try
{
    $current = $ErrorActionPreference
    $ErrorActionPreference = 'Stop'
    # this will cause an EXE command to emit an error
    # (replace with any console-based EXE command)
    net.exe user nonexistentUser 2>1
    $ErrorActionPreference = $current
}
catch
{
   Write-Host ('Error occured: ' + $_.Exception.Message)
}