Cannot scan...!

[Mikkel Z. Herold]

Hi.

I have had an HP Scanjet 3300c scanner for a while, but ever since I
installed Windows XP it hasn't worked properly - there seems to be some
sort of conflict between the scanner software and XP.

So, today I decided to get rid of the old scanner and get a new one. I
bought a cheap one from Medion, because that's all I need.

The problem is, it will not scan when it is connected to my computer. If
I connect it to another machine it works flawlessly, so there must be
something wrong with my setup.

When I try to scan with the scanning software that came with the scanner
(ScanWizard 5), the lamp moves a little bit, bit then returns to home
position. The same happens if I use XP's scanning wizard.

I have searched the registry and found numerous references to the old
Scanjet scanner, despite having unistalled the software - could this be
the source of the problems?

Among other places, I have four references under
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control\Class\{6BDD1FC6-810F-11D0-BEC7-08002BE2092F}\
(0001, 0002, 0003 and 0004).

I am hoping someone can help me out here - I am sick and tired of not
having a workable scanner, and I really hope to avoid a total reinstall
of Windows...!

Mikkel

--
"At first just a rustle of canvas
And the gentlest breath on my face
But a galloping line of white horses
Said that soon we were in for a race"
Sting - The Wild Wild Sea

http://www.mzh.dk

 

[Don]

I have had an HP Scanjet 3300c scanner for a while, but ever since I
installed Windows XP it hasn't worked properly - there seems to be some
sort of conflict between the scanner software and XP.

There have been quite a few reports about XP being "cranky" when it
comes to scanners. XP uses a whole new way of accessing scanners,
something called WIA ("Windows Image Acquisition").

I still use W98 but occasionally my flatbed "goes funny". The
following procedure always cures it and maybe it will help you, but no
guarantees.

Go to the XP equivalent of "Control Panel/Scanners and cameras".
Whenever I have a problem it's usually because there are multiple
entries for my scanner numbered <whatever you scanner is called> and
then #1, #2., #3, etc.

Your reference to:

Among other places, I have four references under
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control\Class\{6BDD1FC6-810F-11D0-BEC7-08002BE2092F}\
(0001, 0002, 0003 and 0004).

especially the 4 trailing number lead me to believe (although I don't
know for sure) that may be the problem.

Anyway, in most cases having multiple definitions is fine, but
sometime it causes problems. Having invoked Control Panel/Scanners and
cameras I then remove all of the multiple entries.

After that I turn the scanner on, and Windows comes up with "Found new
hardware" dialog. After the driver is re-installed, everything is
fine.

As I say, I have a different OS, so no guarantees, but it may be worth
a try?

Good luck and let us know what happens!

Don.

 

[Mikkel Z. Herold]

Go to the XP equivalent of "Control Panel/Scanners and cameras".
Whenever I have a problem it's usually because there are multiple
entries for my scanner numbered <whatever you scanner is called> and
then #1, #2., #3, etc.

I only have one entry there, and that is for my new scanner.

especially the 4 trailing number lead me to believe (although I don't
know for sure) that may be the problem.

Well, that is what is puzzling me. I know how they got into the
registry, because they are a result of the many times I have had to
remove and reinstall my old Scanjet - each time it "re-found" the
scanner, it would have a new number, despite having removed the existing
scanner first.

What I don't get is why the references stay in the registry even after
all HP software has been removed and the scanner unplugged...

Good luck and let us know what happens!

Thanks for your suggestions, but they didn't solve the problem. I have
tried deleting the registry entries, but XP won't let me do that unless
I change the permissions forst, and I am a bit reluctant to do that -
usually registry keys are "protected" for a reason...

Mikkel

--
"At first just a rustle of canvas
And the gentlest breath on my face
But a galloping line of white horses
Said that soon we were in for a race"
Sting - The Wild Wild Sea

http://www.mzh.dk

 

[Don]

What I don't get is why the references stay in the registry even after
all HP software has been removed and the scanner unplugged...

Windows of all ages are notorious for leaving registry "zombies"
around. Because of that Nikon has a special program called
"regcleaner" to remove them all after the program has been
uninstalled.

If you have such a program with your HP software that may do the
trick. Otherwise, there are free utilities around to do that
automatically by scanning the registry and checking if there are any
explicit references. If not, the entry is deleted and usually saved
somewhere in case you later find you do need it after all (some
programs are sneaky like that and have implicit references).

Thanks for your suggestions, but they didn't solve the problem. I have
tried deleting the registry entries, but XP won't let me do that unless
I change the permissions forst, and I am a bit reluctant to do that -
usually registry keys are "protected" for a reason...

They are protected so you don't delete them accidentally.

Also, I remember reading that XP has an automatic utility to roll-back
changes, I believe it's called "restore". The general procedure is to
run the "backup" tool first, make your changes, and if things don't
work XP will "fix itself" by rolling back the changes.

Any XP users out there? Now would be a good time to jump in! ;o)

Seriously, though, if you are uncomfortable about making registry
changes, you really shouldn't do it.

