If you are trying to figure out how to perform standard administration tasks—tasks you might have been looking up via wmic help —here is a direct translation guide from legacy WMIC syntax to modern PowerShell CIM commands. Hardware and System Inventory Legacy WMIC Command Modern PowerShell CIM Command wmic bios get serialnumber `Get-CimInstance -ClassName Win32_Bios Get Operating System Details wmic os get caption, version `Get-CimInstance -ClassName Win32_OperatingSystem List CPU Information wmic cpu get name, numberofcores `Get-CimInstance -ClassName Win32_Processor Check Disk Space wmic logicaldisk get deviceid, freespace, size `Get-CimInstance -ClassName Win32_LogicalDisk Process and Service Management Legacy WMIC Command Modern PowerShell CIM Command List Running Processes wmic process get name, processid `Get-CimInstance -ClassName Win32_Process Terminate a Process wmic process where name="calc.exe" delete
Because sometimes you just need a quick query without PowerShell
To launch a new application or process on a local or remote system, use the process alias. wmic process call create "notepad.exe" Use code with caution. 2. Creating a New Process Remotely wmic help new
It is important to note that WMIC was officially deprecated by Microsoft in 2021. In newer builds of Windows 11 and Windows Server, the WMIC feature is "Available on Demand" rather than installed by default.
Understanding WMIC: A Guide to Windows Management Instrumentation Command-Line If you are trying to figure out how
Before investing time into memorizing legacy WMIC syntax, it is vital to understand its current lifecycle status in the Windows ecosystem.
Get-CimInstance -ClassName Win32_Process | Select-Object Name, ProcessId wmic logicaldisk get name, freespace ProcessId wmic logicaldisk get name
: You can export data directly into HTML , XML , or CSV . Example: wmic process get /format:htable > procs.html
First, it's crucial to understand what WMIC is. The WMIC utility provides a command-line interface for Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI). In simpler terms, it allows you to query system information like BIOS versions, serial numbers, installed software, and running processes directly from the command prompt.
Alternatively, using the standard keyword syntax yields the same root directory: wmic help Use code with caution. Context-Specific Help