PowerShell: What if I do this???

In PowerShell we have the ability to see what a command will do before it executes. Image when you were first starting out in IT. Someone told you to type Format C: without telling you the results. Obviously formatting the C: drive is not something you want to do on accident. You can ask PowerShell what would happen if you did _______. We use the -WhatIf parameter.

Let's first get a list of all services running on you client:

Get-Process

You noticed that a process is called BlueToothHeadsetProxy is listed. What would happen if you typed:

Stop-Process -ID 5200

(5200 is the process ID )

You would disconnect your headset. We can use the -Whatif parameter to discover what would happen if we would execute this command without executing it. To do this type:

Stop-Process -ID 5200 -whatif

stop-process -id 5200 -whatif

What if: Performing operation "Stop-Process" on Target "BluetoothHeadsetProxy (5200)".

We can also confirm each step before it is taken:

Stop-Process -ID 5200 -confirm

Confirm

Are you sure you want to perform this action?

Performing operation "Stop-Process" on Target "BluetoothHeadsetProxy (5200)".

[Y] Yes [A] Yes to All [N] No [L] No to All [S] Suspend [?] Help

(Default is "Y")

The Suspend option has its value when you are typing a long command, but then remember that something else needs to be done first. By adding the -Confirm parameter, you can suspend the execute. This gives you a chance to complete the missed step and then to use the up arrows to retrieve the long command and execute it without having to retype it.

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Jason Yoder, MCT

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