Tiny CLI Revisit

For the past two weeks I’ve been working on tweaking and using a CLI-batch file to automate a few post-system install setup-steps.

Nothing dramatic but stuff I got tired manually copying from the network, executing in command-line, etc.

For one of those steps I used the simple “copy” command successfully. However the network analyst working with me on the project had some trouble and tweaked my batch file to use “xcopy” instead.  Fine. I’m not sure what benefit that added in this particular batch file but both worked as coded…

Then the ever-dependable TinyApps bloggist shared his own way-cool experience with xcopy.

• Xcopy Windows to a new hard drive - TinyApps.Org Blog.
• Notes - TinyApps.Org Blog.

That got me thinking not just about the CLI for XP in general (which is what we were working with) but also what changes, if any Windows7 brings to the mix.

So here is a CLI reference dump, updated from prior GSD posts and new material as well.

• Command-line Reference – Microsoft TechNet -- “Applies To: Windows Server 2008, Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows Server 7, Windows Vista”  I guess since Windows 7 Server and “Vista” are listed here then most should apply to Windows 7 desktop releases as well…
• Microsoft Windows XP - Xcopy.
• Command-line reference for IT Pros – Microsoft Windows
• Windows XP Command Line Reference – Microsoft Windows XP Product Guide.
• Windows XP/2000 Command Line Tips – Grand Stream Dreams blog.

…and then there came Windows Power Shell

All versions of Windows 7 now ship with Windows Power Shell as well.  It can be installed on XP/Vista/Sever 2003 and 2008 as well. This allows for some heavy-lifting from the command-line in script format.  Similar to the familiar batch-files, but on steroids.

• Scripting with Windows PowerShell – Microsoft TechNet.
• Windows PowerShell Cheat Sheet – Microsoft TechNet.
• Windows PowerShell Blog – MSDN Blogs.
• Windows PowerShell - Wikipedia.
• PowerShell News – older Grand Stream Dreams post.
• PowerGUI build version 1.9.6 – Only other (that I am aware of) free third-party GUI interface for PowerShell building/scripting. See also their amazing PowerGUI Library of scripts.
• PowerShell Plus from Idera - ($) – Pay product (free trial available) for advanced GUI PowerShell interface.
• English Windows PowerShell course books (Part I and Part II) – free - Schweizer IT Professional und TechNet Blog

• PowerShell.com – very active community location for PowerShell users.
• Free PowerShell IDE - Scott Hanselman’s Computer Zen – link to free and fairly small GUI tool for PowerShell building. Read the post. Be sure to get all the dependencies, then download PowerShellIDE here.
• PowerShell posts – et all  - Scott Hanselman’s Computer Zen – I really like Scott’s style.  This is a link to all his PowerShell tagged posts at Computer Zen.
• PowerShell Scripts Blog – Good source of basic PowerShell scripts and how to build them.

Enjoy!

--Claus V.