MD5

MD5 is an easy-to-use command-line application that gives you the possibility to calculate the MD5 checksum of any file, regardless of its format, as well as to compare two files using this signature, in order to find out whether or not they match.

Console programs are typically preferred by advanced PC users who prefer inputting a few lines of text to carry out a task in no time, instead of spending time exploring a graphical interface. Moreover, they are usually lighter on system resources.

The usage is md5 [checkhash] file, which can be found out by calling its process without inputting any arguments or by typing --help. In order to find out the MD5 signature of a file, all you have to do is type md5 filename_extension. If the target is in another directory on the computer, make sure to write the correct path.

The hash is instantly calculated and displayed in the Command Prompt window. Although the app doesn't implement an option for saving information to file, it's possible to select and copy text by pressing the Enter key.

If you want to match an MD5 hash against another file, it's necessary to type md5 [checksum_numerical_value] filename_extension. This means that MD5 is not capable of comparing two files directly, as it requires you to enter one of the hashes. Results indicate whether or not the two hashes match.

The entire application's wrapped in a single .exe file that you can save anywhere on the disk or copy to a USB flash drive to directly call its process from a Command Prompt window. Just keep in mind that .NET Framework must be installed. On the other hand, it doesn't make any changes to your system registry or create additional files on the HDD.

To sum it up, MD5 offers a simple and straightforward solution for calculating and comparing MD5 checksums via a console window.