What tools and languages are available for windows shell scripting?

Question

I want to know what are the options to do some scripting jobs in windows platform. I need functionality like file manipulations, registry editing etc. Can files be edited using scripting tools? What other functionality does windows scripting tools offer? Can everything that can be done using the Windows GUI be done using a scripting language?

Answer 1

I think Windows PowerShell from Microsoft is the current favourite for this sort of thing.