PS script errors at 'Begin {}'

Question

I found a
script on blog.powershell.no, and am trying to adjust it to fit my needs. I've pasted my revisions below. 
When I run the script (.\script.ps1 -ToCheck All), I should get a list of the run-as accounts for all services and scheduled tasks on localhost. Instead, I'm getting the error: 
Begin : The term 'Begin' is not recognized as the name of a cmdlet, function, script file, or operable program. Check the spelling of the name, or if a path was included, verify that the path is correct and try again.
At C:\shared\test.ps1:184 char:1
+ Begin {
+ ~~~~~
+ CategoryInfo : ObjectNotFound: (Begin:String) [],
CommandNotFoundException + FullyQualifiedErrorId : CommandNotFoundException
Get-Process : Cannot evaluate parameter 'Name' because its argument is specified as a script block and there is no input. A script block cannot be evaluated without input.
At C:\shared\test.ps1:190 char:9
+ Process {
+ ~
+ CategoryInfo : MetadataError: (:) [Get-Process], ParameterBindingException
+ FullyQualifiedErrorId : ScriptBlockArgumentNoInput,Microsoft.PowerShell.Commands.GetProcessCommand
End : The term 'End' is not recognized as the name of a cmdlet, function, script file, or operable program. Check the spelling of the name, or if a path was included, verify that the path is correct and try again.
At C:\shared\test.ps1:224 char:1
+ End {
+ ~~~
+ CategoryInfo : ObjectNotFound: (End:String) [], CommandNotFoundException
+ FullyQualifiedErrorId : CommandNotFoundException
I don't understand why it doesn't like the Begin/Process/End blocks. Here is the entire script:
<#
.SYNOPSIS
Get 'Run As'' value for services and/or scheduled tasks on a user-specified list of computers.
.DESCRIPTION
Users WMI and schtasks.exe to get the 'Run As' value for services and/or scheduled tasks on a user-specified list of computers. The script requires PowerShell version 2.
.NOTES
Author: Jan Egil Ring
Blog: http://blog.powershell.no
LastEdit: 22.11.2011
.LINK
.PARAMETER ComputerName
Default value: localhost. The computer to perform action against. Accepts ValueFromPipeline and ValueFromPipelineByPropertyName.
.PARAMETER RunAsUser
Filters returned objects based on user or domain name.
.PARAMETER ToCheck
.PARAMETER Logfile
Path to log-file (only errors are logged).
.EXAMPLE
.\getRunAsAccounts-Parameterized.ps1 -ComputerName srv01 -RunAsUser managed
This example checks srv01 for services and scheduled tasks that have a "Run As" account with 'managed' in the name.
.EXAMPLE
.\getRunAsAccounts-Parameterized.ps1 -ComputerName srv01 -RunAsUser srvc
This example checks srv01 for services and scheduled tasks that have a "Run As" account with 'srvc' in the name.
.EXAMPLE
.\getRunAsAccounts-Parameterized.ps1 -ComputerName (Get-Content c:\computernames.txt)
This example get's a list of computer names from c:\computernames.txt and returns the run-as accounts for all services.
.EXAMPLE
Get-ADComputer -filter * | .\getRunAsAccounts-Parameterized.ps1 | Out-File c:\output.csv -NoTypeInformation
This example get's a list of all computers in Active Directory and returns the run-as accounts for all services to a CSV file.
