CTRL+ALT+DEL doesn't work - clean new installation of W11 Pro doesn't react on this shortcut

I have clean new installation of Windows 11 Pro (and then some updates to todays version) which was bundled with new notebook. I set up two local users, installed only several applications - Firefox, Gimp, LibreOffice and ESET antivirus. Nothing more, all from trusted sources so i am very sure there is not any malware.

Desktop seems to be working perfectly, just as expected.

But for some reason Windows does not react on CTRL+ALT+DEL.

But these keys does work in BIOS, so it is not bad keyboard. I tested external USB keyboard too and i tried this shortcut through TeamViewer, did not work either.

So i tried search for any settings... i found some possibilities.

I can enable CTRL+ALT+DEL before login. When enabled it did work as expected. But it did not had any other influence.

I can disable some menu items from that CTLR+ALT+DEL menu which i cannot invoke in group policy, it did not had had any influence either. So i leaved it not configured as it was.

I tried search in registry... without success... Yes i know about this thread and i already check everything in it. How to Remove Lock Computer from Ctrl+Alt+Del Screen in Windows

I have only one suspicion. I tried evade creating Microsoft Account. I really hate when Microsoft forces me to login with using his online service and i will do everything i can not using it. So i tried evade it using OOBE... Can it be reason, why CTRL+ALT+DEL doesn't work? If so, how it does work? Can i reconfigure it to be able use CTRL+ALT+DEL? How else i can evade Microsoft Account? I want preserve my and my users privacy.

A good and interesting question. Please could you fill in your system specs in your profile?

Can you add a Microsoft account user temporarily to see if Ctrl-Alt-Delete works for him/her?

I evaded an MSAccount-linked user account during OOBE as well.
[I used the standard tutorial Clean install procedure, which includes an evasion method.]
I use a local user account.
My Ctrl-Alt-Del works as normal.

Have you got any other keyboard misbehaviour?


Denis

You can convert a MS account by going to Settings/Accounts/Your Info

Try the On Screen Keyboard. Go to Search and type OSK and press Enter. Try those keys with the OSK.

Also, try Enabling the Hidden Administrator account,
Sign Out as Your user account and Login to the previously hidden Administrator account and see if you have the same issue.

Local user here also. I always do sfc scannow and then DISM repair/restore if necessary whenever I get strange behavior. No idea if it might help. Do a reboot if either finds errors and repairs.

No - i cannot fill system specs, because it is not relevant at all. Mostly i am using different computer.

Problematic notebook is brand new Lenovo ThinkBook built on AMD platform, it was unpacked two days ago.

I have some Microsoft accounts which i am using for MS Office activations (to not be coupled with persons), but i do not want it to be coupled with affected notebook. I cannot see a point why i should want to do that. Maybe as really last attempt when everything else will fail?

You can fill in system specs for two computers. It's quite rude to refuse when we are trying to help you!

swec said:

But for some reason Windows does not react on CTRL+ALT+DEL

Click to expand...

I assume you mean it fails on both user accounts.
I also assume there's nothing unusual about your keyboard. Sorry, for a moment there I forgot you'd tested an external keyboard.

And I think you'd have told us if any of the circumstances or actions in Ghot's #4 applied.

swec said:

I can enable CTRL+ALT+DEL before login

Click to expand...

What do you mean "enable"? Ctrl-Alt-Del should not need to be enabled.

Personally, I cannot see procedures like SFC having any effect because there is nothing to indicate that this is a Windows problem.
SFC - ElevenForumTutorials
Similarly, I cannot see it having anything to do with the choice of MSAccount or Local account.


Denis

Try3 said:

I assume you mean it fails on both user accounts.
I also assume there's nothing unusual about your keyboard. Sorry, for a moment there I forgot you'd tested an external keyboard.


What do you mean "enable"? Ctrl-Alt-Del should not need to be enabled.

Personally, I cannot see procedures like SFC having any effect because there is nothing to indicate that this is a Windows problem.
SFC - ElevenForumTutorials
Similarly, I cannot see it having anything to do with the choice of MSAccount or Local account.


Denis

Click to expand...

Wow! It's not like you to be so negative.

Actually, I was trying to be vague.
Unsuccessfully by the sound of it.


Denis

swec said:

But for some reason Windows does not react on CTRL+ALT+DEL

Click to expand...

1 I think it would be worth trying in Safe mode just to bowl out the possibility of negative influences from other software [including hardware drivers].
Boot to Safe Mode - ElevenForumTutorials

I've consolidated all my other comments & suggestions below. Please respond to each one.

2

Try3 said:

Have you got any other keyboard misbehaviour?

Click to expand...

3

Try3 said:

I assume you mean it fails on both user accounts.

Click to expand...

4

Try3 said:

And I think you'd have told us if any of the circumstances or actions in Ghot's #4 applied.

Click to expand...

5

swec said:

I can enable CTRL+ALT+DEL before login

Click to expand...

Try3 said:

What do you mean "enable"? Ctrl-Alt-Del should not need to be enabled.

Click to expand...

Denis

On Screen Keyboard - i tried it, does nothing. (keys are temporarily marked blue, hearable click and no reaction)

On PC are two local accounts now - default administrator was disabled. I enabled it, set password, logged in, then answered questions about privacy, got to the desktop and nothing - CTRL+ALT+DEL does nothing exactly as in other user accounts. User/admin accounts doesnt seem to behave differently.

sfc /scannow i tried before, it verified system and was completed without error.

I tried DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth, it was finished without error too.

Notebook was rebooted several times, behaviour did not change.

Everything seems to be working, notebook is stable, there are no signs of something unusual except it just doesn't react on CTRL+ALT+DEL

I think you've addressed my item 2.
What about my other comments & suggestions in post #12?


Denis

Try an External USB Keyboard.

Spunk said:

Try an External USB Keyboard.

Click to expand...

swec said:

I tested external USB keyboard too

Click to expand...

Denis

-> Try3
Ad 1 - i did try safe mode, it booted in desktop with black background (message safe mode in corners) and CTRL+ALT+DEL didn't work either
Ad 2 - no other keyboard issues, is i wrote, outside of Windows OS (in BIOS / UEFI setup) CTRL+ALT+DEL worked.
Ad 3 - yes, same in all user accounts
Ad 4 - not sure entirely, it seems other shortcuts works (Windows key, Fkeys, its combinations etc...), i did not found that options which is described in linked article, but everything i saw in gpedit seems to be default, in not configured state
Ad 5 - in Group Policy is option where i can force user to press CTRL+ALT+DEL before login dialog, when i enabled it, it worked just fine, i could press CTRL+ALT+DEL, login dialog was displayed an i could log in system, but that was all, i still cannot invoke that menu where i can reboot computer or start task manager when Explorer is stopped for example


BTW... it is Windows 11 Pro - Build 22621.ni_release.220506-1250

Have you tried uninstalling all keyboard drivers and restarting the computer?

Sounds very odd. I don't think it's anything to do with a Microsoft account. Could it be a Lenovo specific shortcut thing?

Winuser said:

Have you tried uninstalling all keyboard drivers and restarting the computer?

Click to expand...

Yes. I did try uninstall Keyboard and reboot. Windows did install it back. Nothing changed.

Have you tried pressing function control alt delete?