An Alt to Ctrl+Alt+Del

Yan Cui

I help clients go faster for less using serverless technologies.

Imagine this, you log onto your production server with remote desktop and to your surprise the dreaded explorer.exe process has died and you’re staring at a blank, lifeless, blue screen (albeit not the dark blue variant which would mean something more sinister had occurred!) and there’s absolutely nothing you can do from here..

What do I do? I need to check the log/start a service/etc., the server is running fine otherwise, and restarting it is not an option.. the tried and tested CTRL+ALT+DELETE to bring up the task manager and starting the ‘explorer.exe’ approach won’t save you either because it’s executed on your local computer! Time to recite four letter word paragraphs in your head, directed at none other than Microsoft..

Fortunately, if you’re using Windows XP or later then you’re in luck, because to perform CTRL+ALT+DELETE on a remote PC you can use an alternative key combo: CTRL+ALT+End

Whilst we’re at it, there’s some other useful shortcuts you can use in remote desktop:

ALT + Page Up – switch between programs, equivalent to ALT + Tab

ALT + Home – brings up the start menu

CTRL + ALT + +(plus) / – (minus) – plus takes a snapshot of the entire remote desktop window, minus takes a snapshot of the active window


Whenever you’re ready, here are 3 ways I can help you:

  1. Production-Ready Serverless: Join 20+ AWS Heroes & Community Builders and 1000+ other students in levelling up your serverless game.
  2. Consulting: If you want to improve feature velocity, reduce costs, and make your systems more scalable, secure, and resilient, then let’s work together and make it happen.
  3. Join my FREE Community on Skool, where you can ask for help, share your success stories and hang out with me and other like-minded people without all the negativity from social media.

 

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