Test if computer object exists in Active Directory in PowerShell

Question

I have a problem checking if a computer object exists in AD or not. To be specific it should go into an "else" if not.

This is my code:

if (Get-ADComputer "$Computer") {
        Get-ADComputer $Computer | Set-ADComputer -Enabled $false
        Start-Sleep -s 2 
        Get-ADComputer $Computer | Move-ADObject -TargetPath $PathOU
        Start-Sleep -s 2 
} else {
    write-host "Example"
}

When the input computer doesn't exist, the problem is, the command Get-ADComputer "$Computer" already fails in the if statement, so it never reaches the else.

How can I avoid that?

Thanks in advance.

Santiago Squarzon · Accepted Answer · 2022-12-07 13:03:25Z

1

Use Try Catch instead:

try {
    Get-ADComputer $Computer | Set-ADComputer -Enabled $false
    Start-Sleep -s 2 
    Get-ADComputer $Computer | Move-ADObject -TargetPath $PathOU
    Start-Sleep -s 2 
catch {
    Write-Host "Example"
}

answered Dec 7, 2022 at 13:03

Santiago Squarzon

65.7k5 gold badges26 silver badges60 bronze badges

Sign up to request clarification or add additional context in comments.

2 Comments

Avshalom Over a year ago

this may not always work; you should add to the cmdlet -ErrorAction Stop

Santiago Squarzon Over a year ago

@Avshalom Not really in this case. AD Cmdlets produce pipeline terminating errors always

Bitcoin Murderous Maniac · Accepted Answer · 2022-12-07 16:08:53Z

1

Add the Get-ADComputer to a variable before the if block to help. Also before setting that variable with the command, set it to null per the below example. In addition to that, change up the if block to first check if it does not exist and to run that logic first then else run logic if it does exist.

$comp = "";
$comp = Try {Get-ADComputer "$Computer"} Catch {$false};

if (!$comp) {
    write-host "Example"
    } else {
        $comp | Set-ADComputer -Enabled $false
        Start-Sleep -s 2 
        $comp | Move-ADObject -TargetPath $PathOU
        Start-Sleep -s 2
    };

Supporting Resources

if
Comparison Operators

! logical not

edited Dec 7, 2022 at 16:08

answered Dec 7, 2022 at 13:29

Bitcoin Murderous Maniac

1,5081 gold badge18 silver badges29 bronze badges

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

Test if computer object exists in Active Directory in PowerShell

2 Answers 2

2 Comments

Supporting Resources

Comments

Your Answer

Hot Network Questions

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

2 Answers 2

2 Comments

Supporting Resources

Comments

Your Answer

Sign up or log in

Post as a guest

Related