HashTab Shell Extension

Martin Brinkmann
Nov 27, 2008
Updated • Feb 22, 2016
Software, Windows software
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2

HashTab is a useful shell extension for the Windows operating system that adds a File Hashes tab to Explorer in which it lists hash values and provides its functionality.

Many users shy away as soon as they hear the words hash or shell extension because of the connotation that the conversation will turn into a highly technical - and geeky - one.

The file verification concept itself however is pretty simple that even inexperienced computer user should have no problems following it.

A hash is just a string that has been computed with the use of an algorithm. That hash is always the same as long as the file that has been checked is not modified. This leads directly to many uses of hash values.

They can be used to check that a file is still the same on one computer to make sure it has not been modified, is not corrupt or been tampered with, that a file that has been uploaded to a remote computer is the same as the file on the source computer or that a download from an Internet website is not corrupt.

The program is free of charge for personal use, but can only be downloaded after you supply an email address to the download form. The download link is sent to the email address afterwards.

HashTab

HashTab is a Windows shell extension that adds a tab in the File Properties window in which it displays has values of various algorithms including MD5, CRC32 or SHA-512.

To access the data it provides, do the following:

  1. Make sure HashTab is installed on your Windows machine. It may require a restart of the computer after installation before it can be used.
  2. Right-click on any file on the computer system and select Properties from the context menu.
  3. Switch to the File Hashes tab.

There you find listed all supported algorithms and the has values they have computed.

One interesting feature of Hash Tab is the ability to compare hashes in the File Properties dialog. It is possible to select a second file on the hard drive and compare it with the first one, or to paste a hash into one of the forms and compare the two files that way.

The second option is obviously thought for comparing files that are not located on the same computer. Helpful after downloading files on the Internet or transferring files to a remote computer to make sure they are identical and have not been tampered with.

The settings allow you to select the hashes that you want calculated when you open the File Hashes tab in Explorer. The most recent version of the program supports more than 20 different hashes. While you could have it calculate them all, it makes sense to limit the output to the most common formats and algorithms that you require to speed things up.

Check the "Digital Signatures" tab to make sure that Hash Tab itself has not been tampered with. The name of signer should read Implbits Software, LLC.

Closing Words

HashTab is a useful shell extension for Windows Explorer that adds file hash information to the default file browser. The program offers all the features that you would expect from a software of its kind, namely the option to use all popular hashing algorithms, and to compare values using a file to file comparison or by pasting a hash value in directly.

Summary
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Software Name
HashTab
Operating System
Windows
Software Category
System
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Comments

  1. Ste_95 said on November 28, 2008 at 8:28 am
    Reply

    There’s a newer version of Hash Tab Shell Extension. ;)

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