Scanner causes program crash

[Babylon]

Hello, i was hoping someone could offer me advice on my scanner which now seems to be causing a headache!

I recently tried to use my scanner and it made what you could call the prescanner noise (! - basically it just moves the light reader thing slightly) and then the program which i use for my scanner crashes.

I tried re-installing my scanner drive then validated all the files. It said they was a problem with a windows file which is releated to C++ somehow... (so it says in the properties dialog).

I reinstalled windows because of this and sadly the problem was not solved (and i formatted my HD partition as well).

Any ideas? I've never had problems like this before although i did have problems where the scanner light thing would not return to the usually position in the scanner

It's a flatbed scanner, Primax Colorado Direct 9600

* > And sorry i don't know the proper terms for everything *


* Previous post about Pink vertical lines on images, if anyone can help, please do so!
http://forum.pcmech.com/showthread.p...threadid=34035 *

[GaryRouth]

Hi Babylon

Do you have a printer connected to the same parallel port as the scanner? There are some issues with this scanner and bi-directional parallel printers: visit their website

http://www.primax.nl

and go to the support section for your printer. The drivers haven't been updated since April 1999, so nothing new there.

You can also try uninstalling/reinstalling the drivers. Make sure to use the Primax install procedure rather than the applet in the Win98 Control Panel . . . most of those older scanners are finicky in the details of their install procedures.

And check for resource conflicts, etc. in Device Manager and System Information (if you're not sure how to get there, post back)
___________
Re: the pink lines display problems, have you changed your DirectX or video driver lately?
...Gary

[Babylon]

Originally posted by GaryRouth Hi Babylon Do you have a printer connected to the same parallel port as the scanner? There are some issues with this scanner and bi-directional parallel printers: visit their website http://www.primax.nl and go to the support section for your printer. The drivers haven't been updated since April 1999, so nothing new there. You can also try uninstalling/reinstalling the drivers. Make sure to use the Primax install procedure rather than the applet in the Win98 Control Panel . . . most of those older scanners are finicky in the details of their install procedures. And check for resource conflicts, etc. in Device Manager and System Information (if you're not sure how to get there, post back) ___________ Re: the pink lines display problems, have you changed your DirectX or video driver lately? ...Gary

Thanks for your reply. Finally

I haven't updated my scanner driver in quite a while, and i have an HP Deskjet 967c connect through the scanner. I have tried re-installing the driver but the same problem occured.

The strangest problem is that the scanner and printer used to work fine, and the printer showed no signs of problems! Also haven't installed a new piece of software / hardware recently.

Video drivers? I don't have any idea what they are! Sorry. But i have updated the monitor driver to the most recent, and i usually have the most recent version of DirectX (v7 to be honest, but i'm planning to download v8.1).

Resource conflicts, i don't think there are any.


Update:
Just installed the latest scanner driver and the smae problem occurs Guess i'm gonne be buyin a new scanner!

[GaryRouth]

Hi again

When the printer and scanner were working, was this with Win98 or Win98SE? I'm assuming this is the same system from your other posts: so I'm guessing that after you reformatted you used a Win98 disk (and not Win98SE). It might be that the TWAIN files in Second Edition get along with your scanner drivers better. (TWAIN stands for Technology Without An Interesting Name: a clever little name for files that help your scanners and cameras communicate with your photo and publishing software).... This is a long shot, though: there really shouldn't be much functional difference.

Do visit the Primax site if you haven't already. The cable issue is a big one. This scanner has trouble with bi-directional communication enabled on the parallel cable. Check in you Bios, the parallel port should be set to EPP. Then check in your HP printer software for a bi-directional communication setting for the cable, and deselect it if possible. In the LexMarks, disabling DOS printing does the trick. They suggest modifying you HPFDJ*.ini file on their website to disable the bidirectional communication, but since it worked earlier, I'm guessing it's probably just a simple setting in your printer driver somewhere.

In your 1st post you mention "the program I use for my scanner"... Is this the scanner's driver, or a third-party program like PhotoShop? If it's a third party, try reinstalling the program.

The Primax site also mentions that the printer needs to be turned on for the scanner to work, if the printer is connected to the scanner's pass-through.

Scanners are pretty straightforward, I'd think that it's probably OK hardware-wise . . . but you could try it on another computer as a test. And you could try uninstalling the HP (using its uninstall program or from the Control Panel Add/Remove Programs) and detaching it from the cable, uninstalling your scanner drivers again, uninstalling your 3rd party software, and starting fresh with just the scanner driver & see if it works. (and check that the parallel is EPP in the BIOS, too)

Hope that will get you going again.
...Gary
___________
Regarding the video problelm: look in Control Panel/System/Device Manager ...click on the plus sign next to Display Adapters. This should tell you what you have. Click on your video adapter's name (to highlight it and select it) and then click on Properties. You'll see three tabs: the middle one is Driver. Click to see what driver it's using. For more info, click Driver File Details. If you search at the video manufacturer's site for a more recent driver, you can update to a newer driver. Post back here for more instructions if you need to. Most video driver updates require that you switch to Standard VGA first, uninstall the older drivers, and then install the new ones.
. . .

