Computer Hibernation

For writers like me, computer hibernation is no less than a do-gooder, while I have a hundred files left open on my PC all the time. Didn't get it? Let me explain. Computer hibernation, is nothing but an energy saving mode that saves power by switching the system off, in a way that the current state of the computer is saved to the hard drive, so that no files are lost, even when the computer is shut down. When again, the user turns on the system, every information that was saved is easily read by the hard disk, thereby, restoring every file and folder used before the system went onto the hibernating mode. Just so you know, many people confuse computer hibernation with Windows XP's standby mode, and Windows Vista or Windows 7's sleep mode. The following content not only gets you acquainted about how to activate the hibernation mode, but also tells about the difference between hibernation, sleep and stand-by modes. Keep reading.

Computer Hibernation: How to Activate and Deactivate

Hibernation saves an image of your desktop with all the files and documents that are open, thereby, powering down your computer. It is because of this power management mode that it is possible to save computer batteries without consuming time to shut all your files, and then shut down, and restart all over. For those who live working on their computers, computer hibernation helps in retaining all their work, without having it shut down, and lose important files left open. The best thing about Windows computer operating system is that it automatically puts your computer into the hibernating mode, after a particular amount of time, so that no extra power is consumed, if at all, you aren't on desk for long. In order to install hibernation settings, all you need to do is, go to Control Panel, and select Power Options. Then, click on the Hibernate tab and select Enable hibernate support check box, and then Apply.

Now, every time you leave your computer for a while, you just need to select the Shut Down option from the Start menu, wherein, the drop down list of What do you want the computer to do will appear. You just need to select the Hibernate option, and your computer will get hibernated, till the next time you turn the system power on. If this process seems long to you, there is a shortcut key to those using Windows XP Professional or Home Edition. After you have enabled hibernate support on your system from the Control Panel, you just need to click on the Shut Down button, where it will prompt you to either Turn Off, Restart, or Stand By. You need to hold down the Shift key, and click on Stand By. Your computer will hibernate.

For those using Windows Vista, activating hibernation is extremely easy. Go to the Start menu, and type in cmd. When a DOS command prompt program opens, type in powercfg/hibernate on. Press enter, and shut the screen. Here you're hibernated. However, for a computer stuck in hibernation, there is a similar, but proper command you need to give. Click on Start menu, and type in cmd. When the DOS command prompt programs open, this time, type in powercfg/ hibernate off. When you shut the screen, the hibernation becomes unavailable.

Computer Hibernation vs Sleep vs Standby

As stated right at the onset, people often get perplexed between the Standby option in Windows XP, sleep option in Windows Vista and Windows 7, and hibernation. Well, here's an all-inclusive answer. Sleep is a power-saving mode, again, that enables computer to instantly resume its full power functioning, which is actually instantaneous. It is like pausing a CD player, while you're bored of a song, and then again resuming it, playing it again within a matter of seconds. On the other hand, hibernation, a requisite for laptop computers in most cases, uses some space of your hard disk to save the open files and folders, thereby, turning the computer system off. This is not the case with Sleep. When a computer is put onto sleep, your system does suck up some power. This contributes to the main difference between hibernation and sleep. Akin to the sleep option in Vista and Windows 7, when talking about the difference between hibernation and standby, the same fact holds true for Windows XP as it owns the Standby option. However, the biggest drawback of Sleep and Standby options is that, as soon as the power goes off, you lose all your data, which, in case of hibernation, is not lost, even when the power goes off.

So, shall we have a quick recap? It'll be helpful. So, when you shut down your computer, it gives you four options: Standby, Turn Off, Restart, and Hibernate. Well, you do know what is Turn Off and Restart. While people get confused between Standby and Computer Hibernation, little does it take to know that Standby 'pauses' your system for a while, just by consuming a little amount of power. On the other hand, the hibernate option saves your open data to the hard disk, thus, shutting it down in a way that when you turn on your PC all over again, it makes you happy to see that no work of yours was lost. And so I hibernate.