Variable is array instead of string?

Question

I wrote this small script and when I test Write-Host $serial it appears fine, but when it is running in the background $serial seems to contain an array.

It tries to rename computer to C000@{SerialNumber=F7ZL3F2} instead of just C000F7ZL3F2.

What should I do to just get string not this array?

Import-Module ActiveDirectory
Get-ADComputer -Filter {Name -like 'DESKTOP-*'} -Properties * | Select Name, DNSHostName | ForEach-Object {
    $rtn = Test-Connection -CN $_.dnshostname -Count 1 -BufferSize 16 -Quiet
    if ($rtn -match 'True') { 
        $serial = Get-WMIObject Win32_Bios -ComputerName $_.name | Select-String SerialNumber
        $serial = "C000$serial"
        // Write-Host $serial
        Rename-Computer -ComputerName $_.name -NewName $serial -DomainCredential $mycreds -Force -Restart
    }
}

Vivek Kumar Singh · Accepted Answer · 2018-05-21 09:11:13Z

There are two mistakes to be pointed out in your code -

$serial = Get-WMIObject Win32_Bios -ComputerName $_.name | Select-String SerialNumber

The Select-String cmdlet searches for text and text patterns in input strings and files. Where as the basetype output of Get-WMIObject Win32_Bios is System.Management.ManagementBaseObject
```
(Get-WMIObject Win32_Bios).Gettype()
IsPublic IsSerial Name             BaseType
-------- -------- ----             --------
True     True     ManagementObject System.Management.ManagementBaseObject
```
In such cases, instead of Select-String, you can use Select-Object to choose amongst the properties. Since, Serial Number is one of the properties returned by your input command.

$serial = "C000$serial"

The output of $serial will be something like this:

SerialNumber


5CXXXXYYYXZZZ

Again, you can call it directly by $serial.SerialNumber. So your overall code will be

Import-Module ActiveDirectory

Get-ADComputer -Filter {Name -like 'DESKTOP-*'} -Properties * | Select Name, DNSHostName | ForEach-Object {
    $rtn = Test-Connection -CN $_.dnshostname -Count 1 -BufferSize 16 -Quiet

    if ($rtn -match 'True') { 
        $serial = Get-WMIObject Win32_Bios -ComputerName $_.name |
                  Select-Object SerialNumber

        $serial = "C000$($serial.SerialNumber)"

        Rename-Computer -ComputerName $_.name -NewName $serial -DomainCredential $mycreds -Force -Restart
    }
}

Or you can use -ExpandProperty parameter of the Select-Object cmdlet like

$serial = Get-WMIObject Win32_Bios -ComputerName $_.name |
          Select-Object -ExpandProperty SerialNumber
$serial = "C000$serial"

boxdog · Accepted Answer · 2018-05-21 07:43:45Z

1

Try changing this line:

$serial = Get-WMIObject Win32_Bios -ComputerName $_.name |
            Select-String SerialNumber

to this:

$serial = (Get-WMIObject Win32_Bios -ComputerName $_.name).SerialNumber

or this:

$serial = Get-WMIObject Win32_Bios -ComputerName $_.name |
           Select-Object -ExpandProperty SerialNumber

answered May 21, 2018 at 7:43

boxdog

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Comments

henrycarteruk · Accepted Answer · 2018-05-21 10:19:29Z

Why are you using Select-String? I would use Select-Object and then -ExpandProperty

Import-Module ActiveDirectory

Get-ADComputer -Filter {Name -like 'DESKTOP-*'} -Properties * | Select Name, DNSHostName | ForEach-Object {

  $rtn = Test-Connection -CN $_.dnshostname -Count 1 -BufferSize 16 -Quiet

  if ($rtn -match 'True') { 
  $serial = Get-WMIObject Win32_Bios -ComputerName $_.name | Select-Object -ExpandProperty SerialNumber

  $serial = "C000$serial"

  // Write-Host $serial

  Rename-Computer -ComputerName $_.name -NewName $serial -DomainCredential $mycreds -Force -Restart
    }

}

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