Scanner installation problem

[GrandpaCarl]

I am having difficulty in re-installing my Microtek Scanmate 4800 USB scanner.

Scanner was previously installed and worked with no problems for some times. I was doing a clean reinstallation of the system, starting from scratch.

Reinstalled Win98SE, many basic programs, including Office 97, IE6 SP1, Juno, Network support, printer (including the scanner support for the scanner in the HPLJ1100A), Intel webcam, etc.

Went to install the scanner, and all went smoothly, using the supplied installation disk. There were no errors during the installation.

USB Monitor programs showed presence of the scanner, it showed up in the Device Manager as an imaging device.

An icon in the system clock appeared at bootup saying the scanner was not ready.

Attempting to execute Scan Wizard 5, I get the message "Can't find scanner." A window appeared offering to search for scanners. This finds no scanners, although when things were working, I remember that it would find the HP scanner, etc. Now, nothing shows up.

Using a graphics program, such as Adobe Photoshop, Irfanview, and others, I can select the Twain device to be used. The Microtek 4800 scanner shows, along with the webcam, the HP scanner on the printer, and a camera support program. I can select any of these as my Twain device without any fuss. If I choose the webcam, or the HP 1100A scanner, and can scan as desired. If I choose the Microtek 4800, I get an immediate error message that it can't find the scanner.

I can install the same scanner on another system and it works perfectly, so that tells me the scanner is O.K.

I have tried connecting to the USB-1 via a hub and direct, and I have connected it to my Adaptec AUA-5100 USB-2.0 with no difference, and I have tried installing and using the scanner with it being the only USB device. No difference.

Installation has been with somputer in safe mode, and even with other running programs in the Safe mode, stopped.

I have gone to the Microtek web site and downloaded Acan Wizard 5.93 early in the game, but always experience the same results.

I temporarily removed all programs, so virus scan programs, and normal programs never load. It doesn't make a difference.

I could understand that some motherboards might have a problem, but this is the same motherboard that worked before! All programs are the same ones that were present before, and did not interfere.

Allother USB devices work just fine, including the Webcam USB.

I stripped the registry of any reference to Microtek or Scan Wizard before installations. I have reinstalled the drivers at least 20 times with all possible configurations I could think of. With 52 years of experience working with the design, programming, and use of computers, it is unusual that I can't a problem right off. This time, I admit I am stumped. There must be something I am missing.

I have tried comparing the installation files on the two systems, and they appear identical. Registry entries appear to be the same. One system works but my main system does not.

Additional system specs: 1GHz AMD Athlon, 512MB RAM, CDRW, DVDRW, NIC, SIS chipset, 185GB hard disks.

Anybody have any solution or even ideas they will share? You will be my hero and I thank you.

Grandpa Carl

 

[geo87]

http://www.support.microtek.com/product_dtl_2.phtml?prod_id=12&ctgy=1

Look at the (usb troubleshooting tips)You will need Adobe Reader to read this file .

http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html

It's free to download.

 

[GrandpaCarl]

Thanks geo87 for responding to my request for help. I can assure you that I have read every morsel of info fro the Microtek web site, as well as a thorough search of the internet, several times. Nothing has been able to help. I know that the USB bus is working as I have no problem with the webcam, which is also a USB imaging device. Before, when the scanner was working, I was able to connect to the USB-1.1 hub or strait port and I was able to connect to the USB-2.0 card with no problem. Everything is the same except for one thing - the scanner DID work and now it DOESN'T.

Let me know if you get the flash of another idea. I suspect that there is some Windows DLL that is different, but a comparison of all Windows files before and now did not show anything obvious as the CRCs matched.``Believe me, I have tried to leave no stone unturned, but obviously I have left at least one. I even checked for viruses, trojans and spy/adware using Adaware and SpyBot. The Twain.log shows no errors and is the same on both computer systems.

Thanks again for trying.

Grandpa Carl

 

[kiddpete]

Have you checked for Win 98SE updates?

 

[kiddpete]

Isn't it Win98SE SP 1?

 

[GrandpaCarl]

Hi kiddpete,

Yes, all Win98SE updates are in place. My OS is Win98SE as stated. My browser is 6.0 SP1. Same is true on both the working and the non-working.

