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windowswinapiwindows-vista

Simulate Control-Alt-Delete key sequence in Vista and XP

Can I simulate in C#/C++ code Control+Alt+Delete sequence in Vista? When UAC enabled/disabled? How it is done in XP?

Can you provide a code sample that works in Vista?

Solution

  • Existing code to simulate the Secure Attention Sequence (SAS), which most people refer to as control alt delete or ctrl-alt-del, no longer works in Windows Vista. It seems that Microsoft offers a library that exports a function called SimulateSAS(). It is not public and one is supposed to request it by sending a mail to saslib@microsoft.com.

    There is a similar library available with the following features:

    • Works both with and without User Account Control (UAC)
    • Supports current, console and any Terminal Server session
    • Does not need a driver
    • The calling application does not need to be signed or have a special manifest
    • Supports multiple programming languages

    Please note that this library is not free. Meanwhile you can contact info@simulatesas.com if you are interested in it.