Ever downloaded several files, also got a .sfv file and didn't know what do to with it?
Well this is the answer:
sfv stands for
Simple File Verification, a checksum format using the CRC32 algorithm to verify the integrity of files.
It creates a hash value for any files, and stores it at the .sfv file. After you finish downloading you can compare the downloaded files hash and the original hash. If there is different, the file has been changed or otherwise just not the original file.
more info
at Wikipedia.
So how to actually check that the hashes are the same?
1) go to
here, and download Pure sfv. The program is as easy as it gets.
2) Put pure-sfv.exe in the same folder as the files you downloaded, including the .sfv file.
3) Just run pure-sfv.exe and it will start checking and displaying the results.
Yea, this may take a bit of time and probably slow down your computer. Have patience. You can use other programs while operating this software, but it is best not to use something that uses too many resources.
If you want to stop the proccess, click on ctrl+c while in the command line window.
Problem - after completion, the window closes immediately, and you can't see all the output.
For people who knows how to use Command Line even at the most basic level this would not be a problem.
However, there is a solution for those who do not want to know how to use a Command Line.
I made this extremely simple script for Windows
* that will redirect the output to a txt file.
*Works on Windows XP and may work on other operating systems as well.@echo starting check.
pure-sfv.exe >output.txt
Simply copy it to notepad, save it by any name as long as it has the suffix .bat, and put it in the same folder as the pure-sfv.exe and the downloaded files including the .sfv file. Activate it (just open like you would open any other file), and it will create a file called output.txt with the checklist.
Note that if the file already exists, it WILL OVERWRITE IT.
Another note - the screen will be black, and it would appear like nothing is happening, but unless it stays like that for hours it's OK.
You do not have to have the output.txt file in the folder, it will be created automatically.
The output file as seen from Notepad. (scaled version)
