H
hmoulding
About three or four weeks ago my HP scanner went on the blink. Worked
like a champ until then, no glitches worth mentioning. I suddenly
started getting "Undefined program error 2117" from the TWAIN
software, or something like that.
So I tried reinstalling the software several times, without any luck.
I finally came to the conclusion that I might be dealing with some
malware. I installed a copy of PC-cillin, which did detect a trojan
of some sort. After cleaning that up, I tried to reinstall again,
with no better luck.
I made sure the scanner still works. I've been debating installing
Linux on the old PC, but luckily hadn't done anything like that so
far. Cabling up the scanner was the work of moments. The old machine
(WinME) booted without trouble and allowed me to make scans. So the
scanner hardware is working fine, as is the cabling.
A visit to HP.com later I had instructions for completely cleaning
out the HP drivers and software, which I followed carefully. (Does
anyone ever follow them carelessly? ^_^) I also downloaded HP's
latest driver installation program for the scanner.
A cleanup later I reinstalled, and found that now the software
won't install at all. After running the installation program I
restart the computer, connect the scanner, and then I get that
"Required section not found" error message. Arrgh! Even the
original CD doesn't work anymore. I use a switching hub, but
eliminating that doesn't make any difference.
I just got off the phone with HP's rep, who says that something
has gotten corrupted in the USB drivers, and I have to try to
extract the correct files from the disk to fix them.
I've already tried the obvious, which is to disconnect all USB
equipment, uninstall all USB drivers, and then reconnect the USB
stuff one at a time to get the drivers reloaded. Apparently there's
stuff that the uninstall doesn't remove, and the reinstall doesn't
replace. (HP's rep warned me of that.) Now it gets complicated,
since my system is a homebrew, and I don't know how to find which
files Windows installed when it initially set up the USB drivers.
Is there an installation log file I could look in?
I only wish the INF error message were more helpful. Which required
section is missing? It doesn't say. (I think that's why the HP rep
suspects a corrupted file.)
For what it's worth, I've run the Norton WinDoctor, which found and
removed a large number of bad keys from the registry. Shouldn't
there be a way to find missing driver linkages, or corrupt INF or
PNF or SYS files?
To make matters even more complicated, my USB jumpdrive and my USB
connected Cannon printer work fine - as long as the scanner's
software isn't installed, and the scanner is not connected.
Is OS reinstallation really the only option?
I'm running W2K SP4. I describe the hardware as homebrew, but it's
really pretty standard, just no brandname for the box, and no
"tested for Windows" sticker. Since it mostly works fine (and the
scanner in fact used to work fine, too), I can't imagine that'd be
an issue.
like a champ until then, no glitches worth mentioning. I suddenly
started getting "Undefined program error 2117" from the TWAIN
software, or something like that.
So I tried reinstalling the software several times, without any luck.
I finally came to the conclusion that I might be dealing with some
malware. I installed a copy of PC-cillin, which did detect a trojan
of some sort. After cleaning that up, I tried to reinstall again,
with no better luck.
I made sure the scanner still works. I've been debating installing
Linux on the old PC, but luckily hadn't done anything like that so
far. Cabling up the scanner was the work of moments. The old machine
(WinME) booted without trouble and allowed me to make scans. So the
scanner hardware is working fine, as is the cabling.
A visit to HP.com later I had instructions for completely cleaning
out the HP drivers and software, which I followed carefully. (Does
anyone ever follow them carelessly? ^_^) I also downloaded HP's
latest driver installation program for the scanner.
A cleanup later I reinstalled, and found that now the software
won't install at all. After running the installation program I
restart the computer, connect the scanner, and then I get that
"Required section not found" error message. Arrgh! Even the
original CD doesn't work anymore. I use a switching hub, but
eliminating that doesn't make any difference.
I just got off the phone with HP's rep, who says that something
has gotten corrupted in the USB drivers, and I have to try to
extract the correct files from the disk to fix them.
I've already tried the obvious, which is to disconnect all USB
equipment, uninstall all USB drivers, and then reconnect the USB
stuff one at a time to get the drivers reloaded. Apparently there's
stuff that the uninstall doesn't remove, and the reinstall doesn't
replace. (HP's rep warned me of that.) Now it gets complicated,
since my system is a homebrew, and I don't know how to find which
files Windows installed when it initially set up the USB drivers.
Is there an installation log file I could look in?
I only wish the INF error message were more helpful. Which required
section is missing? It doesn't say. (I think that's why the HP rep
suspects a corrupted file.)
For what it's worth, I've run the Norton WinDoctor, which found and
removed a large number of bad keys from the registry. Shouldn't
there be a way to find missing driver linkages, or corrupt INF or
PNF or SYS files?
To make matters even more complicated, my USB jumpdrive and my USB
connected Cannon printer work fine - as long as the scanner's
software isn't installed, and the scanner is not connected.
Is OS reinstallation really the only option?
I'm running W2K SP4. I describe the hardware as homebrew, but it's
really pretty standard, just no brandname for the box, and no
"tested for Windows" sticker. Since it mostly works fine (and the
scanner in fact used to work fine, too), I can't imagine that'd be
an issue.