Re-Enable Hibernate Option in Windows Vista
If you’ve found that your Hibernate option is missing from Windows Vista, it might be from running the disk cleanup wizard and removing the hibernate files. This is due to a known bug in Vista that might not have been hotfixed already.
Turning it back on is very simple, however.
Type cmd into the start menu search box, and use Ctrl+Shift+Enter to open in administrator mode. You can also right-click the item in the menu and choose Run as Administrator.
From the command prompt, type in the following command:
powercfg /hibernate on
You’ll have to restart your computer before it will take effect.
Update: Alternative Method
An alternative method with more steps was suggested by Shane in the comments. If the above doesn’t fix your problem, you can use these steps.
- Go to the command prompt icon in the Start menu under Accessories and right click the icon: click “Run as administrator”.
- Paste: “powercfg.exe /hibernate on” and hit Enter and also paste “powercfg -h on” and hit enter just to be safe.
- Open Control Panel and type in “Hibernate” in the Search.
- Click “Turn hibernation on or off”
- Click “Change advance power settings”
- Scroll to and expand the “Sleep” option.
- Select “Off” to the “Allow hybrid sleep” option.
- Scroll to and expand the “Power buttons and lid” option.
- Select “Hibernate” for the “Sleep button action” option. 10. Select “Hibernate” for the “Start menu power button” option.
Hopefully one of these methods will solve your problem!
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When I tried to open cmd in the Administrator mode with ctrl/shift/enter I did not get Administrator. Trying again I found C:\Users\W.G.Powell> Thinking I needed to be in the C dir I typed cd\ and used the ctrl/shift/enter keys. Even when I got the C prompt I was not in the administrator mode. Where am I messing up?
The hibernate option is also not available on the menu if Hybrid Sleep is enabled.
Even though hybrid sleep writes the system state to disk as well as RAM, it
is not the same as hibernation. For instance, you can easily and inadvertently
wake the computer from hybrid sleep by moving the mouse or touching a key
on the keyboard (if the wake options aren’t disabled). Or, if you have a modem,
the modem may wake the system on an incoming call.
Even if hybrid sleep is enabled, you can still program the shutdown button
on the start menu to hibernate rather than shutdown. On my system, I leave
the power button on my case to do a true shutdown when needed.
After breaking a fingernail trying this solution countless times in vain, I discovered that we were not in the same configuration. I went to control panel, clicked user accounts and DISABLED the
user accounts control (UAC) from there on it worked perfectly….this info might be helpful for dummies such as this reader.
I found out how to get the hibernation option back with 10 steps. Of course remove/omit all the “”quotes”"! 1. Go to the command prompt icon in the Start menu under Accessories and right click the icon: click “Run as administrator”. 2. Paste: “powercfg.exe /hibernate on” and hit Enter and also paste “powercfg -h on” and hit enter just to be safe. 3. Open Control Panel and type in “Hibernate” in the Search. 4. Click “Turn hibernation on or off” 5. Click “Change advance power settings” 6. Scroll to and expand the “Sleep” option. 7. Select “Off” to the “Allow hybrid sleep” option. 8. Scroll to and expand the “Power buttons and lid” option. 9. Select “Hibernate” for the “Sleep button action” option. 10. Select “Hibernate” for the “Start menu power button” option.
Thanks guys it worked the first time round… I’ll surely be visiting this site a lot more now!!
This step-by-step help did work for me. Thanks a lot!
Thanx a Ton Shane !!
it works great for me,
The only thing i miss is the WinXp, power off/hibernate/logoff keyboard shorcuts…
windows + U/H/LL…
anything like tht in vista ???
thnks a ton for the great info…
Thank you very much…..
Thanks that worked, hibernate was immediately added to the shutdown menu options.
Thanks i solved my problem of hibernate…
Shane!! You’re simply amazing!! I had tried ##every## damn f****** thing i heard of and but none of them ever worked……!
Was at my wits end man… You’re a real life-saver!
Wish I could give you a bear-hug now!!
My rating for your answer: A++++++++++++++++……….!!!
My thanks to Shane. His step-by-step worked perfectly.
Thank you!!!!!!!!!! , you’re awesome I thought was going to pull my hair off..LOL
I agree: this is an excellent guide. Perfect Disk detected that I needed to run chkdsk /r /f and after that and a couple of runs through the defragmenter I was able to resize :C as I wished (140Gb to 50Gb)
Wawwwww, great, really fantastic.
Finally back. With only seconds……….
