Paper Port Turned to Junk Overnight

I received Paper Port 7 with a scanner. Besides using it with the scanner, I found the included Page View editing program useful and efficient for upgrading image files. I used it mostly to improve JPG files from (CF) camera sticks. The problem:  It was not my imagination that the program would directly edit and save file types other than in its own ".MAX" format. At some point after nothing more than reconnecting the scanner after moving the PC, it started to disable all the editing functions for other file types. The switches are active while the file loads from Paper Port to Page View, and it is even possible to use them if accessed quickly enough, but disable after loading with every file type but .MAX. I tried the usual things like reinstalling, removing for clean installation, System Restore, and all the utility settings that are in the program. I even tried a file and registry search for .MAX extensions in things like .INI files. I read about and experienced first-hand the abysmal service to be had from ScanSoft, such as expecting me to give a bank card number just to connect with them on the phone or even ask a question in E-Mail. I am also afraid the answer will be "It is supposed to work that way." Particularly for sets of photograph adjustments to select from, I really want this program to work but having to convert back and forth between JPG and MAX file types just to edit is intolerable and was unnecessary until now. I suspect someone else must have hit this snag and knows what to do with it, or at least can suggest a replacement with similar functionality.
I am running WinME with all critical updates on a 1.7 GHz P4 with 500 MB of RAM. The scanner is a [cheap but good] Visioneer 8600.