Hibernation Recon Hands-on Labs

Choose the browser simulation for coached processing and evidence reasoning, or complete the Full Lab with a supplied hibernation file in an isolated Windows VM.

Interactive Lab

Hands-on hibernation proof of concept

Identify it. Reconstruct it. Bound it.

Turn a verified hiberfil.sys into attributable reconstructed memory, retain the processing record and explain what the result can and cannot support.

⏱ Setup: 20–30 min · Exercise: 45–70 min◆ Guided beginner✓ Evidence required

Start the Full Lab

Full Lab

Isolated Windows VM · Setup: 20–30 min · Exercise: 45–70 min

Hibernation Reconstruction Full Lab

Verified training hibernation file, Hibernation Recon and controlled output storage required

Use supplied or authorised evidence

Never process a live system's only hibernation file. Use the supplied case package or an acquired working copy and keep output separate from source.

Objective

For case SUSA-HR-084, reconstruct active memory from the verified Windows hibernation file, preserve the processing context, and determine whether the output is suitable for controlled downstream analysis without overstating its completeness.

Case package

Protected and working copies of hiberfil.sys, manifest, host/image identity and acquisition notes.

Tools

Recorded Hibernation Recon package and an approved hashing utility.

Storage

Separate source, output, working and notes directories with sufficient capacity.

01

Activity 1: Establish the boundary

1. Record authority, question, source image/host identity, examiner and time zone.
2. Verify the case manifest and both protected and working-copy SHA-256 values.
3. Record original path, acquisition method, filename, byte size and file-system metadata.
4. Record the Hibernation Recon version, executable hash, licence mode and launch context.
5. Create empty output, working and notes directories on controlled storage.

Milestone 1Inputs are attributableSource, tool and destination are identified before reconstruction.

02

Activity 2: Reconstruct and verify

1. Select the verified working hiberfil.sys in Hibernation Recon.
2. Set the empty case-linked output directory and record all selected options.
3. Start processing; retain start/finish times, progress, warnings, errors and completion state.
4. Preserve HibRec.log and inventory every returned file with byte size and SHA-256.
5. Create and hash a working copy of ActiveMemory.bin; do not analyse the protected output directly.

Milestone 2Reconstruction preservedOutput remains linked to the exact input, tool, settings and log.

03

Activity 3: Analyse and report

1. Open only the verified working copy with an approved compatible analysis tool.
2. Record basic usability checks, detected platform/context and any parsing warnings.
3. Preserve one bounded observation with its source location and surrounding context.
4. Corroborate material findings with disk, event, timeline or other independent evidence.
5. Report observation, interpretation, confidence, competing explanations and limitations separately.

Milestone 3Finding is boundedThe report distinguishes recovered content from proof of execution, actor or intent.

Full Lab evidence checklist

• Core completion

  • Authority, question, source identity, examiner and time zone.
  • Original path, acquisition method, byte size, metadata and source hashes.
  • Tool version, executable hash, licence mode and settings.
  • Start/finish times, status, warnings, errors and output path.
  • Output inventory, byte sizes, SHA-256 values and retained HibRec.log.
  • Protected acquisition output and independently verified working copy.
  • Bounded observation with source context and corroboration.
  • Conclusion, confidence, alternatives and reconstruction limitations.

0 of 8 recorded Mark each saved item.Reset

Troubleshooting

Symptom	First check
File is rejected	Confirm it is the complete acquired hiberfil.sys, not a shortcut, sparse export or unrelated file.
Processing stops	Review HibRec.log, free space, permissions, tool version and supported Windows format.
Output appears unexpectedly small	Review whether the source was zeroed, resumed, partially overwritten or created by Fast Startup.
Expected hives or processes are absent	Absence may reflect hibernation type, Windows behaviour or unrecoverable pages; do not infer non-existence.
Downstream tool cannot parse output	Verify the output hash, tool compatibility and that the protected output was not modified.

Clean up

Close analysis tools and Hibernation Recon, preserve the source and protected output, remove disposable working material only when authorised, and restore the lab VM snapshot.