scanner head won't move

  • Thread starter Thread starter Whoopsiedoop
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Whoopsiedoop

So, after upgrading (finally) from Mac OS 8.6 to 9, my Microtek Scanmaker 4800
doesn't work. Everything comes on, the driver is supposedly correct version and
loaded, and the software starts up fine -- it even seems to scan, only the
head's not moving so of course there's no image. These scanners have a lock
which is supposed to account for the situation, the grinding noise and
everything like it wants to move, but I never locked it after initially
unlocking it when I used it on my old system and it looks unlocked to me (it
says its in the unlocked position and it doesn't move back anyway).

Is it basically just broken?
 
Whoopsiedoop said:
So, after upgrading (finally) from Mac OS 8.6 to 9, my Microtek Scanmaker
4800
doesn't work. Everything comes on, the driver is supposedly correct
version and
loaded, and the software starts up fine -- it even seems to scan, only the
head's not moving so of course there's no image. These scanners have a
lock
which is supposed to account for the situation, the grinding noise and
everything like it wants to move, but I never locked it after initially
unlocking it when I used it on my old system and it looks unlocked to me
(it
says its in the unlocked position and it doesn't move back anyway).

Is it basically just broken?
Click to expand...

Try the lock again.

Does the scanner make a whirring noise when you try to scan?

My guess is a broken stepper motor drive belt.
The one that moves the carriage.

If you disassemble the scanner you should be able to see the broken belt.
After disassembling try moving the carriage with your hand and see if it
moves easily. If not lubricate the rail with a light machine oil on a rag or
paper towel. Do not squirt the oil on the rail, that is too much oil.

You can find a replacement belt at a electronic parts store. Be sure to take
the broken belt with you to the store, so they can match it.

If that is the problem, the belt should cost around $5-10.
 
CSM1 said:
Try the lock again.

Does the scanner make a whirring noise when you try to scan?
Click to expand...
When I got my Canon LIDE20 back in June, I couldn't get it to work.
The head would move about an inch, and then stop. My first thought
was that I still had it locked, but that wasn't the case. I think I
was getting some I/O errors, but I can't remember the sequence exactly.
When I finally got it going, I put it aside for some months, it clearly
was a case of the software not being right. I would not have expected
it to make some noise and move a bit unless it was all working, but
that is what happened.

I have no idea if this applies to the original poster, or indeed
to scanners in general, but I sure thought it was more serious. I
had no means of testing it with the included software, and I kept
wondering if the scanner was broken out of the box, and I wouldn't
find that out until the warranty had passed.

Michael
 
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