PowerShell execute external command in same window

Question

I am trying to execute an external command using powershell, without having the second program to popup, I need to execute this program within the same PowerShell window and output both the log and the errors. I started with this:

$outcome = Start-Process -Wait -FilePath "cmd.exe" -ArgumentList "dir" -NoNewWindow 2>&1
$outcome

But it doesn't work as expected. I still see the new window popping up with DOS and no redirect at all about the output, the errors and so on. Am I doing something wrong?

Yes I can but all the examples I found are Start-Process related ... — Raffaeu
– Raffaeu, Commented Feb 10, 2014 at 15:32
Invoke-Expression "$PWD\.venv\Scripts\Activate.ps1" worked for me in my use case. — The-Stanislav
– The-Stanislav, Commented Jan 4 at 7:51

arco444 · Accepted Answer · 2014-02-10 15:37:46Z

18

Does this work for you?

$outcome = Invoke-Expression "cmd.exe /c dir"
$outcome

answered Feb 10, 2014 at 15:37

arco444

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zomega · Accepted Answer · 2021-11-28 12:18:58Z

2

My suggestion is to use the call operator

& cmd.exe /c dir

answered Nov 28, 2021 at 12:18

zomega

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js2010 · Accepted Answer · 2024-02-03 04:34:36Z

-2

You can just run it. You're missing "/c". Otherwise, it just runs "cmd".

$outcome = cmd /c dir

With the added complication of start-process, you'd have to save the output to a file.

Start-Process -Wait -FilePath "cmd.exe" -ArgumentList "/c","dir" -NoNewWindow -RedirectStandardOutput cmd.log -RedirectStandardError err.txt

or

Start-Process -Wait -FilePath cmd.exe -Args "/c dir >cmd.log 2>&1" -NoNewWindow

edited Feb 3, 2024 at 4:34

answered Nov 28, 2021 at 14:41

js2010

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