No image displayed on Microtek ScanMaker 4900 scanner

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ASKER

Thanks for quick reply!
I ran services.msc, and "Services (Local)" reports that Windows Image Acquisition (WIA) is started, and it's Startup Type is Automatic.

ASKER

I'm still unable to get an image, as described in my question above.

ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION

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ASKER

Thanks for your suggestions. I didn't know about running msinfo32 nor the info System Information would display. (Nor did I know to run services.msc as you suggested in your first response.)

Now to respond to your suggestions:

My scanner is USB. System Summary\Components\USB has this info in the right-hand window:

USB Root Hub USB\ROOT_HUB\4&182735E3&0
USB2400 Scanner #2 USB\VID_05DA&PID_30D9\5&300E70C3&0&2
VIA Rev 5 or later USB Universal Host Controller -
PCI\VEN_1106&DEV_3038&SUBSYS_12340925&REV_08\3&13C0B0C5&0&12

I don't see a scanner model listed, but PID_30D9 is listed above, so I I did a Google search for:
"PID_30D9"
I got this message: Your search - "PID_30D9" - did not match any documents.

I made quite certain that my PID spelling was exactly what I found in System Summary.
I got the same results searching for PID_30D9 - without the quotation marks.

I've been concerned because Device Manager always identifies the scanner as a Microtek USB2400 Scanner instead of a Microtek ScanMaker 4900. My registry contains a long list of Microtek scanner models, including these two:

smd9rk.icm REG_SZ Microtek USB2400 Scanner / Reflective
smd9rk.present REG_SZ Microtek ScanMaker 4900 / Reflective / Present

(The above registry entries are in HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE / SOFTWARE / Microtek / CMS SWS / Input)

Again, thanks so much for your help! I've spent hours and hours trying to this scanner working!

ASKER

Apparently Microtek embeds the driver for my scanner in some versions of ScanWizard 5. I've not found any standalone drivers for my scanner, and one drivers site (Softpedia) puts it this way, "Microtek ScanMaker ScanWizard is a driver for MIcrotek ScanMaker series scanners."

I originally installed ScanWizard 5 v5.811. It came with the scanner and is supposed to run under Windows XP. The scanner went through the motions (noise) of scanning, but when I clicked on "Preview" all that displayed was a blank (solid white) rectangle. Tif image files created looked the same.

Next I installed ScanWizard 5 (for XP, etc.) v5.83 or .93 and no image displayed.

Mictotek's website recommends ScanWizard 5 v6.20 for my scanner and OS. When I installed it, the scanner seemed to be working (made noises like it was scanning), and "Preview" displayed a totally black rectangle for an instant, then displayed a page that was light gray on a medium brownish background, but still no image appeared.

So I'm wondering if the scanner is defective. I have an extra PC on which I can install Windows 98 SE and see if the scanner will work there, with the latest version of ScanWizard, which for Windows 98 is v6.20. That PC is an Asus P5A-B without USB, so I'd need to get a USB card.

I will await your comments and/or suggestions.

If you agree that my next step is to install the scanner on another PC, I'd appreciate any suggestions on what type of USB card I need. I'm pretty sure the Asus has a PCI slot I can use. I believe my scanner is USB 2.0 and have read that 2.0 is backward compatible with USB 1.x (in case that's all I can run on the Asus).

Again, thanks for the help!

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ASKER

To and235100:

Thanks for recommending a PCI USB card for the 2nd computer. Since It will take a little time to order and receive the card, I'll turn my attention to what can be done on my current PC.

< could you first extract the files (using Winrar or Winzip) to a folder. >
I already have MTKLABA.INF in a folder that won't be deleted when ScanWizard is removed.

< Then can you uninstall the scanner (start, run, type devmgmt.msc) >
Should I unplug the scanner from power and USB before uninstalling it?

I do plan to have the scanner disconnected before removing ScanWizard. (I read somewhere to unplug the scanner from power and USB before removing or installing software like ScanWizard.)

I don't know what you mean by Start, run, type appwiz.cpl - but I can go into Control Panel's Add/Remove Programs and remove ScanWizard 5. That's the only software there now pertaining to scanning.

Then with the scanner still disconnected, do I reboot - and then turn off the computer and plug the scanner back into power and USB? That's what I'm thinking I need to do.

