42
5
When I press Ctrl-Alt-Delete I can only open the Task Manager for the local PC.
Is there some simple way to open the Task Manager on the remote PC while running Remote Desktop from one Windows XP machine to another?
Jonas Pegerfalk
Posted 2009-07-20T22:33:53.023
Reputation: 981
66
Right-click the taskbar and click Task Manager. CTRL+Shift+Esc will serve the purpose if its not allowing to click anywhere.
Stefan Thyberg
Posted 2009-07-20T22:33:53.023
Reputation: 3 925
47
Ctrl+Alt+End t
pelms
Posted 2009-07-20T22:33:53.023
Reputation: 8 283
1Nice trick to use after click "Exit Explorer". – Ivan Chau – 2017-08-14T09:07:16.067
??? on what platform is that? Doesn't work on my XP... – fretje – 2009-08-06T14:35:43.793
Opps, Ctrl+Alt+End brings up the 'Window Security' dialog, added 't' for the Task Manager button. – pelms – 2009-08-06T15:17:22.010
This one just saved my bacon. Explorer was shut down from an installation, and restarting explorer.exe wasn't working. I was able to remotely log out and log back in to get the shell back. – xofz – 2018-08-01T20:00:17.120
+1 In my case, the remote machine was running a program which prohibited use of the taskbar and start menu. I was able to use this to kill that process. – p.s.w.g – 2014-03-24T13:22:35.297
26
Or click Start → Run, then type taskmgr.
dwj
Posted 2009-07-20T22:33:53.023
Reputation: 1 384
3I will have to remember. I incorrectly tried taskman... taskmgr taskmgr taskmgr :) – Sun – 2014-10-09T18:08:47.373
3
You can set the Windows key combinations to go to the remote computer and use Ctrl-Shift-Esc to launch the Task Manager.
In the remote desktop connection options for Local Resources you have the option of where to apply Windows key combinations (On the local computer, On the remote computer, or only in full screen mode).
brian
Posted 2009-07-20T22:33:53.023
Reputation: 470
2Ctrl+Shift+Esc works for me like that by default... – KovBal – 2009-07-28T12:19:48.917
1Ctrl+Shift+Esc will work in full screen but if running in a window it will open the client PC's task manager – pelms – 2009-08-06T15:21:44.950
1
If Jonas may have been meaning he had a windowed remote desktop session, and he wondered what keyboard shortcut would open Task Manager on that remote, there is a shortcut for that (not mentioned yet in other answers here):
altshifthome
Since he mentioned using ctrlaltdel, it seems most focused on showing how to do THAT against in the remote (windowed or not), or how to open task manager other ways in the remote. Those are not wrong answers, but if Jonas (or other readers finding this post) wondered if there was such a keyboard shortcut for a windowed RDP session, hope this helps.
I have a blog post with still more such shortcuts for a "windowed" remote desktop: Helpful keyboard shortcuts for working with "windowed" Remote Desktop: switching windows, more
charlie arehart
Posted 2009-07-20T22:33:53.023
Reputation: 151
1
If you just needed to enumerate processes on remote PC, you do not need to establish RDP session.
Take a look at Remote Process Manager http://admintoyssuite.com/l/remote-task-manager--view-and-kill-processes-and-applications-on-network-desktop-computers/
I found this way more flexible than to disturb currently logged on user with RDP connection prompt. Remote Process Manager connects on-the-fly and do not show any question boxes to remote users..
David Herr
Posted 2009-07-20T22:33:53.023
Reputation: 31
David, could you please disclose your affiliation with the product according to the [FAQ]? Excessive self-promoting is not welcome here. – slhck – 2012-11-27T14:45:15.537
1
AltCtrlEsc will work on Remote Desktop.
ashok
Posted 2009-07-20T22:33:53.023
Reputation: 19
I had a solid white screen but was successfully connected via RDP. This answer made my normal desktop appear. Kudos.
Note: further testing reveals that Ctrl+Alt+Esc acts basically like a remote Alt+F4 (close window). – semtex41 – 2017-07-21T03:13:27.787
0
Ctrl+Shift+Esc doesn't work in windowed (non-full screen) mode. Host Task Manager will be invoked.
Ctrl+Alt+End doesn't work in nested RDP session. Menu for outer RDP session will be displayed.
If you need to start Task Manager to rescue your server in nested session / windowed mode - just switch to full screen mode temporary with Ctrl+Alt+Break where you can use Ctrl+Shift+Esc. This key combination will be send to the most nested RDP session in full screen mode.
Other cool tips: https://blog.codinghorror.com/remote-desktop-tips-and-tricks/
gavenkoa
Posted 2009-07-20T22:33:53.023
Reputation: 1 386
0
You have to use CtrlF3.
The details are on my blog: How to Open the Task Manager on Remote Computer or Desktop
How about in an RDP connection to a Mac PC? – S. Mayol – 2016-06-28T20:54:53.200
In my case (Windows 7 local, Windows Server 2012 remote), Ctrl+Shift+Esc was handled by the local system and not the remote one. pelms' answer however, Ctrl+Alt+End, worked just fine.
– nephtes – 2016-10-12T15:42:16.1531Interesting, didn't know XP had that. – RCIX – 2009-07-20T22:51:36.803
2I can't tell you how many times I use that in a day! :-) – JFV – 2009-07-20T22:56:32.250
6Ctrl + Shift + Escape works too, I think Ctrl + Alt + Delete gives you back control over your own computer doesn't it? – Ivo Flipse – 2009-07-21T07:28:07.167