@tost so i resorted to powershell because i was unable to store the output of a command inside a variable (i was trying to get wmic csproduct get UUID originally)

but powershell scripts aren't executed on double-click by default + u need to configure the exec policy therefore batch that invokes the ps1:

https://pastebin.com/TAf9USpF

and the ps1:

https://pastebin.com/urNDW9zN

there's some code there for future expansion of other things: tsince i have arrays in a language (for once, internal POSIX sh pseudoarrays cries of angst) i tried to both create all dirs for future functions and the exec functions inside arrays/loops, instead of duplicating each path check code everytime

my idea is to get licenses output by double clicking and have a name like <UUID>-lic.txt so no files are overwritten when i move it around several computers and each file identifies each computer

i tried with MAC addresses but i didn't find a powershell equivalent command (wmic is so handy but it's going deprecated)

even after replacing ! with -Not it's still not working so im sad

advice greatly welcome! :celgoldcrystalheart: