We will first retrieve the content of the folder using the Get-ChildItem command and then pipeline the Measure-Object command as shown below.Get-ChildItem C:\Temp\ -Recurse | Measure-Object -Property Length -SumOutputCount : 1514 Average : Sum : 372060503 Maximum : Minimum : Property : LengthSo the above output shows that there is a total of 1514 files and folders and the sum shows the size of all the files and folders combined in KB. We can convert it to the MB as shown below.(Get-ChildItem C:\Temp\ -Recurse | Measure-Object -Property Length -Sum).Sum / 1MB 354.824545860291We can get the round figure, [Math]::Round( ... Read More

To run the PowerShell script from the command prompt, we can use the below command.ExampleFor example, we have a script TestPS.ps1 which first starts the spooler service and then copies a file to a different location. We need to call this script using the command prompt.C:\> PowerShell.exe -command "C:\temp\TestPS.ps1"The above command is similar to running individual PowerShell commands. Here we are providing the path of the script.OutputC:\>PowerShell.exe -command "C:\temp\TestPS.ps1" VERBOSE: Performing the operation "Start-Service" on target "Print Spooler (Spooler)". Status Name DisplayName ------ ----- ---------- Running Spooler Print Spooler VERBOSE: Performing the operation "Copy File" on target "Item: C:\Temp\EnvVariable.txt Destination: ... Read More

To run Powershell commands from the command prompt or cmd, we need to call the PowerShell process PowerShell.exe.ExampleSee the sample example, C:\> Powershell.exe -Command "Write-Output 'Hello world'" Hello worldSimilarly, you can call any command. We will use another example to get service informationC:\> Powershell.exe -Command "Get-Service Spooler" Status   Name    DisplayName ------   ----    ----------- Running  Spooler Print SpoolerTo run multiple commands, C:\> Powershell.exe -Command "Stop-Service Spooler -verbose -passthru; Start-Service Spooler -verbose -passthru"OutputVERBOSE: Performing the operation "Stop-Service" on target "Print Spooler (Spooler)". Status Name DisplayName ------ ---- ----------- Stopped Spooler Print Spooler VERBOSE: Performing the operation "Start-Service" on ... Read More

If we want to delete the hidden files and folders from the C:\temp on the local computer, we need to use the command shown in this example.ExampleBut first, the below command helps us to retrieve the hidden files and folders from the C:\temp.Get-ChildItem C:\Temp -Hidden -RecurseWe just need to pipe the Remove-Item command and to remove forcibly use -Force parameter.Get-ChildItem C:\Temp -Hidden -Recurse | Remove-Item -Force -VerboseOutput

To delete empty files and folders, we need to first retrieve the list and which has been shown in the earlier articles.ExampleIn this article, we are using the logic that if we find an empty file or folder we will delete them. To implement that logic, use the below script.gci C:\Temp -Recurse | foreach { if($_.Length -eq 0){ Write-Output "Removing Empty File $($_.FullName)" $_.FullName | Remove-Item -Force } if( $_.psiscontainer -eq $true){ if((gci ... Read More

To get the list of empty folder on the windows OS using PowerShell, we can use the below method.gci C:\Temp -Recurse | foreach { if( $_.psiscontainer -eq $true){ if((gci $_.FullName) -eq $null){$_.FullName} } }The above command checks the C:\Temp folder and its subfolders and if the content is empty it returns the Folder full path. The PSISContainer property stands for the folder and GCI is the alias of the Get-ChildItem command. We can alternatively use the below command, instead of using the PSISContainer property.gci C:\Temp -Recurse -Directory | foreach { if((gci $_.FullName) -eq $null){$_.FullName} }

To get the list of empty files in Windows OS using PowerShell, there are two ways, a) Using Length parameter. We will count the length of the file. If it is 0 then the file is empty as shown below.Get-ChildItem C:\Temp\ -Recurse | where{$_.Length -eq 0} | Select @{N='EmptyFiles';E={$_.FullName}}Output:b) Another method is a long one that we don’t want to go into. We need to check each file's content and if it is empty then we will declare that file as an empty file.Get-ChildItem C:\Temp -Recurse -File | foreach{ if((Get-Content $_.FullName) -eq $null){ ... Read More

Sometimes changes in the Windows environment variable can be deadly because it saves information about user profiles, application information, and OS information. It is always better to keep the Environment backup handy and update that file whenever there are any changes or at the regular interval.Taking up the environment variables backup is easy. To retrieve the environment variable list we can use the below command, Get-ChildItem env:To store the environment variable, we can use the Out-File command with text file but if the particular environment variable length is larger enough then we can’t store it in the text file properly.Instead, ... Read More

The ConvertFrom-String command converts the String to the Hashtable format as shown below.ExamplePS C:\> "This is string" | ConvertFrom-StringOutputP1 P2 P3 -- -- -- This is stringIn the above example, We haven’t specified any header so that the output is separated the delimiter by space P1, P2 and continuous. By default, this command separates the string with a ‘=’ delimiter as shown below.Example$stringhash = @" Name = Spooler Starttype = Manual Status = Stopped "@ $stringhash | ConvertFrom-StringDataOutputName Value ---- ----- ... Read More

ExampleFor example, we have a below-created hashtable.PS C:\> $servicehash = @{Name='Spooler';State='Stopped';StartType='Automatic'} PS C:\> $servicehashOutputName       Value ----       ----- Name       Spooler StartType  Automatic State      StoppedWe need to add multiple values to the Name Key. If we directly append the value to the key it will treat it as a string and we will not get the desired output. See the example below.ExamplePS C:\> $servicehash.Name += "Winrm" PS C:\> $servicehashOutputName Value ----       ----- Name       SpoolerWinrm StartType  Automatic State      StoppedSo to add the multiple ... Read More