Can I delete these files without screwing over my computer?

hiberfil.sys and pagefile.sys take up 600 of my precious MB... Can I delete them? They're just in my C:\ Directory. They're hidden system files.

What version r u running>

Windows XP Professional

What is this file named HIBERFIL.SYS doing in my root folder?
Windows saves the state of the RAM to this file for use when you hibernate your computer. You can remove this file by disabling hibernation, which is by Control Panel, Power Options, Hibernate tab. You can also try: right click on an empty space in your desktop > properties > screen saver > power > hibernate and uncheck "enable hibernation"


How much space does a Windows XP installation roughly takes up?
Taken from usenet by Kent W. England [MVP] <kwe@mvps.org>:
1.0 GB for Windows folder
0.5 GB for Program Files
50 MB for Documents and Settings (w/o user shell folders)
200 MB for pagefile.sys (varies depending on RAM size)
130 MB for hiberfil.sys (same size as RAM)
2.0 GB (10%) for System Restore (default) in System Volume Info folder
2.0 GB (10%) for Recycle Bin (default)
2.0 GB (10%) for each TIF (default)


More info re: pagefile.sys

Adjust settings: control panel > system performance tab

It is your swapfile (virtual memory) do not delete the file.

Quote from a page I found:
The pagefile is created and used by Windows when it needs more memory. Oftentimes the many programs you run on your computer will request more memory (RAM, effectively) than your computer can give it, so to go and find more storage, Windows turns to your harddrive in the form of pagefile.sys.

That's why, when you open more than just a couple programs at once the system slows down -- it runs out of RAM and turns to the harddrive for more space. The harddrive is also a lot slower than RAM, which is commonly why the whole thing gets even slower when you open something else.


Couple things you can do..
* Run less programs at once
* Get more RAM into the machine

Besides that, there isn't much. You MIGHT be able to find a utility out there that keeps your pagefile a bit more tidy, or find articles out there that might help you find out how to effectively manage the file's size via arcane settings and so on, but I wouldn't know where to find such things. Good hunting.

I have hibernation disabled. Does this mean I can delete hiberfil.sys?

Also, any way to reduce the pagefil.sys file size?

Thanks...

Now don't do anything before anyone who knows has any input, but I think it's safe to delete the hibernation file. Now, for the page file, go into you System settings (System, under Control panel, or however you get there is XP). Then Advanced, then Performance Options, Virtual Memory (Change), then change the maximum size. This is under win2k, but it should be similar for XP.

im pretty sure if you delete pagefile it will recreate itself on the next boot. i do not suggest turning the page file off. If you use all of ur memory (ram) and dont have a pagefile it will come to a screeching halt until u close some things

Originally posted by Chicken
More info re: pagefile.sys

Adjust settings: control panel > system performance tab

It is your swapfile (virtual memory) do not delete the file.

I would definatly say never delete a .sys file, there is no reason to you aren't that desperate for space, at least I hope not. Stuff like that usually causes problems.

Originally posted by michael p bennett
im pretty sure if you delete pagefile it will recreate itself on the next boot. i do not suggest turning the page file off. If you use all of ur memory (ram) and dont have a pagefile it will come to a screeching halt until u close some things

It will recreate itself when ur low on RAM (i think)

I solved the problem of the hiberfil.sys by disabling the hibernation part on the Energy Options in the Control Panel....

But what if I have a machine with Windows XP SP2 with 1.5GB running really few programs... Theory tells me swap memory must be really petit, but my pagefile.sys file is closer to the 2.5 GB all the time!

Should I disable the virtual memory part?

Whaddaya think fellas?

I would leave it alone. Windows is so unpredictable. Use Linux!

Thanks for bringing an old thread backup.

1) If you have 768mb RAM < Turn off paging.

2) Take your *nix advocacy elsewhere.

1) Backup
2) just TRY!

that is the way I do most things...unorthodox.yes...but it is usualy teh best TRIAL AND ERROR BABY!