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.

Blogs, Articles, and Posts

• Recover data from corrupted BitLocker drives with repair-bde and key packages
  Activating BitLocker encryption on a drive automatically generates a 48-digit numeric recovery password. This password is crucial if other unlocking methods fail and Windows prompts you with the BitLocker recovery console during startup.
• Practical Graph: Working with Microsoft Lists using the Microsoft Graph PowerShell SDK
  Microsoft Lists are a powerful tool for end users to store and manage data stored in SharePoint Online sites. The Microsoft Graph PowerShell SDK includes cmdlets to work with Microsoft Lists and this article explains how to use the cmdlets to add new lists, add items to lists, retrieve data from lists, and remove items from lists.
• My PowerShell for Visual Studio Code extension settings
  I use Visual Studio Code to create and edit PowerShell scripts. The PowerShell Extension from Microsoft has some excellent features that will make your scripts more readable and consistent formatting-wise. In this blog post, I will show you my configuration and the options I use.
• Register an Entra ID Application to Use with PnP PowerShell
  As the volume of threats increases rapidly, staying aligned with the recommended practices is essential to enhance security effectively. As part of this, the multi-tenant PnP Management Shell Entra ID app was deleted on September 9, 2024, to improve application security. This change now requires admins to register their own…
• Semi-Dynamic Static PowerShell Function Definitions for a Dynamically Semi-Static World
  It’s been a while since I posted anything to my blog. I needed a break. But I needed a break from the break. I hope you don’t mind. This is admittedly an “edge case” scenario. The “need” (with air quotes) for this occurred within fairly uncommon set of circumstances, but I thought the methodology might be useful in other cases. Or maybe not. But if it’s of some help to you, that makes it worth the effort for me.
• WSUS – Cleanup using Powershell with email notification output
  If you are using WSUS in your environment, you may want to run a scheduled task to cleanup old updates and compress some of the larger updates to free up space on your server. A good way of doing this is to run a Powershell script which will take care of all your cleanup requirements and as we are using Powershell, we can even get it to send us an email once it is complete with the output information on what the script has managed to clean up.

Projects, Scripts, and Modules

• Microsoft 365 Licensing Report Script V1.94
  The Microsoft 365 Licensing Report PowerShell script has been upgraded to generate detailed license information and to deal with expired license subscriptions. You can download V1.94 of the script from GitHub. Before attempting to run the licensing report script, take the time to read previous articles to understand the basics of the script and how to generate the files used for pricing information.

Books, Media, and Learning Resources

• Turn PowerShell Into Your Excel Automation Machine
  Get ready to see how PowerShell can transform the way you work with Excel.
• Azure Functions & PowerShell
  Join me as I discuss PowerShell-based Azure Functions. we will go through local Function development and testing to deploy a Function to Azure and even an Account storage queue-triggered Function that creates a Resource Group and Storage account from a queue message.

Community

• Behind the Code: Adam Driscoll on PowerShell Universal and Work-Life Balance
  In this episode of the PowerShell Podcast, we’re joined by the brilliant Adam Driscoll, the creator of PowerShell Universal. Adam shares exciting insights into the upcoming features and improvements in PowerShell Universal, giving us a sneak peek into what’s on the horizon.
• Inside IT Automation E12
  Harm Veenstra talks about why PowerShell is fun, AI and more
• Inside IT Automation E13
  PowerShell & Graph: The Good, The Bad And The Ugly With Damian Scoles

Fun

• Shorten the Code – Win cool Prizes
  Welcome to the ScriptRunner Shorten the Code Challenge! This exciting competition invites PowerShell enthusiasts to demonstrate their scripting prowess by transforming a PowerShell script into concise, efficient code.

Events

• PowerShell Saturday NC
  Mark your calendar! - Oct. 5, 2024

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

Announcements!

• Scriptember 2024
  A month-long celebration of PowerShell and its vibrant community

