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Summary: Microsoft Scripting Guy, Ed Wilson, talks about using Windows PowerShell to obtain operating system version information from domain controllers. Microsoft Scripting Guy, Ed Wilson, is here. The weather in Charlotte, North Carolina, has been a bit strange of late. There were tornados in Georgia...

Summary : Learn how to keep your Windows PowerShell versions straight, and avoid errors while using a one-line command to add computers to domain. Microsoft Scripting Guy, Ed Wilson, is here. Earlier this week I wrote Use PowerShell to Replace netdom Commands to Join the Domain . It turned out to...

Summary : Learn three ways to use Windows PowerShell to reset the computer secure channel. Hey, Scripting Guy! We have a problem with the computers in our computer classroom. We set up this classroom to teach new hires how to use our mission critical application. We are, however, not hiring as many...

Summary : Use the Active Directory module and Windows PowerShell to move computer accounts. Hey, Scripting Guy! I need to figure out a way to manage computer accounts in Active Directory. We are running Windows Server 2008 R2. I have seen some VBScript scripts to manage computer accounts, but they...

Summary : Learn how to replace netdom commands with simple Windows PowerShell cmdlets to rename and reboot the computer or join the domain. Hey, Scripting Guy! It seems that I have been hand building a number of computers recently for a computer lab we are setting up at work. I have written a batch...

Summary: Learn how to use Windows PowerShell to query Active Directory for computers, ping for status, and display in green/red. Microsoft Scripting Guy Ed Wilson here. While the Scripting Wife and I were out in California speaking to the Microsoft Premier Field Engineers (PFE) about Windows PowerShell...

Summary: Microsoft Scripting Guy Ed Wilson teaches you how to run Windows PowerShell Scripts against multiple computers in this step-by-step article. Hey, Scripting Guy! I am wondering on the best way to cause my script to work against multiple computers. -- LS Hello LS, Microsoft Scripting...

Hey, Scripting Guy! I am interested in using Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS) cmdlets to create users and organizational units. Is this a hard thing to do? I only ask this because I am an extremely busy network administrator who has barely had time to begin looking at Windows PowerShell. I do...

Determining if SQL Is Installed; How to Read Paired Information into a Dictionary Object Hey, Scripting Guy! Being an avid reader of your columns for the last several years has been a blast. I wrote you once before but with no success (in terms of a reply, which was expected, and in terms of not seeing...

Hey, Scripting Guy! We have certain accounts that are local accounts. These accounts are created when the computer is built, and the passwords are set and that is it. For as long as the computer exists, these accounts are never touched, and the passwords are never changed. To make matters worse, if indeed...

Hey, Scripting Guy! We have had a number of changes at our company recently. As a result, our Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS) installation is somewhat shabby. Okay, a lot shabby. When I go into AD DS Users and Computers and look through it, I cannot tell which computers are supposed to be there...

Hey, Scripting Guy! How can I get a list of all the computers in my domain, grouping those computers by the OU in which the computer account resides? -- TA Hey, TA. Well, today is Monday, and the Scripting Guy who writes this column is actually glad it’s Monday. Not that he’s all that excited about...

Hey, Scripting Guy! How can I read a list of computer names from a text file, and then check to see if those computers still exist in Active Directory? -- CL You know, that’s a good question, CL, we – hold on a second. Some of you out there look so sad; why the long faces? After all, the 2008 Winter...

Hey, Scripting Guy! How can I write a script that prompts the user for a computer name, then goes out and deletes that computer account from Active Directory? -- PH Hey, PH. As a general rule, technical writers never experience writer’s block. Why not? Well, writer’s block usually comes about because...

Using Windows PowerShell, how can I retrieve a list of all the computer accounts in my domain? -- TE Hey, TE. You know, several years ago the Scripting Guy who writes this column was playing basketball with one of his brothers. Because there were a total of 5 people at the park they had to play 2...

Hey, Scripting Guy! How can I move a computer from an unknown OU into a known OU? -- DB Hey, DB. You know, a lot of people take a look at system administration scripting and think, “Well, it might be useful, but it sounds kind of boring.” After all, clearing event logs and changing user passwords...

Hey, Scripting Guy! How can I configure a user account so that the user can only log on to the domain using specific computers? -- RB Hey, RB. You know, at one point we had some really good solutions for you; unfortunately, Microsoft’s legal department said no to every single one of them. In their...

Hey, Scripting Guy! How can I count the number of computers in a domain? -- TN Hey, TN. Here’s a true story for you. About 5 years ago, when one of the Scripting Guys first started at Microsoft, his group here (which might not be the most technically-savvy group at the company) needed to get a count...

Hey, Scripting Guy! How can I disable a computer account? -- MD Hey, MD. You know, our first thought when we read your question was to ask our very own Peter Costantini, a scripting guru who’s done a lot of work with Active Directory. For better or worse, however, Peter’s originally from New Jersey...

Hey, Scripting Guy! How can I list all the attributes used by the Computer class in Active Directory? -- KP Hey, KP. Thanks for your question. In response, yes, it is true that the Kirkland Fire, the Colt League baseball team coached by one of the Scripting Guys, won the city championship this past...

Hey, Scripting Guy! How can I change the user and computer account Description attributes each time a user logs on? I’d like the Description to indicate who logged on, and when. -- GG Hey, GG. This is actually a pretty good idea. One question we get asked all the time is this: “How can I get a list...

Hey, Scripting Guy! I need to move a computer account from one OU to another; however, I don’t know which OU the computer account is currently in. Any advice? -- AA Hey, AA. You know, one thing that marks all the great advice columns - Dear Abby ; Ann Landers ; Hey, Scripting Guy! - is the fact that...

Hey, Scripting Guy! How can I delete a computer account from Active Directory, but provide a Yes/No prompt to the user before the account is actually deleted? -- NM Hey, NM. Let’s start by showing you how to delete a computer account from Active Directory. But don’t worry; that won’t take long. In...