wmic [context] [verb] [noun] [properties] [options]
To launch a new process (equivalent to wmic process call create ): powershell
wmic process get description,executablepath,processid,workingsetsize Use code with caution. wmic useraccount get name,sid,disabled Use code with caution. WMIC vs. PowerShell: Is it Still Relevant? wmic help new
If you have ever managed a Windows system from the command line, you have likely encountered the tool. This utility, for decades, served as a bridge between administrators and the vast repository of system information that WMI provides. This article is your definitive guide to understanding the full scope of WMIC's features, with a particular focus on the built-in help system and the CREATE verb (often searched as "wmic help new" ). We will explore everything from basic syntax and practical examples to its official deprecation and modern PowerShell alternatives.
# Old (Fragile) # wmic /node:"Server01" os get caption PowerShell: Is it Still Relevant
If your goal is to generate a new process, service, or configuration, you must use the CREATE verb. Below are practical examples of how to achieve this. 1. Creating a New Process
WMIC uses global switches to manage the environment. This article is your definitive guide to understanding
WMIC uses "aliases" (friendly names for system classes) to make commands easier to remember. Microsoft Learn WMIC Command System Info wmic os get caption, version, osarchitecture BIOS Details wmic bios get serialnumber, manufacturer, smbiosbiosversion wmic cpu get name, numberofcores, maxclockspeed Disk Space wmic logicaldisk get deviceid, freespace, size List Installed Apps wmic product get name, version List Running Processes wmic process list brief Stop a Process wmic process where name="processname.exe" call terminate Get Serial Number wmic baseboard get serialnumber Filtering and Formatting Results To make your output more useful, you can use switches: Format as a List /format:list to the end of your command for a vertical, readable list. Export to HTML /output:C:\report.html [command] /format:hform to generate a professional-looking report. Specific Search clauses (e.g., wmic process where "name='chrome.exe'" get processid Microsoft Learn Troubleshooting "WMIC is not recognized" In Windows 11, WMIC is an Optional Feature and may be disabled by default. To enable it: Microsoft Community Hub
Quickly query disk space, network configs, or installed software.
You can create a new volume shadow copy for backup purposes using the shadowcopy alias. wmic shadowcopy call create Volume="C:\" Use code with caution. The Deprecation of WMIC: Moving to PowerShell
wmic environment create name="MyVariable"; variablevalue="MyValue" Discover Creation Methods