SydLexia.com - The Forums :: View topic

Posted: Jan 16 2010 07:49 pm

So as you may recall, I had computer problems last week, but I fixed them by repairing my Windows XP installation with a boot disc. So today I went to use my scanner... and it didn't work. I have no idea where the install disc is (probably in a landfill somewhere), so I went onto HP's website and downloaded the driver package for it. I installed it, and no luck. Any thoughts?

Relevant information:

It is an HP Scanjet 3970
Everything is connected
I have tested the USB port
I have tested the USB connector
I have tested the power source

I have tried uninstalling and reinstalling the software, but no luck. The computer simply doesn't "see" the scanner. If I unplug it and replug it, new hardware is detected, but the detection fails.

2011 SNES Champ Joined: Dec 04 2006 Posts: 1929

Compatibility maybe? But you're using XP, so that probably isn't it.

If it wasn't uninstalled properly, it's possible some files are left that screw up further installation attempts. That's what happened to my Firefox.

One of the computers here won't read USB keys plugged in one of the USB ports in the front of the computer, but it will read them if they're plugged in those in the back.
So try changing USB ports, it might be the computer acting like shit for no goddam reason.

Posted: Jan 16 2010 09:46 pm

It used to work fine. Same OS, same computer, same everything.

Banned Joined: Sep 13 2008 Posts: 3129

I would try reinstalling the drivers.

Posted: Jan 17 2010 12:28 am

Hacker wrote:

I would try reinstalling the drivers.

Syd Lexia wrote:

So as you may recall, I had computer problems last week, but I fixed them by repairing my Windows XP installation with a boot disc. So today I went to use my scanner... and it didn't work. I have no idea where the install disc is (probably in a landfill somewhere), so I went onto HP's website and downloaded the driver package for it. I installed it, and no luck. Any thoughts?

Banned Joined: Sep 13 2008 Posts: 3129

i meant uninstall it and reinstall

see if you can find the software ISO on the internet

2011 SNES Champ Joined: Dec 04 2006 Posts: 1929

Have you tested the scanner on other computers? Or did it fuck up right after you reinstalled Windows XP?
I once had to uninstall a Windows Update (Service Pack something) because it fucked up my programs.

Otherwise, the only info I found is a guy having the same problem as you, with no answers posted yet, and some crap about a Master/Slave conflict.

Posted: Jan 17 2010 03:19 am

What were you going to scan?

Posted: Jan 17 2010 02:04 pm

If you go to Settings > Printer & Faxes can you see the device?

Posted: Jan 17 2010 08:30 pm

Hey Syd, new poster, but I'm a certified A+ technician who has been doing troubleshooting for years.

The first step I recommend is to check to make sure you've got the correct drivers. Generally, if hardware detection fails, the driver is to blame.

Looking into your specific scanner, I noticed two things:

1) It has one of those bullshit 200 MB "drivers."
2) There is a patch for people who may have multiple versions of the HP imaging software (which is really what the HP driver download is) located on the same page: Direct Link http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechSupport/SoftwareDescription.jsp?lang=en&cc=us&prodTypeId=15179&prodSeriesId=298547&prodNameId=298549&swEnvOID=228&swLang=8&mode=2&taskId=135&swItem=sj-32245-2

My recommendation is to try out that patch and see what happens. Also, I'm assuming that you got the driver from HP's site; if not, grab that one and install all 200 MB of it.

If that doesn't work, check your device manager (Control Panel-->System-->Device Manager) and see if your scanner is displayed there. If it is, it should have a yellow question mark or exclamation point by it. Double-click the scanner and copy-paste the device error code into the forums here (or let me know if the scanner is not displayed), and I'll be able to give you a better idea of what the fuck went wrong.

Unrelated, but great site, really dig the articles.

Joined: Nov 11 2009 Location: Cajun Country Posts: 1511

You'll come in handy around here.

Posted: Jan 18 2010 11:31 am

Yeah, I grabbed the 200 MB driver off the site you linked to, which is HP's site. I downloaded and ran the driver scan, but it failed. I tried multiple times, but it keeps failing.

