Getting special folder from remote machine - powershell

Question

Is there a way to get a special folder from a remote machine?
I'm getting the local folder using this code:
$path = [environment]::getfolderpath("CommonApplicationData")
But I'd like to get it from other machine using a function like this:
$specialFolder = Get-RemoteSpecialFolder "MyRemoteMachine" "CommonApplicationData"
function Get-RemoteSpecialFolder
{
param(
[string]$ComputerName,
[string]$SpecialFolderName
)
Get-WMIObject ...
...
}

Answer 1

You can get this info by reading the remote computers registry (you need permissions of course) like with the function below:
function Get-RemoteSpecialFolder {
[CmdletBinding()]
param(
[string]$ComputerName = $env:COMPUTERNAME,
[string]$SpecialFolderName = 'Common AppData'
)
if (Test-Connection -ComputerName $ComputerName -Count 1 -Quiet) {
$regPath = "SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Shell Folders"
try {
$baseKey = [Microsoft.Win32.RegistryKey]::OpenRemoteBaseKey('LocalMachine', $ComputerName)
$regKey = $baseKey.OpenSubKey($regPath)
return $regkey.GetValue($SpecialFolderName)
}
catch {
throw
}
finally {
if ($regKey) { $regKey.Close() }
if ($baseKey) { $baseKey.Close() }
}
}
else {
Write-Warning "Computer '$ComputerName' is off-line or does not exist."
}
}
You should be able to find these common environment variables with this:
"Common Desktop"
"Common Start Menu"
"CommonVideo"
"CommonPictures"
"Common Programs"
"CommonMusic"
"Common Administrative Tools"
"Common Startup"
"Common Documents"
"OEM Links"
"Common Templates"
"Common AppData"
P.S. Put the function in first, then call on it
$specialFolder = Get-RemoteSpecialFolder "MyRemoteMachine" "Common AppData"