Issue with running EXE from PowerShell

Question

I'm currently in the process of creating a new automated PowerShell script to update our RMM agent software on machines. The PS script is designed as a fall back to the in-built automation.

When creating the parameters of .exe file, it works on a new PowerShell line but fails when invoked through the script.

Running the command as an explicit command from PowerShell works fine. Does not work when invoking with two strings.

My PS Parameters:

param (
    [string] $cust,
    [string] $name,
    [switch] $client,
    [switch] $server,
    [switch] $noprobe,
    [switch] $custom
)

Important Variables:

$NETLOGON = $env:LOGONSERVER
$agentInstall = $NETLOGON+"\NETLOGON\Agent\WindowsAgentSetup.exe"

The command that calls the install:

$agentParams = "/s --% /v"CUSTOMERID=$cust CUSTOMERNAME=$name SERVERPROTOCOL=HTTPS SERVERADDRESS=domain.com SERVERPORT=443""
& $agentInstall $agentParams

It does run the EXE, but nothing happens (like the syntax was wrong). No logs or any output as to why it fails.

If I run the command as the following:

\\SERVER\NETLOGON\Agent\WindowsAgentSetup.exe /s --% /v"CUSTOMERID=100 CUSTOMERNAME=\"Customer One\" SERVERPROTOCOL=HTTPS SERVERADDRESS=domain.com SERVERPORT=443"

No problem at all.

Any advice would be appreciated, but I'm guessing it's a syntax issue. The --% is required to parse it through correctly.

Ansgar Wiechers · Accepted Answer · 2019-09-20 10:43:35Z

1

The parameter --% disables parsing entirely, i.e. PowerShell will take the remainder of the commandline and pass it as-is. PowerShell variables after --% will NOT be expanded. Also, you cannot put unescaped double quotes inside a double-quoted string.

Define the parameters as an array, escape the double quotes around the argument of the second parameter with backticks, and splat the parameter list on the command:

$agentParams = '/s', "/v`"CUSTOMERID=$cust CUSTOMERNAME=$name SERVERPROTOCOL=HTTPS SERVERADDRESS=domain.com SERVERPORT=443`""
& $agentInstall @agentParams

answered Sep 20, 2019 at 10:43

Ansgar Wiechers

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4 Comments

EBizzle Over a year ago

Okay, think I've misunderstood the --% considerably. I'll give this a quick go and get back to you, thanks!

EBizzle Over a year ago

Just tried, but still not working I'm afraid. Same results as before. It calls the executable and then just closes.

Ansgar Wiechers Over a year ago

Try running it directly in a PowerShell console, if you haven't already. Does that give you any output? Also try without the /s (which presumably does a silent install).

EBizzle Over a year ago

Running as a single command is the same result. /S isn't silent, it just hides the "initialization" screen.

EBizzle · Accepted Answer · 2019-09-20 11:08:16Z

0

Having a little tinker, and thanks to Ansgar Wiechers, I found that using --% works, but once defined as a separate parameter in the array.

So, the working code is now:

$agentParams = '/s', '--%', "/v'"CUSTOMERID=$cust CUSTOMERNAME=$name SERVERPROTOCOL=HTTPS SERVERADDRESS=domain.com SERVERPORT=443'""
& $agentInstall @agentParams

answered Sep 20, 2019 at 11:08

EBizzle

364 bronze badges

1 Comment

EBizzle Over a year ago

The EXE itself needs the --% by the looks of it, in order to pass this through the parameters.

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