Thanks a lot budd
I followed the steps till i got to the advanced power options.. all the buttons in that window were non responsive. Maybe i was being denied permission to modify them. Do i need to run the advanced power options also as an administrator? If so, how to do that?
Thank you so much for all of your tutorials, I am a ditz at computers and would have thrown my laptop out of the window long ago if it weren’t for your site.
I have tried everything listed here. Dell has gone in and tried to get the computer to hibernate nothing works. The computer is only a few days old and they will issue a new computer but I really would hope to get this feature to work. Any help would be appreciated as nothing else works. Thanks
Thanks Shane
Thanks like stated by others it worked within seconds
Thanks Shane I finally got it to work.I think I had checked the box on step 7. Even Dell support called me back and said they would use this site to help others with the hibernate. Now to get all my stuff from my old computer to my new computer. Thanks again for the great solution to hibernate.
Thanks. The command worked.
I updated this article with Shane’s alternate method of fixing this problem. Thanks Shane!
Thank you so much!
Thanks a lot. The second set of instructions worked
Just go to accessories-> right button on command prompt-> run as admin-> type powercfg /hibernate on and you are done
Thanks a lot. it really worked.
Thanks a ton. I think all we need to do is run the Explorer as Administrator and then access Control Panel through it.
thanks alot dear friends,
it was a very happy moment for me to get the solution for this problem
again thanks alot dear
i am very thankful to mitko also coz i followed the command mentioned by mitko
dear i’ve one more problem with the internet explorer 8.
i had downloaded this new browser from the net but it is not istalled properly
when i open it the following message comes
a windows security update is needed for internet explorer 8 to work correctly.
click ok to download windows security update
once the update has been installed, restart internet explorer
I just wanted to thank for the information posted here, I was able to fix my problem
I tried the first method and it didn’t work. However, upon trying the second method I found that hibernate had been enabled! Thank you very much as this was a very annoying problem =).
I had to go to windows explorer (AKA FILE MANAGER) locate the powercfg.exe and right-click and run as administrator and type in powercfg /hibernate on did a restart and went into control panel and vista hibernate NOW!!! THANK YOU FOR THE HELP you guys are great….
Thanks guys!! worked with the first try. haha. This site is now on my list of favorites. wonderful.
It works fine. Thanks. I’ve tried only the 2nd solution.
yes.. thank you very much..
I just restored hibernation using your “cmd” suggestion. Thanks guys. Keep up the good work.
i’ve tried everything in here… but i still cannot find the hibernate, but when i get to the “additional settings” and click on “Sleep”…. it only show “sleep after”… and nothing else!! did i delete my hibernate?? could anyone help me please!!
it is good….it really works
Your method worked with no problems. Thanks for your efforts.
I used your command in reverse. Hibernate was killing my desktop and there is NO EASY way to turn it off. i just used the command /hibernate off. here’s to hoping its TRULY off when i reboot.
THX this works wonders!
Thanks, worked first time no probs.
I have been recently experiencing a problem with Hibernate on my computer. Until last week, When I hit hibernate the machine does not completely power
down. The power indicator light on the CPU unit does not go off. When I
try to restart, it wont. I have to acutally hold down the power button and
force a shut down and restart. At restart of course I get the usual f8
screen – do you want to start normally or on safe mode, etc?
Does anyone have any idea why this is happening now? Does it have to do
with a recent update from Windows?
I look forward to your help.
Thanks
Thanks a lot, I really don’t like Vista and it’s because of these stupid bugs … but thanks for posting these information.
Thanks a lot. The first option worked, didnt have to try the second. Also no ‘restart’ was needed.
thanks dude . it worked
thanks ..it worked
what i did is log in as the administrator. typed in the “powercfg.exe /hibernate on” in the search box from the start menu.to make it work hit CTRL+SHIFT+ENTER. It will enable it as an administrator.:)!
Dear All,
Thanks a lot for helping but the problem I don’t have enough space for Hibernate session, so does anybody know way to change of location for hibernate files on a hard disk ?????
hi guys thanks soo much, it wrkd
i tried and i got it.
for others to make it easy i like to tell something you can get admin mode frome start>accessories>command prompt
r-click and thn start as administrator.
then type the command powercfg /hibernate on
it appeares immidiatly in your start manu
take your care and the others. bye
thanks.. worked welll…
I had just tried the first part and it didn’t work,but the alternative method did it!!
Thank you so much guys!!! worked like a charm =)
thanks for this… i was actually looking to shut it OFF but i used the first persons “powercfg /hibernate on” function but switched off and it worked.. thanks again
Thanks a gazillion!!!!!! I am having a overheating problem and the hibernate option is the only way i can “stand by” without it going to 212 F degrees. THANKS!!!
