When running in the Basic Input Output System ( BIOS), the system incepts the Ctrl-Alt-Del combo and responds by executing a soft reboot. However, Ctrl-Alt-Del sometimes works when the menu option doesn't. The system can also be restarted using the mouse to select Start->Turn Off the System->Restart. The Ctrl-Alt-Del key combination allows the user to terminate the 'hung' application and, if that doesn't work, to reboot the system. When the operating system seems to hang suspended while waiting for an application program to continue, a user is also left without a way to regain control of the system. Specific options vary depending on the version of windows. It also offers a security-related function that allows the user to close a frozen application, or to shut down or restart the computer.

In Windows 95 or any later systems, the Ctrl-Alt-Delete keyboard shortcut brings up the Task Manager window or a drop-down menu that allows a user to see the status of all currently running programs and to terminate any of them. On a personal computer with the Microsoft Windows operating system, Control+Alt+Delete is the combination of the Ctrl key, the Alt key and Del key that a user can press at the same time to terminate an application task or to reboot the operating system.

Microsoft to do deleted tasks