|
|
Checking Hash Sums
by Alan German
Normally, I
don't bother verifying files that I download to check
that they are not corrupt. They are usually installation
files for software, or PDF files (like OPCUG's
newsletter!) My practice is to run the installation
routine, or load the PDF file. If there's a problem, I
will see an error message and then I just download the
file again.
However, recently I have been installing a number of
Linux distros - or trying to - and finding the odd ISO
file that just wouldn't work. The problem here is that
the downloads can be in excess of a gigabyte and, even
with a high-speed connection, they take a while to
download. And, then there is the time required to burn
the ISO file to a bootable USB, and that needed for the
installation. When the latter fails in mid-stream, after
all that effort, one wishes that one had indeed checked
the download!
So, when I decided to give the Windows 10 Technical
Preview a try, since the download was almost 4 GB, I
decided that it really would be prudent to check the file
before trying to install it.
The process was simple, An SHA-1 hash value for the file
was posted on Microsoft's web site. All that was then
required was to run the MD5 & SHA Checksum Utility,
specify the ISO file and check off the requirement for an
SHA-1 hash, and wait for the utility to calculate the
checksum for the file.
The
downloaded hash was then cut and pasted into the box at
the bottom of the program's window, the Verify button
pressed and - voilą! - a successful file download was
confirmed.
Bottom Line:
MD5 & SHA Checksum Utility (Freeware)
Version 2.1
Raymond Lin
http://raylin.wordpress.com/downloads/md5-sha-1-checksum-utility/
Originally published: March, 2015
top of page
|
Archived Reviews
A-J
K-Q
R-Z
The opinions expressed in these reviews
do not necessarily represent the views of the
Ottawa PC Users' Group or its members.
|
