Create a Custom Detection Script for PureRef (PowerShell)

Published on: June 5, 2022 | Last Updated on: October 12, 2025 by

Microsoft Endpoint Manager Configuration Manager (MEMCM / SCCM) and Microsoft Intune use Detection Rules to determine the presence of Applications & Win32 Apps. The detection rules ensure that application installations only begin to run if the application is not already installed on the device. This article will serve as an informative guide and give you a clear understanding of how to create an updated custom detection script for each new version of PureRef using PowerShell.

How to Create a Custom Detection Script for PureRef

PureRef (File Detection Method)

  • Install the version of PureRef you want to deploy on a test box or VM
  • Open Windows PowerShell ISE by Right-Clicking on Windows PowerShell ISE and selecting Run as Administrator
  • Copy the following code into the Windows PowerShell ISE
## Check for PureRef (File Detection Method)
$PureRefExe = (Get-ChildItem -Path "C:\Program Files\PureRef\PureRef.exe","C:\Program Files (x86)\PureRef\PureRef.exe" -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue)
$PureRefExe.FullName
$PureRefPath = $($PureRefExe.FullName).Replace("C:\Program Files\","").Replace("C:\Program Files (x86)\","")
$FileVersion = (Get-Item -Path "$($PureRefExe.FullName)" -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue).VersionInfo.FileVersion

## Create Text File with PureRef File Detection Method
$FilePath = "C:\Windows\Temp\PureRef_Detection_Method.txt"
New-Item -Path "$FilePath" -Force
Set-Content -Path "$FilePath" -Value "If([String](Get-Item -Path `"`$Env:ProgramFiles\$PureRefPath`",`"`${Env:ProgramFiles(x86)}\$PureRefPath`" -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue).VersionInfo.FileVersion -ge `"$FileVersion`"){"
Add-Content -Path "$FilePath" -Value "Write-Host `"Installed`""
Add-Content -Path "$FilePath" -Value "}"
Invoke-Item $FilePath
  • Click Run Script (F5)
  • A text file will open with the PureRef Detection Method script required to detect the current version of PureRef that is installed on the device you are running the script from.

Example: 

If([String](Get-Item -Path "$Env:ProgramFiles\PureRef\PureRef.exe","${Env:ProgramFiles(x86)}\PureRef\PureRef.exe" -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue).VersionInfo.FileVersion -ge "1.11.1"){
Write-Host "Installed"
}

PureRef (Registry Detection Method)

  • Install the version of PureRef you want to deploy on a test box or VM
  • Open Windows PowerShell ISE by Right-Clicking on Windows PowerShell ISE and selecting Run as Administrator
  • Copy the following code into the Windows PowerShell ISE
## Check for PureRef (Registry Detection Method)
$PureRef = Get-ChildItem -Path "HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall","HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall" | Get-ItemProperty | Where-Object {$_.DisplayName -like 'PureRef*' } | Select-Object -Property DisplayName, DisplayVersion, PSChildName
$PureRef.DisplayVersion
$PureRef.PSChildName

## Create Text File with PureRef Registry Detection Method
$FilePath = "C:\Windows\Temp\PureRef_Detection_Method.txt"
New-Item -Path "$FilePath" -Force
Set-Content -Path "$FilePath" -Value "If([Version](Get-ItemPropertyValue -Path 'HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\$($PureRef.PSChildName)','HKLM:\SOFTWARE\WOW6432Node\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\$($PureRef.PSChildName)' -Name DisplayVersion -ea SilentlyContinue) -ge '$($PureRef.DisplayVersion)') {"
Add-Content -Path "$FilePath" -Value "Write-Host `"Installed`""
Add-Content -Path "$FilePath" -Value "}"
Invoke-Item $FilePath
  • Click Run Script (F5)
  • A text file will open with the PureRef Detection Method script required to detect the current version of PureRef that is installed on the device you are running the script from.

Example: 

If([Version](Get-ItemPropertyValue -Path 'HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\PureRef','HKLM:\SOFTWARE\WOW6432Node\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\PureRef' -Name DisplayVersion -ea SilentlyContinue) -ge '1.11.1') {
Write-Host "Installed"
}

Always make sure to test everything in a development environment prior to implementing anything into production. The information in this article is provided “As Is” without warranty of any kind.