Scanner problems

[mejohnjr]

My friend is having scanner problems, this is what he e-mailed me;
when I go to easy photo a window comes up saying: comm.
prob...............comm. prob. with storm total scan. please make sure
paralell port is set to epp or bi-directional in your systems bios.
warning: ref. to your computer documentation when making this change.
O K [next window] easy photo has prob. comm.
with scanner. re-start windows and try again. if you still have problems
re-install software for the scanner.
He is using a laptop and the scanners make is StormTech and is out of business. Any ideas?

[bailey]

ok, what I think it's trying to say is this.
make sure that the printer port (lp1) is set to be bi-directional in the bios setup, then reboot the system, and if necessary reload the software, the printer port must be set in this mode for the scanner to communicate with the software.

[mejohnjr]

The problem ended up being a bad AC wall adapter. Storm Technologies has gone out of business and Radio Shack can't match up the plug size. The adapter is a DVE. Model: DSA-0151-12; Input:100-240V~ 0.40Amax. 47Hz-63Hz Output: 12V---1.25A....Is there a site I can go to find this?

[bailey]

what I would do is get any 12v 1.25 amp supply and change the plug to match what the socket is on the back of the scanner. just be sure to match the correct polerity of the plug, it should be marked on the case of your old supply, normal is to have the positive lead on the center connector and the negitive lead on the outside connector, but there have been some cases where it is the reverse. so look and be sure.

[Jenni]

A place I like to visit a lot, American Science and Surplus, has the following:ADAPTER 12 VDC/1.2AMP 5mm Female $9.50/EACH Here's the link: http://www.sciplus.com/category.cfm?subsection=13&sction=5&category=137
You could cut the plug off if the one you have isn't 5mm female.
BTW, some scanners just don't play nice with laptops. Hope yours does.

[mejohnjr]

The polarity is as you suggested; + is inside. How would you know what wire goes to it? One wire has a ridge on the outside, would that be positive?