Scripting Blog [archived]
Formerly known as the "Hey, Scripting Guy!" blog
Latest posts
Next steps for the official PowerShell documentation
Summary: Learn about changes that we’ve already made for PowerShell content and what’s planned for the near future. Hello scripters! My name is Don Gill, and I am the new documentation manager for Windows PowerShell. With the 2016 PowerShell and DevOps Summit quickly approaching, I thought it would be a fantastic opportunity to introduce myself to the PowerShell community and share some changes that we are putting in place to help you stay more connected with the PowerShell development team, share your feedback and suggestions, and even contribute directly to improving the PowerShell documentation. While I am ...
Use PowerShell 5.0 to create temporary files in the temp folder
Summary: Microsoft Scripting Guy Ed Wilson talks about using Windows PowerShell 5.0 on Windows 10 to create temporary files in the temporary folder. Sometimes it is the little things that make life easier. You know, like a cereal bar … it’s not like a major technological breakthrough but it is much more convenient than getting a bowl of milk and opening a box of cereal and dumping it in the bowl. Or a peanut butter cup is easier to use than getting two bars of chocolate and a jar of peanut butter … neater too. Well in Windows PowerShell 5.0 there are lots of these stealth features that make life easier ...
Use PowerShell 5 to empty the recycle bin
Summary: Microsoft Scripting Guy Ed Wilson talks about using Windows PowerShell 5.0 to empty the recycle bin on Windows 10 It seems that now days when I talk to someone about Windows PowerShell 5.0 they get all excited and go on and on about Desired State Configuration (DSC). Now, I will agree, DSC is awesome. DSC rocks! Even on Windows PowerShell 4.0 DSC was great, but on Windows PowerShell 5.0 it is even better. But … and this is huge … but, there is so much more in Windows PowerShell 5.0 than simply improvements to DSC. In fact, there is lots and lots of stuff in Windows PowerShell 5.0 that have been...
Using the new PowerShell ISE transcript tool
Summary: Ed Wilson, Microsoft Scripting Guy, talks about using the new Windows PowerShell 5.0 ISE Transcript tool. One of my favorite features for Windows PowerShell has always been the transcript tool. I mean, it seems like it was made for Windows PowerShell … I guess it was. What am I talking about? Well, one of my favorite ways to spend time is plugging in various Windows PowerShell commands to see what they might do. Then I try to shorten them, make them leaner, or more powerful, or modify them to better suit my needs. Back when I used to do this on other systems, I would end up copying the command, ...
PowerTip: Find your version of PowerShell
Summary: Learn how to find your Windows PowerShell version easily. How can I use Windows PowerShell to tell me what version of Windows PowerShell I am running? Use the $PsVersionTable automatic variable. To see the major, minor, build, and revision of Windows PowerShell, use the following: $PSVersionTable.PSVersion
Control management pack updates between MS OMS and Operations Manager
Summary: Learn how to disable automatic management pack updates from MS OMS to Operations Manager and limit updates to a specific time window. Hi all, Brian Wren here. I usually spend my time writing documentation for TechNet and Azure.com, but I’ve been hearing about an issue from a few customers that I wanted to address. We’re going to get some detailed documentation out on this, but a quick blog entry should suffice in the meantime. When you connect a management group in System Center Operations Manager (SCOM) to Log Analytics in Operations Management Suite (OMS), several management packs are automatically i...
For the love of Pi
Summary: In honor of Pi Day today, we have a guest blog post written by PowerShell MVP, Doug Finke. It's that time of year again when lovers of math, geometry, Albert Einstein, food, and Windows PowerShell can stop and reflect on that transcendental irrational number, Pi. It's the ratio of a circle's circumference to its diameter or "Hey, can I get a slice of that Pi?". Approximate Pi The best we can do is approximate Pi, 22/7 (go ahead, type that into a PowerShell console). The first recorded algorithm for rigorously calculating the value of π was a geometrical approach using polygons, which was devised aroun...
PowerTip: Use PowerShell to configure BranchCache to run in local mode
Summary: Learn how to use Windows PowerShell to configure BranchCache to run in local caching mode. How can I use Windows PowerShell to configure BranchCache to run in local caching mode? Open Windows PowerShell in an elevated prompt, and use the Enable-BCLocal cmdlet. Here is an example: Enable-BCLocal
PowerTip: Configure a client to listen for content requests by using PowerShell when powered on battery
Summary: Learn how to configure a client to listen for content discovery requests even when running on battery with Windows PowerShell. How can I use Windows PowerShell to configure a client to listen for content discovery requests even when my computer's running on battery? Open Windows PowerShell with elevated permissions, and use the Enable-BCServeOnBattery cmdlet. Here is an example: Enable-BCServeOnBattery