Invoke-PowerShell

Invokes a script block in a separate powershell.exe process.

Syntax

Invoke-PowerShell [-Command] <ScriptBlock> [[-Args] <Object[]>] [-x86] [[-Runtime] <String>] [<CommonParameters>]

Description

If using PowerShell v2.0, the invoked PowerShell process can run under the .NET 4.0 CLR (using v4.0 as the value to the Runtime parameter).

If using PowerShell v4.0, you can only run the invoked PowerShell under a v4.0 CLR. If you supply a v2.0 as the value to the Runtime parameter, and you're running PowerShell v3.0, you'll get an error.

This function launches a PowerShell process that matches the architecture of the operating system. On 64-bit operating systems, you can run under 32-bit PowerShell by specifying the x86 switch). If this function runs under a 32-bit version of PowerShell without the x86 switch, you'll get an error.

Parameters

Name Type Description Required? Pipeline Input Default Value
Command ScriptBlock The command to run. true false
Args Object[] Any arguments to pass to the command. false false
x86 SwitchParameter Run the x86 (32-bit) version of PowerShell. false false
Runtime String The CLR to use. Must be one of v2.0 or v4.0. Default is the current PowerShell runtime. false false

EXAMPLE 1

Invoke-PowerShell -Command { $PSVersionTable }

Runs a separate PowerShell process which matches the architecture of the operating system, returning the $PSVersionTable from that process. This will fail under 32-bit PowerShell on a 64-bit operating system.

EXAMPLE 2

Invoke-PowerShell -Command { $PSVersionTable } -x86

Runs a 32-bit PowerShell process, return the $PSVersionTable from that process.

EXAMPLE 3

Invoke-PowerShell -Command { $PSVersionTable } -Runtime v4.0

Runs a separate PowerShell process under the v4.0 .NET CLR, returning the $PSVersionTable from that process. Should return a CLRVersion of 4.0.