Then I'll turn the computer on again and manually, knowing where MTKLABA.INF is, use Device Manager to install this MTKLABA.INF manually. So are you saying that I will point Device Manager to MTKLABA.INF as the driver I want installed?

I think I'm confused about this. If I've uninstalled the scanner (and driver software except for the .inf file), Device Manager won't have the folder "Imaging Devices".. So do I go to Control Panel, Scanners and Cameras to use the .inf file? There I'm forced to click "Add device", and a wizard pops up, but perhaps I can get around it. I just can't remember the options it gives me. I could put the .inf file on a floppy disk and say "I have a disk". I'm just not sure what that file is for.

Btw, I don't mind changing this problem from 250 points to 500 if appropriate.

ASKER

To nobus:

Thanks for your suggestions.

< 1-test the scanner on another pc - it can simply be bad. (or the usb port on the pc) >
I agree. I'm using a USB mouse on the current PC, but don't know if that means the usb port for the scanner is working.

< 2-uninstall all scanner software and drivers (maybe a system restore to do it ?) >
I converted the current PC from a Windows NT system to Windows XP, so I don't have a system restore, but I'll do my best to get rid of scanner software and drivers. I know from Device Manager the names of three driver files. One is in C:]Windows\System32 (usbscan.sys). I can do a search for the other two driver files (MSMD9W.dll, MSMWUD7.dll). I'll just add an "x" to each file name (instead of deleting or moving the files). Then I can remove the "x" if necessary.

3-install the scanner properly : start the software install WITHOUT the scanner connected, and connect only when asked for
I definitely will start the software install WITHOUT the scanner connected.

1 if the mouse works the usb port should be ok.
2 ok
3 ok

btw, devmgmt.msc and appwiz.cpl are just means of starting device management and Add/remove programs from the run box

ASKER

Thanks for the info, nobus.

I've built and upgraded a few pc's, and my System Restore procedure has been to reinstall whatever needs reinstalling. I keep all my install CD's, etc., and take notes on each install so that if I have to reinstall, it will go faster and more successfully. You know the old IBM axiom, "Always leave yourself a way out," or words to that effect lol. Hopefully Microsoft would let me reinstall XP since it's legally registered, etc.

>> Hopefully Microsoft would let me reinstall XP since it's legally registered, etc. << that should at least be possible, but does BILL see it that way ?

ASKER

Well, 500 points for that, lol - as well as for your help and that of and235100.

I don't know about Bill, but he's not keeping as much of an eye on MS, sooooo
guess he wouldn't mind. After all, he got paid for my purchasing XP - not a lot,
but...

ASKER

I didn't intend to cut off so quickly the helpful communication concerning the problem of my scanner not producing any images. The comments and suggestions of the two gentlemen who responded to my question helped me move more quickly toward a solution than I was doing by myself.

Just learning that I could check to see if the Windows Image Acquisition (WIA) service was running, and running automatically, was like going in the right direction when faced with a fork in the road, nad not knowing which way to go.

They helped me in each of their responses. Although I've not found the solution yet, I have the tools and infomation, I beleive, to arrive at a solution. If other problems arise, well, I'll ask more questions.

Thanks ever so much, and235100 and nobus!

you're welcome !

@ gfisch
Okay - but I don't think that nobus contributed enough to get an assist...

He didn't really suggest anything either yourself or I hadn't already.

Perhaps you could explain how he helped you out? Because I am really struggling to see how any of his comments progressed the issues you are facing.

ASKER

dear and235100:

Feel better now? I can't tell if you're being humorous or speaking the truth as you see it.
I was clicking along giving you 150 points.. once...twice, so I gave him 150 points also.
I hate to make anyone feel slighted. He was helpful, particularly saying I might need to
do some kind of System Restore to put my XP system back in a pristine state. As much
as I've had to do that, I might not have thought of it, duh.

You're probably right, and235100. It might not have warranted 150 points. You have
put a lot of effort and at odd hours to help me get this scanner problem diagnosed. I
certainly don't want ot slight you, and perhaps I did, thinking that doubling the points
would even that out.

I apologize to you both if I didn't get it right.

No - That's fine. I hope I didn't offend you - I didn't mean to.

Unfortunately - nobus suggests "system restore" for a lot of things - and I personally have had little or no help from that particular Microsoft utility.

Thank you for clarifying the situation.