How Can I Determine the Default Script Host on a Computer Before I Run a Script?

re: How Can I Determine the Default Script Host on a Computer Before I Run a Script?

Adrian — Wed, 16 Jan 2013 10:48:31 GMT

On Windows 7, as pointed out before, there are 2 'open' command listed under HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\VBSFile\Shell.

'Open\Command' calls WScript.exe, 'Open2\Command' calls CScript.

As to which is the default script host, that's determined by the default value in the key HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\VBSFile\Shell key.

Mine says Open2, ergo it uses CScript.

re: How Can I Determine the Default Script Host on a Computer Before I Run a Script?

Antony Gibbs — Wed, 04 Jul 2012 07:56:44 GMT

This doesn't work on Windows 7, it always returns "WScript"

C:\>cscript //h:wscript //s

Microsoft (R) Windows Script Host Version 5.8

Command line options are saved.

The default script host is now set to "wscript.exe".

C:>"What is my default Scripting Host.vbs"

C:>cscript //h:cscript //s

Microsoft (R) Windows Script Host Version 5.8

Command line options are saved.

The default script host is now set to "cscript.exe".

C:>"What is my default Scripting Host.vbs"

Microsoft (R) Windows Script Host Version 5.8

WScript

C:>

Content of my vbs file is a copy & paste of your script above.

re: How Can I Determine the Default Script Host on a Computer Before I Run a Script?

Martin — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 13:09:43 GMT

This test works no longer under WSH 5.7.

(see social.technet.microsoft.com/.../f0cc29fb-84a6-43b1-ae6e-8776faa8613b)

Now there are two commands for VBSFile: Open for WScript.exe and Open2 for CScript.exe and the default value of HKCR\VBSFile\Shell\ is one of them.

This seems to be a nasty breaking change because the WshShell.Run does not evaluate the default value of HKCR\VBSFile\Shell\ but instead always looks for the "Open" command which is now always WScript.exe.