USB Question

[ts8586]

My boss has an old scanner (that sat brand new in the box since the Windows 98 era), and decided to hook it up to his brand new PC. It came with a USB cable, and he downloaded the XP driver for it since it came with only a 98 driver.

After installing it, his PC does not recognize the scanner. It doesn't show as anything being hooked up at all.

Is this a USB version problem (can a PC only recognize 2.0 devices)? Not sure if this would be a hardware or software issue.

 

[vacunita]

did the driver have an installation? did he run the install prior to plugging in the Scanner? did he restart the machine after installing the driver?

As for usb2.0 devices, USB is supposed to be backwards compatible. should not be a problem plugging old USB into new 2.0 USB.

The cable may be bad. have you tried with another USB cable? I can a test they are bad right out of the box. I bought a new scanner, and my PC would just not pick it up, until i swapped the cable with a new Belkin one, and then it worked perfectly.





----------------------------------
Ignorance is not necessarily Bliss, case in point:
Unknown has caused an Unknown Error on Unknown and must be shutdown to prevent damage to Unknown.

 

[ts8586]

I believe he ran setup. As a matter of fact, the software asked if he still wanted to run it even though a scanner was not attached (and it was). I don't know if he rebooted, but I'll ask. I will also suggest another cable. Thanks for the quick response.

 

[BadBigBen]

There is also a chance that the USB ports are turned OFF in the BIOS, two of my mobo's allow selective USB ports to be enabled or disabled (mainly the front panel connectors)...

that should be checked as well...

Ben

"If it works don't fix it! If it doesn't use a sledgehammer..."

 

[PRPhx]

Ah, wonderful USB problems. It COULD be a USB driver problem (as per HP/Compaq's suggestion).

I bought a friend a usb Web Cam for Christmas. Installed the driver, as per the instructions. Can not get it to work for anything. Installed it on another pc, it works flawlwssly. The pc not working is a Compaq Persario SR1525 (I believe) with Windows XP Home, SP2 and all the updates installed.

Odd thing is, a Canon USB printer works just fine. I've even add a powered USB port with external power thinking that may be a problem. USB ports are 2.0.

HP web chat tech had me down load and install the latest ATI drivers, thinking this would work. Not even close. Very frustrating.

 

[ts8586]

I feel your pain, PRPhx. Hopefully it's just a bum cable.

 

[xwb]

Sometimes the installation is in a specific order. You need to read the installation instructions. Some say do not connect while running setup, only connect after running setup. Others say connect connect before running setup. I don't know what the difference is but it made a difference to some of the devices I was using.

 

[paparazi]

Indeed... typically you would leave the scanner disconnected whilst installing the software, at some point during the install it tells you to connect and turn on the device (it then finds and configures the device)
Also scanner software tends to come in two parts, the utility and the actual driver, are both installed?
My advice would be to uninstall everything and start again but install/connect in the correct order.
Martin

We like members to GIVE and not just TAKE.
Participate and help others.

 

[Sympology]

I had an old cannon scanner and it seemed like it wasn't there.

However, open a resonable paint package and see if it is under Twain. usually something like

File > Import > Twain devices > Scanner name.

Only the truly stupid believe they know everything.
Stu.. 2004

 

[xwb]

Most scanners have 3 buttons: copy, print and email. What happens when you press the copy button? Does it bring up an application that asks you where you wish to save the image?

 

[ts8586]

Thanks for all the helpful advice, everyone. The steps were followed in the suggested order. He's going to try a new cable.

Stu and xwb, I'll have him try your suggestions.

 

[PRPhx]

ts8586,
Thanks, but no, it's not the cable. I'm thinking it's something to do with the web cam and XP Home, SP2. I've tried the cam on two different pc's, both running XP Pro SP2, both without any problems. And this particular pc has a USB based printer hooked to it. I plugged the cam into the same USB port as the printer, but it's a no go.

And yes, I followed the instructions excatly. Oh well, may take it back and try one more.