Blogs, Articles, and Posts

• New in Windows Terminal: Restore buffers, code snippets, scratchpad and regex
  Windows Terminal unveiled a range of noteworthy features in versions 1.21 and 1.22 Preview, including the capacity to retrieve previous sessions' output buffer upon startup, store code snippets for reuse within the console, and utilize a scratchpad for crafting intricate commands.
• PowerShell: Calculate the total size of Files
  In this post I will show how to use PowerShell to calculate the total size of all files. This will be a short post but maybe a very helpful one.
• Transferring Reusable PowerShell Objects Between Microsoft 365 Tenants
  People often need to transfer objects or code between Microsoft 365 tenants. When it comes to dealing with objects, the Microsoft Graph PowerShell SDK's ToJsonString method is very useful. The method outputs a string containing JSON content, but only for object properties that have a value. This makes the much easier to use the output as the basis for a template object or as the payload body to create an object in another tenant.
• Get List Item Count in SharePoint Online Using PowerShell
  In organizations, SharePoint lists are essential for organizing and managing various data, from tracking tasks to managing customer information and inventory. These lists not only streamline collaboration but also ensure that data is easily accessible and well-structured.
• Practical PowerShell Series: Part 6
  The practicalities of producing PowerShell output and generating logging are other essential scripting elements. No administrator likes to stare at a blank screen, wondering if the command just entered is functioning or not.
• Configuring PowerShell settings using Intune or Group Policy
  Every Windows device has PowerShell installed by default. (Sadly, it's still only version 5, not version 7.) However, you want to configure the devices' security and log settings. In this blog post, I will show you how to do that using Microsoft Intune or Group Policy.
• Taming My ADHD with Obsidian and PowerShell
  Alleviating my ADHD headaches with Obsidian. Periodic Notes and Templater extensions save the day by reminding me of the next step towards my larger goals.
• 5 Reasons you should be using PSReadLine
  Get up to speed and use PSReadLine more often - in his first article for us, author Jeffery Hicks provides his 5 reasons why he recommends using PSReadLine.

Books, Media, and Learning Resources

• Mastering Time in PowerShell: Measure statistical properties within time spans with PSDates [OC]
  Unlock the power of time manipulation in PowerShell with the Group-TimeSpan and Measure-TimeSpan cmdlets from the PSDates module! In this video, we'll dive deep into how you can group data by specific time spans and measure statistical properties like sum, average, maximum, and minimum within those groups. Whether you're looking to analyze logs, monitor system performance, or perform data analysis, these cmdlets offer powerful tools to streamline your workflows and enhance your data manipulation skills in PowerShell. Watch now to become a master of time-based data analysis!
• Making Microservices with Docker and PowerShell
  The Pacific PowerShell User Group talks about making Microservices with Docker and PowerShell

Community

• Being a Lazy Administrator with Bradley Wyatt
  In this episode of the PowerShell Podcast, I had the pleasure of chatting with Bradley Wyatt, also known as the Lazy Administrator. We explored his inspiring journey from college dropout to becoming a 5x Microsoft MVP and how he transformed his personal knowledge base into a globally recognized blog that serves as a vital resource for IT professionals. Bradley shares the lessons he’s learned along the way, his passion for automation, and the impact of his work on the PowerShell community.
• Inside IT Automation - E11
  Bruno Buyck: Learning PowerShell with Lego

Events

• Scriptember Live Stream Episode 1
  Scheduled for Sep 11, 2024. In this live stream, we'll talk about how to have fun with PowerShell while improving IT automation tasks and processes.

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

I'm excited to announce the latest update to PSDates is live on the PowerShell Gallery and GitHub.

This version introduced two powerful new functions designed to enhance data analysis capabilities in PowerShell!

• Group-TimeSpan: This new cmdlet allows you to easily group objects by a specified time intervals. Whether you're working with logs, transactions, or any time-based data, you can now quickly organize your data into meaningful time intervals. This makes it simpler to analyze patterns, trends, and performance over time.

• Measure-TimeSpan: This cmdlet takes the Group-TimeSpan to the next level by measuring statistical properties such as sum, average, maximum, and more within grouped time spans. It's perfect for generating detailed reports, analyzing system performance, or monitoring trends within your datasets.

It's available for installation from the PowerShell Gallery

Install-Module -Name PSDates 

PSDates on GitHub

Announcements!

• PnP PowerShell Changes Its Entra ID App
  On August 21, 2024, news emerged that the PnP PowerShell module will transition from using a multi-tenant Entra ID app to a tenant-specific app. The change is scheduled for September 9, 2024, which doesn’t leave a lot of time available for developers to review, update, and test PowerShell scripts based on PnP PowerShell. Some extra warning would have been nice.
• Windows Terminal Preview 1.22 Release
  Hello friends, we have a new Windows Terminal Preview release! Windows Terminal Preview 1.22 is a large release that contains new features such as Sixel image support (a LARGE community contribution!), Grapheme Cluster Support, the Snippets Pane, Quick Fixes in CMD, and a new Cooked Read popup in CMD to name a few!
• PowerShell 7.5.0 preview 4 released
  Download the newest preview release of PowerShell 7.5.0

Blogs, Articles, and Posts

• Display Markdown files in PowerShell
  Creating Markdown files is something that I do regularly, usually in Visual Studio Code or Obsidian. But when working in a Windows Terminal or a standard PowerShell prompt, it's nice to display those .md files in those, too, with all the formatting that Markdown gives you. In this blog post, I will show you how :)
• Powershell Invoke-WebRequest Fails with SSL/TLS Secure Channel
  TLDR make sure your system time is correct in Windows & BIOS Ok, this has been well documented around the internet, and the typical answer is: Powershell Invoke-WebRequest Fails with SSL/TLS Secure Channel – Stack Overflow However today I was really annoyed because that was already built into my script
• How to make your Windows ssh keys available to git in WSL
  A neat little trick.

