Using old hardware with new system

  • Thread starter Thread starter Cottonmouth
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Cottonmouth

Does anyone know if it's possible to use an old 16 bit scanner with XP?
This scanner had it's own serial card but I'm wondering if I could get a
DB25 serial plug to USB adapter and still use the scanner. It works fine
and I hate to just throw it away.

Sorry if this is the wrong newsgroup for this question, but I had to start
somewhere.
 
Cottonmouth said:
Does anyone know if it's possible to use an old 16 bit scanner with XP?
This scanner had it's own serial card but I'm wondering if I could get a
DB25 serial plug to USB adapter and still use the scanner. It works fine
and I hate to just throw it away.

Sorry if this is the wrong newsgroup for this question, but I had to start
somewhere.
Click to expand...


I have never seen a serial scanner, (are you sure it's not SCSI?)
and I doubt if it would be supported by XP.

However that's sort of a moot point
as your adaptor card is probably ISA
and it is not likely a new machine would even have an ISA slot.

The purchase of an adaptor, should one exist...
would probably cost close to the price of a whole new scanner anyway.
 
I have never seen a serial scanner, (are you sure it's not SCSI?)
and I doubt if it would be supported by XP.
Click to expand...

It's an old ScanTak 3c. The card is indeed ISA and it connects with a
DB25 serial connector. And no this machine doesn't have ISA slots.

The purchase of an adaptor, should one exist...
would probably cost close to the price of a whole new scanner anyway.
Click to expand...

This is probably true since scanners are really cheap these days.
I guess I just have a little of the packrat gene and hate to throw away
working hardware. :D

Thanks for your input.
 
Cottonmouth said:
It's an old ScanTak 3c. The card is indeed ISA and it connects with a
DB25 serial connector. And no this machine doesn't have ISA slots.



This is probably true since scanners are really cheap these days.
I guess I just have a little of the packrat gene and hate to throw away
working hardware. :D

Thanks for your input.
Click to expand...


Just thought of something though.
The mobo may very well already have a serial port...
even if the headers are not brought out to a connector...they might be
there.
So you might want to check into it.

But a new scanner won't cost much
and fairly new ones pop up all the time in second had stores etc.
 
Cottonmouth said:
Does anyone know if it's possible to use an old 16 bit scanner with XP?
This scanner had it's own serial card but I'm wondering if I could get a
DB25 serial plug to USB adapter and still use the scanner. It works fine
and I hate to just throw it away.

Sorry if this is the wrong newsgroup for this question, but I had to start
somewhere.
Click to expand...

You could use such adapter cable:
http://www.cablestogo.com/product.asp?cat_id=1529&sku=22429

But, I doubt if the scanner software could locate the scanner. And, I doubt
if such specific scanner software is available for XP.

I use a USB/SCSI Microtek full size bed scanner myself. That since they
stopped making the A6s.
 
You could use such adapter cable:
http://www.cablestogo.com/product.asp?cat_id=1529&sku=22429

But, I doubt if the scanner software could locate the scanner. And, I
doubt if such specific scanner software is available for XP.

I use a USB/SCSI Microtek full size bed scanner myself. That since
they stopped making the A6s.
Click to expand...

I've long ago lost the software for this scanner. I've been using it
thru PaintShopPro7 and it uses the Twain driver. But hey, according to
the ad, I'd be money ahead to just buy a new flatbed. $38 bucks for a
cable! Whew! :D
 
I've long ago lost the software for this scanner. I've been using it
thru PaintShopPro7 and it uses the Twain driver. But hey, according to
the ad, I'd be money ahead to just buy a new flatbed. $38 bucks for a
cable! Whew! :D
Click to expand...


A follow-up to my follow-up. After checking prices of flatbed scanners,
I might just try that suggestion from Lil' Dave.
I do not want or need one of the 'do everything'
scanner,copier,fax,print,clean house,do dishes, etc machines. I already
have a decent HP printer,TYVM.
I checked a couple of box stores online and they didn't even stock the
flatbeds in-store.
It would seem, considering the hassle + expense of getting a new scanner,
I could just drop by my neighborhood RatShack and and get the converter
cable. I could always take it back if I couldn't get it to work.(I think)
;D
 
Cottonmouth said:
A follow-up to my follow-up. After checking prices of flatbed scanners,
I might just try that suggestion from Lil' Dave.
I do not want or need one of the 'do everything'
scanner,copier,fax,print,clean house,do dishes, etc machines. I already
have a decent HP printer,TYVM.
I checked a couple of box stores online and they didn't even stock the
flatbeds in-store.
It would seem, considering the hassle + expense of getting a new scanner,
I could just drop by my neighborhood RatShack and and get the converter
cable. I could always take it back if I couldn't get it to work.(I think)
;D
Click to expand...



The adaptor may not necessarily give you the proper emulation.
Additionally, did you check the mfg's website XP drivers?
If you don't have the drivers it's not going to work anyway...so
why go through all the bother?
For another ten dollars or so you can just get a whole new scanner.

I just checked prices and they start at $50

you do not need one of those expensive ones with way more features than you
will even need.
 
The adaptor may not necessarily give you the proper emulation.
Additionally, did you check the mfg's website XP drivers?
If you don't have the drivers it's not going to work anyway...so
why go through all the bother?
For another ten dollars or so you can just get a whole new scanner.

I just checked prices and they start at $50

you do not need one of those expensive ones with way more features
than you will even need.
Click to expand...

I've been doing some reading since posting last, and it looks like a new
scanner is the way to go.
Messing round with adapters and such is a good way to fry something.
 
Cottonmouth said:
I've been doing some reading since posting last, and it looks like a new
scanner is the way to go.
Messing round with adapters and such is a good way to fry something.
Click to expand...


I don't know if you'd burn anything out...
but it's not really worth the risk.
I honestly don't think a scanner that old will work with XP.

Believe me, I do not like to waste things
and will do anything to keep old hardware going...
but one just has to draw the line somewhere.


Besides...I am sure the lamp in your old scanner is about to burn out anyway
<G>
 
Believe me, I do not like to waste things
and will do anything to keep old hardware going...
but one just has to draw the line somewhere.


Besides...I am sure the lamp in your old scanner is about to burn out
anyway <G>
Click to expand...

I don't even remember what year I bought this thing, but it's well over 10
years old. It probably deserves a decent burial. :D

Thanks to everyone who checked in on this. It's always good to know where
to come for good help. :D
 
Cottonmouth said:
A follow-up to my follow-up. After checking prices of flatbed scanners,
I might just try that suggestion from Lil' Dave.
I do not want or need one of the 'do everything'
scanner,copier,fax,print,clean house,do dishes, etc machines. I already
have a decent HP printer,TYVM.
I checked a couple of box stores online and they didn't even stock the
flatbeds in-store.
It would seem, considering the hassle + expense of getting a new scanner,
I could just drop by my neighborhood RatShack and and get the converter
cable. I could always take it back if I couldn't get it to work.(I think)
;D
Click to expand...

Get one that fits your needs. Mine is more inline with needs for a small
business. I use the scsi port for exclusive bus handling of the data that's
unlikely to get corrupted if windows is busy with something else at the
time. Its not inexpensive either. Scanmaker X12 USL by Microtek.

For a time, I stopped using a dedicated scanner. Got an HP all-in-one.
Needed legal sized copier and got the Microtek. Later, the scanner/copier
portion of the HP broke, printer still works fine.
 
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