pwshguy

Blogs, Articles, and Posts

• PowerShell Automatic Variables: Special Variables Built into PowerShell
  Learn about PowerShell's automatic variables - built-in special variables that serve specific purposes. Discover how to work with history limits, constants, exit codes, and null values.
• Install and manage VM watch on Azure Virtual Machines
  Microsoft announced the public preview of VM watch, a new in-VM service designed for Azure Virtual Machines (VMs) and Virtual Machine Scale Sets (VMSS). This service aims to enhance VM health monitoring by offering standardized, lightweight, and flexible in-VM health checks that connect seamlessly with Azure's monitoring and AIOps systems.
• How to Verify a File Hash (Checksum) on Windows
  Checking a downloaded file’s hash (checksum) allows verifying its integrity and ensuring that the file contents have not been modified. Administrators commonly use MD5/SHA256 checksum verification for downloaded OS distros…
• Use PowerShell to check if (shortened) URL link is safe
  It just happens a lot: you receive a (shortened) URL and are unsure if it's safe to open. Sometimes, I open it in Windows Sandbox or use the urlscan.io website. In this blog post, I will show you how you can automate the check of a URL and see if it's safe or not :)
• Activating PIM Roles that require MFA or Conditional Access Authentication Context with PowerShell
  For some time, I’ve been activating and scheduling activations for Azure roles under Privileged Identity Management (PIM) using the Microsoft Graph PowerShell SDK. However recently we secured these role activations to require a conditional access authentication context with MFA. This basically requires me to MFA when I activate a role with PIM. Problem is, by … Continue reading Activating PIM Roles that require MFA or Conditional Access Authentication Context with PowerShell →
• Loading PowerShell Custom Functions: Profiles, Dot-Sourcing, and Modules
  PowerShell is a versatile scripting environment that allows users to extend its capabilities by creating custom functions. Once written, you can load these PowerShell custom functions into your session or environment for reuse. Here are four common methods to load custom functions in PowerShell.

Projects, Scripts, and Modules

• get-xkcdpassword v 0.0.4
  A PowerShell module for generating memorable XKCD-style passwords.

Community

• Jordan Returns: A Fun Dive into Life, PowerShell, and Beyond
  In this special episode, we catch up with our former cohost, Jordan, and hear about his journey since leaving the PowerShell Podcast. Jordan shares an exciting life update, offers invaluable advice on how PowerShell has shaped his career and participates in our fun "This or That" segment.

Fun

• Realtime BlueSky, but only the emoji video
  Made with PowerShell and the bluesky websocket

Events

• Turn PowerShell Into Your Excel Automation Machine
  Friday, December 13, 2024 - Join Doug Finke, the creator behind the PowerShell ImportExcel module (downloaded over 8 million times), for an exclusive dive into Excel automation. Learn from the creator himself and discover how to turn tedious Excel tasks into seamless PowerShell solutions, gaining insider insights directly from the source.
• PowerShell Conference Europe 2025 Call for Speakers
  Call closed on 15 Dec 2024

Check out psweekly.dowst.dev for all past editions as well as a searchable archive.

Announcements!

• PowerShell 7.5 RC-1 is now available
  Come and get the latest RC release!
• Announcing the Public Preview of AI Shell
  We are pleased to announce the public preview of AI Shell.

Blogs, Articles, and Posts

• How to Query REST APIs with PowerShell: A Practical Guide
  Learn how to use PowerShell to query REST APIs, parse JSON responses, and build a reusable tool for working with web services. This hands-on tutorial covers Invoke-RestMethod, error handling, and creating custom output objects.
• GitHub Actions and PowerShell: The Underdog
  Remember how I mentioned how GitHub actions are underrated? I’m going to show at a high level how GitHub Actions with PowerShell can save you time and be more efficient. What does it do? It does that automatically once every day, I could do it more, but didn’t think it was necessary.
• PowerShell Copy-Item with Folder Structure
  In this tutorial, I will explain how to use PowerShell’s Copy-Item cmdlet to copy files and folders while maintaining their original structure. This is a common task for system administrators and developers who need to manage file systems efficiently. You will learn here how to use the PowerShell Copy-Item cmdlet to efficiently copy files
• Using the Fluent Theme in WPF with PowerShell and .Net 9
  For a long time, adding a modern design theme to your WPF project typically meant adding a 3rd party library to provide the styling, such as MahApps Metro, or WPF UI. With the release of .Net 9, a Fluent theme is finally coming to WPF! There are still areas where 3rd party libraries will be … Continue reading Using the Fluent Theme in WPF with PowerShell and .Net 9
• Conditional Access Gallery - Point, Select, and Deploy in Minutes
  With my new Conditional Access Gallery tool Invoke-DCConditionalAccessGallery in DCToolbox you can pick and choose from any of 25+ available Conditional Access templates included, and the tool will auto-deploy them in your tenant (report-only mode), automatically create all dependencies like groups, named locations, and terms of use agreements, and finally document your new policy design
• Upgrading your Azure Function Apps to run on PowerShell 7.4
  PowerShell language worker for Azure Functions. Contribute to Azure/azure-functions-powershell-worker development by creating an account on GitHub.

