Compute Hash: A Tiny Tool to Generate File Hashes

Few days ago I wrote about NoVirusThanks MD5 Checksum Tool. Today I will write about a tiny tool that can compute the file hashes using the same algorithms i.e. MD5, SHA1, SHA256, SHA384 and SHA512. The tool is Compute Hash developed by an Indian software developer Subin Ninan.

Features

Small installer, ComputeHash.exe [56 Kb] comes in a zip file [32 Kb]. The zip file also contains a Readme file that you should read for understanding the software better.
Installation: It's installation goes on silently and almost instantaneous. No license agreement and nothing. It just creates an entry to the context menu. It does not add an entry to Start Menu or Program Files or elsewhere.
To see file-hashes, right click on any file(s) and select "Computer Hash".

Compute Hash Window stays at top of other opened applications.

It will open multiple windows for multiple files.
Other way of calculating file hash is to drag a file on the executable [ComputeHash.exe] or on its shortcut. Hashes of multiple files cannot be opened this way. If you like this option you may avoid installing it and use it as a portable app.
Calculation of the hash of large files takes some time.
You can see the file hashes either as Lower Case or as Upper Case.
You can copy each of the hash types of a file into the clipboard or can copy the total information as a text file "Hash.txt".
System Requirement: Nothing mentioned in the webpage. But it runs well in Windows XP, Vista and 7 both 32 and 64 bit. .Net Framework 2.0 is required. According to Softpedia it is compatible to Windows NT / 2K / XP / 2003 / Vista / XP X64 / 2008 / Vista64 / 7 / 7 x64 / 2008 x64 / 2008 R2.
Uninstallation: Upon installation it adds only one context menu entry and nothing else. There is no associated uninstaller to the software. To uninstall the entry use /uninstall command-line switch. This means if you have kept the installer in C:\ then open command prompt and type the following c:\computehash.exe /uninstall.

You can create an uninstaller manually. Open a notepad and type the following [considering that the installer is present in C:\]

@echo off
c:\computehash.exe /uninstall
GOTO BEGIN
and save it as uninstall.bat (or, any other name with .bat extension). Double click on the .bat file any time to uninstall its any time.

UPDATE: It now provides an uninstaller.

My Verdict

I liked this software although some thing needs to be improved.

It should have some installer with license agreement and uninstaller module. Unless many people might avoid this software.
It should mention something about the software in its download page at least the mode of installation and the system requirement and if possible a screenshot.
Support additional algorithms Adler32, CRC32, CRC64, GOST, HAVAL, MD2, MD4, MD6, SHA-0, SHA-1-IME, SHA-224, SHA-256, RIPEMD-128, RIPEMD-160, RIPEMD-256, RIPEMD-320, TIGER or Whirlpool algorithm.
Drag and Drop should also work for multiple files.
Since "Context Menu" usually remains crowded with several other entries, it would be better to add it in "Send To" menu instead.
In the interface add a button to copy all hashes to clipboard. I know one can save all as Hash.txt but that one would be useful.

Download

The latest version is 2.0. It has no separate product page.

Download from homepage

http://www.securefolder.org/download

or from Softpedia

http://www.softpedia.com/get/System/File-Management/ComputeHash.shtml

You might find this software useful !!