about WMI

[JohnOne]

I've read a while back that some people try not to use WMI in their scripts because some computers don't have it or have to run it manually.

Is that a relic from the win9x FAT OS's?

Would it be safe to assume that all post XP machines have WMI capabilities?

[Exit]

Sometimes WMI is not started.

Just use this Code to restart WMI:

$oWMI = ObjGet("winmgmts:\\" & @ComputerName & "\root\CIMV2")
        If @error Then
            RunWait(@ComSpec & ' /c net start winmgmt  ', '', @SW_HIDE)
            RunWait(@ComSpec & ' /c net continue winmgmt  ', '', @SW_HIDE)
            $oWMI = ObjGet("winmgmts:\\" & @ComputerName & "\root\CIMV2")
        EndIf

like I have done it in my _SingleScript() UDF.

Edited March 9, 2019 by Exit
point to new #include location

[mLipok]

I remember that some time ago (maybe two years ago) I had a problem on Win7 such that WMI did not work and then I had to repair Windows.
I did not know about it:

 

$oWMI = ObjGet("winmgmts:\\" & @ComputerName & "\root\CIMV2")
        If @error Then
            RunWait(@ComSpec & ' /c net start winmgmt  ', '', @SW_HIDE)
            RunWait(@ComSpec & ' /c net continue winmgmt  ', '', @SW_HIDE)
            $oWMI = ObjGet("winmgmts:\\" & @ComputerName & "\root\CIMV2")
        EndIf

So I can not say if it was the same case.

But thanks @Exit it should be useful.

[iamtheky]

That service is also intentionally disabled by many STIGs, with no rights available to a script to turn it on. I think the latest Gold Disc even contains the powershell package, the feature is just not enabled and installed by default.  But (when dealing with hardened envrionments) I would assume neither were available and aim for the registry, or  offline package install and reimage.

 

Edited October 19, 2015 by boththose
awful grammar

[JLogan3o13]

I encountered what boththose is referencing in a hospital client a year or so ago. Had a script that relied heavily on WMI but was something they'd turned off through their hardening process. I think it is still an exception to the rule, however, as I see it enabled in 99% of the places I work.

[JohnOne]

So I will demote my assumption to most post XP machines have WMI capabilities.

Thanks for input all.

Edited October 19, 2015 by JohnOne

[jguinch]

For my part, I met 3 or 4 problems with WMI and Windows XP.

Each time, I solved it by rebuilding the WMI repository. Here is a good article : http://blogs.technet.com/b/askperf/archive/2009/04/13/wmi-rebuilding-the-wmi-repository.aspx

 

 

[mLipok]

Here is a good article : http://blogs.technet.com/b/askperf/archive/2009/04/13/wmi-rebuilding-the-wmi-repository.aspx

As I remember I read it before (2 years ago).
This is nice refresh of knowledge.

mLipok

 

[iamtheky]

So I will demote my assumption to

...unless deliberately disabled, or dubiously defunct; it will be there.