Windows PowerShell: Frequently Asked Questions

Published: November 14, 2006 | Updated: February 13, 2008

This page includes commonly asked questions about Windows PowerShell. Click a question to view its answer. To view all the answers at one time, select the View all answers check box.

On This Page
About Windows PowerShellAbout Windows PowerShell
Pricing and LicensingPricing and Licensing
Setup and RequirementsSetup and Requirements
Additional ResourcesAdditional Resources

About Windows PowerShell

Q.What is Windows PowerShell?
A.

Windows PowerShell is a new command line shell and task-based scripting technology that provides information technology (IT) administrators comprehensive control and automation of system administration tasks, increasing administrator productivity. Windows PowerShell includes numerous system administration utilities, consistent syntax and naming conventions, and improved navigation of common management data such as the registry, certificate store, or Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI). Windows PowerShell also includes an intuitive scripting language specifically designed for IT administration.

Q.Is Windows PowerShell the same product known previously as Windows "Monad" Shell, Microsoft Command Shell, or MSH?
A.

Yes, this product was previously known by these code names.

Q.When will Windows PowerShell be available to customers?
A.

Windows PowerShell 1.0 is released and available on the Download Center as a free download.

Q.Which versions of the Windows operating system are supported by Windows PowerShell?
A.

Windows PowerShell is supported on Windows XP Service Pack 2, Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 1, Windows Server 2003 R2, Windows Vista, and Windows Server 2008.

Q.Which processor architectures are supported by Windows PowerShell?
A.

Windows PowerShell is supported on x86, x64, and IA64.

Q.Will Windows PowerShell be included in Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008?
A.

No. However, Windows PowerShell will run on both. The plan is to include Windows PowerShell in a future version of the Windows operating system.

Q.
A.

Pricing and Licensing

Q.How much will Windows PowerShell cost?
A.

Windows PowerShell will be available as a free download from the Web. There are no plans to charge for Windows PowerShell. Eventually, Windows PowerShell will be included as part of the Windows operating system.

Q.How will Windows PowerShell be licensed?
A.

Windows PowerShell will be licensed as a Windows component.

Q.
A.

Setup and Requirements

Q.What are the prerequisites to install and use Windows PowerShell?
A.

Windows PowerShell requires the .NET Framework version 2.0. It is available on both the Microsoft Download Center as a redistributable package and through the Windows Update and Microsoft Update services.

Q.How come I cannot run scripts when I first install Windows PowerShell?
A.

By default, a security feature in PowerShell, called the “Execution Policy,” prevents scripts from running. To understand the different execution policies available to you, type get-help about_signing in the Windows PowerShell prompt. After selecting an execution policy, use the Set-ExecutionPolicy cmdlet to set it. For instance, type Set-ExecutionPolicy RemoteSigned in the Windows PowerShell prompt.

Q.
A.

Additional Resources

Q.Is there a newsgroup for Windows PowerShell?
A.

Yes, at microsoft.public.windows.powershell.

Q.Is there a team blog for Windows PowerShell?
A.

Yes, at http://blogs.msdn.com/powershell.

Q.Are there any Windows PowerShell scripts available?
A.

Yes. The Windows PowerShell page on the TechNet Script Center has a number of sample scripts.

Q.Are there any Windows PowerShell training resources available?
A.

Yes. Please refer to the Windows PowerShell blog for more information.

Q.Are there any books available on Windows PowerShell?
A.

Yes. The following publishers have books available:

Manning Publications

O’Reilly Media

Sapien Press

Q.Are there any Microsoft Most Valuable Professionals (MVPs) for Windows PowerShell?
A.

Microsoft has over ten Admin Framework MVPs who answer questions related to Windows PowerShell and other Windows management technologies such as Microsoft Management Console. Additionally, the Windows PowerShell MVPs have a number of non-Microsoft Web sites, including http://thePowerShellGuy.com, http://www.reskit.net/monad/, http://keithhill.spaces.msn.com.

Q.
A.
Top of pageTop of page