Windows XP - What Is Hibernate And How To Use It

In short hibernate is turning off your computer by saving the last program running into your hard disk. It is different from shuts down that is closed all your program before the computer turn off. So when you turn on your computer from hibernate it will open the program just like before you turn off the computer. You can try that by clicking Start -> Turn Off. Hold Shift key and the shuts down button will change to hibernate. Than click hibernate. Your computer will be turn off in hibernate.

If when you hold the Shift key and the shuts down button do not change then you must do some setting in the control panel. Open the control panel, go to Power Options then go to Hibernate tab. Check the box that say Enable Hibernation. Click Apply then OK. Now the shuts down button will turn to Hibernate when you hold the Shift key. Good Luck!