Getting Started with PowerShell

Microsoft's new scripting shell, formerly known as Monad or MSH

Operating System:

Contrary to most scripting languages, PowerShell requires Windows XP SP2, Windows Server 2003, Windows Vista, Windows Server 2008 or later.
However, it won't run on Windows Server 2008 Core, as the Windows Server 2008 Core configuration doesn't support any .NET Framework version.
You will also need to download and install Microsoft .NET Framework Version 2.0 if you didn't do so before (in case of doubt, just try and install PowerShell; it will tell you if the .NET Framework is missing).

Interpreter:

The interpreter is the "engine" that executes scripts.
Download and install Windows PowerShell 1.0 and the Windows PowerShell 1.0 Documentation Pack.
You may need to uninstall older versions of PowerShell first.

Security:

If you want to create and run your own PowerShell scripts, you need to digitally sign your scripts.
To create your own so called "self-signed" certificate you'll need makecert.exe that comes with the .NET Framework 2.0 SDK.

Development software:

Several IDEs and code generators are available for PowerShell.
Windows 7 comes with its own PowerShell Integrated Scripting Environment (ISE).

Help files:

Read the Windows PowerShell Owner's Manual.
"Powershell's help system is excellent! But the console window is not the best reading pane for looking through help documentation."
So download the Scripting Guys' Windows PowerShell Graphical Help File in searchable .CHM format, and Microsoft's PowerShell Quick Reference in Word format.
Other help on the web:

• Converting VBScript Commands to Windows PowerShell Commands
• Scripting with the Windows PowerShell
• What Can I Do With Windows PowerShell?, A Task-Based Guide to Windows PowerShell Cmdlets
• Windows PowerShell Quick Start
• MSH Language Quick Start
• PowerShell cheat sheet for cmd.exe users

Books:

I compiled a short list of books on PowerShell.

TechNet PowerShell webcasts by Don Jones:

• The Windows PowerShell Scripting Crash Course (Level 200) (archived)
• Mastering the Windows PowerShell Pipeline (Level 200) (archived)
• Functions, Filters, and Efficiency in Windows PowerShell (Level 200) (archived)
• Windows PowerShell and Windows Management Instrumentation (Level 200) (archived)
• Converting from VBScript to Windows PowerShell (Level 200) (archived)
• Under-the-Hood Extensions in Windows PowerShell (Level 200)
  Tuesday, June 19, 2007, 11:30 AM Pacific Time

Samples:

Start by examining sample PowerShell scripts and exploring other PowerShell related sites.

Newsgroups:

• microsoft.public.windows.powershell
• ScrptingAnswers.com's PowerShell forum