Get the sha256 hash of the Bitcoin Core release you downloaded. On Windows, this requires an extra tool such as
HashTab.
The suggested HashTab tool is not useful on Windows. If you get it and check the properties tab, the sha256 sum is not there. Either additional instructions to enable it are required or a different tool should be suggested: (such as
http://www.labtestproject.com/using_windows/step_by_step_using_sha256sum_on_windows_xp.html)
Otherwise, reddit and/or forum could get inundated with posts from windows users who will report that their windows system got a compromised 13th version when they download it.