Suppressing Unwanted Console Window Flash ( Net User )

[npilzner]

Hello,

I have been working with a script (.PS1) that I would like to turn into an Executable. When I debug my script, or run my script through Powershell Studio/Powershell ISE, the script works as intended. When I package the script into an exe, I get an unexpected console window flash when the net user cmdlet is hit.

I was able to test this and verify it was the net user cmdlet by creating a new .ps1 script containing:

Code: Select all

net user $env:USERNAME /domain | Out-Null

- Which should not yield any output or display anything on the screen.

I tried packaging the above code as SAPIEN Powershell V5 Host (Windows Forms), and SAPIEN Powershell V5 (Windows) but both still yielded the quick flash of the console window.

I have tried changing around the net user cmdlet to

Code: Select all

& powershell.exe -NonInteractive -WindowStyle Hidden -command "net user $env:USERNAME /domain"

Which still warrants the unwanted flash of a console window when packaged.

I would prefer not to have to create a .vbs file to call the script with the -NonInteractive or -WindowStyle flags to accomplish this as a packaged executable will be much more efficient for what I am intending to accomplish.

Is there something that I am missing, or anything left that I should try?

Thanks in advance,
Nick

[jvierra]

Use New-PsDrive as it does not require shelling or external program.

[npilzner]

I am not familiar with how New-PSDrive would help me retrieve the same User Information that Net User, could you provide an example? When I look at Technet or other similar articles I am not seeing any examples that would fit.

[jvierra]

Sorry. I misread your post.

What user information are you trying to receive.

See the following code:

[npilzner]

I need to be able to retrieve the date their password was last set, or the date it expires.

I know I can achieve this by using Get-ADUser, but the executable would be ran from PCs that do not have rights to AD, let alone have Remote Server Administration Tools installed to import the module. I did not want to hard code a value in their registry as this can easily be tampered with (Especially in HKCU). Net User provides the /domain parameter which allows any of these domain computers to query the domain controller from a non-elevated state.

[jvierra]

The function posted does that. It retrieves the whole user AD object. Just select the password last set property.

[npilzner]

I appreciate the quick replies! I was able to play with that more and you were spot on, seems to be exactly what I was looking for.

Thank you!