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Using WMI
 WMI Tasks: Desktop Management
WMI Tasks: Desktop Management

WMI tasks for desktop management can exert control and obtain data from either a remote desktop or a local computer. For example, you can determine whether the screensaver on a local computer requires a password. WMI also gives you the ability shut down a remote computer. For other examples, see the TechNet ScriptCenter at http://www.microsoft.com/technet.

The script examples shown in this topic obtain data only from the local computer. For more information about how to use the script to obtain data from remote computers, see Connecting to WMI on a Remote Computer.

The following procedure describes how to run a script.

Aa394591.wedge(en-us,VS.85).gifTo run a script

  1. Copy the code and save it in a file with a .vbs extension. Ensure that your text editor does not add a .txt extension to the file.
  2. Open a command prompt window and navigate to the directory where you saved the file.
  3. Type cscript scriptfile.vbs at the command prompt.

Note  By default, cscript displays the output of a script in the command prompt window. Because WMI scripts can produce large amounts of output, you might want to redirect the output to a file. Type cscript scriptfile.vbs > outfile.txt at the command prompt to redirect the output of the filename.vbs script to outfile.txt.

The following table lists script examples that can be used to obtain various types of data from the local computer.

How do I...WMI classes or methods
...determine if a remote computer has booted up in the Safe Mode with Networking state?Use the Win32_ComputerSystem class and check the value of the PrimaryOwnerName property.

strComputer = "."
Set objWMIService = GetObject("winmgmts:" _
    & "{impersonationLevel=impersonate}!\\" _
    & strComputer & "\root\cimv2")
Set colSettings = objWMIService.ExecQuery _
    ("Select * from Win32_ComputerSystem")
For Each objComputer in colSettings 
    Wscript.Echo "System Name: " _
        & objComputer.Name
    Wscript.Echo "Registered owner: " _
        & objComputer.PrimaryOwnerName
Next
...determine if a computer screensaver requires a password?Use the Win32_Desktop class and check the value of the ScreenSaverSecure property.

strComputer = "."
Set objWMIService = GetObject(_
    "winmgmts:\\" & strComputer & "\root\cimv2")
Set colItems = objWMIService.ExecQuery(_
    "Select * from Win32_Desktop")
For Each objItem in colItems
    Wscript.Echo "Screen Saver Secure: " _
        & objItem.ScreenSaverSecure
Next
...verify that a computer screen has been set for 800 pixels by 600 pixels?Use the Win32_DesktopMonitor class and check the values of the properties ScreenHeight and ScreenWidth. 

strComputer = "."
Set objWMIService = GetObject(_
    "winmgmts:\\" & strComputer & "\root\cimv2")
Set colItems = objWMIService.ExecQuery(_
    "Select * from Win32_DesktopMonitor")
For Each objItem in colItems
    Wscript.Echo "Screen Height: " _
        & objItem.ScreenHeight
    Wscript.Echo "Screen Width: " _
        & objItem.ScreenWidth
Next
...determine how long a computer has been running?Use the Win32_OperatingSystem class and the LastBootUpTime property. Subtract that value from the current time to get the system uptime.

strComputer = "."
Set objWMIService = GetObject("winmgmts:" _
    & "{impersonationLevel=impersonate}!\\" _
    & strComputer & "\root\cimv2")
Set colOperatingSystems = objWMIService.ExecQuery _
    ("Select * from Win32_OperatingSystem")
 
For Each objOS in colOperatingSystems
    dtmBootup = objOS.LastBootUpTime
    dtmLastBootUpTime = WMIDateStringToDate(dtmBootup)
    dtmSystemUptime = _
        DateDiff("h", dtmLastBootUpTime, Now)
    Wscript.Echo dtmSystemUptime 
Next
 
Function WMIDateStringToDate(dtmBootup)
    WMIDateStringToDate =  _
        CDate(Mid(dtmBootup, 5, 2) & "/" & _
        Mid(dtmBootup, 7, 2) & "/" & Left(dtmBootup, 4) _
        & " " & Mid (dtmBootup, 9, 2) & ":" & _
        Mid(dtmBootup, 11, 2) & ":" & Mid(dtmBootup, _
        13, 2))
End Function
...reboot or shut down a remote computer?Use the Win32_OperatingSystem class and the Win32Shutdown method. You must include the RemoteShutdown privilege when connecting to WMI. For more information, see Executing Privileged Operations Using VBScript. Unlike the Shutdown method on Win32_OperatingSystem, the Win32Shutdown method allows you to set flags to control the shutdown behavior.

strComputer = "atl-dc-01"
Set objWMIService = GetObject("winmgmts:" _
    & "{impersonationLevel=impersonate,(Shutdown)}!\\" & _
        strComputer & "\root\cimv2")
Set colOperatingSystems = objWMIService.ExecQuery _
    ("Select * from Win32_OperatingSystem")
For Each objOperatingSystem in colOperatingSystems
    ObjOperatingSystem.Shutdown(1)
Next
...determine what applications automatically run each time I start Windows? Use the Win32_StartupCommand class.

strComputer = "."
Set objWMIService = GetObject("winmgmts:" _
    & "{impersonationLevel=impersonate}!\\" _
    & strComputer & "\root\cimv2")
Set colStartupCommands = objWMIService.ExecQuery _
    ("Select * from Win32_StartupCommand")
For Each objStartupCommand in colStartupCommands
    Wscript.Echo "Command: " & objStartupCommand.Command & VBNewLine _
    & "Description: " & objStartupCommand.Description & VBNewLine _
    & "Location: " & objStartupCommand.Location & VBNewLine _
    & "Name: " & objStartupCommand.Name & VBNewLine _
    & "SettingID: " & objStartupCommand.SettingID & VBNewLine _
    & "User: " & objStartupCommand.User
Next

