Removing HIBERFIL.SYS

[Power Lunch Club]

Hello,

Still having some minor issues with my laptop. During defraging there is fragmented file, HIBERFIL.SYS. I have found out that the file is not needed and the instructions I have found tell me to go to the power otions menu and untick the hibernation option to remove the file. But I don't have that option on my power oprion menu.

O/S: Windows XP Professional
Location: c:\HIBERFIL.SYS (But hidden)

Its size 512mb

How do you remove this file?

Regards

Gordon
PLC

 

[PC]

Its a system + hidden file so you shouldn't really remove it and yes, it cannot be defragged.

Given how small it is is it really that important to you to remove it?

Defragging your hard drive is all well and good but as soon as you next use it the OS will scatter files all over the place. Defrag once a month and it will be okay. If you really need more than an extra (temporary) 2% speed boost then try putting in more RAM or cut down on your apps that automatically start up. That will make a far bigger difference.

And on a more general note, if you don't know what it is or what it does then don't touch it...

... mind you, if your fiddling with your computer then I could do you a deal once it's broken!

Or you could post what the issues are and let the techies provide you with some answers.

 

[Power Lunch Club]

Sorry....I completely forgot about this, till I was doing my weekly defrag.

As I say the file is anything but small....

Fragments File Size Files that cannot be defragmented
21 502 MB \HIBERFIL.SYS

Most of the research I have done tell me to switch off the hibernate function on Windows XP pro power options screen and this will remove the file automatically. But I don't seem to have that option. Then there are some reputable site that say this file can be removed safely....so I just don't know.


Yes...in the next couple of month, I am thinking of moving to an office....and I want to chat about a good desktop. Never really enjoyed a laptop much.

Gordon
PLC

 

[Power Lunch Club]

I finally solved this problem....and much research on the intersweat and various forums.

There were various schools of thought as to where or not to directly remove this file.

After much consideration, i decided not to remove the file. The file is question along with Pagefile.sys were both Windows systems files and could be effect the performance of Windows.

My computer from time to time behaved erratically and I have always suspected memory problems rather than hard drive or motherboard issues. I had checked to death for viruses, but always came back clear.

I don't have much memory, but since I don't play games on the the laptop, or require anything that needs loads of memory, its never been a issue.

There was an option within Windows control panel (system) for switching off the any paging values ...i.e. viturual memory. And since I have switched it off the laptop has become great. Don't need Santa to bring me one....(Although I still want a nice shiny one).

Thanks for everyone's input here.

Gordon

 

[computer storm]

I finally solved this problem....and much research on the intersweat and various forums.

There were various schools of thought as to where or not to directly remove this file.

After much consideration, i decided not to remove the file. The file is question along with Pagefile.sys were both Windows systems files and could be effect the performance of Windows.

My computer from time to time behaved erratically and I have always suspected memory problems rather than hard drive or motherboard issues. I had checked to death for viruses, but always came back clear.

I don't have much memory, but since I don't play games on the the laptop, or require anything that needs loads of memory, its never been a issue.

There was an option within Windows control panel (system) for switching off the any paging values ...i.e. viturual memory. And since I have switched it off the laptop has become great. Don't need Santa to bring me one....(Although I still want a nice shiny one).

Thanks for everyone's input here.

Gordon

Hello Gordon,

You may find that you need your page file later so is best to leave it on unless you have a lot of memory in the laptop, you could try typing the following command at the command prompt.

powercfg.exe -h off

This will then turn off the hibernate file, and after a reboot will delete the HIBERFIL.SYS file.

 

[Power Lunch Club]

Thank Darren, yes I think that's what the system fnction in Windows control panel did.....machine running like a dream now