Thanks much, man! It worked for me perfectly, the only problem I had is when I was trying to run cmd.exe in non-administrator mode; this did not work. After I’ve ran it as admin, it worked perfectrly.
Doing only the “powercfg /hibernate on” worked for me … didnt require a restart too !
Thanks
hi dude , i worked well ,
lots of thnxxxxxxxx to u people………
hey dude. thank you a million!
this worked really great, the alt method that is.
i didnt know that running the clean up tool would put me through this mess. im glad i got back the hibermode. i really hate shutting my notebook down all the time esp when im at school.
Your first method worked fine for me without even restarting the system.
a very concisive way to describe how to do. it helped me to easily setup the hibernation option. thanks for the article, appreciate it.
it works mate…
really thankful to you
Thanks alot it’s really helpfull cos i try for more than a week to fix this untill i have seen this.
Wow how-to-geek… u r the best…
this is the most wonderful forum i have ever seen…
ur forum has fixed millions of my issues with my compaq (vista ultimate) laptop..
Thanks a million…
Dinesh
This ‘fix’ doesn’t seem to work for a dual-boot (XP and Vista) PC setup.. The “Restoring Windowss” progress bar appears, and then at the point where I expect the Windows Logon Screen, the cursor sits, blinking, in the upper left hand corner of the monitor, and the boot process STALLS….. Upon reboot, I am given the option to continue with the ‘restoration’ or delete the saved the configuration, and do a fresh boot to Vista.. The continue with restoration results in the same stalled conditon.. Only a fresh boot will get me into Vista.
SUGGESTIONS???? THANKS FRANK TUCSON, AZ
SUCCESS… after redoing the ‘fix’ I used the Start Button : Power Icon vs the arrow-icon : Hibernate function, and the hibernation process worked just fine????
Thanks for the ‘remedy’..
Frank – Tucson, AZ
Thx! This Worked fine! Great!
thanxxx… i had been troubled for so many days and no one seem to know the solution..
Thanks a lot
I used the first option
For the second time thanks a lot. Vista is a pain in the ass. Any idea why I have to put my computer to sleep so that my wifi will reenable. After about five minutes it will say that it is connected to the router but not the internet. If I disconnect and then reconnect it will not find the router. Oh some times the wireless card stops working for no reason so i have to put the computer in to hibernate or restart it to get it to work again.
I have this problem, My Vista PC Hibernate itself when it is left untouched for a period of time. Howto disable this?
@Alan: Go to Control Panel\Hardware and Sound\Power Options, click “Choose when the computer sleeps” on the left”, click “Change advanced power settings, double click Sleep, double click “Hibernate after”, click the down arrow until never is displayed, click Ok, click Cancel, close the power options window.
Thank you so much, I don’t know if either changing the power button settings or turning off the hybrid did the trick, but what matters is it hibernates no and stays off until I press the physical power button again. Thank you so much!
Worked here also, thanks alot
It worked!
THX!!
Thank you
Thanks for the tip. I cant believe Vista is such a botched system. There is a gazillion options to tweak but none of them are truly useful. Thanks again. It worked for me.
I was wondering where my hibernate setting went… Thanks a lot.
Every time i try to turn on hibernation it will tell me that i don’t have promission to proform task.
Whaoooo!!!!
This works like a magic…
Am so happy to have my Hibernation mode back…
oh my goodness!!!it worked!>:D
Thanks a mill Shane…been trying to solve this problem for 2 years. You’ve made my day.
omigosh… i’ve got my hibernate back!!
thanks Shane~
The reason hibernate seems to disappear is when I run a disk clean up.
Worked first time thanks
thanks man !! both methods worked…….
thanx dear. it worked in seconds.
Wow! Quick Google search & I had my HIBRINATE back & running in less than 4 mins! Considering I went without for 3 weeks now (Thought it was due to a virus), I’m back in action! NO REBOOT was required!
TNX Budz! Best advice I came across in sometime now!
cd/
cd windows
cd system32
powercfg -h on
This is what worked for me. The original advice came up with a minor misunderstanding of what windows was capable of doing. A little thinking and I was off to the races!
Hey thanks! perfect, and easy.
Thanks very much. It’s saved my Hibernate function (and my sanity) many times!
Works great, thanks a lot for this tip
Thanks a lot…. struggled a lot to find the hibernate option before i came here…
thanks. when i went to restart, “hibernate” was already back on the menu. i use the first option
Thanks a lot,,,Man
Thanx a ton…..it was a breeze
Thanks a Lot
Thanks it worked great!
