ScanJet Precision Scan LT

I have a HP ScanJet 4200C flatbed scanner that was designed to work with 98 or 2000 but is supposedly compatible with the XP Pro I'm running. I have downloaded ScanJet Precision Scan LT software with an additional file sj655en to make it compatible with XP. I can unplug the usb and power cord, let the computer boot up plug the usb and power cord in and the computer will find the scanner and work perfectly. I leave it plugged up and work with other programs then go back to the scanner, and it puts a message on the screen saying it is unable to locate the scanner. I can unplug without rebooting, and you hear the tone of it being disconnected and when plugging back it will advise by tone the scanner has been reconnected but will not recognize it for working purposes. This is really more complicated than one may think, I had a computer engineer attempt the fix with no luck.

 

Is this the only scanner that has been "installed ", it is easy for similar types of drivers/software to conflict.

Something, probably another USB device, might be "stealing" the resources or overriding it. Disconnect other USB devices, reboot and see if it sticks then.

Some (older) HP devices can be hard to install, they can conflict with drivers and software of other devices. Did you look around the scanner's webpage at HP for troubleshooting information?

You might want to look for updated USB drivers for your computer/motherboard, most often they are bundled with the chipset drivers.

Think about some other (similar) device, and I might include a printer in those, especially if the scanner might have a dual connection (that is LPT, the same as an earlier printer).

If you think something went slightly wrong during the installation of the drivers/software, with HP, it always best to completely uninstall and reinstall. They will tell you how at the website.

At the HP website, where you got the downloads, click on the name of the download, it will give you information and installation instructions.

Matt

 

Thanks Matt, I've tried all these things. I once again unplugged the power and usb cords from the scanner, turned the computer off, rebooted, clicked on the ScanJet Prescion Scan LT icon on the desktop and the scanner worked perfectly, coming up time and time again. I worked doing different things on the computer for about 10 min., went back to the desk top and attempted to open the ScanJet Precision Scan LT software, and it told me it could not locate the scanner. I can unplug the scanner, reboot, plug back up, and it will work every time, if I do any (and I mean any) other application the computer loses the scanner. I had a level 3 Microsoft research engineer, (graduated from college with a computer engineering degree) that could not solve the problem in three hours while running the computer himself, this tells me it is a very difficult problem. I have several other scanners but love this one because of its simplicity and quickness, and to be honest when something does not work the way it should; I always want to know why.

 

I agree with Matt in regards to stealing resources, I used to have a very troublesome Canon Scanner that used to loose the Twain driver all the time, I did try every USB port on the PC without joy.
My fix in the end was changing the IRQ setting in the BIOS for one USB that was was sharing to many IRQ's to one with very few.
After that I had no more problems.

hawk22

 

I just clicked the icon on the desktop and the scanner software performed perfectly. This problem of the PC losing its ability to recognize the scanner randomly is what I'm having a problem with.

 

hawk22 mentioned (the) Twain drivers. They are not like "normal" drivers. You can't treat them like normal drivers. Scanners are now bundled as X-in-1 (three-in-one, four-in-one, etc) with other peripherals. Stand-alone scanners would be hard to find nowadays.

You say you have tried the suggestions, but you only talk about clicking on things. Have you uninstalled and reinstalled the software/drivers? (Not only for the scanner you are interested in, but for any previous and possibly similar hardware).

If you say "it has been tried ", we probably won't have any further suggestions. You need to FORGET what has happened in the past and restart using new avenues. If you are looking for a magic answer, sorry, I don't have one. If you are prepared to investigate yourself, I will offer any help I can.

We can't compete with what other people have tried without knowing what they have done.

You are saying we are dragging you over old ground.

Matt

 

puppypaws,

I have had a similar problem with my HP Scanjet 4850. The buttons on my scanner will stop working. The only solution I have found for that is to uninstall and reinstall the software. I have never figured out why this happens unfortunately. I've gotten to the point where it's an easy 10 minute fix. Easier then beating my head against the wall. I've just accepted the fact that it happens and there's nothing I can do. Probably not the answer you want, but just throwing my 2 cents in.

Mike

 

I've almost accept the fact myself, I went to the desktop and clicked on the scanner icon just now and it came up with the "cannot find scanner message." I can reboot the computer and it may work perfectly or I may have to go through the process of unplugging the scanner, rebooting, and plugging the scanner back up for the computer to recognize it. Then it may give no problem for a short period of time and all of a sudden revert back to the same "cannot find scanner. "

Yes, I have uninstalled and reinstalled everything associated with the scanner several times with the same results. I know there is a resolution but it appears to complicated for me and a top Microsoft engineer.

 

This is listed as a USB Composite Device and gives no power saving option like the others, got any ideas? This may possibly help by not letting the computer break connection with a scanning device it must recognize over and over.

 

That is what I did, went into the device manager, clicked US Serial Bus controllers and in the drop down found the USB port supporting the scanner.
The port is listed as a "USB Composite Device" which when clicking on properties the three tabs at the top are "General...Driver...Details," with no "Power Management" tab. The other USB port properties list, "General...Power...Driver...Details...Power Management." I honestly don't know what the difference between a USB Composite Device and a USB Root Hub is; but there is a difference in the tabs.

 

Yes, mine does have a mixture!

 

Yes, I've tried this as well, I appreciate your help, but I believe it's one of those situations I must unplug, reboot, then plug up to use the scanner. This is not terrible but I wish for my satisfaction, I could figure out the problem.