#>
#Requires -Version 2.0
[CmdletBinding()]
param(
[Parameter(ValueFromPipeline=$True,ValueFromPipelineByPropertyName=$True)]
[string[]]$ComputerName = "localhost",
[string]$RunAsUser,
[ValidateSet("Services","Tasks","All")]
[string]$ToCheck,
[string]$Logfile
Function Get-RunAsAccountWorker {
param($ComputerName)
Try {
If ((Test-Connection -ComputerName $ComputerName -Quiet) -and ($ComputerSystem = Get-WmiObject -Class win32_ComputerSystem -Computername $ComputerName -ErrorAction Stop)) {
Write-Verbose "Connected to computer $ComputerName"
#$services = Get-WmiObject Win32_Service -filter "(StartName Like '[^NT Authority]%') AND (StartName <> 'localsystem')" -ComputerName $ComputerName -ErrorAction Stop | Select name,Startname,startmode
$services = Get-WmiObject Win32_Service -Filter "(StartName Like '%$runAsUser%')" -ComputerName $ComputerName -ErrorAction Stop | Select-Object name,startname,startmode
$output = @()
If ($services) {
Foreach ($service in $services) {
Write-Verbose "Processing NIC $($service.name)"
$outputService = @{}
$outputService.Computername = $computerSystem.name
$outputService.Connectivity = "Success"
$outputService.Type = "Service"
$outputService.Name = $service.name
$outputService.RunAsAccount = $service.startName
$outputService.StartupType = $service.startMode
$outputService.Status = $null
$output += $outputService
Else {
$outputinfo = @{}
$outputinfo.Computername = $($ComputerName)
$outputinfo.Connectivity = "Failed (ping)"
$outputinfo.Type = $null
$outputinfo.Name = $null
$outputinfo.RunAsAccount = $null
$outputinfo.StartupType = $null
$outputinfo.Status = $null
$output += $outputinfo
Catch {
Write-Verbose "An error occured connecting to computer $ComputerName"
Write-Verbose $error[0].exception
$outputinfo = @{}
$outputinfo.Computername = $($ComputerName)
$outputinfo.Connectivity = "Failed (RPC)"
$outputinfo.Type = $null
$outputinfo.Name = $null
$outputinfo.RunAsAccount = $null
$outputinfo.StartupType = $null
$outputinfo.Status = $null
$output += $outputinfo
If ($logfile) {
$ComputerName | Out-File -FilePath $Logfile -Append
$error[0].exception | Out-File -FilePath $Logfile -Append
Write-Verbose "Writing output object"
If ($output) {
Foreach ($ht in $output) {
New-Object -TypeName PSObject -Property $ht
Else {
$outputinfo = @{}
$outputinfo.Computername = $($ComputerName)
$outputinfo.Connectivity = "Success"
$outputinfo.Type = $null
$outputinfo.Name = $null
$outputinfo.RunAsAccount = $null
$outputinfo.StartupType = $null
$outputinfo.Status = $null
New-Object -TypeName PSObject -Property $outputinfo
Function Get-ScheduledTask {
# Helper function by Claus Nielsen
# http://www.powershellmagazine.com/2011/11/21/managing-scheduled-tasks-in-your-environment-part-i
[CmdletBinding()]
param(
[Parameter(Mandatory=$true,ValueFromPipeline=$true,ValueFromPipelineByPropertyName=$true)]
[String[]]$ComputerName,
[Parameter(Mandatory=$false)]
[String[]]$RunAsUser,
[Parameter(Mandatory=$false)]
[String[]]$TaskName,
[parameter(Mandatory=$false)]
[alias("WS")]
[switch]$WithSpace
BEGIN {
$Script:Tasks = @()
PROCESS {
$schtasks = schtasks.exe /query /s $ComputerName /V /FO CSV | ConvertFrom-Csv
Write-Verbose "Getting scheduled tasks from: $ComputerName"
If ($schtasks) {
Foreach ($task in $schtasks) {
If ($task."Run As User" -match "$($RunAsUser)" -and $task.TaskName -match "$($TaskName)") {
Write-Verbose "$ComputerName ($task.TaskName).replace('\','') $task.'Run As User' $task.Status"
$task | Get-Member -MemberType Properties | ForEach -BEGIN {$hash=@{}} -PROCESS {
If ($WithSpace) {
($hash.($_.Name)) = $task.($_.Name)
Else {
($hash.($($_.Name).replace(" ",""))) = $task.($_.Name)
} -END {
$script:Tasks += (New-Object -TypeName PSObject -Property $hash)
END {
$Script:Tasks
Begin {
If ($LogFile) {
New-Item -Path $Logfile -ItemType File -Force | Out-Null
Process {
If (($ToCheck -eq 'Services') -OR ($ToCheck -eq 'Both')) {
Foreach ($computer in $ComputerName) {
Get-RunAsAccountWorker -ComputerName $computer
If (($ToCheck -eq 'Tasks') -OR ($ToCheck -eq 'Both')) {
If ($RunAsUser) {
$tasks = Get-ScheduledTask -ComputerName $ComputerName -RunAsUser $RunAsUser | Select-Object taskname,runasuser,status
Else {
$tasks = Get-ScheduledTask -ComputerName $ComputerName | Select-Object taskname,runasuser,status
If ($tasks) {
Foreach ($task in $tasks) {
Write-Verbose "Processing task $($task.TaskName)"
$outputtask = @{}
$outputtask.Computername = $computerSystem.Name
$outputtask.Connectivity = "Success"
$outputtask.Type = "ScheduledTask"
$outputtask.Name = $task.TaskName
$outputtask.RunAsAccount = $task.RunAsUser
$outputtask.StartupType = $null
$outputTask.Status = $task.Status
$output += $outputtask
End {
Write-Host 'end'

Answer 1

Here is a fix for some but the script itself has coding errors.
