Starting Virtual Machines via Scripting with Windows Virtual PC

Here are some simple scripts that allow you to start a virtual machine with Windows Virtual PC. Now, you may be wondering why you would want to do this. Well there are a couple of reasons I can think of:

Automated testing. If you have a virtual machine that runs an automated tests, or a daily batch job: use a script to run the virtual machine in the background.
Patch deployment. If you have an environment where patches are deployed after-hours – these scripts can ensure that virtual machines are running at the right time to receive the updates.
Faster launch. A virtual machine that is running in the background can still be used for seamless applications or for full-desktop virtual machine usage. If you have a virtual machine that you regularly use, starting it with a script when you login means that it will be ready to go as soon as you need it.

PowerShell:

param([string]$vmName) # Check for correct command-line argumentsIf ($vmName -eq "") { write-host "Missing command-line argument." write-host "USage: StartVM.ps1 -vmName `"Name of virtual machine`"" exit } # Connect to Virtual PC$vpc=new-object –com VirtualPC.Application –Strict # Get virtual machine object$vm = $vpc.FindVirtualMachine($vmName) # Start the virtual machinewrite-host "Starting the virtual machine " $vmName "..."$vmTask = $vm.Startup() # Wait for the virtual machine to start$vmTask.WaitForCompletion(-1) # Display success or failureIf ($vmTask.result -eq 0)  { write-host "Virtual machine started." }Else { write-host "Failed to start virtual machine." write-host write-host $vmTask.ErrorDescription }

VBScript:

Option Explicit Dim namedArguments, vpc, vm, vmName, vmTask ' Check that the script is running at the command line.If UCase(Right(Wscript.FullName, 11)) = "WSCRIPT.EXE" Then WScript.Echo "This script must be run under CScript." WScript.QuitEnd If ' Get the virtual machine name from the command-line argumentsSet namedArguments = WScript.Arguments.Named If namedArguments.Exists("vm") Then vmName = namedArguments.Item("vm")Else WScript.Echo "Missing command-line argument" WScript.Echo WScript.Echo "Usage: StartVM.vbs /vm:" & chr(34) & "Name of virtual machine to be started" & chr(34) WScript.Echo WScript.QuitEnd If ' Attempt to connect to Virtual PCOn Error Resume NextSet vpc = CreateObject("VirtualPC.Application")If Err.Number <> 0 Then WScript.Echo "Unable to connect to Virtual PC." WScript.QuitEnd ifOn Error Goto 0 ' Get virtual machine objectSet vm = vpc.FindVirtualMachine(vmName) ' Start the virtual machineWScript.Echo "Starting the virtual machine " & vmName & "..."Set vmTask = vm.Startup ' Wait for the virtual machine to startvmTask.WaitForCompletion(-1) WScript.Echo ' Display success or failureIf vmTask.result = 0 Then WScript.Echo "Virtual machine started."Else WScript.Echo "Failed to start virtual machine." WScript.Echo WScript.Echo vmTask.ErrorDescriptionEnd If WScript.Echo