The only other thing I can think of is contacting HP if you haven't
done so already. Even though most companies have pretty dismal
"support" this seems like something they should be able to handle.

Don.

 

[Hecate]

What I don't get is why the references stay in the registry even after
all HP software has been removed and the scanner unplugged...

Because the HP uninstaller is useless, and if you use the Windows
uninstaller, unless the manufacturer has provided an uninstall file,
it misses things. What you need to do is cycle through the registry
looking for anything put in there by HP (unless you have other HP
peripherals, when it gets rather harder) and delete them all.

Thanks for your suggestions, but they didn't solve the problem. I have
tried deleting the registry entries, but XP won't let me do that unless
I change the permissions forst, and I am a bit reluctant to do that -
usually registry keys are "protected" for a reason...

You need to be an Administrator. The keys are only protected to
prevent users deleting them when they may have been set by an
administrator. If you *don't* delete the keys you will never be able
to install the scanner correctly without reinstalling Windows.

--

Hecate - The Real One
(e-mail address removed)
Fashion: Buying things you don't need, with money
you don't have, to impress people you don't like...

 

[Hecate]

Also, I remember reading that XP has an automatic utility to roll-back
changes, I believe it's called "restore". The general procedure is to
run the "backup" tool first, make your changes, and if things don't
work XP will "fix itself" by rolling back the changes.

Any XP users out there? Now would be a good time to jump in! ;o)

System restore would only work if he'd created a restore point the
*very first time* he tried to install the driver. Which is why, of
course, you should always create a restore point before installing
*anything*.

--

Hecate - The Real One
(e-mail address removed)
Fashion: Buying things you don't need, with money
you don't have, to impress people you don't like...

 

[Frank]

System restore would only work if he'd created a restore point the
*very first time* he tried to install the driver. Which is why, of
course, you should always create a restore point before installing
*anything*.

--

Hecate - The Real One
(e-mail address removed)
Fashion: Buying things you don't need, with money
you don't have, to impress people you don't like...

Actually he can go back to any restore point made prior to loading the
drivers, i.e. a day or two before he installed them.
Frank

 

[Mikkel Z. Herold]

You need to be an Administrator. The keys are only protected to
prevent users deleting them when they may have been set by an
administrator. If you *don't* delete the keys you will never be able
to install the scanner correctly without reinstalling Windows.

Okay, I will try that, although I do have administrator privileges with
my own account.

I have also wrote to HP about the problem, but I am not very confident
that they can do anything about it...

Thanks to all for your suggestions - I will let you know if I get the
problem fixed.

Mikkel

--
"At first just a rustle of canvas
And the gentlest breath on my face
But a galloping line of white horses
Said that soon we were in for a race"
Sting - The Wild Wild Sea

http://www.mzh.dk

 

[Don]

System restore would only work if he'd created a restore point the
*very first time* he tried to install the driver. Which is why, of
course, you should always create a restore point before installing
*anything*.

Indeed!

Especially before installing Windows! Erm... ;o)

Don.

 

[Hecate]

Actually he can go back to any restore point made prior to loading the
drivers, i.e. a day or two before he installed them.
Frank

Yes, that's true, but it depends on what else has been done to the
system as well.

--

Hecate - The Real One
(e-mail address removed)
Fashion: Buying things you don't need, with money
you don't have, to impress people you don't like...

 

[Mikkel Z. Herold]

I have also wrote to HP about the problem, but I am not very confident
that they can do anything about it...

Update: Got a reply from HP. The answer was (paraphrased here, but not
much shorter originally), "You must uninstall using Windows' built-in
uninstall routine. Otherwise we cannot help".

Why did I just know this was a waste of time...!

Mikkel

--
"At first just a rustle of canvas
And the gentlest breath on my face
But a galloping line of white horses
Said that soon we were in for a race"
Sting - The Wild Wild Sea

http://www.mzh.dk

 

[Don]

Update: Got a reply from HP. The answer was (paraphrased here, but not
much shorter originally), "You must uninstall using Windows' built-in
uninstall routine. Otherwise we cannot help".

Why did I just know this was a waste of time...!

I know exactly how you feel! After locking horns with Nikon's
so-called "support" I definitely sympathize. Their massive
incompetence never ceases to amaze me... :-/

Have you tried deleting the registry entries yet? Did that make any
difference?

Another thing I used to do - way back in Win 3.1 days - was to rename
the Windows directory and then do I fresh Windows install. That way I
wouldn't lose my active installation and could easily go back to it by
just renaming the Windows folders.

That's probably an overkill for your current situation, and I don't
know if that's even possible in XP, but it's just an idea...

Don.

 

[Mikkel Z. Herold]

Thanks to all for your suggestions - I will let you know if I get the
problem fixed.

After a clean install of Win XP, my new scanner seems to be working as
it should - I'll keep my fingers crossed!

Mikkel

--
"At first just a rustle of canvas
And the gentlest breath on my face
But a galloping line of white horses
Said that soon we were in for a race"
Sting - The Wild Wild Sea

http://www.mzh.dk