[Babylon]

Originally posted by GaryRouth Hi again When the printer and scanner were working, was this with Win98 or Win98SE? I'm assuming this is the same system from your other posts: so I'm guessing that after you reformatted you used a Win98 disk (and not Win98SE). It might be that the TWAIN files in Second Edition get along with your scanner drivers better. (TWAIN stands for Technology Without An Interesting Name: a clever little name for files that help your scanners and cameras communicate with your photo and publishing software).... This is a long shot, though: there really shouldn't be much functional difference.

It was with Win98 and that's also what i installed after the format. But it's a valid point, and worth checking.

Do visit the Primax site if you haven't already. The cable issue is a big one. This scanner has trouble with bi-directional communication enabled on the parallel cable. Check in you Bios, the parallel port should be set to EPP. Then check in your HP printer software for a bi-directional communication setting for the cable, and deselect it if possible. In the LexMarks, disabling DOS printing does the trick. They suggest modifying you HPFDJ*.ini file on their website to disable the bidirectional communication, but since it worked earlier, I'm guessing it's probably just a simple setting in your printer driver somewhere.

Yeah, i have visited, and got the latest drivers but it sadly didn't solve the problem

In your 1st post you mention "the program I use for my scanner"... Is this the scanner's driver, or a third-party program like PhotoShop? If it's a third party, try reinstalling the program.

(I wish i had PhotoShop! But no...) I use both Phaint Shop Pro 7 and MGI and neither have caused a problem with the scanner (both were re-installed after i formatted my HD partitions.

The Primax site also mentions that the printer needs to be turned on for the scanner to work, if the printer is connected to the scanner's pass-through.

Turns out my printer was turned off! But that didn't solve the problem... I also tried re-moving the cable for the printer completely but that also didn't help.

Scanners are pretty straightforward, I'd think that it's probably OK hardware-wise . . . but you could try it on another computer as a test.

Sadly, i don't think i can easily get access to another PC, but the one i'm using never presented a problem (although it'll be pusing up the daisys soon! It's almost 3 years old, and certainly a long time outta date).

From the way the scanner is acting when i try to scan something i'm really starting to believe that something in the scanners blown, but i'm not sure what it could be. At least scanners are pretty cheap these days

And you could try uninstalling the HP (using its uninstall program or from the Control Panel Add/Remove Programs) and detaching it from the cable, uninstalling your scanner drivers again, uninstalling your 3rd party software, and starting fresh with just the scanner driver & see if it works. (and check that the parallel is EPP in the BIOS, too)

Checked the Bios and it was OK, but i'm wondering if someone could help with yet a futher problem. When i go into the BIOS, Press ->, to get to the advanced settings and then select CMOS with return, the BIOS crashes. Weird or what! Any help?

Hope that will get you going again. ...Gary

Have to say thanks for all your help so far, but it seems that the scanner has just broken! And it has shown one or two bad signs but i never really took much notice. One of them was that the light censor part would scan as usual then move back to the... beginning of the scanner i suppose. That was fine, but more recently it would stop about 1/3rd of the way before the beginning, which isn't usual... Hope you understand that !

I was never one for good explainations.

__________ Regarding the video problelm: look in Control Panel/System/Device Manager ...click on the plus sign next to Display Adapters. This should tell you what you have. Click on your video adapter's name (to highlight it and select it) and then click on Properties. You'll see three tabs: the middle one is Driver. Click to see what driver it's using. For more info, click Driver File Details. If you search at the video manufacturer's site for a more recent driver, you can update to a newer driver. Post back here for more instructions if you need to. Most video driver updates require that you switch to Standard VGA first, uninstall the older drivers, and then install the new ones. . . .

Ok, i'm definatly using the latest Video Driver which is 7-8-2000 made by SiS, for v530. And i've managed 1/2 the battle. When the pink lines on images problem begins it affects all browser windows, but by unchecking HTTP1.1 settings in IE advanced tab, if the problem starts it's only in the one browser window. But i'm unconvinced that HTTP1.1 is the problem (lets face it, everyone uses it and don't have a problem) and it doesn't completely cure the problem anyway. It's like a cheap fix!

Have you ever seen a problem like the snapshot i uploaded?

Thanks again!

[GaryRouth]

Hi again

Even if you decide to get another scanner, you might want to keep your old one around, in case you get the opportunity to try it on another computer (to see if it's a complete goner or not) . . .

Did you find any way to disable bidirectional communication to the HP? (and does the printer work?)

___
Video: hmmmm...have you tried IE6? And for general system updating, you probably should visit Windows Update for all the
latest bug and security patches...there have been many since the original Windows 98 release. ...and do you have anti-virus software to run a complete scan of your system with? ...and one last thing, since it's an online problem, you can download AdAware and check for spyware that might be driving your browser crazy.

