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Guide to Using OpenHashTab - Sneakyone - 09-10-2024
Guide to Using OpenHashTab
**OpenHashTab** is an easy-to-use utility that integrates directly into the Windows file properties menu, allowing you to calculate and verify file checksums (hashes) for various hash algorithms, including MD5, SHA-1, SHA-256, and more. It provides an efficient way to verify the integrity and authenticity of files. This guide will walk you through downloading, installing, and using OpenHashTab to compute file hashes.
Step 1: Download OpenHashTab
To begin, you need to download OpenHashTab from the official website.
Steps to Download OpenHashTab:
1. Open your web browser and visit the official OpenHashTab website: OpenHashTab GitHub Repository.
2. Scroll down to the `Releases` section and download the latest version.
3. Once the download is complete, navigate to your `Downloads` folder and locate the installer file.
Step 2: Install OpenHashTab
After downloading the installer, proceed with the installation process.
Steps to Install OpenHashTab:
1. Double-click the downloaded installer file to start the installation.
2. If prompted by User Account Control (UAC), click `Yes` to allow the installation.
3. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation. You can choose the default installation path or customize it if necessary.
4. Once the installation is complete, OpenHashTab will be integrated into the Windows file properties menu.
Step 3: Compute Hashes Using OpenHashTab
Once installed, OpenHashTab can be accessed directly from the file properties window, making it easy to compute file hashes.
Steps to Compute a File Hash:
1. Right-click on the file for which you want to calculate a hash.
2. From the context menu, select `Properties`.
3. In the file properties window, navigate to the `File Hashes` tab (this is added by OpenHashTab).
4. OpenHashTab will automatically compute the file’s hash using several algorithms, such as MD5, SHA-1, and SHA-256.
5. You can view all the computed hashes in the list.
Step 4: Compare File Hashes
OpenHashTab also allows you to compare a file’s hash with a provided hash value, helping you verify the integrity and authenticity of the file.
Steps to Compare File Hashes:
1. After calculating the file hash, copy the hash string (e.g., from a website or document).
2. In the `File Hashes` tab of the file properties window, paste the hash value you want to compare in the `Compare with` field.
3. OpenHashTab will automatically compare the file’s hash with the provided hash value.
4. If the hash values match, a confirmation message will appear, indicating that the file is authentic and unchanged.
Step 5: Customize Hash Algorithms (Optional)
By default, OpenHashTab calculates several commonly used hash algorithms. However, you can customize which algorithms are displayed based on your needs.
Steps to Customize Hash Algorithms:
1. Open the file properties window and navigate to the `File Hashes` tab.
2. Click the `Settings` gear icon in the bottom-right corner.
3. A list of available hash algorithms will be displayed (e.g., MD5, SHA-1, SHA-256, CRC32).
4. Check or uncheck the algorithms you want to include or exclude from the default list.
5. Click `OK` to save your preferences. The selected hash algorithms will now appear in the `File Hashes` tab.
Step 6: Export Hash Results (Optional)
OpenHashTab provides an option to export the calculated hash values to a text file for record-keeping or sharing purposes.
Steps to Export Hash Results:
1. In the `File Hashes` tab, after computing the file hashes, click the `Export` button.
2. Choose a location where you want to save the text file and provide a file name.
3. Click `Save` to export the hash values to a `.txt` file.
Step 7: Exit the Properties Window
After you have calculated or compared the file hashes, you can close the file properties window.
Steps to Exit:
1. Click `OK` or `Cancel` in the file properties window to close it and return to the file explorer.
Step 8: Keep OpenHashTab Updated (Optional)
To ensure you have access to the latest features and bug fixes, it’s important to keep OpenHashTab updated.
Steps to Update OpenHashTab:
1. Visit the OpenHashTab GitHub page to check for new releases.
2. Download the latest version and install it by following the same process as in Step 2.
Conclusion
OpenHashTab is a powerful and efficient tool for calculating and verifying file hashes directly from the Windows file properties menu. By following this guide, you can easily compute file hashes, compare them to provided values, and export the results. With its seamless integration into the Windows interface and support for various hash algorithms, OpenHashTab is an essential tool for verifying the integrity of your files.