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-- Ben Armstrong, Virtualization Program Manager

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Virtual Machine Connection Key Combinations with Hyper-V

With Hyper-V we now have the "Virtual Machine Connection" to use when interacting with a virtual machine (unlike Virtual Server which used "VMRC").  The Virtual Machine Connection window wraps the standard Remote Desktop Client and uses this to connect to the virtual machine.  As such - we are now using the Remote Desktop key combinations.  Here is a brief summary of the key combinations that can be used with the Virtual Machine Connection:

Standard Windows Key combination Virtual Machine Connection Key Combination Explanation
CTRL + ALT + DEL CTRL + ALT + END Displays the Task Manager or Windows Security dialog box on Windows (or logs in).
ALT + TAB ALT + PAGE UP Switches between programs from left to right.
ALT + SHIFT + TAB ALT + PAGE DOWN Switches between programs from right to left.
ALT + ESC ALT + INSERT Cycles through the programs in the order they were started.
CTRL + ESC ALT + HOME Displays the Windows Start menu.
N/A CTRL + ALT + PAUSE Changes the Virtual Machine Connection window to / from full screen mode.
N/A CTRL + ALT + LEFT ARROW Releases mouse and keyboard focus from the Virtual Machine Connection window.

Some extra things to know about Virtual Machine Connection key combinations:

  • By default the standard Windows key combinations do not get sent to the virtual machine, unless you are in full screen mode.  You can change this so that they are always sent to the virtual machine (if the Virtual Machine Connection has focus) by going to the Hyper-V Manager and selecting Hyper-V Server Settings... and then Keyboard and selecting the Use on the virtual machine option.  I always enable this setting.
    • Note: CTRL + ALT + DEL will always go to the physical computer - so you need to use CTRL + ALT + END no matter what you select for a setting here.

  • You can change the release key combination (CTRL + ALT + LEFT ARROW) by going to the Hyper-V Manager and selecting Hyper-V Server Settings... and then Release Key and selecting one of the options from the drop down (I usually change my release key combination to be CTRL + ALT + SHIFT as I find it easier to type).

  • If you use the Virtual Machine Connection under an existing Remote Desktop Connection (not recommended - but I do it all the time) the Remote Desktop Connection will grab all of these key combinations before the Virtual Machine Connection gets to see them (even the release key combination).  To deal with this you will need to change the Hyper-V Server setting to allow Windows key combinations to go to the virtual machine, change the release key combination to something other than CTRL + ALT + LEFT ARROW, and use the toolbar button or Action menu of the Virtual Machine Connection to send CTRL + ALT + DEL to the virtual machine.

Cheers,
Ben

Published Monday, January 14, 2008 4:02 PM by Virtual PC Guy
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Comments

# re: Virtual Machine Connection Key Combinations with Hyper-V

Ben, Dose the Virtual Machine Connection, like the VMRC, have a programable interface?

Monday, January 14, 2008 9:40 PM by Wesley

# re: Virtual Machine Connection Key Combinations with Hyper-V

So let me get this right... we now just RDP to the virtual machines and we will see everything from BIOS startup to the actually OS running no matter what the OS is running in the VM... (eg. Linux) ?

Monday, January 14, 2008 9:46 PM by Alan

# re: Virtual Machine Connection Key Combinations with Hyper-V

I applaud the folding of efforts into a single, more unified interface.

I do, however, wish RemoteDesktop was a little more flexible with its key configuration.  I like to use the "application" key as my VM hotkey, so c-a-d is "application"-delete, and full screen is "application"-enter.

Honestly, since they added the application key to the keyboard back in the original MS Natural days, its the first real use I have ever had for the key. (and I am a HUGE, HUGE fan of the natural keyboard - except when they screw with the arrow keys and i/s/h/e/u/d array to "save space"...)

Tuesday, January 15, 2008 12:09 PM by Xepol

# re: Virtual Machine Connection Key Combinations with Hyper-V

Hi Ben,

there is any way to have an x86 Virtual Machine Connection "client" (like VMRC executable) to connect remotely to a VM in Hyper-V?

Or maybe, there are other ways other than RDP to remotely connect to Hyper-V VMs from an x86 client? (I know about Hyper-V Tools MMC, but it runs only on x64 as far as I know)

Friday, January 18, 2008 12:42 PM by Alessandro Appiani
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