Oh no, my remote desktop connection locked me out!
Content: Getting locked out of your computer while at work can be annoying. Imagine being locked out of your work computer while trying to work from home. This can really work a nerve. It’s cool to have the work-from-home option, especially since technology allows us to log into information on our work computers while away from the office. Remote desktop connection service allows users to have remote access to computers with a fully functional keyboard; however, keyboard shortcuts are not the same. Everyone knows how to press Ctrl+C to copy and Ctrl+V to paste, but certain shortcuts don’t operate the same while logged into a computing device through remote desktop connection.
For example, normally you would use Ctrl+Alt+Del to log off your computer. Not so much in RDC. Now this shortcut will lock you out of your computer remotely. To shutdown in RDC the shortcut is now Ctrl+Alt+END. This command will open up the Microsoft Windows NT Security dialog box. Or maybe you want to reach the Start menu. You’re probably used to using the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+ESC, but it’s Ctrl+HOME if using remote desktop connection services. Obviously this will take some getting used to as you log into computing devices remotely. Knowing these keyboard shortcuts will be helpful so you don’t lose any valuable data or get locked out of desktop heaven. At trueITpros, we’re all about results. Check out the list of commonly used commands below to make life easier.
- CTRL+ALT+END: Open the Microsoft Windows NT Security dialog box (CTRL+ALT+DEL)
- ALT+PAGE UP: Switch between programs from left to right (CTRL+PAGE UP)
- ALT+PAGE DOWN: Switch between programs from right to left (CTRL+PAGE DOWN)
- ALT+INSERT: Cycle through the programs in most recently used order (ALT+TAB)
- ALT+HOME: Display the Start menu (CTRL+ESC)
- CTRL+ALT+BREAK: Switch the client computer between a window and a full screen
- ALT+DELETE: Display the Windows menu
- CTRL+ALT+Minus sign (-): Place a snapshot of the entire client window area on the Terminal server clipboard and provide the same functionality as pressing ALT+PRINT SCREEN on a local computer (ALT+PRT SC)
- CTRL+ALT+Plus sign (+): Place a snapshot of the active window in the client on the Terminal server clipboard and provide the same functionality as pressing PRINT SCREEN on a local computer (PRT SC)
*Please note that the above bullet list was provided by a My Digital Life article.*