HP SCANJET 5200C : Unable to open SCANNER

Adjusted points from 50 to 100

I can't tell from your problem description which patches you already downloaded and installed.

This one may help:

http://www.hp.com/cposupport/scanners/software/sj504en.exe.html

I can't tell from your problem description which patches you already downloaded and installed.

This one may help:

http://www.hp.com/cposupport/scanners/software/sj504en.exe.html

Open ctrl panel and check add remove program and see if you can remove the patches.
If not try deleting and reinstalling the scanner

Molson,
    Not quite golden, but definitely silver! The answer was to delete the scanner from the hardware configuration,disconnecting it from its port,then rebooting, it found new hardware after reconnecting.    
           Thanks for the help, Al

Al, I believe Sorgie gave you the same answer first, but its up to you to pick the best answer.

tskelly!
   Being new to this techno-world of computers and the internet, I seem to be full of "errors". I try not to be, purchased my computer 12/17/99, went on the internet 2 weeks ago. His answer made more sense to me. Does not mean that any of the other answers weren't right. I apoligize if I offended anyone.
                   Al

Relax TS. The key to this issue was disconnecting the scanner after uninstalling. You could have uninstalled and reinstalled the software and device till the cow comes home. The scanner cant be attached while installing the software. The same goes true to a lot of hardwarwe. tape drives commonly