Chapter 2. Meet PowerShell

This chapter is all about getting you situated and helping you to decide which PowerShell interface you’ll use (yes, you have a choice). If you’ve used PowerShell before, this material might seem redundant, so feel free to skim this chapter—you might still find some tidbits here and there that’ll help you out down the line.

2.1. Choose your weapon

Microsoft provides you with two ways (four, if you’re being picky) to work with PowerShell. Figure 2.1 shows the Start screen’s All Apps page, with four PowerShell icons. We’ve highlighted them to help you spot them more easily.

Figure 2.1. You can use PowerShell in one of four possible ways.

Tip

On older versions of Windows, these icons will be on your Start menu. You’ll point to All Programs > Accessories > Windows PowerShell to find the icons. You can also select Run from the Start menu, type PowerShell.exe, and hit Enter to open the PowerShell console application. On Windows 8 and Windows Server 2012, hold the Windows key on your keyboard and press R to get the Run dialog box. Or, press and release the Windows key, and start typing powershell to quickly get to the PowerShell icons.

On a 32-bit operating system, you’ll have only two (at most) PowerShell icons; on a 64-bit system, you’ll have up to four. These include

Chapter 2. Meet PowerShell

2.1. Choose your weapon

Figure 2.1. You can use PowerShell in one of four possible ways.

Tip

2.2. It’s typing class all over again

2.3. Common points of confusion

2.4. What version is this?

2.5. Lab

2.6. Further exploration

Chapter 2. Meet PowerShell

2.1. Choose your weapon

Figure 2.1. You can use PowerShell in one of four possible ways.

Tip

2.2. It’s typing class all over again

2.3. Common points of confusion

2.4. What version is this?

2.5. Lab

2.6. Further exploration

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