Advantage of re-installing Operating System without formatting the hard disk drive

What I experience a few days ago is related to corrupted windows operating system (OS) using windows 7 which cannot be restored or repaired normally. The problem occurred when the desktop was accidentally drop by a child which affected the hard drive. After a few try to repair itself (advantage of latest windows platform), or somehow tried to perform a restoration to an early stage to no avail, I decided to re-install windows 7 and solved the problem. 

What about the files? Most of us surely want to retrieve or recover those files as much as possible. There are two options in the installation process which are using Upgrade or Custom. Upgrade means replacing your current version with the latest one keeping your files and system intact. Meaning, you don't have to worry about you important files. While Custom means, according to Microsoft, replaces you current version with the latest one but not preserve you files and system which is considered a new installation. But, I found out that using custom installation using the same system drive and not formatting it will allow you to recover your files but not the programs.

During the re-installation it will prompts you that old files and folders will be placed in the Windows.old folder so you can copy it later (within in a short period) to another folder before they will automatically deleted. You can find the Windows.old folder below the Windows folder newly created in system drive - C drive. Then you can delete the Windows.old folder too. How long will it work is under observation since I found about 9 bad sectors in the drive which may cause the drive to fail.

Formatting the drive is only needed when we wanted to have a clean installation, meaning erasing all sorts of unnecessary files including some virus or malwares that causing the computer to slow down. If those files are not really important you can format the drive instantly. Otherwise, you need to re-install the OS without formatting the drive and recovers those files you needed. 

How to deal with Shortcuts files on USBs cause by a virus

USB or flash drives are most often infected by this type of files. Users are not aware that is type of files appears normally on their personal computer that is not virus protected. Or, virus protection is not updated that's why when clicked, it will infect your very own desktop not knowing that it is cause by a virus.

Every time a customer brings in their USBs for printing documents I always noticed this kind of shortcuts files created by a virus. I'm sometimes annoyed because some (customer/user) don't really know about this or know how to unhide their files so it can be easily accessed. So I had to use command prompt and show hidden over and over again just to print the files they wanted.

In order to print the files, we must show hidden files or folders and delete those files shown as shortcuts. So, I copied the syntax attrib -h -r -s /s /d g:\*.* and paste it onto a notepad. First, type drive letter of the removable device and hit enter. Then, paste the syntax and press enter. Just change the drive letter in the syntax with the one you're trying to access. From attrib -h -r -s /s /d g:\*.* to attrib -h -r -s /s /d d:\*.*.

Whenever I encountered those shortcuts files, I just copy and paste the syntax in the command prompt for unhiding files and folders which look like this.

Then afterward, the original files will appear on the flash drive. Deleting all the shortcut files are safe and necessary to avoid confusion and avoid clicking it. However, a complete virus removal is needed in our personal computer to avoid hassle. In Windows XP, you can install free anti-virus or try combofix. In Windows 7 or 8, Windows Defender is available already and will do the job by removing malware or quarantine viruses found in removable device. You will be notified when a virus or malwares are detected. You only need to either change the setting to auto or manual removal of malwares or virus.

So the next time we see a shortcut files be cautious and don't click it unless you're the one who created it.

Canon MP287 Alarm Lights Steady But No Power

I have 2 units of Canon MP287  3 in 1 printer. The old one continually flashing error E05 as both ink cartridges are not recognize because of a damage on the flat cable ribbon connecting the ink cart and logic board.

The new one I bought few months ago reached its printing limit meaning "Ink Absorber is Full" flashing an error code P08. So I need to reset the printer.

Unfortunately, I can't reset the printer though I properly followed the correct procedure of resetting the unit. Then after so many attempt, another error appears which is P07 which refers to ink cartridges not properly place. But no matter how hard I tried to re-seat the cartridges the problem still there. And when I tried to reset the unit again the alarm light steadily appear and there's no light on POWER button.

I suspect that there is a serious problem inside the printer and search for additional information regarding the error. I've been dealing with this matter over a week now but afraid of removing the logic board since I'm not sure about it. I was able to find a concrete idea behind this error through some forums and a video uploaded on YouTube. Some said the problem lies with what they called "logic board". 

So I thought of replacing the logic board with the one from the old unit of the same model thinking of this as the main problem. After a few hours, I did replace the logic board and did able to bring it back to a normal operation by resetting the unit first. Well, there's no harm in trying unless we're not sure how to do it.