What is the difference between PowerShell and cmd.exe command syntax?

Question

I am running the following command in PowerShell:

PS C:\Users\adminaccount> winrm s winrm/config/service @{AllowUnencrypted="true";
MaxConcurrentOperationsPerUser="4294967295"}
Error: Invalid use of command line. Type "winrm -?" for help.

Which gives me an error, as you could see. But the same command in cmd.exe works fine:

C:\Users\adminaccount>winrm s winrm/config/service @{AllowUnencrypted="true";
MaxConcurrentOperationsPerUser="4294967295"}
Service
...

So, what should I know about PowerShell syntax to get this working there?

@PeterMortensen I don't know, I have last touched PowerShell of the version 3, and never worked with it any more. But why do you think that " should be quoted? — Bunyk
– Bunyk, Commented Sep 11, 2018 at 10:24

Ansgar Wiechers · Accepted Answer · 2013-09-10 17:22:50Z

6

@{} defines a hashtable in PowerShell, but winrm expects a string argument. Put that argument in quotes if you want to run the command directly in PowerShell:

winrm s winrm/config/service '@{AllowUnencrypted="true"; MaxConcurrentOperationsPerUser="4294967295"}'

Also, you need admin privileges for this to work.

answered Sep 10, 2013 at 17:22

Ansgar Wiechers

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Peter Mortensen · Accepted Answer · 2018-09-06 16:39:34Z

2

Or use the special --% parameter which lets PowerShell stop parsing the parameters.

winrm --% s winrm/config/service @{AllowUnencrypted="true";MaxConcurrentOperationsPerUser="4294967295"}

edited Sep 6, 2018 at 16:39

Peter Mortensen

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answered Sep 10, 2013 at 17:33

Lars Truijens

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1 Comment

Peter Mortensen Over a year ago

This works, but not if there a PowerShell in there that should be expanded. Example: ` + $redirectSpec` at the end and $redirectSpec containing ">> _output_2018-09-07T195607.txt".

Adil Hindistan · Accepted Answer · 2013-09-10 14:39:18Z

1

You can prefix your command with cmd /c and quote it like:

cmd /c "winrm s winrm/config/service @{AllowUnencrypted=`"true`";
MaxConcurrentOperationsPerUser=`"4294967295`"}"

PowerShell will execute executables that exist in the system.

edited Sep 10, 2013 at 14:39

answered Sep 10, 2013 at 14:17

Adil Hindistan

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3 Comments

Bunyk Over a year ago

Still not working: "Error: Invalid use of command line. Type "winrm -?" for help."

Adil Hindistan Over a year ago

Well, I was trying to explain the difference as you asked. You will need to take care of special chars, escape quotes etc. See updated command

Adil Hindistan Over a year ago

Depending on the command, you might need to start the Powershell in Admin mode...

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