Powershell Get-ChildItem doesn't work properly on IIS directory

Question

I was going to write up a simple alias 'iis' to invoke the IIS Manager, which is 'C:\\Windows\\System32\\inetsrv\\InetMgr.exe'

set-alias iis "OpenIIS.ps1"

and in the OpenIIS.ps1 I have

$item = "C:\Windows\system32\inetsrv\InetMgr.exe"
invoke-item -path $item

This doesn't work. The error I get is "The system cannot find the file specified"

In fact, just doing a Get-ChildItem on the inetsrv won't show the InetMgr.exe (no difference with -Force switch)

Get-ChildItem C:\Windows\system32\inetsrv\*.exe -force

Obviously I can see it in Explorer and I can launch it using cmd, but not with Powershell it seems. Also, Powershell is running as Administrator.

What is going on?

As a workaround I tried creating a link to the file and then invoking that link from Powershell. I now get a 'NotSpecified' Win32Exception.

I have originally used 64 bit Powershell, but get the same result on the x86 Powershell (both run as Administrator)

Answer 1

Are you at the elevated PowerShell prompt? Some system files may not show up unless you use -Force parameter with Get-ChildItem.

Answer 2

I think evidently the file InetMgr.exe is not there as when I do a get-childitem in the mentioned directory,it lists the "InetMgr.exe" there.

This may not be the problem with Get-ChildItem or the Alias you created but instead with ur IIS Server.