Help me find out what's wrong with my scanner!

[Ian Miller]

I have been struggling with my stupid scanner for weeks now, trying to get it to work, and the thing won't scan!

Here's the problem: It turns on, but won't scan. I would try turning my computer off, turning the scanner on, then turning my computer on, since that was the only way it would work. But the thing still won't scan!!! I'm going crazy trying to fix it! It says on the lid "Hewlett Packard ScanJet 5P," which I'm guessing is the model. Can anyone help me with this?

[Dash Martin]

1.) How's it connect to the computer?
2.) What version of Windows do you have?
3.) Do you have the right drivers installed for it?
4.) Has it worked before?
5.) Did you make sure the little locking mechanism is unlocked on it?

[Ian Miller]

1.) How's it connect to the computer?
There's a long white cable coming out the back of it and goes into the back of the CPU. There's also a thin, black cable coming out the back which goes into a wall-jack type thing. You know, it's like a junction box on a wall, but it's in a long box with others. I don't know what it's called.

2.) What version of Windows do you have?
Windows 98

3.) Do you have the right drivers installed for it?
I don't know what this means. However, if it helps, I went to the edit menu on AOL, and there's an option called "capture picture." When I clicked on it, it said that the scanner was being used by another application. When I said I'd like to run it anyway, the box popped up which normally appears when you scan something, but nothing scanned when I pressed the scan button.


4.) Has it worked before?
It worked perfectly for a few years. I moved about 2 years ago, and it still worked, but one day when I really needed it, it just ceased to work.

5.) Did you make sure the little locking mechanism is unlocked on it?
Huh?

[kov13]

you might need an updated driver just do a search in google for what ever brand your scanner is and see if they have updated drivers for it. or try and re-install the scanner if that doesnt work

[Ian Miller]

I just contacted HP about what may be wrong, so hopefully I'll get a reply soon. I hope nothing's wrong with it. I really need it working now, and I just hope I can find help on this subject.

[Dash Martin]

1.) I meant what port does it plug into on the back of the computer. According to the website, it plugs into a SCSI port...which I assumed someone else installed on your computer.

2.) Good

3.) All hardware requires software to be installed for it so Windows knows what to do with it. The scanner came with a CD or some floppies. That's where you'll find the drivers for the scanner. The SCSI card may also have a seperate floppy with it's driver on it as well. The drivers should install just like any other piece of software via a Setup.exe or Intall.exe file.

4.) Moving often causes hardware to get knocked slightly out of wack. It's possible the SCSI card the scanner plugs into is loose and just needs to be reseated on the motherboard.

5.) Almost all scanners have a locking mechanism either on the side, back, or bottom of the scanner. This prevents the scanning mechanism from sliding around during shipping. Make sure it's set to the unlocked position.

[Ian Miller]

Methane,
I just checked for a locker thing, and there's a little bar thing in the back which slides in and out of a large box type thing. I don't know if it's the locking mechanism, but it's a slidey thing on the back of the scanner (Whew! Nicely worded...)

[Dash Martin]

Have the LOCKED and UNLOCKED padlock symbols been scratched off of it?

[Ian Miller]

No, actually there aren't any padlock symbols on it.

[Dash Martin]

It's next to the powercord. Pull it out toward the side of the scanner if it's not already.

[Ian Miller]

The locking mechanism I thought I saw is actually near a power cord. It's pulled all the way out to the side of the scanner, but if I pushed it in, I would have to unplug a cable to get it all the way in. Which way should it be?

[Dash Martin]

Originally posted by Methane
Pull it out toward the side of the scanner if it's not already.

[Dash Martin]

Did you try re-installing the drivers that came with the scanner already?

[Ian Miller]

It already was pulled out when you first said to check it, and it still isn't scanning. Maybe I can restart my computer later and see if it worked.

[Ian Miller]

I'll try looking for the disks for Paperport, the program i use. Paperport still works and I can access it and do everything on it except scan. It's bugging me big time!

[Dash Martin]

Try re-installing the drivers. That would be the only non-hardware related fix left in this case.

[Ian Miller]

Alright, I'll just have to find the disks and stuff. That might be what's wrong, after all.

[GroundHog]

some fool stole your installation software.

[cabralsoth]

my locking button is on the bottom front of my scanner... anyhow with mine ... back when i first got it , it started makin this "klakklakklakklakklak" noise until i would unplug it....id have to leave it unplugged for a couple days and then it would act fine... it just startd acting up again lately , so ive had it unplugged for the past couple days unless i really ned it .... then either it will act up or wont... its very tempermental