Projects, Scripts, and Modules

• PowerHuntShares
  PowerHuntShares is an audit script designed in inventory, analyze, and report excessive privileges configured on Active Directory domains.

Books, Media, and Learning Resources

• PwshSpecteConsole with Shaun Lawrie
  Shaun Lawrie talks to the Pacific Powershell User Group about PwshSpectreConsole.
• GitHub Pages with PowerShell
  The Pacific Powershell User Group talks about GitHub Pages and PowerShell and demonstrates PSJekyll.
• Get-EventSession
  Script to assist in downloading Microsoft Ignite, Inspire, Build or MEC contents or return session information for easier digesting.

Community

• Growth, Grit, and Community with Steven Judd & Kevin Laux
  In this episode of the PowerShell Podcast, we sit down with Steven Judd and Kevin Laux for insights and inspiration from the PowerShell community. Steven shares his experiences overcoming the hurdles of live demos, recounts the highlights of PowerShell Saturday NC, and reveals the story behind his iconic bling and love for puns. He delves into the importance of "practice makes progress," encouraging listeners to embrace growth through consistent effort. Kevin Laux joins the conversation to discuss his journey with PowerShell, his role with the Research Triangle PowerShell User Group (RTPSUG), and the impact of community involvement.

Fun

• First Snowfall of the Season
  First snowfall in NY! Tell me about the first time PowerShell just clicked… what was that moment?

Check out psweekly.dowst.dev for all past editions as well as a searchable archive.

Blogs, Articles, and Posts

• Powershell and the Left Hand Side
  A new article, to talk about an important notion in Powershell, the Left Hand Side (LHS) notion.
• Manage PIM Role Assignments with PowerShell
  This article describes how to create eligible and active PIM role assignment requests using cmdlets from the Microsoft Graph PowerShell SDK.
• How to install PowerShell 7 and essential tools on macOS
  As you prepare for the OnRamp track at the PowerShell + DevOps Global Summit, this guide walks you through installing the essential tools on your macOS system, if that's your preferred operating system. You'll learn to install PowerShell version 7, Visual Studio Code, and the PowerShell extension for VS Code to ensure your system is prepared for the event.
• GitHub and PowerShell: The Underdog
  Remember how I mentioned how GitHub actions are underrated? I’m going to show at a high level how GitHub Actions with PowerShell can save you time and be more efficient. What does it do? It does that automatically once every day, I could do it more, but didn’t think it was necessary.
• Install and enable SSH on Windows Server 2025
  Windows Server 2025 comes with SSH pre-installed, making secure remote server management easier for administrators. This is especially helpful when accessing servers from macOS or Linux machines or Windows computers not part of the Active Directory domain, as enabling PowerShell remoting can be complicated in this scenario. By default, SSH on Windows Server 2025 uses password authentication, which you should change to public key authentication for enhanced security.
• Introducing a Custom 'map' Function in PowerShell for Functional Programming
  I built the custom map function to enable processing multiple arrays with ease. Simplify your scripts by applying transformations simply and flexibly.
• How Can You Effortlessly Restart or Shutdown Windows Using PowerShell Commands?
  In Windows PowerShell, you have two main commands for controlling shutdown and restart functions: Restart-Computer and Stop-Computer. Each command can
• New PowerShell Threat: Infiltrating Networks with Advanced Techniques
  In a recent discovery, Cyble Research and Intelligence Lab (CRIL) detailed a complex, multi-stage PowerShell campaign that employs several advanced techniques to infiltrate networks, maintain persistence, and enable covert communications.

Projects, Scripts, and Modules

• CMHealthcheck v 1.0.30
  ConfigMgr healthcheck reporting
• linuxtools v 1.0.12
  An experimental PowerShell module for Linux nerds. Because: why not?
• PSBluesky
  A set of PowerShell 7 commands that use the BlueSky API. You can skeet and upload images from a PowerShell prompt as well as view your feed and timeline.

