Windows is a big operating system. You will find several files (both hidden and non-hidden) if you dig deeper into the operating system. If the storage space on your hard drive inside your computer is low, you should try to get rid of the gigantic hiberfil.sys file. It is possible to delete the file so that you can recover the lost space. In this article, you will learn the steps required to delete the hiberfil.sys file.
The steps mentioned in the article will work with Windows Vista, Windows 7, 8, 10 and XP. Even though the display will look different depending upon the Windows version, the relevant command line arguments are same.
In Windows, you will find the presence of two different power management modes such as Sleep and Hibernate mode. The Sleep mode enables your computer to run in a low power state, which will help you to quickly locate the portion you are working upon.
The Hibernate mode automatically writes the memory directly to the hard drive. It switches off the PC power completely enabling you to take the battery outside. The mode makes use of the hiberfil.sys file to store the memory of the PC.
You will not be able to delete the file since it is managed by Windows. Even though a majority of Windows users make effective use of the Sleep mode, Hibernate is used by few users who are familiar with advanced concepts.
How To Disable hiberfil.sys File?
To disable hiberfil.sys in Windows 10, 8, 7, or Vista, you will need to open a command prompt using administrator mode. You have to right-click on the command prompt in the start menu and select Run As Administrator. You have to enter the following command
powercfg -h off
You can use the Command Prompt in Windows 7 to enable and disable Hibernation. You need to click on Start option and type CMD into the search box. You need to right click on the icon and select Run as administrator. You should use the following command to enable Hibernation from the command prompt
powercfg /hibernate on
To disable hibernation, you need to provide the command powercfg /hibernate off
You can click on Start menu, navigate to Control Panel and select Power Options. You will find an option captioned click on Change when the computer sleeps on the left side. You need to click on Change advanced power settings. You need to expand the Sleep tree, expand Hibernate after and modify the minute’s value parameter to zero. You can also specify the number of minutes you would like before the system goes into hibernation.
If you carefully notice the Shutdown menu, you will find the disappearance of the Hibernate option. You will not find the hiberfil.sys file after you provides the above command.
If you are still working with Windows XP, you can easily eliminate the Hibernate mode. You just need to navigate to Control Panel | Power Options and locate the Hibernate tab. If you deactivate the checkbox and reboot the PC, you will be able to delete the hiberfil.sys file.
Windows XP is still used by several people even though it is outdated. The operating system will be suitable for people who prefer a simple interface. If you make use of the above command, the Hibernate mode and the corresponding hiberfil.sys file will be deleted. Hence, you should know what you are doing before invoking the command.