Process and review a hibernation file¶
Prepare the input¶
Record the disk image or acquisition identifier and original hiberfil.sys path.
Verify its SHA-256 against the protected acquisition copy before processing.
Create an empty case-linked directory on separate storage with adequate capacity.
Do not process the only copy. Preserve filename, byte size, file-system
metadata, source volume context and acquisition method. If the source is
BitLocker-protected, record how it was unlocked and how hiberfil.sys was
exported because the resulting bytes may differ between acquisition methods.
Process with the graphical interface¶
- Select Process hiberfil.sys.
- Choose the verified case-linked working copy, not a similarly named file from Downloads.
- Select the empty controlled output directory.
- Confirm the authorised licence mode and processing choices.
- Start processing and retain completion status, warnings, inaccessible regions, start/finish times and output filenames.
For a recorded CLI workflow, the vendor documents the basic form:
Run the executable with no switches to review the options supported by the installed version. Do not invent switches from an older release.
Review the returned evidence¶
| Output | Review purpose | Important limit |
|---|---|---|
ActiveMemory.bin |
Reconstructed active memory for a compatible analysis tool | Reconstructed, time-bounded memory is not a complete activity history |
HibRec.log |
Tool version, source, processing path, status, warnings and errors | A success message does not prove every page was recoverable |
Indx_I30_Entries.csv |
Recovered NTFS indexed-folder entries where produced | A recovered entry requires source and timestamp-context review |
Indx_ObjIdO_Entries.csv |
Recovered linked-file/Object ID index data where produced | Presence does not by itself prove a user action or intent |
After processing, calculate SHA-256 for the protected output and a separate working copy. Analyse only the verified working copy and preserve the log beside the acquisition record.