Command Line
Advanced Legacy WMIC Queries and CIM Migration
Translate WMIC WHERE and GET expressions into supported PowerShell CIM filters.
Follow the steps in order and stop if the screen or target does not match what is described. Use administrator access only when the task requires it.
Identify the old query
Example legacy intent: list automatically starting services that are not running.
Translate the filter
Use a provider-side CIM filter.
Command
Get-CimInstance Win32_Service -Filter "StartMode='Auto' AND State<>'Running'" | Select-Object Name, DisplayName, State, StartModeTranslate process queries
Request only the fields required by the task.
Command
Get-CimInstance Win32_Process -Filter "Name='notepad.exe'" -Property Name, ProcessId, ExecutablePathAvoid string parsing
Use Where-Object, Select-Object, Export-Csv, or ConvertTo-Json with the returned objects.
Test behavior
Provider classes and permissions can vary. Test read-only queries on each target OS before automating changes.
Retire modifying WMIC calls
Do not mechanically translate delete, call, or set operations. Re-evaluate authorization, confirmation, rollback, and supported cmdlets first.