Thanks for your suggestions, tho.

Grandpa Carl

 

[BadBigBen]

Hi there, it's a long shot, but...

do you have the USB LEGACY setting in BIOS activated? if so disable it...

secondly, also in the BIOS, do you have the setting for PLUG AND PLAY OS INSTALLED set to YES? then set it to NO... (this is even suggested by MS)...

then an offset question? does your USB 2.0 Adapter card work in fast mode, ie in USB 2.0 mode not in USB 1.1? as far as I remember, Win98SE doesn't support the USB 2.0 standard even with the correct drivers installed, it just reverts back to 1.1 mode...

Ben

PS - these are my two cents worth, and other than that I am also at a loss, since this has never happened to me...

 

[kiddpete]

Ummmm, I think Win 98SE does support 2.0. I installed a High Speed card in my Win 98SE machine to support a wireless connection.

 

[micker377]

In safe mode, go to Device Manager > hardware and see if you have multiple entries for your scanner. If so, delete ALL of them and start over.

 

[GrandpaCarl]

Thanks for all the responses. BigBadBen, you pointed out the fact that the fact that it is probably best to leave the Plug and Play OS flag at NO, although I have never done so before and all worked well. I did try it, and it made no difference in this instance. However you did get me to thinking about something I had forgotten.

In searching the Microsoft knowledgebase, I found a note that there is sometimes a timing problem between the CPU and the USB hardware when the CPU is a high speed AMD chip, and the OS is Win98SE. This is discussed in Q240075 at the MS KB site.(Yes, I know they have done away with the Q, but I still like it.) They have a patch which I will be trying in just a few minutes after I finish answering my e-mail.

I remember reading this before, and I believe I had installed their specific patch for the timing problem. kiddpete had reminded me to check the MS updates, which I had, but the update patches that are system specific do not appear with the normal updates. I should have considered this.

I will report back when I have tried the patch.

Thanks again all for your comments.

Oh, by the way, I do believe Win98SE, with the proper added hardware and support drivers will support USB-2.0. I installed an Adaptec AUA-5100 card and tested with a Cruzer Mini flash memory. The speeds I got were far beyond what I could have gotten in USB-1.1, so USB-2.0 must work. If you plug in a USB-1.1 device into the USB-2.0 port, that that port channel (and only that port) will operate at USB-1.1 speeds.

GrandpaCarl

 

[GrandpaCarl]

TO ALL MY HELPERS

As I promised, here is a status report.

I did install the patch, although it is for the combination of the AMD AND the VIA chipset (I have the SIS). I saw no effect.

I have reinstalled the drivers probably 20 times more under various conditions, and changed a few files around where I found differences between the Amptron and another system that worked. Nothing seems to make a difference.

I noted that the pattern of the ready light between the two systems followed rather closely up until the ScannerFinder program is executes. On the non-working system, an error message is logged into the STI_Trace.Log file. This is the exact same thing I would get from the working system, if the scanner is not connected.

To answer one inquiry regarding legacy USB. I have no such setting.

As I mentioned earlier, I can use the Intel Webcam, which is another USB Image device and it works just fine. I can use it with any program requiring a Twain source.

The problem seems to center on the ScannerFinder test to set a flag used by the Twain driver for the 480. If the ready flag is not set, then the program quickly aborts.

Anyone got any fresh ideas? I will try just about anything, even if I have already tried it before.

Thanks.

Grandpa Carl

 

[BadBigBen]

Hi there, Hmmm...

... in order for a USB scanner to work, it needs a subfile within the DRIVER folder (C:windows\system32\driver) (in my case it is called ARTEC48.USB) this file is uploaded to the scanner at initialization, if this file is missing the scanner does not work... *it's a long shot, but worth looking at...

btw - setting the PnP OS to NO, ensures that the BIOS sets the correct Hardware IRQ/DMAs before the OS takes over... as there are still problems with the OS implementations of these (per MS even with XP)... ergo you should reinstall (fresh) the OS, then install the OS UPDATES, then the CHIPSET drivers, then the USB drivers (before plugging the scanner up to the PC), powerdown and plug in the scanner, reboot and let Windows find it and the correct drivers should be installed and functioning...

I am assuming that the HP scanner is a paralell scanner, oui?