Community

• PowerShell, Microsoft Graph, and MVP Wisdom with Christian Ritter
  Join us as we chat with Microsoft MVP Christian Ritter about all things PowerShell and beyond! Christian dives into his journey to becoming an MVP, his insights on Microsoft Graph, and the impact it's having in the PowerShell community. We also explore the growing PowerShell community in Germany and get an exciting preview of the upcoming PowerShell Saturday event. Whether you’re a PowerShell novice or a seasoned pro, this episode has something for everyone
• PowerShell + DevOps Global Summit 2025 Call for Proposals (CFP)
  Submissions are due by midnight tonight.
• Celebrating 18 Years Of PowerShell - An Inside IT Automation LIVE Special
  Come watch the replay of a livestream celebration for PowerShell's 18th birthday. Hear stories, tips, learnings and a look back at how PowerShell has grown into this amazing IT automation technology it is today.

Fun

• How do you pronounce regex?
  Join the conversation and submit your answer today.

Check out psweekly.dowst.dev for all past editions as well as a searchable archive.

Blogs, Articles, and Posts

• How to Use the Graph SDK to Manage Group-Based Licensing
  Group-based licensing is a mechanism to make it easier to assign and mange product licenses for large sets of user accounts. In this article, we discuss how to use Microsoft Graph PowerShell SDK cmdlets to manage group-based license assignments in a Microsoft 365 tenant. Assigning licenses to groups is very much like direct assignments, but some differences exist.
• PowerShell: (Parameter) Splatting explained
  It often happens that you have many, many parameters in PowerShell. The command then extends over several lines. That doesn’t look pretty.
• Using The PowerShell Pipeline Like a Pro
  Learn how to use the PowerShell pipeline effectively in this hands-on tutorial. Discover how to chain commands together, check pipeline support, and write more efficient PowerShell code.
• How to Disable Power Apps Permissions PopUp Consent Form? [Using PowerShell]
  While sharing Power Apps applications with end users, we might get a consent popup message like the one below. This message asks the user permission to establish a new connection to the application. So, the user needs to connect to whatever connectors the app maker used for that application.
• Restrict non-admin access to the Microsoft Entra portal with PowerShell
  Learn how to restrict non-admin users access to the Microsoft Entra admin portal using Microsoft Graph PowerShell.

Projects, Scripts, and Modules

• WinPostInstall: Windows Post Install script written in PowerShell
  A little Post Install PowerShell script that I made for myself. The script takes care of some commont tasks that most will do anyway after a fresh install.
• ProcessEx: Exposes the Windows Process creation Win32 functions in PowerShell
  Exposes the Windows Process creation Win32 functions in PowerShell - jborean93/ProcessEx

Books, Media, and Learning Resources

• PowerShell Class Episode #5
  PowerShell Class, Where-Object, Select-Object, Sort-Object and Export-CSV

Community

• The Importance of Community in Tech. Mike Kanakos and Phil Bossman
  In this episode, we dive into all things community and PowerShell Saturday, from preparation and organization to the impact of community-driven events on career growth. We chat about what led up to the big day, our personal experiences, and why attending conferences, user groups, and community events can be game-changing for anyone in tech. Find your next step and be the community!
• Celebrating 18 Years Of PowerShell - An Inside IT Automation LIVE Special
  Join us for PowerShell's 18th Anniversary Celebration!

Check out psweekly.dowst.dev for all past editions as well as a searchable archive.

Announcements!

• Announcing Microsoft.PowerShell.PlatyPS 1.0.0-Preview1
  We are pleased to announce the release of Microsoft.PowerShell.PlatyPS 1.0.0-Preview1, a tool to build PowerShell help files.

Blogs, Articles, and Posts

• GitHub Copilot in Windows Terminal
  GitHub Copilot users can now use the power of GitHub Copilot to get command suggestions and explanations without leaving the terminal with Terminal Chat in Windows Terminal Canary 🚀 This is available for all GitHub Copilot Individual, Business, and Enterprise customers. To get started, sign up for a GitHub Copilot free trial and check out […]
• Creating an AWS SSL Certs from Scratch (CLI and PowerShell)
  Learn how to create SSL certificates in AWS Certificate Manager using the AWS CLI. This tutorial walks through setting up permissions, requesting a certificate, and verifying its creation.
• Export Complex PowerShell Objects to CliXML: A Practical Guide
  Learn how to export complex, nested PowerShell objects to CliXML while preserving their structure and relationships. Follow along with a real-world example using workout program data.
• Dell Command Update – Install & Manage via PowerShell
  So if you haven’t read my last post yet, Dell Command Update – pulling back the curtains – GARYTOWN ConfigMgr Blog, you should, as I go into how Dell Command Update (DCU) gets it’s feed of information under the hood. That is the basis for a lot of things I’ll be doing. In this post, ... Read more
• Popping Toast Notifications in PowerShell Core
  If you’ve ever popped a toast notification in PowerShell using the Windows Runtime (WinRT), you’ve probably discovered that, whilst it works fine in PowerShell 5, it doesn’t work at all in PowerShell Core (5/6/7+). That’s because the WinRT assemblies are not included in PowerShell Core – WinRT is an exclusively Windows thing
• Powershell - Managing disks, partitions and volumes
  How to manage disks, partitions and volumes in Powershell
• How to bypass Microsoft Graph PowerShell access restrictions
  Learn how to bypass Microsoft Graph PowerShell access restrictions and gain full directory access using PowerShell.

