Keyboard Shortcuts in Virtual PC

In general, the keyboard works the same for a virtual machine as it does for a physical computer, with a few exceptions:

• Some keyboard combinations, such as CTRL+ALT+DELETE, do not work within a virtual machine because of the interaction between the host operating system and the virtual machine operating system.
  
  Note: You can use Ctrl+Alt+Del from the Action menu of the virtual machine window to use the functionality of the CTRL+ALT+DEL key combination.
   
• Additional keyboard functionality is required for Virtual PC to provide navigation among virtual machines and the host operating system.
  
  NOTE: The host operating system is the operating system on which the virtual PC is installed, e.g. Windows XP Professional or Windows 2000 Professional.

Virtual PC provides much of the required keyboard functionality through the use of a host key and key combinations. By default the host key is the right ALT key. You use the host key in two ways:

• If a virtual machine has captured the pointer, you can press the host key to return control of the mouse to the host computer.
   
• When Virtual PC is running, you can use the host key in combination with other keys for specific functions. The following table describes the keyboard combinations and the functionality that each provides.
   

  Key combination	Description
  Host key+L	Restores Virtual PC Console from a minimized state. Moves Virtual PC Console to the foreground.
  Host key+I	Installs Virtual Machine Additions.
  Host key+ENTER	Toggles a virtual machine between full-screen mode and window mode.
  Host key+DELETE	Sends CTRL+ALT+DELETE to the virtual machine operating system.
  Host key+P	Pauses or resumes the virtual machine, depending upon its current state.
  Host key+R	Resets the virtual machine.
  Host key+F4	Closes the virtual machine.
  Host key+C	Copies the selected items.
  Host key+V	Pastes a copied item.
  Host key+A	Selects all.
  Host key+E	Opens the virtual machine settings.
  Host key+DOWN ARROW	Minimizes the virtual machine.
  Host key+LEFT ARROW	Switches to the previous virtual machine when running multiple virtual machines, unless you are using full-screen mode.
  Host key+RIGHT ARROW	Switches to the next virtual machine when running multiple virtual machines, unless you are using full-screen mode.