Disable Windows Hibernate function

Disable Windows Hibernate function/ Delete hiberfil.sys

Windows uses the file hiberfil.sys, stored in the root folder of your hard disk (usually in C:\), to hold your hibernation data i.e. snap shot of your current session (all your running programs, open files, etc.).

It is normally of the same size as the amount of installed memory (RAM).

If you have 4 GB of RAM, You’ll see a 4 GB hiberfil.sys file on your hard disk that Windows won’t let you delete. Windows creates the hiberfil.sys file automatically when you turn on the Hibernate feature.

If you're running low on hard drive space and never use the Hibernate feature, hiberfil.sys is unnecessarily eating up your hard disk space.

The easy way to disable Hibernate, and thus removing hiberfil.sys, on Windows Vista and Windows 7, is through the command prompt.

Below are the steps:

1. Open a command prompt with administrative privileges.  

    

2. Type the command "powercfg -h off" (without semicolon) and hit Enter.

                     3. Exit the command prompt.

Re-enable Windows Hibernate

To turn the Hibernate function back on, simply enter "powercfg -h on" at a command prompt with administrative privileges.