{"id":1600,"date":"2019-08-03T12:57:21","date_gmt":"2019-08-03T04:57:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/jtlk.net\/apps\/base\/?p=1600"},"modified":"2020-11-22T04:31:31","modified_gmt":"2020-11-21T20:31:31","slug":"validate-a-downloaded-file-on-windows-10-with-md5","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.jtlk.net\/apps\/base\/?p=1600","title":{"rendered":"Validate a downloaded file on Windows 10 with MD5"},"content":{"rendered":"

It is always recommended to ensure authenticity of an application file downloaded from the internet before installing.
\nOf course, we still also run our antivirus to scan any downloaded file as well.<\/p>\n

There are different methods in use – here’s what to do if the download site provides a MD5 checksum file as reference.
\nSome websites simply display the MD5 checksum, others offer the MD5 file (a file often with .md5 extension) to download which we can open with e.g. Notepad.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>First, we open a command shell by pressing the Windows-Key + X-Key<\/strong> at the same time and select Windows PowerShell<\/strong> from the menu.
\n\"\"<\/a>Now, change to the directory where the downloaded file is stored with the cd<\/strong> command, e.g. cd Downloads<\/code><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\"\"Tip: using the TAB-Key will auto-complete and you don’t have to type the complete file name.<\/p>\n

Type
\ncertutil -hashfile <\/code><\/strong> Name-of-Downloaded-File MD5<\/code><\/strong>
\n(see image above) and wait for your PC to calculate the MD5 checksum of the file.<\/p>\n

Finally, compare the MD5 checksum calculated in your command shell with the one displayed on the website or in the file opened with NotePad.
\nIf they’re identical, the file is unaltered, not corrupted and it’s ok to install (after having run a scan with the antivirus protection).<\/p>\n

Should the numbers be different, the file is most likely not identical to the file intended to download and should not<\/strong> be installed.
\nIt’s better to check the download process from origin of the file <\/p>\n