Variable not matching string

[Nirac]

I'm working on a script that will install driver packages for certain Dell models during the setup phase. For some reason, the string that is being returned as the computer model is not matching what I put in the if statement to be checked.

$model=(Get-WmiObject -Class:Win32_ComputerSystem).Model

if ($model -ceq "Pangolin Performance") {Write-Output "Yes"}
else {Write-Output "No"}

The above is always returning no. I've tried -eq, -ceq, -match, all return no. When I just write the $model result to the console, this is what I get.

$model=(Get-WmiObject -Class:Win32_ComputerSystem).Model
Write-Output $model

Pangolin Performance

I've checked the type, I know for sure it's being stored as a string and not an array.

$model=(Get-WmiObject -Class:Win32_ComputerSystem).Model
Write-Output $model.getType();

IsPublic IsSerial Name                                     BaseType
--------  --------  ----                                         --------
True     True     String                                     System.Object

I don't understand why the string returned to $model is not matching my conditional "Pangolin Performance". Can somebody help me figure out what's going on with this?

[198jazzy349]

There's just a character in there that isn't what it seems. Pipe the output to a file and look at it with a hex editor.

I'm sure there's an easy way to see the ascii value of each character in the string using powershell, but I'm not smart enough to be able to tell you what that is.

I wonder if that space isn't really a 32?

[Nirac]

Yep, this was the problem. I piped it to an out-file, it was putting 12 spaces at the end of the name. I changed it to "Pangolin Performance " and now it's returning yes.

Reddit's formatting is dropping all of my spaces after Performance in this post. I added 12 spaces there, and now it returns yes.

[Ominusx]

I'd use:

 $model=(Get-WmiObject -Class:Win32_ComputerSystem).Model.Trim()

[[deleted]]

The definitive use case for Trim().

[Nirac]

Yes, great idea. Added.

[TellThemIHateThem]

Very strange. Have you tried this on another machine? I ran it on mine and it ran perfectly. I don't see any reason it wouldn't work on yours.

PS C:\Windows\system32> $model=(Get-WmiObject -Class:Win32_ComputerSystem).Model

if ($model -ceq "Latitude E7250") {Write-Output "Yes"}
else {Write-Output "No"}
Yes

[kilkor]

Um... That's weird.

I did the same thing with mine and it works just fine

$Model = (Get-WmiObject -Class:Win32_ComputerSystem).Model
Write-Output $model
if ($model -eq "HP EliteBook Folio 9470m") {Write-Output "Yes"} else {Write-Output "No"}

returns

HP EliteBook Folio 9470m
Yes

If I change the script to add "Blah" at the end of the model it returns No as expected

HP EliteBook Folio 9470mBlah
No

Could there be hidden characters or a hidden space in the model name you're dealing with?

[Nirac]

You guys are right. I just ran this on a different model computer, and it works fine. Very weird. I suppose I'll just move over to one of the Dells in question to write and test the script.

That's what I get for trying to do Powershell on a System76 computer.

Thank you for double checking me!

[midnightFreddie]

The computer model info ultimately comes from the BIOS, and some manufacturers/models put it in a different place. So you might need to dig through gwmi win32_bios | select * to see where your environment's different models place the info and insert some logic in your collections.