Python SHA-1 as a method for unique file identification ? [help!]

[Justin Ezequiel]

EP wrote:
> This inquiry may either turn out to be about the suitability of the
> SHA-1 (160 bit digest) for file identification, the sha function in
> Python ... or about some error in my script.
>
> This is on Windows XP.
>
> def hashit(pth):
>     fs=open(pth,'r').read()
>     sh=sha.new(fs).hexdigest()
>     return sh
>

cannot comment on the suitability of SHA for your use-case but
shouldn't you be opening the file in binary mode?

fs=open(pth,'rb').read()