How to Run a WMI Script on a Remote PC

WMI, or Windows Management Instrumentation, provides a management interface to your Windows PC. Using WMI you can write scripts or query data about your system for use in writing code or system administration. The functionality of this feature can be extended greatly by using the WMI command-line interface, WMIC. From any computer on a network with WMIC installed, you can interface with any other Windows computer on which you have administrator rights.

Instructions

1. Click "Start" from your Windows desktop. Click "Run" or "Start Search" depending on your version of Windows.

2. Type "cmd" in the box. This will open a Windows command prompt.

3. Type wmic to call up the Windows Management Instrumentation Command line.

4. Type /node:(remote computer name) /user:(Your Username) to access a remote Windows system. The remote system does not need to have WMIC installed.

5. Type a WMI command to complete the statement and query the remote system. An example of a valid remote wmic command could be: "wmic /node:remotecomputer /user:Administrator bios get serialnumber". This command would return the remote computer's serial number after a valid password is entered.

Tips & Warnings

• For information on WMI scripts and classes, visit the WMI Reference page on the MSDN (see Resources).

References

• MSDN: Windows Management Instrumentation
• Microsoft: WMI Command Line

Resources

• MSDN: WMI Reference