KWSupport

Checking ISO downloads with CRCutility

When dowloading ISO files from Microsoft or other vendors, it is recommended that you verify that the download was successful and that no corruption occurred in the process. Especially as we are now most often downloading DVD size files.

You can use a free utility to calculate a checksum against the file(s) downloaded, and compare it to the published, calculated checksum from the vendor. If you don't already have a checksum utility, you can download a free, DOS command line checksum utility here: http://www.slavasoft.com/fsum/. The FSUM utility allows you to calculate a checksum using any of the standard methodologies, such as MD5 and CRC-32.

Here's an example I recently ran using the FSUM utility:

I downloaded a 4gb .iso file from a vendor site. The vendor included on their web site what the calculated CRC-32 checksum should be: 0xBD290784.

After downloading the .iso file to the TEMP folder on my computer, I ran the following from a DOS command prompt:
C:\TEMP\fsum -crc32 Beta1_DVD1.iso

And here is the resul I received back in about one minute:

SlavaSoft Optimizing Checksum Utility - fsum 2.52.00337
Implemented using SlavaSoft QuickHash Library <www.slavasoft.com>
Copyright (C) SlavaSoft Inc. 1999-2007. All rights reserved.

; SlavaSoft Optimizing Checksum Utility - fsum 2.52.00337 <www.slavasoft.com>
;
; Generated on 05/19/07 at 08:30:04
;
bd290784 ?CRC32*Beta1_DVD1.iso

Note that the checksum (bd290784) matches. I'm all set to proceed!

Reg Fix to delete Temp Files

Several years ago I posted a reg fix to disable the "Compress old files" section of Disk Cleanup.
http://msmvps.com/blogs/kwsupport/archive/2005/01/09/31149.aspx

Here's an additional reg fix for Disk Cleanup that makes sure that all temp files in the Temp folder are deleted. By default only temp files older than sever (7) days are deleted. By altering the LastAccess value in the registry, you can configure the Disk Cleanup utility to delete all the files in the Temp folder regardless of the last accessed date. Here's how:

1. Launch the Registry Editor (Regedit.exe).
2. Go to:
   

   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\
   Explorer\VolumeCaches\Temporary Files 

3. Locate and double-click the LastAccess value.
4. When you see the Edit DWORD Value dialog box, change the Value Data setting from 7 to 0 and click OK.
5. To complete the operation, close the Registry Editor and restart Windows XP.

Changing the value to 0 will force the Disk Cleanup utility to delete all the files in the Temp folder every time that you select the Temporary Files check box.

 P.S. As always, making changes to the registry .... blah, blah, blah ... You're on your own!

2007-05-19 "You've Got A Friend"

Well, the "Song of the Week" factory has been idle this year, so I think it's time to open the doors and get a song out. The inspiration for this week's song comes from my two week battle with my first ever kidney stone. Today, I went into the hospital to have a Lithotripsy procedure performed to try to break up the stone through the use of high energy sound/shock waves.
http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/Extracorporeal-shock-wave-lithotripsy-ESWL-for-kidney-stones

The procedure is 80% effective. Unfortunately, I ended up being in the 20% where it's ineffective.

My song was written just prior to going into the hospital this morning. It's an old favorite that was a hit for two artisits, James Taylor and Carole King:

You’ve Got a Friend

Err … "You’ve Got a Stone"

You’ve got a stone.