PowerShell Test-connection and Active Directory Input

Question

I am just learning powershell, and I"m working to write a script that pulls computer names from AD and puts them into a Test-connection cmdlet to determine if its valid.
clear-host
import-module activedirectory
$workstations = Get-ADComputer -Filter '*' -SearchBase "OU=CMSD,OU=Windows XP,OU=Workstations,DC=TECH,DC=LOCAL" | FT Name
Foreach($w in $workstations)
Test-Connection -ComputerName $w -Count 1
when i run the script, i receive the following error for all entries:
Test-Connection : Testing connection to computer 'Microsoft.PowerShell.Commands.Internal.Format.GroupEndData' failed: The requested name is valid, but no data of the requested type was found
At line:6 char:24
+ Test-Connection <<<< -computername $w -Count 1
+ CategoryInfo : ResourceUnavailable: (Microsoft.Power...at.GroupEndData:String) [Test-Connection], PingException
+ FullyQualifiedErrorId : TestConnectionException,Microsoft.PowerShell.Commands.TestConnectionCommand
I'm thinking that when the array is going into the Test-connection cmdlet, its adding string characters such as "name=computer" and not just the computer name.  I don't know how to edit strings in powershell.  
any help is appreciated, thank you.

Answer 1

When you return a computer you get multiple properties - DN, Name, SID, etc. You need to indicate what property you want using dotted notation.
Test-Connection -ComputerName $w.Name -Count 1
You can also only return the Name when you do your Get-ADComputer by piping it to Select-Object. If you do this option, your variable would not need the dotted notation (.Name). $w is all you would need, since it would only contain the Name property.
Get-ADComputer -Filter * -SearchBase ... | select Name
Oh my, I just realized you are piping this to Format-Table - get rid of that! Do one of the two options above and you should have this figured out. Doing a select may be the best option since you will be returning a smaller set of information.