I wish I had an easy fix for you, but this is an interesting puzzle you've got, one I haven't seem previously. Maybe if we keep looking around, we'll get lucky

. . . Gary

(p.s....when I tried to view the snapshots, they were blanks....no pictures....)

[Babylon]

Originally posted by GaryRouth Hi again Even if you decide to get another scanner, you might want to keep your old one around, in case you get the opportunity to try it on another computer (to see if it's a complete goner or not) . . . Did you find any way to disable bidirectional communication to the HP? (and does the printer work?)

Hey again, i#d like to say first that i really appreciate all the help I guess i'm not as good with computers as i'd hoped!

Printer works 100% ok, HP are great that way!
I'll keep the scanner if i get a new one... because like you said, it would be worth to check it on another computer.

I didn't find any good way to disable bi-directional port communications but something i've forgotten to mention (damn, always something!) is that i have re-installed my computer / windows 7 times before without a hickup. Damn windows!

But i'll see what else i can do for the scanner before i decide for a new one.

Any thoughts on the BIOS crashes i have when i go to the CMOS settings? I find that one very strange, but it's not entirely important. I never use the CMOS settings, but i think that this is also worrying behavior if the BIOS crashes!

___ Video: hmmmm...have you tried IE6? And for general system updating, you probably should visit Windows Update for all the latest bug and security patches...there have been many since the original Windows 98 release. ...and do you have anti-virus software to run a complete scan of your system with? ...and one last thing, since it's an online problem, you can download AdAware and check for spyware that might be driving your browser crazy. I wish I had an easy fix for you, but this is an interesting puzzle you've got, one I haven't seem previously. Maybe if we keep looking around, we'll get lucky . . . Gary (p.s....when I tried to view the snapshots, they were blanks....no pictures....)

I'm using the lastest version of IE downloaded from the Microsoft IE pages. I do a bit of work as a web designer so am always up to date with my browser!

AntiVirus? Definatly! And a firewall. Norton Anti-Virus 2002, Norton Personal Firewall. Just as well because that's the 4th trojan attack this week. And i'm pretty sure i don't have any spyware on my computer. I'm very careful with what i install (and i have just re-formatted after all).

The screenshots were blank, well that's pretty weird but i saved the file again an attached it. I sure hope i can get this problem sorted! And it don't understand what HTTP1.1 has to do with all this but it made things a little better! Noe 100% but it's something at least

Thanks again for all your help!
~Babylon

[Babylon]

Attachment

[GaryRouth]

Babylon

I'm going to have to check back later: in the meantime I'll look around a bit for some answers (and ask some folks who know more than I do) . . . the Bios crash thing is something I've never heard of before

. . . Gary

[Babylon]

My computers full of surprises

[GaryRouth]

Okay, I finally have time to post a reply
(been busy with my kids' school projects!...)

The thing that worries me the most about your computer is the Bios issue. A scanner can break, and displays in Internet Explorer can have all sorts of strange, but usually fixable, problems....but if the Bios has a problem: that can effect everthing.

Have you been inside the box lately? Do you know what make and model of motherboard you have? With BIOS issues, I usually worry about 1) correct settings 2) an old bios that needs an update, and 3) a dying bios/cmos battery. Items 1 and 3 are easily and quickly fixable, but number 2 needs fairly careful attention. Bios updates should only be done if you've read all the necessary instructions and feel certain that it's something you're comfortable trying.

To start with the easiest: just for troubleshooting, you can write down what current bios settings you can, and then try "Load Default Settings" (this might not be the fastest settings, but would let us know if it's just a setting issue)

A battery keeps your Bios/cmos settings while your computer is powered off. If it doesn't have enough juice to save them, all kinds of odd behavior can start showing up (and your PC has been a little interesting lately) ...a new CMOS battery usually only costs about a dollar and fifty cents: make sure to match the one you already have.

Bios updates fix all kinds of crazy things, each motherboard model always seems to have a few things to fix or update. This needs to be done very carefully. You need to know exactly the make/model/version number of your motherboard & the make/version of your Bios. If you post the make/model of your motherboard, I'll check the manufacturer's site for bios updates for you, if you'd like.

It's possible the video/scanner issues are side-effects of some underlying problem with the motherboard/bios.

_____
Another thing that can cause all sorts of unpredictable behavior are bad ram modules (main memory that's malfunctioning).

If you have (or can download) a copy of SysSoft Sandra (the "lite" version is a free download: it is a "system analyser") . . . you can run some extended tests on various parts of your computer, including the memory.

... sorry that this is sort of a scattershot approach, it's what I do when I'm staring at the jigsaw puzzle and haven't found an answer for hours.....

I'll keep checking back
. . . Gary

[Babylon]

Well, i installed 256ram recently, but i remember the problem being their before...

I'm gonna try the things you suggested but just to let you know i think i'm gonna take the easy way out: if the above doesn't work i'm not gonna try more to fix it.

My computer it badly outta date, and a new one is definatly on the cards before the end of this year. It only runs at 250mhz, with a 3gb hard drive

But thanks for all your help with the above problems (and this one) and it's helped me learn a lot more about my computer.

Thanks again