Scanners that suddenly have stopped working (XP update glitch?)

[Angelo Campanella]

"Ian Jackson" <ianREMOVET...@g3ohx.demon.co.uk> wrote in message
news:t861+7H0...@g3ohx.demon.co.uk...
> My Epson Perfection 1260 (which I have been using for around eight years)
> has suddenly stopped working. I'm using XP Home. However, it's still OK on
> a laptop using XP Professional.
>
> I've been digging through the various forum and newsgroup archives, and it
> appears that this sort of problem has been popping up for several years
> (even with other printers and other versions of Windows).
>
> The obvious problem is the none of the TWAIN drivers are being recognised.
> I've uninstalled and reinstalled the original software, and also used the
> latest TWAIN drivers, run a registry repair, re-done the un- and re-
> installations etc, but I always get a report saying that there is no TWAIN
> driver. Yes, the computer knows the scanner is there, and it says it's
> working - but unless it can recognise the TWAIN driver, it isn't going to
> work.
>
> Fortunately, the scanner WILL work (although with far fewer options) with
> two of my little-used imaging programs - Photoshop 7 and Microsoft Paint
> (instead of my usual FastStone Image Viewer). These offer the option of
> selecting a WIA driver, and that allows the scanner to work, albeit with
> reduced functionality and fewer scanning options). [I haven't checked yet
> if I can still use the scanner's transparency/negative adaptor.]
> http://www.scanhelp.com/ScanEdu/wiascanners.html#List
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_Image_Acquisition
>
> It would seem from the various newsgroup and forum archives that this
> sudden failure of certain scanners to work may be linked to one of the
> Windows updates. There are countless helpful suggestions but,
> unfortunately, I've only found one person who positively said "I did this,
> and it fixed it". As the fix seemed to involve a lot of messing about with
> deleting Windows updates, doing a Windows repair etc, I'm extremely
> reluctant to try and mend something which isn't totally broken.
>
> I'm in two minds as whether to accept the fact that I still can use the
> scanner (although not as I used to) and get on with my life, or to pursue
> a fix, and possibly screw up my PC in the process. So, has anyone found a
> relatively simple fix for this problem, or should I just live with things
> as they are?

I think not. YOUR SYMPTOMS ARE PRECISELY WHAT I JUST ENCOUNTERED OVER
THE PAST WEEK! My HP caned 4370 suddenly - overnight with no warning -
developed the same glitch. This problem lies SQUARELY on the heads of
Microsoft XP updates. Now that you have told your part of the story, I'll
tell what little I know; likely the HP hardware reaction to the same glitch.

So last week I decided to scan a sketch for a report. The 4370 just
scanned barely an inch when it quit and the error message came up "...lost
communications...". I trouble -shot all hardware and software, reinstalling
it twice, no good. I ran the two-button self test... 100% good. I opened up
the 4370 bed box, scrutinized all hardware connections, the PC board, the
scanner head and the scanner rail. Mint condition mechanically as best as I
can determine.

I was up until 5am on two nights consulting with across the globe
800-numbers, paying $200 for a year of such (including unlimited clean-up
scans and hand-holding). Local shops (Columbus, OH) do not admit that they
do scanners.

So NOW I read YOUR article, and ALL COMES CLEAR!

I took your hint and tried Paint as a driver, and it WORKS! scanned two
pages OK. Of course Paint is primitive, and can't adjust black level
cut-off, but I could use IrfanView to do some other tailoring.

Analysis: The u-soft XP updates have been centering in virus threats and
countermeasures to such. Twain (which I do not understand) is a high-level
graphic transfer means. Recent viruses, I'm sure, use that lore and
circuitry to penetrate, so a recent u-soft update must have turned the
antivirus screws down harder on such means.

On the other hand, it just might be an update error, like Mrs O'Leary's
cow kicking over a lantern one time in Chicago.

So it is up to someone here to rattle u-soft's cage to unscrew their
anti-virus a bit or give us hoi polloi a fix or bridge to get around this
nasty glitch.

Your turn,

Ange.