Ben

 

[GrandpaCarl]

HI BadBigBen,

Yes, I am aware of the driver in Windows\System32\Driver. My driver for the Microtek 4800 is called Miiscan.sys and is identical between the working and non-working systems.

I even went so far as to observe the Ready light on the scanner during bootup for the two systems. They track up to about 16 seconds, and then there is a slight variation at this point. This means that something is acting different before windows starts to load. When I get a chance, I am going to do a bootlog and see just what is happening in that area of time for the two systems.

So many things to check and so many directions to go.

I may snap and image of my C: and D: partitions, then
start from scratch, just to see if the scanner works there. If it does, then I guess I have no choice but reinstall everything.

Yes, the scanner attached to the HPLJ1100, making it the HPLJ1100A, is attached via the parallel port. In searching the net (again) last night, I found a reference to one guy that claimed he "had to workaround Microtek's ScannerFinder, because it wasn't working." Regretably, the link was dead! May try again this morning.

I have a client who says I need challenges like this to keep my brain from rusting out. I think I would rather use WD-40.

Thanks for your comments.

Grandpa Carl

 

[BadBigBen]

About the WD-40 I'm not quite sure, as a Harley man I prefer regular Oil like SAE Grade 50 or Lithium based Grease...

Nope about the file... You should also have a file called 'Miiscan.USB' (if this is a USB scanner as mentioned before)... the *.SYS file is the direkt driver from PC to Scanner and the *.USB is the driver for the Scanner to PC (Scanner internal, ergo this get's uploaded to the scanner and initialized there)...

Ben

 

[GrandpaCarl]

HI BadBigBen,

Thpought you were on to something with the *.USB file. A search of my entire hard disks showed no such file for either the old or nef configurations, nor was there one for the working computer system.

I did find a file called Sandra.USB that was in the instalation of the Sandra diagnostic. It seems to be a text file with various numbers for many scanners, but alas no Microtek. Any bodu out there with a *.USB file which included Microtek scanner?

The last Harley I rode was in 1951. I maintained police radios including the ones on their Harley 55s. At that time I was 4'11" and weighed about 90 pounds. They would bring their bikes over and leave them with me and walk back to the PD. After I had fixed them, I would ride the Harley back to the PD. They would hear me coming and the court house emptied to watch this runt park this huge Harley with 150 pounds of addityional weight in communication gear.

Have not had much time to work on the problem today, but went over the Bootlog Analyzer listing last night with a fine toothed comb, but could find nothing.

Let me know if you think of more clues. There has to be a reason. It worked before on same system and OS, and it works now on another syatem!

Thanks,

Grandpa Carl

 

[BadBigBen]

Well, I am at a loss, sorry, but I am about as stumped as you are...

yeah, I remember the days when I was 4'11'' and around 90 lbs, I was 9 or 10... I am now at around 200 lbs and 6'3'', long haired and bearded, and when people find out I studied Astrophysics they go bongers... I hate stereotyping...

Ben

 

[GrandpaCarl]

HI BAD BIG BEN,

I am still pushing on. Saturday, just befoe I quit for the day, I did find a significant difference in the registry as far as MIISCAN.SYS is concerned. Anxious to follow that trail tomorrow.

Also went to Amptron (MB manufacturer) web site and downloaded an update on USB support for my MB (M810LMR). Maybe that might help.

By the way, I searched all of my systems that have ever had a USB scanner, also contacted some 15 fellow computer nut buddies, and asked them to check for *.USB on all their systems with USB scanners. To date, the only such files located were in the Sandra diagnostic utilities.

By the way, I was 4'11"`at 18! I grew 9" during my freshman year at college. Finally reached 6'1.5".

As you might have guessed, I am a stubborn and persistent old coot who does not believe in giving up.

Grandpa Carl

 

[BadBigBen]

... had to be the College food... that's the only reason you can grow 9" at 18...

I hit 6' at 15, thnx to the German Food... *G

about the scanner, well I can only go from my equipment and experience, I got an Artec USB Scanner, a Ultima Clone, and that file I mentioned, I remembered that being a prob cuz of Installations of Linux on my system and the scanner not functioning at all, even though it was recognized...

btw, have you tried another USB cable?

Ben