How to enable Hibernate in Windows XP

April 8th, 2009

Hibernate option is not available by default in Windows XP. Follow this instructions to make Hibernate option available in your Turn Off Computer dialog.

Please note that in order to use Hibernate,  the S4 System State (Hibernation) must be supported by your computer's ACPI implementation, othewise you cannot do anything about it.

Go to Start → Settings → Control Panel. Make sure to open the Classic View, and open Power Options:

control-panel.jpg



When the Power Options Properties dialog appears, check if there is a tab labeled Hibernate. It should be the last one:

power-options.jpg



If you are not able to see the Hibernate tab, then Hibernation is probably not supported in your computer...

On the other hand, if you have a Hibernate tab, that's good news. Open the Hibernate tab and make sure to check the Enable Hibernation checkbox:

hibernate-tab.jpg



Click the Apply or OK button to make the changes take effect.

Now, the next time you want hibernate, in the Turn Off Computer dialog, press and hold down the Shift Key. The Stand By option will change to Hibernate whilst you hold the Shift Key pressed:

standby-hibernate.gif



With the Shift Key down click on Hibernate.

40 Responses to “How to enable Hibernate in Windows XP”

  1. Dennis Werth Says:
    I cannot enable hibernation on wxp. every time I try it gives me this response: " The process cannot access the file because it is being used by another process."

    I don't know what that 'another process' might be...
  2. Jay Payne Says:
    I have the same problem and the same question. I understand how to enable the hibernate but I get the same error "unable because some process is using it". What process is it? Thanks
  3. robin Says:
    it worked perfectly
  4. manas Says:
    I have the same problem and the same question. I understand how to enable the hibernate but I get the same error "unable because some process is using it". What process is it? Thanks
  5. roger Says:
    Sweet worked a champ
  6. yogesh Says:
    best answer i like it osummmmmmm
  7. mother or manas Says:
    ya my daughter is right
    she is always right
  8. damn99 Says:
    I have the same problem and the same question. I understand how to enable the hibernate but I get the same error "unable because some process is using it". What process is it?
  9. shafor d. jaks Says:
    hey all of umay be u hav lots of programs even useless ones, check ur progs and limit them to those u use frequently,
  10. Sharif Says:
    I don't know if this will help your problem. However, hibernate cannot be done if the Hard drive does not have enough space. If x= the amount of ram on your computer then you need x amount of free space on your hard drive.

    Another problem could be that you don't have proper drivers installed for all of your hardware. Check Device Manager and see if there are any yellow exclamation marks. You'll need to resolve those driver problems first.
  11. Sharath Says:
    Thank you very much. It helped me set this option up..
  12. waleed Says:
    Man thank you soooooooo much....... :)
  13. Chris Says:
    i have a diffrent problem it wont show hibernate tab but it did a few days ago how do you explain it suddently disapearing like that?? and yes i uninstalled ati catalyst control center and then it happened please help!!! and if it isnt supported how do i make it support it???
  14. Lee Says:
    Thank you. It worked easily. Cheers
  15. Renukumar Says:
    Thanks a lot , it worked.
  16. naveen Says:
    thanks.....thanku very much
  17. Bijith Says:
    Thanks
  18. Bijith Says:
    Thanx
  19. Neeraj Says:
    Thanks
  20. Sathish Says:
    Please find below the steps to configure this Hibernate option for WINDOWS XP users.

    1) Right click on any empty area in your desktop and click New → Shortcut

    2) Paste the following into the text box and click on Next.

    rundll32.exe PowrProf.dll, SetSuspendState

    3) Give a suitable name for this shortcut and click Finish.

    4) Now you would like to change the icon for this shortcut to be more appropriate.

    5) Right click the shortcut → Properties

    6) Now click on Change Icon button and click on Browse. You will be taken to the C:\sysroot\System32 folder.

    7) Select the file powrprof.dll as shown

    You will see an alert as shown below. Click OK.

    9) Now you will see a list of icons displayed. Select the power icon or any other icon of your choice as shown.

    10) Now you will see the shortcut on your desktop.

    All you need to do is that, just double-click this icon before leaving for the day and don?t forget to switch off your monitor.

    The next day you switch ON your pc, all your work will be restored.
  21. Sathish Says:
    Please find below the steps to configure this Hibernate option for WINDOWS XP users.

    1) Right click on any empty area in your desktop and click New → Shortcut

    2) Paste the following into the text box and click on Next.

    rundll32.exe PowrProf.dll, SetSuspendState

    3) Give a suitable name for this shortcut and click Finish.

    4) Now you would like to change the icon for this shortcut to be more appropriate.

    5) Right click the shortcut → Properties

    6) Now click on Change Icon button and click on Browse. You will be taken to the C:\sysroot\System32 folder.

    7) Select the file powrprof.dll as shown

    You will see an alert as shown below. Click OK.

    9) Now you will see a list of icons displayed. Select the power icon or any other icon of your choice as shown.

    10) Now you will see the shortcut on your desktop.

    All you need to do is that, just double-click this icon before leaving for the day and don’t forget to switch off your monitor.

    The next day you switch ON your pc, all your work will be restored.
  22. Emanuel Fatseas Says:
    Thank you. Your instructions worked well and quickly.
  23. SIva Says:
    Thanks for the article.
    Also thanks to Satish for the valuable tip.
  24. BL Chotia Says:
    What you have described is the normal procedure for enabling hibernation in XP. But, I have the same problem as DENNIS WERTH and many others. As a result of this, I am not able to enable hibernation following the usual procedure suggested by you.
  25. Sidds Says:
    Worked, excellent, thanks.
  26. hemant Bhatt Says:
    Thank you. Your instructions worked well and quickly.
  27. Swarajit Biswas Says:
    Thanks man for your tip...........its very nice
  28. navid Says:
    if you have this error:
    "the process can not access the file because it is used by another process "

    1-Delete file: WINDOWS\system32\drivers\atapi.sys (it will be restored by Windows).

    2-Manualy enable hibernate mode (now it isn't throw error message).

    3-Switch computer to Hibernate mode.
    http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=4306704057846428012&postID=1814922173128306663
  29. omer Says:
    nice thing
  30. lior Says:
    10X
    !!!!
  31. Alok Says:
    Very comprehensive and helpful guidence
  32. Mahesh Banswani Says:
    Very easy to understand the instructions Thanks
  33. Mahesh Banswani Says:
    Very easily put
  34. blac hawk Says:
    thanx man!!!
  35. Milen Says:
    You are GOD, man ! Thanks a lot !
  36. Sumon Says:
    Thanks Thanks Thanks .....very very Thanks ............
  37. rahmad Says:
    thank you This Is Sooooo Helpful
  38. sudipto Says:
    thank its amazing
  39. Jay Says:
    Thanks sooo much!! I was so disheartened when I re-installed windows XP on my laptop and it couldn't hibernate. Its made my day! (kinda sad but true!)
  40. A young boy Says:
    It is very use ful Thank YOu

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