Shell Extension Manager

If you find that clicking on folders or files in Windows Explorer unexpectedly cause it to freeze or crash, the problem may be related to shell extensions installed with new applications. Many will have noticed that WinZip adds an option to zip selected files or folders when you right click on them in Windows Explorer. This is just one example. Such shell extensions may remain even after the applications they are associated with are uninstalled.

Nirsoft's Shell Extensions Manager provides a solution to this problem. It will generate a list of all shell extensions installed in your Windows operating system and allow you to enable or disable them.

hiberfil.sys - hibernation file - comes back to life

Here's a quick follow-up to the Tip of the Night for December 18, 2017 which explained how to remove the Windows hibernation file, hiberfil.sys from the root of the C drive. You can bring the file back with a similar command, in the admin mode of command prompt:

powercfg.exe -h on

hiberfil.sys - hibernation file

Windows operating systems contain a single file - hiberfil.sys - which is used to store data from RAM from open applications when the PC goes into hibernation mode. The hiberfil.sys file makes it possible for the system to be restored to its active state very quickly.

In Windows 7 the file should be found at the root of the C drive. It may be several gigabytes. Windows 7 compresses the hiberfil.sys file and by default it's set to 75% of the PC's RAM.

You can remove this file by running the following command. Be sure to right click on cmd and choose the option to run command prompt in admin mode.

powercfg.exe -h off