Question

"Unable to communicate with TWAIN device" with non-HP scanner after installing HP scanner

Asked by: whitney178

I have been using a Canon MP730 scanner successfully on my Windows XP Pro system for some time with a variety of application software, including PaperPort 9, Adobe Photoshop and ABBYY Finereader.  After I installed an HP 5500c scanner, both Paperport and Finereader report "Unable to communicate with TWAIN device" when trying to use the Canon scanner;  Photoshop, on the other hand, still works fine with the Canon scanner.  I uninstalled the HP scanner, but this did not cure the probleml.  Uninstalling and re-installing the Canon driver and Paperport did nothing to affect the problem.  This problem is apparently not new -- for example, a message from Don Burklo at http://www.computerbanter.com/q-t_46004-PaperPort-Software.html indicates he has observed this same behaviour with other non-HP scanners after installing an HP scanner. Additionally, a writer by the name of Harry states
 "The error message "Unable to communicate with the TWAIN device" when trying
to scan with PaperPort is a known issue. In most cases it is caused by
scanning with PaperPort using an HP scanner and then trying to use another
brand of scanner. I have been unable to scan with my Brother for many
months now. The problem is a ScanSoft issue, as this only occurs with
PaperPort and OmniPage."
In my case the issue also occurs with FineReader. so it is not confined to Scansoft applications.  It appears that the HP drivers are somehow corrupting things so that at least some programs are subsequently unable to communicate with non-HP scanners.  A solution to this problem would be most appreciated.      

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Asked On
2005-02-18 at 13:23:35ID21320764
Tags

twain

,

unable

,

device

,

communicate

Topic

Computer Scanners

Participating Experts
3
Points
500
Comments
12

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Answers

 

by: nobusPosted on 2005-02-19 at 01:29:01ID: 13352642

 

by: lherrouPosted on 2005-02-19 at 16:16:18ID: 13355668

Here's some other thoughts:

I know in Photoshop when you aquire your image, you can set which twain device to use. Does your other
software allow you to select which device? If not, perhaps it's still set to the HP scanner, but trying to call the
Canon scanner - try using photoshop, preview a scan on the Canon, and then exit and scan with the other applications.
Also, go to Control Panel -> Scanner and Cameras and select the Canon scanner, click on Properties, then pick the
Utility tab. You may find a checkbox to set that scanner as the default scanner for the Canon driver. Click it and apply.
Last, how about uninstalling the Canon and re-installinging it, so that the latest TWAIN installation is the Canon scanner?

Good luck!

 

by: whitney178Posted on 2005-02-21 at 07:13:15ID: 13363326

The problem has been solved, but the source of the problem remains a mystery.  Since the HP scanner was creating so many
problems, I decided to replace it with an Epson scanner (2480 Limited Edition).  Installing the Epson scanner restored the
functionality of my Canon MP730 scanner in all applications, including Paperport and FineReader.  I haven't the faintest idea why,
 except that the Epson installation must have repaired damage caused by the HP scanner installation.  As I indicated in my
original query, I had already uninstalled and reinstalled both the Canon drivers and the affected applications to no avail.
Thanks to those who responded and gave suggestions.

 

by: nobusPosted on 2005-02-21 at 07:17:25ID: 13363373

i have seen some similar problems; it seems the HP scannere software does not like to work together with others....

 

by: lherrouPosted on 2005-02-21 at 07:17:47ID: 13363376

I'm glad you solved the problem, at least. The Epson should be a good choice, I use of of those myself. Don't forget to close
your question, here's the link to the guidelines for when you solve it yourself: http://www.experts-exchange.com/help.jsp#hi70

 

by: whitney178Posted on 2005-02-21 at 08:14:15ID: 13363950

One further comment and then I will close this question:
It does indeed appear that HP scanner drivers are (at least sometimes) bad actors and can create problems of the type detailed
in my original post.  After much hair-pulling, the "solution" I stumbled across may be useful even for those who don't switch to
Epson scanners.  It is important to note that the problem I encountered with my non-HP scanner persisted even after uninstalling
all the HP software, including the HP drivers.  With the HP software uninstalled, installing the Epson software cured the problem
and I was able to access both the Canon and Epson scanners again in the normal manner.  I don't know (and don't intend to find out)
whether the problem might also have been solved if the HP scanner software had been left in place when installing the Epson drivers.
However, this could be a useful avenue to pursue for someone with this problem who would like to retain their HP scanner.  The
Epson drivers are available on the Epson website (I have the Epson 2480 Limited Edition scanner); installing them might cure the
 problem and allow you to access both your HP and non-HP scanners, even though you don't have an Epson scanner.  If it works,
 it would be a far easier solution than re-loading the XP system, which at one time seemed like the only option available to me.

 

by: whitney178Posted on 2005-02-21 at 08:29:09ID: 13364125

Question for lherrou and nobus:  I'm new to Experts Exhange and find things a bit confusing.  I would like to split my 500 points
 between lherrou and nobus, who both had thoughtful replies.  My question is this -- will the full thread of the discussion still be
 available to everyone if I declare that the comments from the two of you were the solution to my problem?

 

by: lherrouPosted on 2005-02-21 at 08:44:43ID: 13364301

Yes. Under the current system, you will have to accept one of us as having provided the answer, but that really makes no difference
in how the points are split - we each get what you award us. And once you have done that, it becomes a Previously Answered
Question (PAQ) and is part of the searchable database of solutions. Thanks for thinking of us.

 

by: nobusPosted on 2005-02-21 at 08:49:23ID: 13364360

you'll have to select the splip points option for that

 

by: whitney178Posted on 2005-02-21 at 08:51:32ID: 13364385

Question for lherrou:  Thanks for your answer.  Can you tell me, however, whether the entire discussion thread will still be
available to everyone or, for example, only the reply from the annointed solution will be available?  

 

by: lherrouPosted on 2005-02-21 at 09:02:06ID: 13364494

The whole thread. Including this comment. :)

 

by: irishbearPosted on 2005-03-22 at 17:36:44ID: 13607698

I know the problem was solved, but not for the HP scanner. When you get this problem with HP scaners, what you have to do is power down your computer and scanner.
Unplug the scanner from the mains, unplug from the computer. leave for about a minute, then reconect the mains to the scanner, switch it on and start up your computer,
when your computer is fully loaded plugin the scanner to the computer. What this does is reset the scanner. Hope it is of some benifit to somebody.

20120131-EE-VQP-002

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