PowerShell use "msiexec" why can't use variable?

Question

Hi All,

I created PowerShell script to remote install msp file.

my script:

$computer = "pcct0211"

$Version = "2300120064"

$tt = "C:\temp\AcroRdrDCUpd$($Version)_MUI.msp"

$Result = Invoke-Command -computername $Computer -ScriptBlock {(Start-Process msiexec "/p $($tt) /quiet /norestart" -Wait -Passthru).ExitCode}

why can't used $tt replace ArcoRdrDCUpd2300120064_MUI.msp?

if used $Result = Invoke-Command -computername $Computer -ScriptBlock {(Start-Process msiexec "/p C:\tem[\ArcoRdrDCUpd2300120064_MUI.msp /quiet /norestart" -Wait -Passthru).ExitCode}

get successfully , but use $tt will update fail and exit code: 87

Answer 1

It looks like the issue is with the way you are passing the $tt variable into the Invoke-Command script block.

When you use $tt inside the script block, PowerShell interprets it as a local variable within the script block, which means the $tt variable defined outside the script block is not accessible.

To pass the value of $tt defined outside the script block into the script block, you can use the -ArgumentList parameter of the Invoke-Command cmdlet.

Here's an updated version of your script that should work:


Copy
$computer = "pcct0211"
$Version = "2300120064"
$tt = "C:\temp\AcroRdrDCUpd$($Version)_MUI.msp"
$Result = Invoke-Command -ComputerName $Computer -ScriptBlock {
    param($tt)
    (Start-Process msiexec "/p $tt /quiet /norestart" -Wait -PassThru).ExitCode
} -ArgumentList $tt

In this updated script, the $tt variable is passed as an argument to the script block using the -ArgumentList parameter. Inside the script block, the $tt variable is then accessed using the param statement.

This should allow you to use the $tt variable to specify the path to the MSI file and successfully install it on the remote computer.

Answer 2

Thanks Zeeshan Bajwa for your tech!