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Tip: Using the keyboard to access useful functionality in Windows Virtual PC

When you use a Virtual Machine (VM) created using Windows® Virtual PC (WVPC), following keyboard shortcuts would be very useful to make life simple without using the mouse:

Press this key

To do this

CTRL+ALT+Left Arrow

Release the mouse from the virtual machine’s (VM) window (required only when the integration features are not installed or are disabled). You can also use this shortcut to release the keyboard and move focus to the toolbar on the VM’s window.

CTRL+ALT+END

Send the CTRL+ALT+DEL command to a VM. This shortcut is also available while running virtual applications, when the focus is on such an application.

Windows logo key +UP Arrow

Switch from window mode to full-screen mode.

CTRL+ALT+PAUSE BREAK

Switch from full-screen mode to window mode.

ALT+F4

Close a VM.

CTRL+ALT +Plus key

Capture a print screen of the VM display output.

CTRL+ALT +Minus key

Capture a print screen of the window in the VM that has focus.

TAB + Right Arrow

Move to the Help menu from other menus on the VM toolbar. Before you can use this shortcut, you would need to press CTRL+ALT+Left Arrow to bring the focus on to the VM’s window.

TAB + Left arrow

Move from the Help menu to other menus on the VM toolbar. Before you can use this shortcut, you would need to press CTRL+ALT+Left Arrow to bring the focus on to the VM’s window.

ALT+B

Open the USB menu of the VM window. Before you can use this shortcut, you would need to press CTRL+ALT+Left Arrow to bring the focus on to the VM’s window.

ALT+P

Make the VM to go to a Sleep state. Before you can use this shortcut, you would need to press CTRL+ALT+Left Arrow to bring the focus on to the VM’s window.

ALT+U

Wake up the VM from sleep state.

Check out Windows XP Mode RTM Build today, and let us know what you think, either via the comments section here, or sharing your feedback on the WVPC and Windows XP Mode Forum on Technet here.

Rahul Razdan

Program Manager

Microsoft Virtualization Team

Published Wednesday, November 04, 2009 12:22 PM by Prasad Saripalli

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Comments

# re: Tip: Using the keyboard to access useful functionality in Windows Virtual PC

Can't try. Machine got no virtualization support.

Thursday, November 05, 2009 7:12 AM by anonymous

# re: Tip: Using the keyboard to access useful functionality in Windows Virtual PC

Two remarks :

1) Switch from window mode to full-screen mode :  Windows logo key +UP Arrow

Ok it is good but :

Switch from full-screen mode to window mode : CTRL+ALT+PAUSE BREAK

Why not to use :  Windows logo key +DOWN Arrow

Perharps  Windows logo key +DOWN Arrow  is already use by another purpose but in this case don't use the  Windows logo key +UP Arrow for the first function.

Sometimes (and even often) I think Microsoft' guys don't know ergonomic and you don't think to users and to people who must explain to users.

2) in Windows mode, the menu have : Action – USB – Tools – Ctrl+Alt+Suppr

in full screen mode, the menu have : Action – USB – Ctrl+Alt+Suppr

Where is the choose  Tools ?

Sunday, November 15, 2009 7:41 AM by Dominique Gratpain

# re: Tip: Using the keyboard to access useful functionality in Windows Virtual PC

@ Dominique Gratpain

1) Windows + DOWN arrow is the key used by Windows7, hence if you have a Win7 guest it will be stuck. You can change the setting for VM for keyboard and always give it to Host

2) Tools menu is removed in fullscreen so that no other window comes on top of working VM

Monday, November 16, 2009 3:41 AM by vinodata

# re: Tip: Using the keyboard to access useful functionality in Windows Virtual PC

I forgot to precise that I use Win7 Pro with Windows XP mode (with Virtual PC as installed with the download of Windows XP mode).

The two problems I wrote are true when I am in Windows XP mode.

1) on the desktop in full-screen mode, the focus change between icons with Windows logo key +DOWN Arrow.

To go on Windows mode, I need to do CTRL+ALT+PAUSE BREAK.

Sorry but I think that it is not ergonomic.

2) in full screen there is already a pinned toolbar on top with Action – USB – Ctrl+Alt+Suppr  but without Tools.

There is no interest to remove here Tools. Yesterday I was in full screen and I need to use Tools then I spend many times to find it.

Monday, November 16, 2009 6:10 AM by Dominique

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