 

See Also

WMI Tasks for Scripts and Applications
WMI C++ Application Examples
TechNet ScriptCenter

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Build date: 11/3/2009

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1st sample does not do what it says - contentbug      Thomas Lee   |   Edit   |   Show History
In the first sample above, the page says the script "determine[s] if a remote computer has booted up in the Safe Mode with Networking state". The script actually does not do that.
Determine screen saver details - sample using Powershell      Thomas Lee ... Mahiways   |   Edit   |   Show History 
<#
.SYNOPSIS
    Determine if a computer screen saver requires a password.
.DESCRIPTION
    This script is a re-write of script 2 on the MSDN site (see
    below for link). This script also displays the user name for
    each desktop and the screen saver executable.
.NOTES
    File Name  : Get-Screensaver.ps1
    Author     : Thomas Lee - tfl@psp.co.uk
    Requires   : PowerShell V2 CTP3
.LINK
    Script published to:
    http://www.pshscripts.blogspot.com
    Adapted from MSDN:
    http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa394591(VS.85).aspx
.EXAMPLE
    PS c:\foo> .\Get-Screensaver.ps1
    5 desktops found as follows
    Desktop      : NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM
    Screen Saver : logon.scr
    Secure       : False
    Desktop      : NT AUTHORITY\LOCAL SERVICE
    Screen Saver : %SystemRoot%\System32\logon.scr
    Secure       : False
    Desktop      : NT AUTHORITY\NETWORK SERVICE
    Screen Saver : %SystemRoot%\System32\logon.scr
    Secure       : False
    Desktop      : Cookham\tfl
    Screen Saver : %Systemroot%\tflscreensaver.scr
    Secure       : False
    Desktop      : .DEFAULT
    Screen Saver : logon.scr
    Secure       : False
#>
##
#  Start of script
##
$Computer = "."
$Desktops = Get-WMIObject -class Win32_Desktop -ComputerName $computer
"{0} desktops found as follows" -f $desktops.count
foreach ($desktop in $desktops) {
"Desktop      : {0}"  -f $Desktop.Name
"Screen Saver : {0}"  -f $desktop.ScreensaverExecutable
"Secure       : {0} " -f $desktop.ScreenSaverSecure
""
}
# End of Script
Determine if a computer screensaver requires a password using PowerShell      Thomas Lee   |   Edit   |   Show History 
<#
.SYNOPSIS
    Displays Desktop Size
.DESCRIPTION
    This script is a re-write of an MSDN sample. It uses
    the Win32_Desktop Monitor  WMI class to obtain the
    screen dimensions.
.NOTES
    File Name  : Get-DesktopResolution.ps1
    Author     : Thomas Lee - tfl@psp.co.uk
    Requires   : PowerShell V2 CTP3
.LINK
    Script Posted To:
    http://www.pshscripts.blogspot.com
    Re-write of sample 3 at:
    http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa394591(VS.85).aspx
.EXAMPLE
    PS c:\foo> .\Get-DesktopResolution
    There are 4 Desktops on UK0N055 as follows:
    Desktop 1: Default Monitor
    Screen Height : 1200
    Screen Width  : 1920
    Desktop 2: Default Monitor
    Screen Height :
    Screen Width  :
    Desktop 3: Default Monitor
    Screen Height :
    Screen Width  :
    Desktop 4: Default Monitor
    Screen Height :
    Screen Width  :
#>
 
##
#  Start of script
##
# Get desktop information
$computer = "."
$desktops = Get-WmiObject -Class Win32_DesktopMonitor
$hostname = hostname
# Display desktop details
"There are {0} Desktops on {1} as follows:" -f $desktops.Count, $hostname
""
$i=1 # count of desktops on this system
foreach ($desktop in $desktops) {
"Desktop {0}: {1}" -f  $i++, $Desktop.Caption
"Screen Height : {0}" -f $desktop.ScreenHeight
"Screen Width  : {0}" -f $desktop.ScreenWidth
""
}
# End of Script
Determine how long a computer has been running - Sample using PowerShell      Thomas Lee   |   Edit   |   Show History 
<#
.SYNOPSIS
    Demonstrates uptime using WMI 
.DESCRIPTION
    This script used Win32_ComputerSystem to determine how long your system
 has been running. This is a rewrite of sample 3 at
    http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa394591(VS.85).aspx. 
.NOTES
    File Name  : Get-UpTime.ps1
 Author     : Thomas Lee - tfl@psp.co.uk
 Requires   : PowerShell V2 CTP3
.LINK
    Script Posted to:    
 http://www.pshscripts.blogspot.com
    Original sample posted at:
 http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa394591(VS.85).aspx
.EXAMPLE
    PS c:\foo> .\Get-UpTime.Ps1
 
#>
##
#  Start of script
##
# Helper Function
function WMIDateStringToDate($Bootup) {
[System.Management.ManagementDateTimeconverter]::ToDateTime($Bootup)
}
# Main script
$Computer = "." # adjust as needed
$computers = Get-WMIObject -class Win32_OperatingSystem -computer $computer
 
foreach ($system in $computers) {
    $Bootup = $system.LastBootUpTime
    $LastBootUpTime = WMIDateStringToDate($Bootup)
    $now = Get-Date
 $Uptime = $now-$lastBootUpTime
    "System Up for: {0}" -f $UpTime
} 
# End script
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