• Adjust the Execution Policy to allow script execution by using the “Set-ExecutionPolicy RemoteSigned” command which balances security and functionality.
  • Run PowerShell scripts through different methods such as “Run with PowerShell” Windows PowerShell CMD or PowerShell ISE based on your needs.
  • Create PowerShell scripts using Notepad or PowerShell ISE to automate tasks and streamline system administration.

In this article, we’ll help you get started by explaining everything you need to know for running your first PowerShell script . Along the way, we will also look at how you can create your own PowerShell scripts and provide a few examples to spark your creativity. So, let’s jump right in!

How To Run a PowerShell Script? The 2 Best Methods - 1

Set your Execution Policy

Step 1: Setting the Execution Policy

When trying to execute PowerShell scripts for the first time, you are likely to encounter an error stating, “ cannot be loaded because running scripts is disabled on this system .” This error occurs because your execution policy is set to Restricted , RemoteSigned , or AllSigned . Therefore, the first step to running PowerShell scripts is to understand the purpose of the execution policy and configure it accordingly.

↪ The Execution Policy and its Levels

The PowerShell script Execution Policy is a system-wide configuration setting that controls whether PowerShell scripts can be executed based on their source and digital signature . By default, this policy is set to “Restricted,” blocking all script execution. This helps minimize the risks associated with running scripts downloaded from the internet, ensuring controlled access and security on your system.

There are four levels for the Execution Policy:

  1. Restricted: This policy is set by default on all Windows client computers and restricts the execution of all scripts.
  2. Unrestricted: For non-Windows devices, this policy is set by default and allows you to run any script. However, it still returns a warning message before executing a script that was downloaded from the Internet.
  3. Remote Signed: This policy allows you to run any script that is digitally signed or written on your local computer, even if it doesn’t have a signature.
  4. All Signed: Whether the script is downloaded from the Internet or written locally, they all must be signed digitally by a trusted publisher to be executed under this policy.

↪ Changing the PowerShell Execution Policy

Now that we know the significance of the execution policy and the different ways it works, let’s look at adjusting these restrictions. Here’s a detailed rundown on how to change the PowerShell Execution Policy:

  1. Open Windows PowerShell using the Windows Search bar and ensure you run it as an Administrator . Run Windows Powershell
  2. Next, run the “ Set-ExecutionPolicy RemoteSigned ” PowerShell command to change your system’s execution policy. We will be changing the execution policy to Remote Signed as it offers a balanced level of security. However, you can choose any one of the four based on your requirements. Change Execution Policy
  3. As you enter that, you should see an output asking you to confirm the action . Here, enter Y for Yes and press the Enter key to confirm the policy change. Press Y For yes
  4. To verify your current execution policy, you can use the “ Get-ExecutionPolicy ” command. Setting Execution Policy

Step 2: Run PowerShell Scripts

Now that you have configured the execution policy, you are ready to run your first PowerShell script . There are several options available for running PowerShell scripts, and you should choose the method that seems most straightforward for you. With that said, let’s take a closer look at the four different methods to run a PowerShell script.

1. Run With PowerShell

The fastest and easiest method to run PowerShell scripts is by right-clicking on them and selecting the “ Run with PowerShell ” option. However, with this method, the script runs and closes immediately, which means you won’t be able to check for errors or review the output thoroughly. This approach is best suited for scripts designed for a specific action, such as cleaning temporary files.

How To Run a PowerShell Script? The 2 Best Methods - 2

Run with Powershell

2. Using Windows PowerShell

The most preferred method for running PowerShell scripts is by using the command line within Windows PowerShell itself. To run a PowerShell script using Windows PowerShell, follow these steps:

  1. Open Windows PowerShell as an administrator. Run Windows Powershell
  2. Navigate to the folder where your script is located using the command — cd “c:\path” (make sure to add the path within the quotation marks). In our case, we have simply saved the script on our desktop. Navigate to the directory
  3. Next, enter the name of your script , ensuring you match the case exactly as it appears. Enter your script
  4. Finally, hit the Enter key on your keyboard, and your script should be executed. Run your script

3. Using CMD

Similar to Windows PowerShell, CMD or the Command Prompt is also a command-line interface available in Windows. If you prefer CMD over Windows PowerShell, you can use it to run your PowerShell scripts. Here’s how to run PowerShell scripts using CMD:

  1. To run scripts using the command prompt, start by opening the PowerShell executable and then passing the script path as a parameter to it. To do this, head to the Windows Search bar and open Command Prompt ( CMD ) as an administrator. Run CMD as admin
  2. Next, enter PowerShell.exe to launch the PowerShell environment within CMD, where you can proceed to execute your scripts by providing their file paths as parameters. Enter PowerShell.exe
  3. From here, navigate to where your script is located using the command — cd “c:\path” . Enter your directory
  4. Now, enter the name of your script. Add your script
  5. Finally, press Enter , and the script will be executed within CMD. Your script should run right away

4. Using PowerShell ISE

Windows PowerShell ISE ( Integrated Scripting Environment ) is an official scripting tool and development environment for PowerShell. It provides a graphical user interface ( GUI ) that simplifies the creation, debugging, and execution of PowerShell scripts. If you write your scripts or edit others, you’ll probably be using PowerShell ISE.