--- Posted via news://freenews.netfront.net/ - Complaints to ne...@netfront.net ---

[Rob]

On 16/01/2012 4:36 PM, Angelo Campanella wrote:

> Analysis: The u-soft XP updates have been centering in virus threats and
> countermeasures to such. Twain (which I do not understand) is a high-level
> graphic transfer means. Recent viruses, I'm sure, use that lore and
> circuitry to penetrate, so a recent u-soft update must have turned the
> antivirus screws down harder on such means.
>
> On the other hand, it just might be an update error, like Mrs O'Leary's
> cow kicking over a lantern one time in Chicago.
>
> So it is up to someone here to rattle u-soft's cage to unscrew their
> anti-virus a bit or give us hoi polloi a fix or bridge to get around this
> nasty glitch.
>
> Your turn,
>
> Ange.
>

Just speaking of anti virus software I have PCtools Spyware Doctor.

And by chance after an installation found a problem and could relate
that back to PCTools.

When I work in Photoshop I am unable to save or save as files its tell
me the file is open in another application (still not sure where this is
looked every where) its not until I disable Intelliguard within
PCTools that I can save JPG files.

I do think some anti virus software too savage with no recourse
available and I have lost files in turn disabling programmes.

r

[Angelo Campanella]

"Angelo Campanella" <a.camp...@att.net> wrote in message
news:jf0d08$211g$1...@adenine.netfront.net...

> "Ian Jackson" <ianREMOVET...@g3ohx.demon.co.uk> wrote in message
> news:t861+7H0...@g3ohx.demon.co.uk...
>> My Epson Perfection 1260 (which I have been using for around eight years)
>> has suddenly stopped working. I'm using XP Home. However, it's still OK
>> on
>> a laptop using XP Professional.
>>
>> I've been digging through the various forum and newsgroup archives, and
>> it
>> appears that this sort of problem has been popping up for several years
>> (even with other printers and other versions of Windows).

STRANGE..... Now my scanner works OK???????

I agree that it's a software problem, but it's not one of design, but
apparently system-related.

>> The obvious problem is the none of the TWAIN drivers are being

>> recognized.

>> I've uninstalled and reinstalled the original software, and also used the
>> latest TWAIN drivers, run a registry repair, re-done the un- and re-
>> installations etc, but I always get a report saying that there is no
>> TWAIN
>> driver. Yes, the computer knows the scanner is there, and it says it's

>> working - but unless it can recognize the TWAIN driver, it isn't going to
>> work.

.......etc.

I now figure that since it started at a recent update, likely refarding
security, and TWAIN is complex enough to have some virus-vulnerable spots, a
recent Microsoft security update must have cause those image drivers to be
blockaded at some point. Since at least two of us have been exposed to this
problem, there must have been many more persons affected, and the compliant
of same got back to the update staff who we inspired to, or were told to,
clean it up. That cleanup may have been delivered by routine means,
invisible to us. Anyway, I got to know the innards of my scanner...

Cheers, Ange

[Ian Jackson]

In message <jfkvg6$14rh$1...@adenine.netfront.net>, Angelo Campanella
<a.camp...@att.net> writes

Thanks for the update. I'm glad your scanner has sprung back into life.
I have MS automatic updates turned off (I do it manually, when the
spirit moves me), so I'll do one, and then try the scanner again.

When I did my original Googling about the problem, the problem of
suddenly and spontaneously non-functional scanners seems to have been
happening for many years. Despite countless discussions in the various
newsgroups and forums, I think that only one thread ended with a
satisfactory fix - and that was only after some very serious editing of
the registry had been carried out.

The strange thing is that this problem must only be happening to
relatively few of those who own the models affected. As I said, last
time I tried, my scanner still worked OK on my wife's laptop (XP Pro,
with auto updates turned 'on'). If all the owners of Epson 1260s had
suddenly found that they had been turned into door-stops, I would have
thought that there would have been much more correspondence about it -
and also some information on the Epson's website. But, apparently, not
so.

Anyway, I'll do an update, try the scanner, and report back.
--
Ian

[Ian Jackson]

In message <LOXciwOK...@g3ohx.demon.co.uk>, Ian Jackson
<ianREMOVET...@g3ohx.demon.co.uk> writes

>


>
>Anyway, I'll do an update, try the scanner, and report back.

No. Still no go.

Did a Windows update. 1260 scanner just the same (no TWAIN source
available in any of my imaging programs - just basic WIA support, and
only available in Paint and Photoshop 7).

Uninstalled TWAIN driver currently installed (V5.7a I think), then
downloaded and installed V5.7F. Still no TWAIN option anywhere.

