Question : How do I run a windows command in powershell with parameters that include hyphens - having problems, specifically with WBADMIN

I'm trying to run WBADMIN via a PS script. I'm generating the commandline with variables. The script is designed to perform a backup (obviously as a scheduled task every night) to a different location which is created depending on the date and time that the script is called. Code below.

When I run this as a script "powershell -command .\backup.ps1" I get the following error from WBADMIN:

"ERROR - The value for option: backuptarget is missing. See usage below."

The problem I'm having is that the parameters for WBADMIN require "-" which it seems to me is throwing the call to WBADMIN from powershell.

I've tried a lot of things to ascerrtain what exactly is causing the problem. I'm certain it's the hyphens (obviously because they form a vital part of PS syntax). Is there a built in way around this or can anybody recommeny anything or is it something really stupid I'm doing wrong.

Thanks.
Tom.

Code Snippet:

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$date=$(Get-Date f o) $date=$date.SubString(0,$date.IndexOf(".")) $date=$date -replace "/", "-" $date=$date -replace "T", " " $date=$date -replace ":", "." $destpath = "Full Backup On $date" $storagepath=new-item -path \\nas\backups -name $destpath -type directory $commandline="wbadmin.exe" $params="start backup -backuptarget:""$storagepath"" -include:C:,D: -VSSFull" $exec = "$commandline $params" invoke-expression $exec

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Answer : How do I run a windows command in powershell with parameters that include hyphens - having problems, specifically with WBADMIN

I think you need to use an escape character see eg. http://www.leedesmond.com/weblog/?p=35

Also a simmular question has been answered here : http://www.eggheadcafe.com/software/aspnet/30491887/escape-character-question.aspx

hope it helps.
Gr,
Xfreddie