to test the blocking run with the -Verbose and no other selections. YOu will see each process/begin/end block called as required.
<#
.SYNOPSIS
Get 'Run As'' value for services and/or scheduled tasks on a user-specified list of computers.
.DESCRIPTION
Users WMI and schtasks.exe to get the 'Run As' value for services and/or scheduled tasks on a user-specified list of computers. The script requires PowerShell version 2.
.NOTES
Author: Jan Egil Ring
Blog: http://blog.powershell.no
LastEdit: 22.11.2011
.LINK
.PARAMETER ComputerName
Default value: localhost. The computer to perform action against. Accepts ValueFromPipeline and ValueFromPipelineByPropertyName.
.PARAMETER RunAsUser
Filters returned objects based on user or domain name.
.PARAMETER ToCheck
.PARAMETER Logfile
Path to log-file (only errors are logged).
.EXAMPLE
.\getRunAsAccounts-Parameterized.ps1 -ComputerName srv01 -RunAsUser managed
This example checks srv01 for services and scheduled tasks that have a "Run As" account with 'managed' in the name.
.EXAMPLE
.\getRunAsAccounts-Parameterized.ps1 -ComputerName srv01 -RunAsUser srvc
This example checks srv01 for services and scheduled tasks that have a "Run As" account with 'srvc' in the name.
.EXAMPLE
.\getRunAsAccounts-Parameterized.ps1 -ComputerName (Get-Content c:\computernames.txt)
This example get's a list of computer names from c:\computernames.txt and returns the run-as accounts for all services.
.EXAMPLE
Get-ADComputer -filter * | .\getRunAsAccounts-Parameterized.ps1 | Out-File c:\output.csv -NoTypeInformation
This example get's a list of all computers in Active Directory and returns the run-as accounts for all services to a CSV file.
#>
#Requires -Version 2.0
[CmdletBinding()]
param(
[Parameter(ValueFromPipeline=$True,ValueFromPipelineByPropertyName=$True)]
[string[]]$ComputerName = "localhost",
[string]$RunAsUser,
[ValidateSet("Services","Tasks","All")]
[string]$ToCheck,
[string]$Logfile
Begin{
Write-Host 'Begin called'
Function Get-RunAsAccountWorker {
param($ComputerName)
Try {
If ((Test-Connection -ComputerName $ComputerName -Quiet) -and ($ComputerSystem = Get-WmiObject -Class win32_ComputerSystem -Computername $ComputerName -ErrorAction Stop)) {
Write-Verbose "Connected to computer $ComputerName"
#$services = Get-WmiObject Win32_Service -filter "(StartName Like '[^NT Authority]%') AND (StartName <> 'localsystem')" -ComputerName $ComputerName -ErrorAction Stop | Select name,Startname,startmode
$services = Get-WmiObject Win32_Service -Filter "(StartName Like '%$runAsUser%')" -ComputerName $ComputerName -ErrorAction Stop | Select-Object name,startname,startmode
$output = @()
If ($services) {
Foreach ($service in $services) {
Write-Verbose "Processing NIC $($service.name)"
$outputService = @{}
$outputService.Computername = $computerSystem.name
$outputService.Connectivity = "Success"
$outputService.Type = "Service"
$outputService.Name = $service.name
$outputService.RunAsAccount = $service.startName
$outputService.StartupType = $service.startMode
$outputService.Status = $null
$output += $outputService
Else {
$outputinfo = @{}
$outputinfo.Computername = $($ComputerName)
$outputinfo.Connectivity = "Failed (ping)"
$outputinfo.Type = $null
$outputinfo.Name = $null
$outputinfo.RunAsAccount = $null
$outputinfo.StartupType = $null
$outputinfo.Status = $null
$output += $outputinfo
Catch {
Write-Verbose "An error occured connecting to computer $ComputerName"