In that case, here’s a quick rundown to run PowerShell scripts using PowerShell ISE.

  1. Open Windows PowerShell ISE using the Windows Search bar and ensure to run it as an administrator. Run Windows PowerShell ISE
  2. Next, click on File and select Open from the drop-down menu. This will open the File Explorer . Now open your file
  3. Here, navigate to your script’s directory and press the Open button. Select your script
  4. To execute the script, simply click the green run button or press the F5 key on your keyboard. This will run the script within the integrated PowerShell terminal located at the bottom of the window. Run your script

Now that you have learned everything about running PowerShell scripts, it’s time to put your knowledge to the test. Windows PowerShell is a powerful scripting language that introduces a new way to interact with and automate your operating system with just a few simple command lines. So, what are you waiting for? Start running your scripts right away!

How to Fix “Printer is in an error state” Issue?

The error “ WinRAR Error: Next Volume Is Required ” usually appears when you’re extracting a multi-part RAR archive and WinRAR can’t find (or can’t correctly identify) the next file in the sequence . This often happens when a volume is missing , stored in a different folder , or renamed in a way that breaks the archive’s expected order .

How To Run a PowerShell Script? The 2 Best Methods - 3

In this guide, we’ll go over the most reliable fixes confirmed by affected users, along with what each method is doing behind the scenes so you can choose the right one for your situation.

Important: To extract multi-volume archives, you should always start extraction from the first file in the set. This is usually file.part1.rar , or (in older sets) the main .rar file that comes before .r01 , .r02 , and so on.

1. Download and Place the Missing RAR File

WinRAR needs all parts of a multi-volume archive to complete extraction. This error usually appears when one of the volumes in a set like .part2.rar , .r01 , .r02 , .001 , and similar naming formats is missing . Downloading the missing volume and placing it in the same folder as the other parts allows WinRAR to continue extracting normally .

  1. Look at the error message or review the list of archive parts in the folder.
  2. Identify which volume is missing (for example, part2.rar , .r02 , .001 , etc.).
  3. Go back to the website or source where you downloaded the archive.
  4. Locate and download the exact missing file using the same naming format as the others.
  5. Make sure the new file name matches the pattern of the rest. Example: If you have file.part1.rar and file.part3.rar , the missing one must be file.part2.rar .
  6. Move the downloaded missing volume into the same folder as the other archive parts.
  7. Confirm that all parts are in a single folder before extracting.
  8. Right-click the first file in the series (usually part1 or the main .rar file) and select Extract Here or Extract to Folder .
  9. WinRAR should now detect all volumes and continue extraction normally .

2. Manually Browse & Select the Next Volume

Use this method only if the next volume already exists , but WinRAR is failing to detect it automatically. This can happen due to incorrect naming , the file being in a different location , or a temporary file access issue. Manually browsing helps WinRAR locate the correct volume and resume extraction without interruption .

  1. Right-click the first file in the series (usually .rar or part1.rar ) and select Extract Here or Extract to Folder .
  2. When WinRAR cannot find the next volume, it will show the “ Next Volume Is Required ” message.
  3. A small window will appear, allowing you to manually select the next volume .
  4. Use the file explorer window to locate the folder where the other archive parts are saved.
  5. Select the next part based on the naming order (example: select file.part2.rar after file.part1.rar ).
  6. Make sure the selected file matches the naming format of the archive (no extra characters like (1) and no mismatched numbering).
  7. WinRAR will resume extraction using the selected volume .
  8. If additional volumes are missing or stored separately, WinRAR may prompt you again. Repeat the same process until extraction completes.

3. Rename the RAR files in Order

WinRAR relies on a proper naming sequence (such as file.part1.rar , file.part2.rar , file.part3.rar ) to extract multi-volume archives. If a file is named incorrectly, contains extra characters, or is out of order, WinRAR may fail to locate the next volume and show this error. Renaming the files correctly helps WinRAR follow the sequence and extract the archive without interruptions .

Note: Renaming only changes the file name , not the file contents. The goal is to restore the correct sequence so WinRAR can detect the next volume.

  1. Go to the folder where all the RAR files are saved.
  2. Make sure all parts of the archive are present and stored in the same folder .
  3. Check how the parts are currently named . Common patterns include:
file.part1.rar, file.part2.rar, file.part3.rar
file.rar, file.r01, file.r02, file.r03
  1. Look for files that don’t match the expected numbering pattern (for example, file.part01.rar , file.part1(1).rar , or unrelated names).
  2. Rename each file so it follows the same order without extra characters or mismatched numbering. Example:
Incorrect: file.part1.rar, file.part3.rar, file.part2(1).rar
Correct: file.part1.rar, file.part2.rar, file.part3.rar
  1. Make sure the text before the number is exactly the same for all files.
  2. Only the last part number should change.
  3. Right-click the first file in the series (usually part1.rar or the main .rar file) and select Extract Here .
  4. WinRAR should now recognize the sequence and continue extraction normally .

If you still get the same prompt: the archive set is likely incomplete (a part was never downloaded or was removed), or one of the volumes is corrupt and must be re-downloaded from the original source.