Projects, Scripts, and Modules

• Show-PSRunObject: function to inspect objects
  Example function to inspect objects interactively. It shows what methods and properties the passed object has. You can go down/up the object hierarchy with key presses.
• WinPostInstall
  Windows Post Install script written in PowerShell
• PSBluesky
  If you are a Bluesky user, I'm working on a PowerShell module so that you can do things like post from a PowerShell prompt. Not ready to publish to the PSGallery, but the module is stable enough for you to kick the tires.
• PSAPIClient v 1.1.0
  This Powershell module is a wrapper for the use of one or more API(s). Each API can be configured and addressed independently. This allows easy use of multiple APIs within a session.

Books, Media, and Learning Resources

• Learning PowerShell using Microsoft Learn
  This week, I posted a link to the PowerShell courses/learning paths on Microsoft Learn for PowerShell; I did that because there is so much material to learn from and use as a reference/help system. In this blog post, I will show you your options at Microsoft Learn to improve your PowerShell skills.

Community

• Listener Voices: Reflections on PowerShell Saturday NC with Rafael Garcia, Kevin O'Connor, and Ryan Park
  In this special episode of the PowerShell Podcast, recorded at PowerShell Saturday NC, we sit down with Rafael Garcia and Kevin O'Connor to discuss their experiences at the conference. They share their key takeaways, favorite sessions, and the excitement of connecting with the PowerShell community in person.
• Inside IT Automation | E17
  Chrissy LeMaire talks about PowerShell, AI, dbatools and more
• Best & Worst Help Desk Software, Top PowerShell Modules, and a PDQ AMA!
  This week on PDQ LIVE, there’s a cornucopia of IT goodness. Do you have a favorite or least favorite help desk software solution? We’ll sift through the good, the bad, and the necessary. Our PowerShell MVP, Andrew, will show us his favorite PowerShell modules.

Fun

• Beware the PowerShell Oracle
  A PowerShell WPF script to generate a magic oracle. All in good fun. - MagicOracle.ps1

Check out psweekly.dowst.dev for all past editions as well as a searchable archive.

Blogs, Articles, and Posts

• Automating VM Deployment in Azure with PowerShell
  Learn how to automate the deployment of a Windows VM on Azure using PowerShell. This guide covers network setup, NSG rules, and IIS installation.
• Get Active Directory ports with PowerShell
  Active Directory services communicate over specific ports needed for authentication, replication, and other directory services. Knowing these ports is crucial for configuring firewalls, ensuring secure communication, and troubleshooting network issues related to Active Directory services. This post will teach you how to get the Active Directory ports with PowerShell.
• How to Set Directory Synchronization Features with the Graph
  Directory synchronization features control how the Entra Connect tool works when synchronizing accounts from Active Directory to Entra ID. The current advice is to use a cmdlet from the depreciated MSOL module to update settings. This article explains how to do the job with the Graph APIs, including cmdlets from the Entra PowerShell module.
• Automating Sign-In Analysis with PowerShell and Microsoft Graph
  In this article, we'll walk through how to explore and analyze Conditional Access data in Microsoft Entra using the Developer Tools in your browser. The purpose of this walkthrough is to demonstrate how you can identify and extract the necessary Microsoft Graph API calls directly from the Entra portal, providing a foundation for automating this process with PowerShell.
• List all EEEU and Anonymous links for SharePoint and OneDrive!
  A colleague of mine asked me before the weekend if I knew if there was a way to list all Everyone Except External Users and Anonymous links for OneDrive for Business. He had written a PowerShell script but had some errors.
• Practical PowerShell: The Dark Power of Dynamic Parameters
  In this episode of Practical PowerShell, we dive into the dark power of dynamic parameters, and how to use them within in functions and scripts.

Projects, Scripts, and Modules

• Get-ConditionalAccessSignIn.ps1
  The Get-ConditionalAccessSignIn function retrieves Conditional Access Sign-In logs from the Microsoft Graph API within a specified date range.
• Automating Wireshark in Windows
  For advanced scenarios where you need to automate running Wireshark at scale
• PSAzureVirtualDesktop v 1.0.3
  Build Azure AVD POCs

Community

• Cross-Platform PowerShell and Sending Emails with Frank Lesniak & Neha Patil
  In this episode of the PowerShell Podcast, we dive into the world of cross-platform PowerShell with Frank Lesniak, who shares insights from his recent talk at PowerShell Saturday NC. Frank explores some unique use cases for PowerShell across different platforms and opens up about his interests beyond the scripting language.
• BlueSky PowerShell Community starter pack
  If you're part of the exodus from X to Bluesky and you like PowerShell and automation, check out this PowerShell Community starter pack.

