Cool, the PowerShell scripting guide is Free…

By Jesse Hamrick • July 17th, 2007

A big mistake I made when learning VBScript was the purchase of the Windows 2000 Scripting Guide ($49.95). It's a great resource, it sits on my desk, and yes I still use is frequently. So why was buying it a mistake? Because, the online version is available on Microsoft's site, for $.00. Before purchasing PowerShell books I checked Microsoft's site, guess what? Microsoft has made available the "Windows PowerShell 1.0 Documentation Pack."

The PowerShell Documentation Pack is… "Packed!" I would recommend downloading and reading ASAP. What you will find in the download:

Getting Started Doc - "The primary focus of this document is to help Windows PowerShell users get started with Windows PowerShell. This document describes the features of the shell that you need to start using the shell. For a detailed examination of the shell, its features, and examples of how to use the shell, see the Windows PowerShell Primer." -Microsoft

User Guide (aka The PowerShell Primer) - "The Windows PowerShell Primer is intended for IT professionals, programmers, and power users who have no prior background with Windows PowerShell. Although a background in scripting and WMI are helpful, they are not assumed or required to understand this document." -Microsoft