So I'm back to Square 1. The scanner has only basic the WIA functions,
and only in Paint and Photoshop 7. [BTW, I haven't yet tried the 1260's
plug-in transparency scanner - but I have no doubt that it won't work
with WIA.]
--
Ian

[Angelo Campanella]

"Ian Jackson" <ianREMOVET...@g3ohx.demon.co.uk> wrote in message

news:SYC63dAf...@g3ohx.demon.co.uk...

Update on the Update: 17 Feb'12:

My 4370 Scanjet quit again, this time showing the same symptoms
(occasional sparks of life but getting worse). It finally quit permanently.
Many, many hours on a paid help service did not resolve it. Reloaded
software countless times. I then found a place who would even look at it
(Best Buy "Geek Squad"). All I wanted was for him to attempt to run it on
his computer with loaded software. I wanted that test to eliminate my Laptop
as the trouble. That loaded, the scanner would light up, but would not
scan.

That leaves the 4370 USB circuit board as guilty, evidently a fried or
exhausted USB port Solid State device. Don't know where I could get a
replacement... someone muttered "E-Bay".

That being settled, I went to Micro Center, where I bought the 4370 back
in 2006, and bought a new one similar (can scan documents, pictures and 35mm
pos or neg). Bought a Scanjet G4010. Brought it home, was able to run it out
of the box with MSPaint. Proceeded to install software but a few seconds in
encountered a simplistic error message "Access Denied" over and over again.
Back to the paid Help. No resolution. Called Microcenter Help under
warranty. Blame and "fix" the registry. No dice. Try a few clean-ups; no
dice. White flag. They recommended that I go to HP help, special phone #.
Called HP help. They tried a few things.. This guy seemed to have a German
accent (noting "G" in the type#). He proceeded to load (copy) the install CD
elements item group by item group. That installation worked OK. This "new"
scanner seems to work slower; scanning in about three separate gulps rather
than one smooth sweep. His rationale was that it needs more RAM (I already
have 2 gigs). The document-picture handling is different, perhaps a little
more versatility; spot removal, etc. That's the end of my story (for now).

To venture a guess, the "access denied" matter is indicative of the
cause. It seems to have something to do with the authority to receive and
execute programs, either with the Mfr CD, or with the downloaded Mfr
"updated" install package. At least one rumor cited a new virus as the
cause. But any poorly beta'd software "update" can breed similar symptoms.
At one point the HP guy claimed we needed higher authority such as
administrator, but I always log in as said administrator to save time.
That's when he proceeded with manual installation which took about 15
minutes. So the software mystery persists.

Good luck to all.

Ange.

[Ian Jackson]

In message <jhmrl3$35e$1...@adenine.netfront.net>, Angelo Campanella
<a.camp...@att.net> writes
>

Noted (and mostly understood).

I haven't really bothered with my Epson 1260 problem. I've only needed
to copy a couple of documents, so I used MS Paint (or Photoshop) with
the built-in WIA.

As the 1260 is pretty old, I have wondered if I shouldn't treat myself
to a new scanner (after all, they're not exactly expensive). However, I
have also wondered if a new one will work any better than what I have.
After all, it's pretty low mileage, and there's nothing actually wrong
with it (apart from the Epson drivers not being recognised). From what
you say, I might well be very disappointed!

I'm still hoping that someone will come up and say "Ah! What your
problem is xxxx, and this is how you fix it".
--
Ian

[Angelo Campanella]

"Ian Jackson" <ianREMOVET...@g3ohx.demon.co.uk> wrote in message

news:vJfljmML...@g3ohx.demon.co.uk...

For some reason, scanners are frail within operating systems. It has
something to do with image processing. Something like Apple and Macintosh
being very early practitioners in that field, and Microsoft has never quite
caught up with them. Along the way, a lot of clunkers were produced, and
which are vulnerable to latter day viruses... or just plain underdeveloped
due to economics and reaction-designing when proaction-designing (new ideas)
is called for. Kodak is the ultimate example of this syndrome.

My latest nonsense encounter is the installation error message "access
denied"... how does THAT come about.... Anyway, this vulnerability (mischief
by the Operating System onto the scanner software) seems unwarranted in
today's world. Is it a software Dongle? Nobody seems to know (yet).

As far as your Epsom scanner, I know nothing of them. But if it ain't broke,
DON'T fix it.