Events

• PowerShell AI Build Hour - Doug Finke
  Friday, October 25, 2024 - 12:30 PM to 1:30 PM EDT

Check out psweekly.dowst.dev for all past editions as well as a searchable archive.

Blogs, Articles, and Posts

• Convert to Azure Premium SSD v2 Disks with PowerShell
  Azure Premium SSD v2 disks, currently in public preview, provide enhanced throughput and IOPS at a lower cost than earlier versions. You can convert existing disks to Premium SSD v2 using PowerShell. However, it's crucial to understand the specific limitations and requirements beforehand.
• Manage Your SharePoint Online Environment with PnP PowerShell
  In this article, we explain how to get started using PnP PowerShell, and review some practical examples of where the module can immediately add value for tenant administrators.
• Duplicate Drivers from a ConfigMgr Boot Image
  When creating new boot images in ConfigMgr, you often want to copy drivers from an older boot image. If you have many drivers added, it's way quicker to do that in PowerShell compared to comparing drivers in the boot image drivers tab.
• Query WinGet software installer data with PowerShell
  I'm a big fan of WinGet, and the software available in their ecosystem is growing daily. Still, I'm always curious about what WinGet will download and how it does the silent install of the specified software. In this blog post, I will show you an easy way of retrieving that data :)
• Automating Performance Monitor in Windows
  For advanced scenarios where you need to automate running Perfmon at scale
• Type less by using PowerShell type accelerators
  I had heard the PowerShell term “type accelerators” a few times, but never really knew what that meant. I finally decided to check out the about_Type_Accelerators docs and it turns out they’re simply aliases for .NET types.

Projects, Scripts, and Modules

• PSMSGraphFunctions/Get-MSGraphEnterpriseApplicationPermission.ps1 at main · HCRitter/PSMSGraphFunctions
  Export permission scopes for Enterprise Apps in your tenant using oauth2PermissionGrants (represented) & appRoleAssignments (within).

Books, Media, and Learning Resources

• PSQuizMaster v 1.3.0
  A module for running and creating quizzes to learn PowerShell. Quizzes are stored as JSON files.
• Automate Your Daily Database Checks with PowerShell
  You'll get a glimpse of how I do health checks for large SQL Server Always On Availability Groups at the end of the video.

Community

• Exploring Redfish Protocol, Data Science, and PowerShell with Blake Cherry & Danny Stutz
  In this episode of the PowerShell Podcast, I sit down with Blake Cherry to discuss the Redfish Protocol and its impact on simplifying data center hardware management, drawing insights from his talk at PowerShell Saturday, NC. We explore how Redfish is reshaping IT systems at scale. I also speak with Danny Stutz, who dives into the intersection of PowerShell and Data Science, covering topics like AI, data analysis, and K-means clustering, all applied to real-world use cases using PowerShell. Whether you're managing hardware or looking to integrate advanced data science techniques into your scripts, this episode has something for everyone!
• OpenAI for PowerShell with Doug Finke
  You should be writing tests for your PowerShell scripts... but how to get started? Doug talks to RunAsRadio about using ChatGPT and GitHub Copilot to explore different aspects of PowerShell, including testing!

Events

• PowerShell AI Build Hour - Doug Finke
  Friday, October 25, 2024 at 12:30 PM EDT - Ready to go from zero to app hero? I'll live demo building an app using the new OpenAI Canvas—the interface that transforms writing and coding into an interactive adventure. This isn't just chat; it's creating real-world projects, start to finish.

Check out psweekly.dowst.dev for all past editions as well as a searchable archive.

Blogs, Articles, and Posts

• Customer Managed Planned Failover for Azure Storage using PowerShell
  Currently, in Preview, the Customer Managed Planned Failover feature allows you to manage and execute a planned failover of your Azure Storage account. This guide demonstrates how to perform this using PowerShell.
• EntraFIDOFinder Update
  October 15, is less than a week away for the MFA requirement on certain 365 Apps. Please make sure you are all set by then. Make sure to go through all your accounts, especially those old ones that you rarely ever touch, and see if you still need it or what is the best way
• Build a Windows Server 2025 S2D cluster lab with Hyper-V and PowerShell
  To explore Storage Spaces Direct (S2D) in Windows Server 2025, you can set up a lab environment using virtual machines with Hyper-V and PowerShell.
• A Complete Guide For SharePoint Site Creation with PowerShell
  In this article I want to show you how you can streamline the SharePoint Site creation with PowerShell. You can save time by doing it with PowerShell especially, if you want to create multiple sites as part of a backend process.
• Check the Software Installation/Removal History in Windows
  A complete history of software installations, updates, and removals on a computer can be found in Windows Event logs.
• Signing PowerShell Scripts on macOS
  MAJOR UPDATE During my PowerShell session at MacAdmins 2023, someone asked if you could sign a PowerShell script on macOS. Doing so on Windows is trivial and well-documented elsewhere, I won’…

