How to press Ctrl+Alt+Delete to log into Windows Server in VirtualBox

When loading Windows Server, before entering the password, you need to unlock the screen to continue booting. The screen is unlocked using the Ctrl+Alt+Delete key combination, this is indicated by the inscription interrupting the loading process:

Press Ctrl+Alt+Delete to unlock

It would seem that there is nothing complicated with physical access to Windows Server – perhaps someone does this action automatically, without even paying attention to it.

But what if you installed and boot Windows Server in a VirtualBox virtual machine?

In this case, the Ctrl+Alt+Delete key combination will not have any effect on Windows Server. Depending on the situation, either nothing will happen, or the Host operating system will perform the actions configured for the Ctrl+Alt+Delete key combination (and it is good if this action is to display the shutdown menu, and not immediately turn off the computer ...).

How to insert Ctrl+Alt+Delete in Windows Server on VirtualBox using a virtual keyboard

VirtualBox has a virtual keyboard. With it, you can transmit keystrokes to the guest operating system by pressing the desired buttons on the screen.

1. First, open it in the menu: Input → Keyboard → Soft Keyboard...

2. On the on-screen keyboard that appears, press the Ctrl and Alt keys one after the other (the small lights on these buttons should light up). Then press the Delete button.

Windows Server should continue loading immediately after this.

Now you can close the virtual keyboard.

You can use the virtual keyboard not only during Windows Server loading, but also at any other time. To do this, open it in the same way as shown earlier.

Using the Soft Keyboard, you can transmit any key combinations to the guest operating system.

When you press a special key (such as Shift, Ctrl, Alt, and some others) once, a blue light will light up on the button – it means that the key remains pressed, but will be released after you press any other non-special key. If you press the same special key twice, a red light will light up – it means that the key will remain pressed until you click it again.

How to enter Ctrl+Alt+Delete in Windows Server on VirtualBox using a keyboard shortcut

Another way to insert Ctrl+Alt+Delete is to use the keyboard shortcut provided by VirtualBox. To send Ctrl+Alt+Delete to the guest OS, you need to press Host+Delete. The Host button is the right Ctrl by default (unless you have changed these settings).

So, you just need to press Host+Delete to continue booting Windows Server.

How to type Ctrl+Alt+Delete in Windows Server on VirtualBox using the menu

In the VirtualBox menu, go to Input → Keyboard → Insert Ctrl+Alt+Del.