Write-Verbose $error[0].exception
$outputinfo = @{}
$outputinfo.Computername = $($ComputerName)
$outputinfo.Connectivity = "Failed (RPC)"
$outputinfo.Type = $null
$outputinfo.Name = $null
$outputinfo.RunAsAccount = $null
$outputinfo.StartupType = $null
$outputinfo.Status = $null
$output += $outputinfo
If ($logfile) {
$ComputerName | Out-File -FilePath $Logfile -Append
$error[0].exception | Out-File -FilePath $Logfile -Append
Write-Verbose "Writing output object"
If ($output) {
Foreach ($ht in $output) {
New-Object -TypeName PSObject -Property $ht
Else {
$outputinfo = @{}
$outputinfo.Computername = $($ComputerName)
$outputinfo.Connectivity = "Success"
$outputinfo.Type = $null
$outputinfo.Name = $null
$outputinfo.RunAsAccount = $null
$outputinfo.StartupType = $null
$outputinfo.Status = $null
New-Object -TypeName PSObject -Property $outputinfo
Function Get-ScheduledTask {
# Helper function by Claus Nielsen
# http://www.powershellmagazine.com/2011/11/21/managing-scheduled-tasks-in-your-environment-part-i
[CmdletBinding()]
param(
[Parameter(Mandatory=$true,ValueFromPipeline=$true,ValueFromPipelineByPropertyName=$true)]
[String[]]$ComputerName,
[Parameter(Mandatory=$false)]
[String[]]$RunAsUser,
[Parameter(Mandatory=$false)]
[String[]]$TaskName,
[parameter(Mandatory=$false)]
[alias("WS")]
[switch]$WithSpace
BEGIN {
$Script:Tasks = @()
PROCESS {
$schtasks = schtasks.exe /query /s $ComputerName /V /FO CSV | ConvertFrom-Csv
Write-Verbose "Getting scheduled tasks from: $ComputerName"
If ($schtasks) {
Foreach ($task in $schtasks) {
If ($task."Run As User" -match "$($RunAsUser)" -and $task.TaskName -match "$($TaskName)") {
Write-Verbose "$ComputerName ($task.TaskName).replace('\','') $task.'Run As User' $task.Status"
$task | Get-Member -MemberType Properties | ForEach -BEGIN {$hash=@{}} -PROCESS {
If ($WithSpace) {
($hash.($_.Name)) = $task.($_.Name)
Else {
($hash.($($_.Name).replace(" ",""))) = $task.($_.Name)
} -END {
$script:Tasks += (New-Object -TypeName PSObject -Property $hash)
END {
$Script:Tasks
If ($LogFile) {
New-Item -Path $Logfile -ItemType File -Force | Out-Null
Process {
Write-Verbose 'Process block executing'
If (($ToCheck -eq 'Services') -OR ($ToCheck -eq 'Both')) {
Foreach ($computer in $ComputerName) {
Get-RunAsAccountWorker -ComputerName $computer
If (($ToCheck -eq 'Tasks') -OR ($ToCheck -eq 'Both')) {
If ($RunAsUser) {
$tasks = Get-ScheduledTask -ComputerName $ComputerName -RunAsUser $RunAsUser | Select-Object taskname,runasuser,status
Else {
$tasks = Get-ScheduledTask -ComputerName $ComputerName | Select-Object taskname,runasuser,status
If ($tasks) {
Foreach ($task in $tasks) {
Write-Verbose "Processing task $($task.TaskName)"
$outputtask = @{}
$outputtask.Computername = $computerSystem.Name
$outputtask.Connectivity = "Success"
$outputtask.Type = "ScheduledTask"
$outputtask.Name = $task.TaskName
$outputtask.RunAsAccount = $task.RunAsUser
$outputtask.StartupType = $null
$outputTask.Status = $task.Status
$output += $outputtask
End {
Write-Verbose 'end called'
We frequently write scripts that are advanced and use all of the elements defined for an advanced function.  Tisi has always been available since PowerShell V1.
The issue is that ALL code must be contained in one of the three block types if nany one is used.  If none are used than all are assumed to be in the "Process" block. This is also true of functions.
¯\_(ツ)_/¯