Posted: Jan 18 2010 12:08 pm

Did you check device manager yet? The next troubleshooting step really involves whether or not Windows even recognizes the device. If the scanner is not listed, then we have a problem with the device communicating with windows. If the device is listed, we can likely use the Windows default drivers to get your scanner working.

Also, to reiterate, if you are receiving any sort of error message, try to write down the message or error code and post it here.

Banned Joined: Sep 13 2008 Posts: 3129

Syd
press start
open run and type in "winver" and post what it says here. If I'm right restoring your computer may have made it roll back on the software it needs. namely service packs

you can always open the device manager and see if any missing drivers aren't there and install then
Even if you want to follow this new guys advice (which BTW is good) your going to need to open it
to open it you can either type into RUN "devmgmt.msc" or right click on my computer, click manage, then click on device manager

Posted: Jan 18 2010 02:01 pm

My scanner is not displayed there. Control Panel also has an option "Scanners and Cameras", and I tried to manually add it there, but could not. My scanner was not on the list of possible HP hardware that XP provided me with (in fact, only cameras were listed), and when I tried to manually add the .inf file from the directory that the 200 MB "driver package" extracted, it didn't seem to recognize it. I didn't get any sort of error message, but it refused to let me hit next and continue to the next step.

Banned Joined: Sep 13 2008 Posts: 3129

Syd do what i said about opening run and typing in winver

Posted: Jan 18 2010 02:17 pm

Windows XP Home Edition
Version 5.1 (Build 2600.xpsp_sp3_gdr.090804-1435: Service Pack 3)

Posted: Jan 18 2010 02:32 pm

Maybe your USB ports are going dead? My laptop's USB ports started being dumb for a bit until finally permanently bricking and they became useless.

Posted: Jan 18 2010 02:33 pm

Nope. I have tried rotating the things plugged into my USBs, and no luck.

Posted: Jan 18 2010 04:43 pm

Syd, try this link:
ftp://ftp.hp.com/pub/scanners/software/sj397en.exe

You want the file called sj397en.exe. It is the bare-bone driver for your scanner.

EDIT: Posted a direct link to the file.

Joined: Aug 04 2009 Posts: 2515

Syd Lexia wrote:

So as you may recall, I had computer problems last week, but I fixed them by repairing my Windows XP installation with a boot disc. So today I went to use my scanner... and it didn't work. I have no idea where the install disc is (probably in a landfill somewhere), so I went onto HP's website and downloaded the driver package for it. I installed it, and no luck. Any thoughts?

Relevant information:

It is an HP Scanjet 3970
Everything is connected
I have tested the USB port
I have tested the USB connector
I have tested the power source

I have tried uninstalling and reinstalling the software, but no luck. The computer simply doesn't "see" the scanner. If I unplug it and replug it, new hardware is detected, but the detection fails.

You may have the same problem as my computer. I have a few questions.

Is the problem that your computer won't recognize the scanner?

I can't remember what it is exactly I'm searching at the moment but when it asks you to search for the location of the device you can type in C:INF\ or something and it will automatically work. It's what i do on my computer but i can't remember exactly what you search for.

I will edit this when i find out.

EDIT:

After plugging in the usb go to "Install from specific location" and type this:

C:\Windows\inf

It should work. Tell me if it works or not if it doesn't il have another root around.

Posted: Jan 21 2010 07:59 am

Still no luck. I am starting to wonder if maybe the cable is damaged. I find it hard to believe that the cable failing magically coincided with my computer problems, but I suppose it's possible. Sadly, I don't have another cable to test with.

Banned Joined: Sep 13 2008 Posts: 3129

holy shit, where the hell has GP been lately.

Posted: Jan 22 2010 12:11 am

Syd, I'm actually pretty sure your cable is a-ok; assuming you're getting the add new hardware wizard or 'new device detected' pop-up, your cable is most likely functioning perfectly.

Posted: Jan 26 2010 10:52 am

Any further thoughts on how I might fix this?

Also, I have an older problem. It doesn't seem to effect performance, but it's annoying. I get two pop ups when Windows loads. This is one:

The other one is exactly the same except "BCMSMMSG.exe" is replaced with "explorer.exe".