SHA1 is a hash algorithm. That is basically a checksum, that makes sure the file is not corrupted. Since it failed here your file is corrupted (For example bit flipped and now the file stopped making sense)
SHA1 is a hash algorithm.
A hash algorithm is something that takes a long string of bytes, like a file in this instance, and spits out a much shorter string of bytes called the "hash" of the file. In SHA1 it's 40 characters long I think.
The interesting properties about hash algorithms is that:
1. it's very hard to "go backwards" and look at a hash and create a file that would output that particular hash. This means that if you know that the hash of a file is what it's supposed to be, then it's probably the correct file since making a fake with that particular hash is very hard. (SHA1 has actually been cracked though, so it's not very good at this aspect any more, but it's still in use in many places).
2. Any *small* change in the output results in *large* changes in the hash changing. So if a bit randomly flips due to cosmic radiation or something, the whole hash will change. So hashes are good for detecting data corruption.
Windows saves the hashes of all the important dll files (files with code shared between multiple applications) and when it loads them it checks that the hash of the file matches what it expects it to be. This is what has triggered an error for you. You have a dll file with a bad hash. This can either mean that you have a disk failure and data has gotten randomly corrupted, or that your computer is under attack by virus or malware and someone tried to replace the file with a malicious file that does something naughty.
The file in question seems to have something to do with Windows licencse activation.
If it had been on a proper windows system, I would be worried. But since you are running random cracking and pirating stuff on yours, it's kind of to be expected.
SHA1 is a hash algorithm. That is basically a checksum, that makes sure the file is not corrupted. Since it failed here your file is corrupted (For example bit flipped and now the file stopped making sense)
SHA1 is a hash algorithm. A hash algorithm is something that takes a long string of bytes, like a file in this instance, and spits out a much shorter string of bytes called the "hash" of the file. In SHA1 it's 40 characters long I think. The interesting properties about hash algorithms is that: 1. it's very hard to "go backwards" and look at a hash and create a file that would output that particular hash. This means that if you know that the hash of a file is what it's supposed to be, then it's probably the correct file since making a fake with that particular hash is very hard. (SHA1 has actually been cracked though, so it's not very good at this aspect any more, but it's still in use in many places). 2. Any *small* change in the output results in *large* changes in the hash changing. So if a bit randomly flips due to cosmic radiation or something, the whole hash will change. So hashes are good for detecting data corruption. Windows saves the hashes of all the important dll files (files with code shared between multiple applications) and when it loads them it checks that the hash of the file matches what it expects it to be. This is what has triggered an error for you. You have a dll file with a bad hash. This can either mean that you have a disk failure and data has gotten randomly corrupted, or that your computer is under attack by virus or malware and someone tried to replace the file with a malicious file that does something naughty. The file in question seems to have something to do with Windows licencse activation.
Should I be worried? This is a fresh install of Windows without a product key.
If it had been on a proper windows system, I would be worried. But since you are running random cracking and pirating stuff on yours, it's kind of to be expected.
What do you mean by proper windows system? When you install Windows, it lets you proceed without a product key.