Unofficial PowerShell FAQ wiki

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• Saturday, September 05, 2009 11:26 AMFleet Command

   
  

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  Well, let's start with basics:

  • Q: How Windows PowerShell compares with Command Prompt?
    A: Windows PowerShell is a very advanced command-line interface that can do far more beyond the capabilities of Command Prompt. For instance, whereas Command Prompt could only natively access and operate with file system, Windows PowerShell can access and operate with Registry and WMI as well. Whereas Command Prompt's only automation capability was limited to batch files, Windows PowerShell natively supports scripting and can do things that previously was only possible by creating a new Windows application.
  • Q: Do the same commands in Command Prompt operate the same way in Windows PowerShell?
    A: To tell the truth, no. Although theoretically we have shortcut commands like DIR and CD in Windows PowerShell that are meant to do the same thing in Windows PowerShell, they do operate differently.
    
    For instance, "CD.." just gives you an error message in Windows PowerShell. (You must type "CD .." instead.) "DIR *.*" no longer gives you a list of all files in Windows PowerShell. It only gives the list of all files that have a file extension, seperated by a dot from their name. (You must type "DIR *" instead.) "DEL." and "DEL ." no longer works in Windows PowerShell. (You must type "DEL *" instead.)
    
    The issue can sometimes get worse: If you want to use SC.EXE utility in Windows PowerShell to manipulate Windows Services from within Windows PowerShell, use caution: Windows PowerShell has a native SC command that does an entirely different thing. So, for instance, instead of "SC STOP WUAUSERV", you must consider using "& SC.EXE STOP WUAUSERV".
    
    Windows PowerShell also uses a set of entirely different command-line parameters for its commands. For example, "DIR *.exe /a /s" no longer works. You must consider using "DIR . -include *.exe -recurse -force" to get the same results.
    
    Last but not least, commands in Windows PowerShell operates differently. For example, you can no longer use DIR command to get the total size of files in a certain folder. It does not output this value.
    
    Suffice to say: If you wish to wield the power of Windows PowerShell, learn Windows PowerShell from the scratch.
  • Q: What is the escape character in Windows PowerShell?
    A: Tickback character. (')

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