Books, Media, and Learning Resources

• How I Write PowerShell Scripts for Microsoft 365
  The question of how best to write PowerShell for Microsoft 365 was asked during a TEC 2024 PowerShell workshop. There are many variables, and one has the right answer. To start the ball rolling, this article describes how I write PowerShell for Microsoft 365 using a variety of modules such as Exchange, SharePoint, Teams, and the Microsoft Graph PowerShell SDK.
• How to Create Your First Azure Automation Runbook with PowerShell
  Learn how to create, publish and run your first Azure Automation runbook using PowerShell and the Azure CLI. This step-by-step guide walks through setting up an Automation account, creating a runbook, and executing it in Azure.
• Automatically Optimize Static Images of your Project via PowerShell Script
  Automatically Optimize Static Images of your Project via PowerShell Script

Community

• Culinary to Command Line: Catching Up with Drew McClellan
  In this episode of the PowerShell Podcast, we welcome back the "bestsest in the midwestest" Drew McClellan, who shares his recent promotion from Jr. Sysadmin to SysAdmin II. Drew talks about how he uses PowerShell in his daily role, tackling new software implementations and projects, and his approach to continuous learning. We also dive into how the OnRamp experience at PowerShell Summit helped prepare him. As a bonus, Drew, a chef for 10 years, dishes out some recipe recommendations to Andrew!
• Shorten The Code - Results and Learnings with Well-known Community Members
  Xavier Clinquart from the Belgian PowerShell User Group has analyzed all scripts, and now it is time to take a look at the best ones. Together with well-known members of the PowerShell community, we will talk about the results and learnings of this fun competition.

Fun

• PowerShell 7: Changing the Style of the Progress Bar with $PSStyle
  If you include a progress bar in PowerShell, you will notice that it looks different in PowerShell 5 and PowerShell 7. This is exactly the problem we will tackle in this blog

Check out psweekly.dowst.dev for all past editions as well as a searchable archive.

Blogs, Articles, and Posts

• Restore classic context menu in Windows 11 Explorer using Group Policy or PowerShell
  Alongside the revamped Start Menu, one of the most noticeable changes in Windows 11 is the redesigned context menu in File Explorer. However, these modifications are not merely aesthetic – they also restrict its functionality. You can deploy a registry key using Group Policy Preferences to restore the classic context.
• How to Create Azure Service Principals in PowerShell
  Learn how to create Azure service principals using PowerShell, enabling secure automation for managing Azure resources like virtual machines.
• Microsoft Retires the Revoke-SPOUserSession Cmdlet
  Unsurprisingly, Microsoft announced the deprecation of the Revoke-SPOUserSession cmdlet for November 2024. The cmdlet is replaced by the Revoke-MgUserSignInSession cmdlet, which works across Microsoft 365 rather than just SharePoint Online. All of this happened while the 2nd annual PowerShell Script-Off happened at TEC 2024 and competitors struggled with what to do to secure a user account for an ex-employee.
• GitHub Copilot Password Warning
  Did you know that GitHub Copilot is now sensing hard coded credentials and giving you a warning? It’s not perfect, but even if something looks like hard coded creds it will flag it, as on another script I had, it contained numbers that looked like they could be private, and it gave me a warning
• Using Get-Content in PowerShell
  I use Get-Content a lot (or cat, gc, and type as its alias) to display or track the contents of a file. There are different parameters for it, and in this blog post, I will show you what you can do with those :)
• Customize your Windows 11 (23H2 and onwards) taskbar during OSD with ConfigMgr using just PowerShell
  Approximately two years ago, I authored a blog post detailing how to customize the taskbar in Windows 11.
• Running PSScriptAnalyzer in GitHub Actions
  I was working on a project recently that has some PowerShell scripts and I wanted to add some kind of linting for PRs, as you do. The go-to for PowerShell seems to be PSScriptAnalyzer and it's something I've already setup in VS Code. Great! The next step was to setup
• PowerShell Potluck - September 2024
  Welcome back to another PowerShell Potluck, and you didn't have to bring a thing, other than a little curiosity and a willingness to try new things.