Projects, Scripts, and Modules

• Mastering Active Directory Hygiene: Automating Stale Computer Cleanup with CleanupMonster
  Have you ever looked at your Active Directory and wondered, "Why do I still have computers listed that haven't been turned on since World Cup 2016?" Yeah, we've all been there. Keeping AD clean and up-to-date is like trying to organize your garage—it’s easy to put off until it becomes a total mess.
• Creates a PSSession that targets a scheduled task process
  Created New-ScheduledTaskSession for PowerShell that can create a PSSession for use with Invoke-Command to run PowerShell code in the context of a scheduled task process. This is a fun way to bypass NETWORK logon limitations like the Windows Update API
• PowerShell Nerd Fonts Installer
  I recently had the chance to work on a PowerShell installer for Nerd Fonts, which includes the new Cascadia Code/Mono from the Microsoft repository.

Books, Media, and Learning Resources

• The Best PowerShell Cheat Sheet
  Looking for a good PowerShell cheat sheet? Then you are in the right place. I have been working with PowerShell for the last 10 years. During that time I have written down the most useful cmdlets, operators, or useful commands in many places, just to remind them.
• Everything you wanted to know about exceptions
  Error handling is just part of life when it comes to writing code.

Community

• Be the Community: Insights and Event Log Automation with Phil Bossman
  In this episode of the PowerShell Podcast, we sit down with the newly minted Microsoft MVP, Phil Bossman, to dive into the heart of the PowerShell community and what it truly means to "be the community." We discuss the excitement building around PowerShell Saturday NC and the invaluable learning opportunities it offers. Phil shares his expertise on exploring event logs and how to harness their power for PowerShell automation, providing practical insights for both beginners and seasoned pros. Join us as we celebrate Phil's journey to becoming an MVP and gain inspiration from his dedication to the PowerShell community.
• Inside IT Automation E10
  Guy Leech talks about his PowerShell journey, the use of AI and more.

Fun

• Among Us
  Randomly decided to add an Among Us theme to the end of the script to tell me it's finished running :)

Events

• Scriptember Kick-Off: Let's celebrate PowerShell!
  We are kicking off a month-long celebration of PowerShell and its vibrant community. Join our kick-off session where we talk with some awesome members of the PowerShell community. We will discuss why PowerShell is a great IT automation technology, how to learn it and how PowerShell helps IT professionals advancing their careers.

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

Announcements!

• v7.4.5 Release of PowerShell
  Version 7.4.5 is offically here!
• v7.2.23 Release of PowerShell
  For those still on 7.2 version 7.2.23 is out now!

Blogs, Articles, and Posts

• PDF Text to SQL Data: Using OpenAI's Structured Output with PSOpenAI
  Incredible! I just used PowerShell and OpenAI to import text from a PDF right into SQL Server 🚀 AI's usefulness is often debated but this is such a great use-case. I also see it being useful for automatically adding SharePoint document metadata and cleaning dirty data.
• Unlock inline PowerShell capabilities to streamline Logic Apps workflows
  The new inline PowerShell action, now in preview, adds flexibility to Logic Apps by enabling users to embed PowerShell scripts directly into workflows. This feature unlocks new possibilities for complex integrations, and I'm excited to demonstrate its potential with a bank reconciliation workflow demo.
• Find paired Azure region locations with Azure PowerShell
  In this article, you learn how to add a custom property to the Azure PowerShell Get-AzLocation cmdlet output to display the physical location for paired regions in Azure. This information isn't available by default but can help you understand the resiliency and redundancy of your Azure resources like geo-redundant storage (GRS) and other Azure services that rely on Azure Storage for replication.
• Send email notifications about expiring Active Directory passwords with a PowerShell script
  Enforcing a policy for regular password changes is no longer recommended, as it can result in more helpdesk requests due to expired passwords, especially for VPN users, and may actually undermine security. However, timely notifications can help mitigate issues when password changes are necessary. Learn how to notify users with Group Policy or a PowerShell script.
• Sort your local photos with Azure OpenAI and PowerShell!
  Quick short blogpost here today. I have created a PowerShell script that reads your local photos, uses Azure OpenAI to get the type/category they belong to and move them to a folder with that name. To accomplish this I am using the Azure OpenAI GPT4-o model. You can read here how you set up an … Continue reading Sort your local photos with Azure OpenAI and PowerShell!
• PowerShell RegEx: Getting Started Guide
  PowerShell stands out as a versatile tool in scripting and automation, offering a wide array of functionalities to manage systems and process data. One PowerShell feature is the ability to use Regular Expressions (RegEx), a method for searching, matching, and manipulating strings based on specific patterns.
• Custom Script Setting in SharePoint & OneDrive Removed
  Last week, we published a blog discussing Microsoft retiring SharePoint Add-Ins. In that blog, we briefly discussed how the Classic Mode for Custom Scripts has been affected by that change. The Custom Script setting in SharePoint and OneDrive has already been removed – the change took place in May 2024.   There is a new PowerShell command (DelayDenyAddAndCustomizePagesEnforcement) that will allow administrators to delay any changes until November of this year. Additionally, the NoScriptSite setting will be configured to True for all existing sites except for specific site templates.   How Will The Removal of Custom Script Settings Affect My Organization? 
• My first experience trying to use the PowerShell beta module for Microsoft 365 Backup
  I use Microsoft 365 Backup for my tenant; it's a simple way to back up Exchange, OneDrive, and SharePoint data to an Azure Subscription. There was no PowerShell module to query and configure things, but that has changed because the Beta module was released three days ago. In this blog post, I will describe my first experience trying to use the new module.
• A PowerShell function to easily retry any code
  Performing retries to make your code more resilient is a common pattern. By leveraging a PowerShell ScriptBlock, we can create a function to avoid constantly rewriting the same retry logic again and again.

