Compare and Verify Files using a MD5 or SHA-1 Hash
Posted on September 6, 2010 at 6:12 am
To compare files, you have to manually open each one and check if they have the same content. This is possible for a 5 line text document, but not for a bunch of 500-page Word documents.
If you want this task to be easier and faster, you should use DigestIT. This program can compare documents, videos, presentations, HTMLs, mp3s, and almost all types of files. The best thing about DigestIT is that it uses a hashing algorithm — a function commonly used in searching billions of database entries.
When comparing files, you don’t have to open DigestIT. This is because, after installing the program, its utility is immediately integrated to Windows’ right-click Content Menu. All you have to do is right-click a file and select the DigestIT menu item. This way, the typical interface you found in most file management tools is eliminated.
Because this software utilizes the hash function, it can also be used to secure files. Using the hash string DigestIT produces, you can verify a file’s authenticity.
Click the link of your OS type (32 bit or 64 bit).
Next, read the website’s license agreement.
If you agree to the terms, check the corresponding checkbox and click the Download button.
Tick either Open with or Save File, and then press OK.
When the download is complete, extract the zip file.
Browse to where you unzipped the file and double-click digestIT 2004.msi.
This is the Setup Wizard. Hit Next > to proceed.
You must follow all succeeding steps until the installation is complete.
When you’re done installing the software, press Finish to close the setup.
After installation, DigestIT is now integrated to the Context Menu.
To hash or compare, select a file first. For this illustration we will compare two documents with different filenames.
Next, right-click the selected file, hover to digestIT 2004, and click either Calculate MD5 Hash or Calculate SHA-1 Hash.
After calculating, the program will then generate a unique hash string. You can save or copy this string to Notepad and Windows Clipboard. This string is distinctive to that file only. It will be used to check the two documents we will compare.
Let’s examine the second document. Even if its filename changes and provided it was not modified or edited in any way, it will still have the same hash string as the first document. If two files generate two different hash strings, it means they’re not the same.
Another way to compare files is through DigestIT’s hash security feature. You’ll just have to select Verify MD5 Hash or Verify SHA-1 Hash.
Enter the file’s hash string and press OK.
If the string matches, the verification will be successful. And if the process is successful, it means the compared files are the same.
If they’re not, you will see a message similar to the one below.
This software can hash and secure files with up to 2GB filesize. For larger files, the hashing process will take 10 to 15 seconds to complete.
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There is a simple application “Checksums calculator” a GUI tool to calculate md5, sha1, sha256, sha384, sha512 witch can run under Linux, Windows and MacOS X operating systems on both 32 and 64bit architectures. For more info take a look here: http://www.sinf.gr/en/hashcalc.html