Win7-64 powercfg –lastwake invalid parameter

Question

The command "powercfg –lastwake" gives invalid parameter error, however powercfg /lastwake works. What gives?

Answer 1

It looks like you copied that command from a site that prettifies punctuation. Notice how the dash before lastwake there isn't a normal dash like you get from hitting the - key. (The program sees the different character and thinks it's part of a different and unknown parameter.)

The character in your command is slightly wider than the normal dash. On the left here is a normal dash, and on the right is your dash (an en dash):

- –

If you type out the dash version of the command or copy powercfg -lastwake into your command prompt, it will function as normal.