Windows® XP Under the Hood

Chapter 7. Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI)

ROAD MAP

• This chapter shows how to use Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI) to manage computers over a network.

• WMI can do something as simple as shutting down a computer or as complex as documenting its every setting.

• You cannot remotely manage Windows XP Home Edition with WMI scripts.

• This is hairy stuff. You should be very familiar with the material in Chapter 3, “Scripting and Objects,” and Chapter 4, “File and Registry Access,” before reading this chapter.

• You may have run into the acronyms WBEM and CIM. This chapter discusses these as well.

Introduction to Windows Management Instrumentation

If you own even just one Windows computer, you know that maintenance can be a frustrating, time-consuming ...