Projects, Scripts, and Modules

• EntraFIDOFinder – New PowerShell Module
  After so much interest from my post on Friday, I figured I’d do one better and make a PowerShell module that does it for you. So now you will be able to find which FIDO2 keys are attestation compatible with Entra right from your terminal. In the very near future I will have individual functions

Books, Media, and Learning Resources

• Common PowerShell Commands You Will Use As A System Administrator
  Are you ready to level up your PowerShell skills? In this video, we’ll cover 10 essential PowerShell commands every IT pro, sysadmin, and developer should know. These commands will streamline your scripting, automation, and everyday tasks on Windows.
• What are the different Help commands available out of the box using PowerShell?
  This video provides a basic introduction on all the help commands available in Windows PowerShell.

Community

• PowerShell + DevOps Global Summit 2025: Call for Papers Now Open!
  PowerShell + DevOps Global Summit 2025: Call for Papers Now Open! Calling all innovators, problem-solvers, and thought leaders in the PowerShell and DevOps realm!
• Spectre Console and TUI Magic with Shaun Lawrie
  On this episode of The PowerShell Podcast, we sit down with Shaun Lawrie to discuss terminal user interfaces (TUIs) and his work on the PWSHSpectreConsole project. Shaun shares insights into the world of TUIs, offers valuable career advice, and talks about his journey in tech. Tune in for practical tips and an in-depth look at what it takes to thrive in the PowerShell ecosystem.

Fun

• PowerShell ASCII Art
  I posted my Windows Terminal this week on social media channels, including LinkedIn, and received some responses about the login banner screen. In this blog post, I will show you an easy way to pimp your PowerShell Console ;)

Check out psweekly.dowst.dev for all past editions as well as a searchable archive.

Blogs, Articles, and Posts

• Build dynamic JSON with PowerShell
  I recently did a Contacts Sync with GRAPH Api and PowerShell to create Contacts in a Shared Mailbox and USer Contact Folder. At this time, it was needed to build dynamic JSON related to existing Values, so I looked for some posts on how to build dynamic JSON with PowerShell.
• How to install PowerShell 7 and essential tools on Linux
  As you prepare for the OnRamp track at the PowerShell + DevOps Global Summit, this guide walks you through installing the essential tools on your Ubuntu Linux system if that's your preferred operating system. You'll learn how to install PowerShell version 7, Visual Studio Code, and the PowerShell extension for VS Code to ensure your system is prepared for the event. If you're using Windows 11, refer to the companion article, How to install PowerShell 7 and essential tools on Windows 11. A future article covers installations on macOS.
• Installing the Entire Microsoft Graph PowerShell SDK Seems Like the Right Idea
  An article described some benefits that could be gained from not installing the complete Microsoft Graph PowerShell SDK. The question is whether the claimed benefits are more theoretical than actual. It’s hard to say because it all depends on how someone uses the SDK for development or to run scripts. Anyway, it’s a topic worth discussing.
• How to Authenticate to Azure Using PowerShell (User and Device Authentication)
  Learn how to authenticate to Azure using PowerShell, including module installation, interactive and device login methods, verifying sessions, and managing multiple subscriptions.
• Passkey Provider AAGUIDs PowerShell Module
  The FIDO2 specification requires each security key vendor to provide an Authenticator Attestation GUID (AAGUID) during registration. An AAGUID is a 128-bit identifier indicating the key type, such as the make and model. Passkey providers on desktop and mobile devices are also expected to provide an AAGUID during registration.
• PowerShell Confirm Parameter: Best Practices for Safe Scripting
  The PowerShell Confirm parameter is an essential safeguard that prompts users before performing potentially destructive actions. This article will explore how to implement the -Confirm parameter in custom PowerShell functions to make them more robust and user-friendly. What is the PowerShell Confirm parameter?
• Outlook Email Mover
  The way I manage my email might seem a bit strange. Due to working in IT, I get lots of emails. Some emails need action, some are regular emails, and some are notifications I want to know about as soon as they happen. I feel like a normal person would make an Outlook rule to…
• SQL Query Stats via Powershell
  Checking query runtimes via PowerShell

Projects, Scripts, and Modules

• PowerShellRun
  Terminal Based Launcher and Fuzzy Finder for PowerShell.

Books, Media, and Learning Resources

• Master Regex in Powershell: Replace all but first character!
  Learn how to use Regex in Powershell to replace all but the first character of a match in this tutorial.

