How to Turn Off and Disable Hibernation in Windows Vista
Hibernation is enabled by default in Windows Vista, and is one of the seven options (i.e. Hibernate) that appears on the Vista shutdown menu. Hibernate your Vista system will enable you to quickly restore to existing system state and intact workspace instead of start afresh, run programs and open your documents one by one again. If you do not use the hibernate feature in Vista, and want to delete hiberfil.sys and then recover the space occupied by the big hibernation storage file, the hibernation function can be turned off and disabled.
Unlike Windows XP, users cannot turn the hibernation on or off via Vista GUI interface anymore. Previously users can enable or disable hibernation via Power Options applet in Control Panel. This option no longer available in Windows Vista, which also enables Hibernate ability and creates hiberfil.sys by default. Instead, users have to rely on command line utility Powercf and Disk Cleanup Wizard to disable hibernation in Vista. Microsoft KB920730 provides details on how to disable and turn off hibernation on computer running Vista system. You must log on to Vista with user account in Administrators group to perform these action.
- Click Start, and then type cmd in the Start Search box.
- In the search results list, right-click Command Prompt or Cmd, and then click Run as Administrator on the pop up contextual menu.
- If you are prompted by User Account Control for permission, click Continue.
- At the command prompt, type the following command, and then press ENTER:
powercfg.exe -h off
- Type exit, and then press ENTER.
Another easier workaround for those who’re not comfortable to work with command line is to disable hibernation and hybrid sleep feature in Windows Vista is by using Disk Cleanup wizard tool, the built-in Windows disk cleaner to delete hiberfil.sys file. The hibernation file must be enabled to access the hybrid sleep feature and the hibernation feature in Windows Vista.
- Click Start button, then go to All Programs -> Accessories -> System Tools, and run Disk Cleanup.
- Choose which files to clean up, either My files only or Files from all users on this computer is fine.
- On “Drive Selection”, select the Windows Vista boot drive to clean up. Note that you must select the drive where Vista is installed, which normally is also the boot drive (C:) as hiberfil.sys file will be located on the root folder of it.
- Once Disk Cleanup finishes scanning the system, Disk Cleanup for Vista window will open.
- Select and tick the check box next to the Hibernation File Cleaner.
You can select or deselect other type files to clean or preserve from the available items or options in the list provided.
- Click OK button when done.
- Hibernation will now be removed and disabled.
Related posts:
- Disable and Turn Off (or Enable or Turn On) Data Execution Prevention (DEP) in Windows Vista
- Disable and Turn Off System Restore (Shadow Copy) in Windows Vista
- Put Disk Cleanup Shortcut to Vista Computer Right Click Menu
- Disable or Turn Off (Or Enable and Turn On) Windows Vista Internet Explorer 7 (IE7) Protected Mode
- How to Turn Off and Disable Thumbnail Preview in Vista
OMFG I LOVE YOU !@@!!@!@
16gb ram + small SSD = huge hibernation file % of total volume.
Typed the line into cmd. Bam, 12gb extra space when I was running low!
Thank you so much!
Awesome. My Dell laptop came partitioned in a very sad way. This not only let me back up the laptop, but it allowed me to update as well! Also, moved my page file to another partition that saved a few gigs. Mahalo!
I noticed that Office 2010 when run for the first time grabs around 3GB. I guess it's Vista – Office 2010 incompatibility issue.
On my Windows 7 system, the disk cleaner utility fails to provide the option of removing the hibernate file, even when started with administrator privileges.
The Microsoft Knowledge Base article linked to from the post contains the download to two "Microsoft Fix It" programs that one can simply download and execute to perform the tasks of deactivating and reactivating Hibernate mode, along with automatic removal or creation of the file. Unfortunately it is not mentioned which tool performs which task. The one with the lower ID number activates, the one with the higher one deactivates Hibernate. Fallback: run one of them, and if it quits with an unexplained error, it was the wrong one.
Thanky got a lot of free GB this way…
Thank you. This has made me crazy for 1 1/2 years. I would walk away for 10 min and come back…….. end up having to restart. I went through Disk clean-up and the directions were great for those of you like me who don't want to go through the "back door"
thanks! it helps me A LOT!
Really great it worked for me!
Right click the Command Prompt and select Run as Administrator and continue with the instructions…
the command prompt says"you do not have permission to enable or disable the hibernate feature"…..what to do now?
Thanks, glad it worked needed to disable it! Thanks agian, It was so easy!
Thanx Bro u save my 2.99 gigs lol
Thanks I Need to disable it thank you!!☺
I did it too, whats all the fuss about?. BUT I still get a black page covers screen every 30 mins even when on Iplayer any ideas please. Even Which can't fix it. Maggi G.
dumass why did you take it off in the 1st place
what if i used the disk cleaning method and the hibernate feature is gone and i want to reactivate it.
Thanx for the trick. It is right decision to turn off hibernation sice I not using it. and it cost 3 GB on my only 16GB SSD. and I can not turn it off by GUI. thanx a bunch man….
Hmmm, seems like you can't use "sleep mode" once the hiberfil.sys file is deleted. I will confirm that, after the next reboot. Which is a shame, because 2+GB is a veeerryy big price to pay for convenience. Damn Micro$$$oft !!
thanks very helpful. my hibernation file in vista was 3.5GB, and I only have 3gb of ram, it added my vid card.
On windows 7
control panel>system and security>power options>change when the computer sleeps>put the computer to sleep>never
Coll! Thanks, it was helpfull.
powercfg -H off
Hey, this is the one that works! Thanks.
Thanks mate. Good day
[...] this using the graphical user interface is available using the Disk Cleanup Wizard. See the writeup here for that if you absolutely refuse to use the command [...]
You state that you you can not go into control panel to turn off hibernation mode? You say that option is no longer available?
It is. I just did it.
Thank you for your tips. This one works in Windows 7 RC too.
Cheers! Worked like a charm and took care of a problem that's been bugging me for ages!
Awesome… freed up 2GB… nicey!!!
Thanks for the howto
Thanks!
Thank you for your tips. They're helpful
[...] to hibernate is enabled by default on every Windows Vista installation. If you have disable and turn off hibernation feature, accidentally delete hiberfil.sys using Hibernation File Cleaner of Disk Cleanup tool, or you just [...]
Thanx!!! thank you very much for this useful tip so now i have 1 more gb free in my hard drive
My digital life forum ROXXX!!!!!
Well i have some other questions also can i ask them??
Thanx! This solution worked like a charm. Now I don't have the annoying hiberfil.sys file using space in my hard drive.
[...] Power Options where it’s impossible to enable or disable Hibernation from GUI anymore. Visit guide to disable hibernation in Vista. Get help or contribute tips or tricks at My Digital Life [...]
[...] to hibernate is enabled by default on every Windows Vista installation. If you have disable and turn off hibernation feature, accidentally delete hiberfil.sys using Hibernation File Cleaner of Disk Cleanup tool, or you just [...]