Hibernation copies your computer’s memory to the hard disk so that the computer can turn off without shutting down completely. After you’ve put your computer into hibernation, starting it back up only takes a few seconds while it reads the contents of memory from the hard disk.
Hibernation is VERY useful. Unfortunately, it consumes disk space equal to the memory in your computer. I have 2GB of memory in my laptop, so keeping a hibernation file uses up 2GB of valuable disk space. Because of this, many people choose to turn hibernation off.
Here’s the catch: Windows Vista doesn’t provide a user interface for turning hibernation back on after you’ve turned it off (wha…?). Fellow MVP Alun Jones discovered this and found the solution: an administrative command prompt. These are documented in Microsoft Knowledge Base article 920730, How to Disable and Renable Hibernation on a Computer that is Running Windows Vista. Here are some easier instructions, though:
To disable hibernation:
Click Start. Type powercfg /hibernate off. Press Ctrl+Shift+Enter.
To enable hibernation:
Click Start. Type powercfg /hibernate on. Press Ctrl+Shift+Enter.
A command prompt will appear and disappear. The program doesn’t give you any feedback anyway, so you’re not missing anything.
Yes, I really do love the new Start menu, and that Ctrl+Shift+Enter shortcut to run a program as an Administrator.
Thank you very much, very usefull tip.
it doesn’t work for me! i do exactly what you say and nothing! any suggestions?
Thank you very much, I couldn’t get it to work earlier.. and thanks for the tip about cntrl shift enter :D
Works!Thank you very much for this tip
why does microsoft have to make things sooooo complicated!!!!!
I understand that sleep mode is better because you do not have to have 2 gb available on your hard drive but if you have a laptop and you want to turn off the power in order to move it around and then turn it on and keep on working you really need hibernation why make it so unintuitive how to turn it on or off?????!!!!!!!!
it work but you have to change the way to put the command to powercfg -h on CRTL+SHIFT+ENTER
thanks a lot
Thanks!
If it doesn’t work for you…
click start
type: cmd
press control+shift+enter
open the DOS command prompt program
type: powercfg /hibernate on
press enter
close the screen
you got hibernate!!!
where is the option to put your computer in hibernate after that
Thanks a lot… I was literally struggling to get hibernation option back after disabling it the strange way (by using disk clean up!)…
Thanks. I’m Live in IRAN.
thanks
Thanks, It works
Great tools. The Ctrl+Shift+Enter shortcut to admin really made my work easy after I messed up my admin settings. Thanks a lot.
it writes that i have no permision
Where do I go to download windows media center for 64 bit vista? My zune wont work!!!
Mouse and all keys not working. Just the word Hibernating in middle of screen and MSN logo at bottom.
Please Advise
thx alot, i have searched evrywere in windows to enable it with no luck!!!it would be nice if there was a was to do it in control panel. But thx anyways it worked for me.
vistaclues.com is really useful….. i was struggling to get back the hibernate option back after using the disk cleanup……. now i got it…
my cmd prompt is not working properly…. could i get any help…….. it will be useful for me……..
Thnks so much had hibernate on my old windows laptop then got new one with vista and couldnt get it now it works great
thanks sarah your one worked…….!!!!!!!!!
Beautiful, thank you so much. I lost the function after using the disk clean up on my Laptop and was about to start getting annoyed. You sir, have saved me time, trouble and agony.
My gracious thanks.
As for those who seem to wonder why Windows Vista has such a glaring omission in its interface; See the necessity of the development of Windows 7. I think I need to update.
This information was useful but I think this option must also be added in power option button in control panel
Cheers to all!!!