Community

• Innovating with PowerShell: Micah Shonyo’s Path to C# Mastery
  In this episode of the PowerShell Podcast, we sit down with Micah Shonyo to explore his inspiring journey into PowerShell, from his early days learning the language to his current projects. We dive into the story behind his Microsoft Cluster Management module, discussing what motivated him to create it and how it helps sysadmins. Micah also shares how learning PowerShell opened the door for him to start using C#, blending scripting with development to elevate his technical skills. We wrap up the conversation with insights into his career goals and aspirations for the future.
• Inside IT Automation E16
  The History of PowerShell with Jeffrey Snover

Fun

• Shorten the Code
  You still have a few days left to enter.

Events

• Do More with PowerShell and au2mator Self-Service Portal
  Wed, Oct 2, 2024, 15:30 UTC

Check out psweekly.dowst.dev for all past editions as well as a searchable archive.

Blogs, Articles, and Posts

• Get-Mailbox Versus Get-ExoMailbox
  Microsoft's advice is to use the Get-ExoMailbox cmdlet instead of its older Get-Mailbox counterpart. Generally, this is good advice that you should follow. However, the older cmdlet can do a job in certain circumstances, so don’t write it off completely. More importantly, make sure that filtering of objects is done using server-side filters. This will improve script performance significantly.
• Simple Tip for GitHub Copilot
  If you have GitHub Copilot, you may or may not know about this little tip, but wanted to let you know just in case. It has saved me so much time and it can be applied to a lot of scenarios.
• Query the required permissions of a Microsoft Graph cmdlet
  Microsoft Graph can be difficult sometimes. There are loads of PowerShell Microsoft Graph Modules and cmdlets that require different permissions. In this blog post, I will show you how to query the permissions for a cmdlet, multiple cmdlets, or all cmdlets from a specific Microsoft Graph module.
• Exploiting Exchange PowerShell After ProxyNotShell: Part 3 – DLL Loading Chain for RCE
  As you may know, I recently presented my Exchange-related talk during OffensiveCon 2024. This series of 4 blog posts is meant to supplement the talk and provide additional technical details. In this article, part 3 of the series, I describe a chain of 3 vulnerabilities that led to remote code exec
• Attacking PowerShell CLIXML Deserialization
  In this article, we will learn that using PowerShell’s CLIXML deserialization could lead to undesired effects, including remote code execution. We will also see that widely used solutions, like PowerShell Remoting and PowerShell Direct (Hyper-V), rely on such deserialization and could make you vulnerable to this kind of attack.

Projects, Scripts, and Modules

• Tabby
  Tabby (formerly Terminus) is a highly configurable terminal emulator, SSH and serial client for Windows 10, macOS and Linux

Books, Media, and Learning Resources

• PowerShell Advanced Functions: Getting Started Guide
  Advanced functions take your PowerShell development to the next level, letting you create cmdlet-like scripts with advanced features. In this article, we’ll dive into what makes cmdlets and advanced functions essential in PowerShell, with examples and tips to help you master them. What is a cmdlet? A PowerShell cmdlet (pronounced “command-let”) performs a specific task
• PnP PowerShell Changed!!! ACT NOW
  In this video, I will show you about a big change in the way PnP PowerShell will work going forward. You might be facing an issue right now when you are working with PnP PowerShell. Watch this video to know how you can resolve this and get going.
• Harness AI to Analyze Your Workflow with Custom PowerShell Scripts
  In this video, Doug Finke, a 16-time Microsoft MVP, showcases his PowerShell function GetWhatIWorkedOn. This tool helps you effortlessly track and summarize the files you've worked on over any specified period. By scanning multiple directories, it lists all the files you've modified, giving you a clear picture of your recent activities.

Community

• Building Modern PowerShell Solutions: Justin Grote on TUIs, .NET, and Module Magic
  In this episode, we chat with Justin Grote about his work with PwshSpectreConsole and the power of TUIs in PowerShell scripting. Justin takes us through his impressive collection of PowerShell modules—ModulePath, GallerySync, and ModuleFast—and how they enhance the PowerShell experience. We also explore the advantages of .NET's Common Language Runtime (CLR) in PowerShell, using Spectre.Console as a prime example. Finally, Justin shares his thoughts on transitioning from Windows PowerShell to PowerShell 7 and the performance and feature benefits that come with the upgrade.
• Scriptember Live: "PowerShell Is Fun - Episode 2" with Microsoft MVP Harm Veenstra
  In this live stream, we'll talk about how to have fun with PowerShell while improving IT automation tasks and processes.

Fun

• Friday the 13th PowerShell Fun
  Well here are once again and another Friday the 13th. I love these days because I feel challenged to come up with 13 PowerShell related tidbits which I hope you'll find fun and maybe even a little educational. Manage and Report Active Directory, Exchange and Microsoft 365 withManageEngine ADManager Plus - Download Free Trial Exclusive...

Check out psweekly.dowst.dev for all past editions as well as a searchable archive.