In Windows LogOn Option , double click "Disable enable software Secure Attention Sequence" Select "Enable" option and "Services and Ease of Access application"
Click OK.
avirk
Posted 2012-10-25T16:58:43.010
Reputation: 15 151
What if remote machine is not running windows? – Andrey Regentov – 2013-03-11T08:36:18.563
Good question, I never thought about it. I think in that situation we have to find another solution. :) – avirk – 2013-03-12T03:35:41.287
1"Disable enable software Secure Attention Sequence" Select "Enable" - had to read that 3 times to understand it! – Graham Wager – 2013-09-19T11:22:27.033
3
CRTL+SHIFT+ESC, process manager skips that window.
In the run window for rebooting a windows server:
Shutdown -r
For shutting down:
Shutdown -t
user236790
Posted 2012-10-25T16:58:43.010
Reputation: 31
Due to a weird situation, I had to RDC from my Mac to a Windows PC, and then from that Windows PC into another Windows PC. When the Explorer on the third PC in the chain hung up, this was the only answer that saved me. – Jamie Brown – 2014-09-11T18:09:20.933
3
When logged into the remote Windows PC, right-click on the bar the bottom, which will bring up a number of options and one of them is "Show Task Manager". Hope this helps.
E V Ramakanth
Posted 2012-10-25T16:58:43.010
Reputation: 31
1That's not the only thing you do with ctrl alt delete – Canadian Luke – 2015-01-06T15:33:54.080
3
In windows 7 hit the start button on the machine you are connected to via RDP and then click the "Windows Security" button which effectively is the same thing as pressing Cntl-Alt-Del.
dgress
Posted 2012-10-25T16:58:43.010
Reputation: 31
0
I also had this problem, with client win8.1 and server windows server 2008 R2. And there was no way to open the screen to change the password remotely because no CTRL+ALT+DEL or CTRL+ALT+END worked both on client and on server. Opening the on-screen keyboard on server also didn't worked and nothing happend. For me, the solution was to open the on-screen keyboard on client machine, then open the remote window and press the CTRL+ALT+DEL set of keys and worked for me.
Samad
Posted 2012-10-25T16:58:43.010
Reputation: 1
3Is this through mstsc? or through the new Mondern-UI app? – Jared Tritsch – 2012-10-25T17:13:54.483
2The special thing about Ctl-Alt-Del is that it's intercepted by the BIOS (hardware) at the local machine. So you can't actually send that. You would have to use some other key combination and send some kind of "reset" command to the remote machine. – Keith – 2012-10-25T17:16:57.707
@JaredTritsch They seem to spawn the same thing. – Tanner Faulkner – 2012-10-25T17:17:53.253
@Keith This was possible in Windows 7. – Tanner Faulkner – 2012-10-25T17:18:14.127
2What is the end goal that you need to achieve by sending CTRL+ALT+DEL ? – frozenkoi – 2012-10-25T22:15:58.220
@frozenkoi My end goal was to log in to the Administrator account on XP. I've worked around it since. – Tanner Faulkner – 2012-10-25T22:24:41.623
Possible duplicate of How to send Ctrl+Alt+End to Remote Desktop?
– Peter Mortensen – 2013-06-17T06:37:39.097