hiberfil.sys - safe to delete?

[Brian Wescombe]

After a problem with my Windows install, I re-installed using an Upgrade
installation. There is a file created at the time called 'hiberfil.sys',
it's 1.24GB in size. Presumably this is the system backup created during
setup. Is it safe to delete this file?

Win XP Pro, SP2

 

[Will Denny]

Hi

That file is used by Hibernation and the size is equivalent to the amount of
RAM you have installed. If you don't use Hibernation and disable it, that
amount of disk space will be freed up:

Control Panel>Power Options>Hibernate tab.

 

[johnf]

That's generated when you put your PC into hybernation.
Personally, I can't see any real reason why there's a need to do that on a
normal PC, so don't ever do it & have deleted the file - as far as I'm
concerned it's a waste of space.

 

[johnny]

After a problem with my Windows install, I re-installed using an Upgrade
installation. There is a file created at the time called 'hiberfil.sys',
it's 1.24GB in size. Presumably this is the system backup created during
setup. Is it safe to delete this file?

Win XP Pro, SP2

It's mainly for use with notebook PC's that are setup to hibernate so that
you don't lose data. When the notebook goes into hibernation, the contents
of RAM are copied to this file. If you're installing to a desktop it would
be safe to delete.