In computing, the three-finger salute is a jocular term for the keyboard combination that forces a soft boot or jump to ROM monitor (on machines that support such a feature). These keys are sometimes referred to in computer manuals as interrupt keys, since they are often used to interrupt the operation of a malfunctioning program. Other humorous synonyms include the "Vulcan nerve pinch" or "Vulcan death grip" from the original Star Trek TV series.

Platform Key comboFunction
AmigaCtrl + Left Amiga + Right Amiga Reboot the machine
some AmigasCtrl + Commodore + Amiga Reboot the machine
IBM PC under DOS and pre Windows 95Ctrl + Alt + DelReboot the machine
IBM PC under Windows (post 95 and NT)Ctrl + Alt + Del, Ctrl + Shift + EscBring up login screen at login (or enter task manager post NT 4)
IBM PC under other OSCtrl + Alt + DelOften, but not always configured to reboot
Sun workstationL1/Stop + AEnter ROM monitor
Sun workstation (serial console)BreakEnter ROM monitor
Apple II family machinesCtrl + ResetEnters the monitor or ROM BASIC
Ctrl + Cmd + ResetReboot the machine
Ctrl + Option + ResetEnter BIOS setup, then reboot
Ctrl + Option + Apple + ResetSelf-test, then reboot
Some Apple Macintosh computersCmd + PowerEnter monitor
Control + Cmd + PowerReboot the machine
Mac OS (7 and later)Command + Option + EscForce quit applications
SGI workstationLeft Shift + Left Ctrl + Left Alt + Keypad Divide + F12
Commodore 64Run/Stop + RestoreHalt (soft reconfiguration) and return to READY prompt
X Window SystemCtrl + Alt + BackspaceRestarts windowing system, logging the user out if using xdm or similar, kills X otherwise
TI-892nd+Left Arrow+Right Arrow+OnRestarts the calculator and resets all settings to defaults.

The "three-finger salute" is named after the one-finger salute, a euphemistic name for a rude hand gesture.

See also: David Bradley


Article based on Three-finger salute at FOLDOC, used with permission.