Windows PowerShell Self-Study Guide

This time, I've put together a list of resources for those interested in Microsoft's PowerShell scripting language.  While this training guide focuses primarily on Windows PowerShell 2.0, I have provided a brief list of PowerShell v3 resources at the end of this guide for those interested in getting an advance look at the newest version of PowerShell.

Windows PowerShell Self-Study Guide 

The list below is provided for those who wish to become familar with Microsoft PowerShell 2.0. These resources are all available online and free of charge, except for the book which are listed for completeness.

Top Level Site for PowerShell: https://www.microsoft.com/powershell

Windows PowerShell Training

• Windows PowerShell Getting Started Guide
• Getting Started with Windows PowerShell
  • Introducing Windows PowerShell
  • Windows PowerShell System Requirements
  • Installing Windows PowerShell
  • Starting Windows PowerShell
  • Getting Ready to Use Windows PowerShell
  • Working with Windows PowerShell
• Scripting with Windows PowerShell
  • PowerShell Essentials for the Busy Admin (5-part video series)
    • Why You Should Learn PowerShell
    • How to Compound Windows PowerShell for Fun and Profit
    • A Look at Windows PowerShell Providers
    • Windows PowerShell Does Event Logs
    • Using Windows PowerShell to Manage the Remote Desktop
  • Windows PowerShell - Learn it Now Before It's an Emergency (5-part video series)
    • Part 1
    • Part 2
    • Part 3
    • Part 4
    • Part 5
  • Windows PowerShell Owner's Manual
    • Getting Started with Windows PowerShell
    • Customizing the Windows PowerShell Console
    • Windows PowerShell Shortcut Keys
    • Piping and the Pipeline
    • Running Windows PowerShell Scripts
    • The Windows PowerShell Profile
    • Windows PowerShell Aliases
  • Windows PowerShell User's Guide
    • Windows PowerShell Basics
    • Object Pipeline
    • Windows PowerShell Navigation
    • Working with Objects
    • Using Windows PowerShell for Administration
    • Introducing the Windows PowerShell ISE
    • Appendix 1 - Compatibility Aliases
    • Appendix 2 - Creating a Custom Windows PowerShell Shortcut
  • The VBScript-to-Windows PowerShell Conversion Guide

 

PowerShell Podcasts/Webcasts

These audios and videos offer Windows PowerShell tips, news and interviews that you can listen to at your convenience.

• Windows PowerShell Webcasts (a list of 70+ different PowerShell presentation in multiple formats - to see the entire list select "MORE" on the right-hand side opposite the heading that reads "IT Professionals")
  • Introduction to Windows PowerShell
  • Using Windows PowerShell 2.0
  • Windows PowerShell Basics for IT Professionals (2-part series)
  • TechEd 2011 Birds-of-a-Feather (Session 04): PowerShell: Best Practices from the Field
  • Managing Web Infrastructure Systems with Windows PowerShell 2.0
  • How Do I:
    • PowerShell - The Basics
    • PowerShell Variables
    • PowerShell Scripts and the Command Line
    • PowerShell and WMI
    • Creating Output with PowerShell
    • PowerShell - Object Manipulation
    • Pipelining
  • Windows PowerShell Podcasts
  • TechNet Radio
    • Creating and Configuring Your Profile in Windows PowerShell (Part 1)
    • Creating and Configuring Your Profile in Windows PowerShell (Part 2)
    • Windows PowerShell Best Practices - Episode 1
    • Windows PowerShell Best Practices - Episode 2
    • Windows PowerShell Best Practices - Episode 3
    • Windows PowerShell Best Practices - Episode 4

 

Useful PowerShell Blogs

This is a sampling of some of the blogs that are being written on the subject of Windows PowerShell. Some of these are independent blogs and their contents are not reviewed or controlled by Microsoft.

• Hey, Scripting Guy! Blog
• Windows PowerShell Team Blog
• Get-PowerShell Blog
• Keith Hill's Blog
• Richard Siddaway's Blog

 

PowerShell Scripts

This section represents links to actual PowerShell scripts that have been developed for review and reuse. These scripts are intended to keep administrators from having to "start from scratch" when developing scripts. While they will almost certainly require some modification, the intent is to give admins a starting point to learn how to do various tasks related to PowerShell in their own environments.

• Windows PowerShell Script Repository
• Microsoft Script Center

WARNING: YOU SHOULD NEVER RUN A SCRIPT IN PRODUCTION IF YOU AREN'T 100% CERTAIN OF WHAT IT WILL DO. ALL SCRIPTS SHOULD BE THOROUGHLY UNDERSTOOD AND TESTED IN A NON-PRODUCTION ENVIRONMENT PRIOR TO BEING USED IN PRODUCTION. THIS HELPS ENSURE THAT PRODUCTION PROBLEMS DO NOT OCCUR AS A RESULT OF RUNNING SCRIPTS THAT HAVE NOT BEEN TESTED AND VALIDATED BEFOREHAND.

 

PowerShell Forum

The Microsoft forums are places where administrators can ask questions, read discussions among technical professionals, and engage with the online community. The following forum is dedicated to PowerShell.

• Windows PowerShell Forum

 

PowerShell Tools

• Windows PowerShell (download)
• The Windows PowerShell Toolbox

 

PowerShell Books

The following is a partial list of books that have proven useful as PowerShell resources, both to the new admin and the experienced developer.  This is not intended as a complete list of PowerShell books, but is intended only as a sample for the admin seeking to start building his or her own library.

• Windows PowerShell 2.0 Best Practices
• Windows PowerShell Scripting Guide
• Windows PowerShell 2.0 Administrator's Pocket Consultant

 

Additional PowerShell Resources

In this section are a variety of external resrouces offered to the PowerShell community in the form of blogs, sample scripts, wikis, forums, etc.

• PowerShellCommunity.org
• Windows PowerShell Wiki
• CodePlex
• Precision Computing
• Under the Stairs

 

PowerShell v3 (beta)

These resources are specifically designed to help prepare for the newest version of PowerShell to be released in the near future.

• PowerShell v3 Guide (TechNet)
  • Introduction
  • Getting PowerShell v3
  • Installing PowerShell v3
  • PowerShell v3 FAQ
  • Featured Articles
  • New Features
  • Tips and Tricks
• What's New in PowerShell v3
• PowerShell v3 Sneak Peek (Microsoft TechDays video)
• Microsoft Windows PowerShell 3.0 Step by Step (book)

Comments

• Anonymous
  January 01, 2003
  Useful Article.. Thanks!!

• Anonymous
  January 01, 2003
  Great Article.

• Anonymous
  January 01, 2003
  WoW...I do not have to search Google for PowerShell Study material....THANKS A LOT and I appreciate your efforts....

• Anonymous
  January 01, 2003
  Thanks for the useful links.

• Anonymous
  December 10, 2013
  Love the initiative here on PowerShell. Great job! Just curious as to why the title on the  top says "Musings of a Technical TAM", does not TAM mean Technical Account Manager. So the title is actually saying "Musings of a Technical Technical Account Manager.  Is this what is intended? Really? Thanks, $Dre

• Anonymous
  January 17, 2014
  Some of these links are no longer valid.

• Anonymous
  December 09, 2014
  Fix the links morons.

• Anonymous
  October 20, 2015
  http://lmgtfy.com/