As others have posted the file should be in your Downloads directory. As with most operating systems you need to use either the path to the file or be in the directory where the file is located.

From the sha256sum.txt file
e739317677c2261ae746eee5f1f0662aa319ad0eff260d4eb7055d7c79d10952 *linuxmint-20.3-cinnamon-64bit.iso

1 members found this post helpful.

Got some good feedback guys, thanks. My concern about an unsafe download was based on the linuxmint site saying so. I said so and yet it turned into a comment about Win users. I know all the things you're suppose to hate to be considered a good linux user, but sorry, I'm just not a hater. If one reads through the forums, 98% of the Win/linux negative comments are from linux users slamming Win users. I came here with a real issue and posted in the right forum. Linux is different and complex. It still has its uses and that's what I need it for and will get it all figured out. I never started a debate about it.

I now have started a live/usb session with mint and did the integrity check at start-up but it can't be the same as doing it from the file. It did pass the check though for whatever its worth. I am with the linuxmint site to never INSTALL an iso. image that has not completed the checks. Being that all is kept on usb during a live session I think the risks are low but will seek to follow the linuxmint site as they should know the distro well. Below is the attempt from instructions above:

C:\WINDOWS\system32>C:\Users\Larry\downloads> CertUtil -hashfile linuxmint-20.3-cinnamon-64bit.iso sha256
'C:\Users\Larry\downloads' is not recognized as an internal or external command,
operable program or batch file.

C:\WINDOWS\system32>C:\Users\Larry> CertUtil -hashfile linuxmint-20.3-cinnamon-64bit.iso SHA256
'C:\Users\Larry' is not recognized as an internal or external command,
operable program or batch file.

You entered the prompt "C:\Users\Larry>" as part of the command. The command should have been "CertUtil -hashfile linuxmint-20.3-cinnamon-64bit.iso SHA256".

Evo2.

Yep: C:\Users\Larry>CertUtil -hashfile linuxmint-20.3-cinnamon-64bit.iso SHA256
CertUtil: -hashfile command FAILED: 0x80070002 (WIN32: 2 ERROR_FILE_NOT_FOUND)
CertUtil: The system cannot find the file specified.

C:\Users\Larry\Downloads>CertUtil -hashfile linuxmint-20.3-cinnamon-64bit.iso sha256
CertUtil: -hashfile command FAILED: 0x800703ee (WIN32: 1006 ERROR_FILE_INVALID)
CertUtil: The volume for a file has been externally altered so that the opened file is no longer valid.

C:\Users\Larry\Downloads>CertUtil -hashfile linuxmint-20.3-cinnamon-64bit.iso sha256
SHA256 hash of linuxmint-20.3-cinnamon-64bit.iso:
e739317677c2261ae746eee5f1f0662aa319ad0eff260d4eb7055d7c79d10952


CertUtil: -hashfile command completed successfully.C:\Users\Larry\Downloads>gpg --verify sha256sum.txt.gpg sha256sum.txt
gpg: Signature made 1/13/2022 1:57:50 PM UTC-08
gpg: using RSA key 27DEB15644C6B3CF3BD7D291300F846BA25BAE09
gpg: Good signature from "Linux Mint ISO Signing Key <root@linuxmint.com>" [unknown]
gpg: WARNING: This key is not certified with a trusted signature!
gpg: There is no indication that the signature belongs to the owner.
Primary key fingerprint: 27DE B156 44C6 B3CF 3BD7 D291 300F 846B A25B AE09

Looks like the failure in the previous post was a bad download. Thanks to all for their input, I learned a lot. The ultimate solution was from Michaelk as the issue was that cmd couldn't find the file unless I added downloads in the area of my drive. Then and only then would a normal CertUtil work and only if I got a good download. Should be much easier from here.

Glad to read you've made it past this hurdle. Good luck on your Linux journey!

1 members found this post helpful.

Thanks probably to evo2 who asked for the information which you provided that led to the solution. As michaelk pointed out and the Mint site you were using pointed out, you need to run the command from the directory the file is in OR use the full path. This is common practice in any operating system as michaelk pointed out.

So it turns out that the original problem of windows not being able to find the file was not a Linux or windows problem but rather the old reliable PEBKAC error. Good luck in the future.

I thanked everyone for their help as most were trying to help but there are always a few a**holes like you who can't help but trying to turn a solved issue into the very Win/Linux debate that you complain about.

This thread started with a question and a rant about Linux in your initial post blaming Linux for your inability to perform the action which turned out not to be the problem. In my initial post, I asked you what method you were using to verify the iso. In post #20, you finally posted the command you used after being asked again just prior to that and it was then obvious what the problem was. You had used the wrong command to perform the action by pointing the system to the wrong location, That's not a Linux or Windows problem but a simple user error. Hopefully you understand that now and will read more carefully in the future.

If you bothered to read my posts, you can see there are no windows vs Linux comments but rather a suggestion that if you are using a windows OS, you get information on using it from the Microsoft site or a windows forum.

Your name calling and profane language are immature behavior when directed toward someone who is trying to help are rude at best.

1 members found this post helpful.