Great job… well done, thanks!
i’ve tried both ways like a million time today, still won’t work. i think something wrong with the command prompt. it starts with c:[user/name]then i can type is that normal?? i don know much about computers i need your assistance
“powercfg /hibernate on” worked instantly. Thanks a ton. And i didnt even need to restart my vista.
thnx a lot … it worked instantaneous and gave me some peace ….
for those whose culd not get this …
u cn try by opening the task manager n the press the processes tab … now press show processes for all users … this will place u in administrater position …
in the applications tab press new task tab … use cmd there
this will have administrater privilleges
Fine it iw working in my Acer aspire 5100 laptop.
Thank you very very much!!!
thank you
i love u guys yo like pc jesus
Your fixed worked! Thank you! I tried all the others and they did not work. Yours is the only one that worked.
Just do this
goto accessories and then right click on command and run as administrator
and then type cd:\windows\system32
then powercfg.exe -h on
C:\Windows\system32>powercfg.exe -h on
and no need to restart the system , the new settings will take effect immediately
thanks mate..
it solve the problem right away
Thanks buddy for the posting …it worked but there is no need to restart the system , the new settings will take effect immediately…..
i want to let my computer go into hibernation everytime i want ot shut it down but it say not enough API available,what shud i do???
i do this because because it reboots faster this way so is there any other of achieving the result???
Hi,
In one of my PCs the ethernet card is showing OK but the ethernet controller is showing the big yellow?
mark…how do I update the driver for the controller
I worked. Yes!
Hi, Thanks ..
Thanks a lot .
thank you so much this actually worked! its pretty bad when the windows help doesn’t work and you have to search online and that actually works, thank you!
Thanx a lot…
I tried the first suggestion and it worked well…
I didn`t even need to restart my computer…
Once again thanx a lot for this easy guide…
Cheers
The first method didn’t work for me, and the second didn’t until I checked that “hybrid sleep” was surely switched off. Then it worked, Like a dream. Thanks.
Only 2nd solution worked for me. Thanks for that. Regarding first solution the following is what happened!
C:\>powercfg /hibernate on
‘powercfg’ is not recognized as an internal or external command,
operable program or batch file.
C:\>powercfg -h on
‘powercfg’ is not recognized as an internal or external command,
operable program or batch file.
C:\>powercfg.exe /hibernate on
‘powercfg.exe’ is not recognized as an internal or external command,
operable program or batch file.
A reboot is not required.
thanks !! It solved my problem!
thanks a lot, it works
Thanks, second option worked.
Thanks worked with Shane’s answer and OP’s… Read BOTH…
thx a lot
thanks! i just ran command prompt as an admin and typed in the first command you guys had and it works perfectly now
was running on windows vista home premium on a laptop
Thanks. My Acer Aspire 2910Z is now ok. My hibernation option is enable now. Thanks again.
For some users the problem is not really a problem, it’s due to the Power Plan’s configuration.
In my laptop, using High Performance, Windows allows me to Hibernate, but, using Balanced, then the Hibernate option disappear.
Hope that helps somebody
thanks a tonne buddy…..ur step wise guide helpd a lot!!!
THANKS MAN!.. easy steps do help alot! =)
Thanks a million for this – been trying to figure out how to get my ‘Hibernate’ back for ages. You’re a star!
thank you sooo much! it worked the first time, and it added hibernate to my menu right away! thanks a million!
Thanks a lot it really works
This had been so annoying, and one simple command fixed it. Thank you soooo much.
I tried to run the command line, but it said I don’t have permission to change this configuration. This is my sister’s computer and there is only one user account, and that account has administrator privileges, supposedly. How could the only user of the computer not have permission?? This is why I still run XP on my own computer, and Ubuntu.
Thanks soo much, saved my problem of vista!
THANK YOU!
Tried everything… but yet the solution was just that simple!
(If there are any spelling mistakes: English is not my first language)
it works’s for me thanks a lot man
thanks mite… it’s worksss……….
Thank you so much! I’ve been trying to figure this out forever. Very useful page! :}
Thanx a lot. It worked for me.
thanx …it works….
Thanx a ton dear…. it really works
thx this guide really really helped me alot. I EMPHASIZE AGAIN THIS WEBSITE REALLY HELP ME ALOT million of thanks..
Thank you. It worked out.
Thanks man. It worked at last.
Thanks, worked a charm, the lack of hibernate had been annoying me for awhile!
Thanks 1st option work with no ned to restart thanks again
thank you very mush
Thank you so much for a simple solutions to a long-term annoying problem!