PowerShell is a powerful scripting language that can be used to automate various tasks on Windows systems. One of the most useful PowerShell commands is the Export-WindowsDriver command, which allows users to export driver packages from the Windows Driver Store to a folder. In this article, we will discuss the syntax, parameters, inputs, outputs, examples, and tips for using the Export-WindowsDriver command.
Syntax of the Export-WindowsDriver Command
The syntax of the Export-WindowsDriver command is as follows:
Export-WindowsDriver -Online -Destination <String> [-Driver <String[]>] [-LogPath <String>] [-WhatIf] [-Confirm] [ <CommonParameters>]
Parameters of the Export-WindowsDriver Command
The Export-WindowsDriver command has several parameters that can be used to customize the command’s behavior. These parameters are as follows:
| Parameter | Description |
|---|---|
| -Online | Specifies that the command should export drivers from the online Windows Driver Store. |
| -Destination <String> | Specifies the path to the folder where the exported drivers should be stored. |
| -Driver <String[]> | Specifies the names of the drivers to be exported. |
| -LogPath <String> | Specifies the path to the log file that will be created when the command is executed. |
| -WhatIf | Shows what would happen if the command is executed without actually executing the command. |
| -Confirm | Prompts the user to confirm the command before executing it. |
Inputs of the Export-WindowsDriver Command
The Export-WindowsDriver command requires two inputs: the path to the folder where the exported drivers should be stored, and the names of the drivers to be exported.
Outputs of the Export-WindowsDriver Command
The Export-WindowsDriver command produces two outputs: the exported drivers, which are stored in the specified folder, and a log file, which is stored in the same folder as the exported drivers.
Examples of the Export-WindowsDriver Command
The following examples demonstrate how to use the Export-WindowsDriver command:
- To export all drivers from the online Windows Driver Store to the C:\Drivers folder, use the following command: Export-WindowsDriver -Online -Destination C:\Drivers
- To export the drivers named “MyDriver1” and “MyDriver2” from the online Windows Driver Store to the C:\Drivers folder, use the following command: Export-WindowsDriver -Online -Destination C:\Drivers -Driver MyDriver1,MyDriver2
- To export all drivers from the online Windows Driver Store to the C:\Drivers folder and create a log file in the same folder, use the following command: Export-WindowsDriver -Online -Destination C:\Drivers -LogPath C:\Drivers\log.txt
Tips for Using the Export-WindowsDriver Command
Here are some tips for using the Export-WindowsDriver command:
- Make sure that the folder where the exported drivers will be stored has enough free space.
- If you are exporting multiple drivers, use the -Driver parameter to specify the names of the drivers to be exported.
- If you want to create a log file, use the -LogPath parameter to specify the path to the log file.
- If you are not sure what the command will do, use the -WhatIf parameter to see what would happen without actually executing the command.
- If you want to be prompted to confirm the command before executing it, use the -Confirm parameter.
Conclusion
The Export-WindowsDriver command is a powerful command that can be used to export driver packages from the Windows Driver Store to a folder. It has several parameters that can be used to customize the command’s behavior, and it produces two outputs: the exported drivers and a log file. This article discussed the syntax, parameters, inputs, outputs, examples, and tips for using the Export-WindowsDriver command.