I'm having some annoying issues with the PowerShell Get-Help command, specifically with the -online and -showwindow parameters. This problem has popped up for me on both PowerShell 5.1 and 7.
First off, when I try to use the -online parameter like this: `get-help get-service -online`, it gives me an error that says: `get-help : The specified URI New-Service.md is not valid.` I find it strange because the URI it refers to isn't even related to the command I asked for help about. It's not just this command either; I've faced the same problem with other commands such as get-winevent, get-command, and get-eventlog. Should I consider reinstalling PowerShell? I recently installed some modules, but they didn't seem that complex.
The second issue is with the -showwindow parameter. Sometimes when I use it with certain commands (like `get-help get-winevent -showwindow`), it will just show a description of the examples without actually showing the examples themselves. I know I can use the -examples parameter in the console to see them, but having them in a separate window was so user-friendly. Any guidance would be appreciated!
2 Answers
Could you let us know which version of PowerShell you’re using? Also, have you tried running `Update-Help` to see if that brings any errors? I remember there was a Reddit thread recently where someone faced issues with the -Online parameter—maybe there’s a connection there.
About the -ShowWindow issue, does using the -Full parameter return what you expect? Or is it the same missing content as with -ShowWindow? It might be tied to that first issue.
Have you checked what `Get-Command Get-Service | Fl *` returns for HelpUri? It might give you some insight here.
Yeah, it shows this for HelpURI: [https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=113332](https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=113332). It redirects me to the correct help page, but for some reason, the -online parameter is pointing to New-Service.md.
Both versions 5.1 and 7 are what I’m working with. When I run Update-Help, I get some usual config defender errors, but otherwise, it updates fine. As for -Full, everything shows up normally; the problem is strictly with -ShowWindow.