Since [finally] switching to Windows 7 from Windows XP I had been annoyed by the multi-step process to reach Windows Task Manager. In Windows XP you would just type Ctrl + Alrt + Del and the Task Manager would pop-up. In Windows 7 (as well as Vista), however opening the Task Manager with the same shortcut requires a couple of more steps: Ctrl + Alt + Del, wait for screen to go blank and for blue screen to come up and click on “Start Task Manager” button.

Easier approach to open Task Manager directly in Windows Vista or Windows 7 is to just type Ctrl + Shift + Esc, and the Task manager will pop right up just like it used to in Windows XP with Ctrl – Alt – Del.