...continued in comments

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

Is anyone else heading to Antwerp this week?

I'll be there, and I'm really looking forward to the content, the people, and the general excitement!

Announcements!

• PowerShell + DevOps Global Summit 2024
  Come check out all of the recorded sessions from this years summit.

Blogs, Articles, and Posts

• PowerShell Testing Mastery with Data-Driven Pester
  I’ve been using Pester for a long time off and on. I’ve always been obsessed with ensuring reliability in my PowerShell code. After writing the Pester Book and mentioning some of the methodologies I used with Pester v4 I’ll present in this blog post, I’ve since learned Pester v5 makes my work so much easier.
• PowerShell Basics: Navigating CSV Files
  In this tutorial, we're diving into the essentials of handling CSV files using PowerShell, covering a variety of scenarios you might encounter in the real world. This guide will help sysadmins and IT professionals manage data effectively, demonstrating the power and flexibility of PowerShell in working with different types of CSV files.
• Hyper-V: Enabling VM Resource Metering
  It is a good idea to monitor your Hyper-V VMs to get an overview of where resources are being consumed.
• Check Windows 11 Hardware Readiness with PowerShell Script
  In this article, we’ll look at how to use the official Microsoft HardwareReadiness.ps1 PowerShell script to perform a bulk Windows 11 hardware compatibility check on domain computers.
• Deprecated PowerShell Modules and Azure AD Graph retirement
  You created a script or function a while back that people in the company use a lot, and suddenly... They come to you telling you that it doesn't work anymore. :( The module you used has become deprecated, cmdlets don't all work anymore, etc. In this blog post, I will show the three most prominent modules that have become deprecated and where you can find good information about the successor to adjust your scripts.
• Configure ‘Allow logon locally’ automatically using PowerShell and Microsoft Intune
  I know Microsoft Intune has the ability to configure this particular user rights assignment natively already. At time of writing, the new security baseline for Windows 11 23H2 in Intune configure this as well, restricting local logons to the built-in groups: Users and Administrators. This solution does something else. This solution grabs the currently logged on user and configures the ‘Allow logon locally‘ policy to ONLY allow this very user as well as Administrators to be able to log on locally.

Projects, Scripts, and Modules

• Detecting Windows Terminal with PowerShell
  In the evolving landscape of software development and system administration, understanding your environment is essential for ensuring that scripts and commands run as expected. One useful PowerShell function that helps identify whether a script is running within Windows Terminal is my Test-IsWindowsTerminal function. This function is valuable for developers and system administrators who must tailor their scripts based on the terminal environment.
• PowerShell Script to Check Active Directory Member Servers for Automatic Services’ Status
  I’ve been caught by an automatic service not starting after system reboots from things like patching.
• Find your IPv4 and IPv6 addresses
  A PowerShell function to display the current IPv4 and IPv6 addresses of the machine. Useful to include in $PROFILE

Community

• For the love of PowerShell and Curling with Frank Lesniak
  In this special MMSMOA episode of the PowerShell Podcast, Andrew is joined by Frank Lesniak. We touch base after PowerShell Summit, hear about tracking airplanes with ADS-B and raspberry pi's. Frank talks about classes and how they almost caused him to fall out of love with PowerShell. We also recount what most be the most brutal display of athleticism, curling.

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