OT: Any way to log in WITHOUT using ctrl-alt-del?

Coworker can not log in to his computer, since his delete key is broken (laptop so we can't just change keyboards)

Any other way to bring up the login screen in windows? He is using win2K on that system.

nevermind.

Realised I could still plug in an external keyboard.

Pongo: There is no alternative unless, once already logged in, you change the log-in method in control panel (assuming access is granted to this feature).

As for the key being broken, holding the laptop on its side, give a swift flat-handed smack to the area of the keyboard affected and then another one in the middle of the keyboard for good measure!

Not too hard, of course (and not while it's on!).

You can set up the computer to automatically log you in with certain credentials, but you would need to log in to windows at least once to configure this. (Temporary loaner keyboard?) either trough changing the registry, or with TweakUI/PowerToys. Of all any shred of security goes out the window right along with it. Even if its a laptop, you can almost always hookup an external keyboard. If a USB device, you may have to wait a minute or so before the USB driver kicks in if you haven't used it before, so be patient if it doesn't work immediately after showing you the initial login screen.

When logins are required, The CTRL-ALT-DELETE is mandatory since it's the only 'guaranteed' way that you are indeed talking to the Windows login box and not some other program masquarading as it in an attempt to hijack your password. Supposedly the kernel prevents other programs from hooking into that key combo.

If you aren't part of a domain you can use the 'friendly' login screen in XP, but that's not available when you have XP Pro and authenticate on a corporate network.

Anyway, and workaround is going leave your machine wide open to others as well, so you really, really should look at getting a replacement keyboard... (Or carry around a 'normal' external keyboard to log in with)

Plus he did say it was Windows 2000, not XP ;)

thanks guys,... he's fine now. We used an external keyboard to get in, then changed the login method so he does not need the delete key.

Then,... he ordered a new laptop, so the problem will fix itself in a few days!

New Laptop??? Why not just hand your purchasing manager a request for a new keyboard... My Techs do that to me every week... What model?

erm,.... because (take your pick,... all apply)

1. my coworker really wants a new laptop
2. His laptop is about 5 years old already and needs replacing
3. Purchasing manager? That would be my co-worker,... (see #4)
4. He's the boss

:)

Yes, I always thought that. But if you've got UltraVNC running, it has a Ctrl-Alt-Delete button, which sends that keycode to the target computer. And it works. Which I thought was odd.

If it didn't work, and your were running UltraVNC on a Windows PC, the host OS would intercept the Ctrl-Alt-Del combo, so the target OS wouldn't be able to receive it.

There's no way (AFAIK) around this which is, of course, the whole idea of being required to press it in the first place ;)

You can send the combo just fine by whatever means you choose, but since you can't hook your own apps into launching on receiving those keys, you know that the program that pops up is the real login screen, and not a fake...