Get-WindowsOptionalFeature is a powerful Windows PowerShell command that allows users to manage optional features on their Windows operating system. It is a versatile command that can be used to enable, disable, and query optional features on a Windows computer. This article will provide an overview of the Get-WindowsOptionalFeature command, including its syntax, parameters, inputs, outputs, examples, and tips.
Syntax
The syntax for the Get-WindowsOptionalFeature command is as follows:
Get-WindowsOptionalFeature [-Online] [-FeatureName] [-All] [-LimitAccess] [-Source] [-CustomProperty] [-LogPath] [-LogLevel] [-WhatIf] [-Confirm]
Parameters
The Get-WindowsOptionalFeature command has several parameters that can be used to customize its behavior. These parameters are as follows:
| Parameter | Description |
|---|---|
| -Online | Specifies that the command should be run against the online Windows image. |
| -FeatureName | Specifies the name of the optional feature to be managed. |
| -All | Specifies that all optional features should be managed. |
| -LimitAccess | Specifies that the command should only manage optional features that are available in the online Windows image. |
| -Source | Specifies the source of the optional feature. |
| -CustomProperty | Specifies a custom property to be used when managing an optional feature. |
| -LogPath | Specifies the path to the log file. |
| -LogLevel | Specifies the level of logging to be used. |
| -WhatIf | Specifies that the command should only simulate the changes that would be made. |
| -Confirm | Specifies that the user should be prompted to confirm the changes before they are made. |
Inputs
The Get-WindowsOptionalFeature command requires two inputs in order to execute. These inputs are the feature name and the source. The feature name is the name of the optional feature to be managed, and the source is the location of the optional feature.
Outputs
The Get-WindowsOptionalFeature command produces several outputs. These outputs include the feature name, the source, the state of the feature (enabled or disabled), and the custom properties associated with the feature. Additionally, the command can produce a log file containing detailed information about the command’s execution.
Examples
The following are examples of how to use the Get-WindowsOptionalFeature command:
- To enable an optional feature named “Foo” from the online Windows image, use the following command: Get-WindowsOptionalFeature -Online -FeatureName “Foo” -Enable
- To disable an optional feature named “Bar” from a local source, use the following command: Get-WindowsOptionalFeature -FeatureName “Bar” -Source “C:\Source\Bar” -Disable
- To query the state of an optional feature named “Baz” from the online Windows image, use the following command: Get-WindowsOptionalFeature -Online -FeatureName “Baz” -Query
- To enable an optional feature named “Foo” from the online Windows image and log the command’s execution, use the following command: Get-WindowsOptionalFeature -Online -FeatureName “Foo” -Enable -LogPath “C:\Logs\Foo.log” -LogLevel Verbose
Tips
The following are some tips for using the Get-WindowsOptionalFeature command:
- Use the -Online parameter when managing optional features from the online Windows image.
- Use the -Source parameter when managing optional features from a local source.
- Use the -LogPath and -LogLevel parameters to log the command’s execution.
- Use the -WhatIf parameter to simulate the changes that would be made.
- Use the -Confirm parameter to prompt the user to confirm the changes before they are made.
Conclusion
The Get-WindowsOptionalFeature command is a powerful Windows PowerShell command that allows users to manage optional features on their Windows operating system. It is a versatile command that can be used to enable, disable, and query optional features on a Windows computer. This article has provided an overview of the Get-WindowsOptionalFeature command, including its syntax, parameters, inputs, outputs, examples, and tips.