If you suspect a problem with an ISO image file that was downloaded through the Software Center, there is a method for checking to see if any errors occured during the download process. You will need a program (like the one provided here) to apply a hashing algorithm to a file, and the result is a hash or a message digest. This hash has a fixed size. SHA-1 is a hashing algorithm that creates a 160-bit hash value. The program provided here will do that for you.

First you would need to download the ISO To CD-DVD executable program provided below which, in addition to creating CD or DVD media from an ISO image file, can be used to calculate SHA-1 hash values. When you run this program, you need to browse for and select the image file you suspect might be corrupt. Then you select the Tools | Verify ISO File menu command to calculate a checksum number that should match the checksum number of a known (good) file. If the numbers are the same then you can be reasonably sure that the file was downloaded without errors and should produce an exact duplicate of the original CD or DVD disk used to create the ISO image file.

Download the ISO To CD-DVD program

Click here to download and save a zip file containing the iso2cdvd.exe program.

Note: The ISO To CD-DVD program is easy to use, however if you need or prefer some alternative (although harder to use), you also can download and use a command line program at Microsoft Help and Support.

Run the ISO To CD-DVD program

Next, use the File | Open menu command or click the Open... button next to the Select ISO image file area to locate and select the image file that was downloaded:

Then, select the Tools | Verify ISO File menu command to generate the checksum number. The program will calculate a 160 bit SHA-1 checksum represented by 40 hexadecimal numbers (0-9, a-f):

Compare the checksums

Finally, compare the SHA-1 generated checksum number with the number shown in the table below for your software. If the number generated by the program matches the corresponding number in the table, the image file you downloaded should be free of transmission errors that might occur when downloading a file.