So my scanner is apparently brain dead right now. I’m assuming it was due to last night thunder storm (our power went out).
I have an Epson Perfection 1670 flatbed scanner. The scanner turns on, so it’s receiving power. The scanner’s bulb still lights up. The computer can still see the scanner, so there is nothing wrong with the driver.
However, when I tell the scanner to scan, the scanner returns a blank image. I tried it on mutiple machines and I still get the same blank image.
So I need to get a new scanner, maybe a canon? A decent scanner that will work on the mac intels.
I might as well look into an UPS at the same time.
Will this hurt the comic? I don’t know. Until I get a new scanner, I will have to draw on the computer. I really prefer drawing on paper.
This entry was posted on Saturday, June 9th, 2007 at 1:03 PM and is filed under Rant. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
I have a canon scanner (Part of an all-in-one printer), whilst it does work with my Intel Mac, the drivers/app actually run via Rosetta and can be a bit slow sometimes.
Hopefully for some of the newer scanners there will be some Intel/UB software available, however, I’d check before purchase :-)
All-in-ones have always had horrible driver support on Macs. And the big problem with all-in-ones is that the printer often dies long before the scanner does so all of a sudden this “space-saving” all-in-one has become a huge space-waster.
A good high quality scanner can last 10+ years but you are lucky if you get 3 years out of most printers. I only upgraded to a USB 2 scanner when I got an iBook which didn’t have SCSI for my old scanner.
Would like to hear what you end up picking Hawk. I have an Epson 3170 now but I am still using a PPC Mac. I have heard that so far Canon does have the best Intel Mac support and that HP pretty much has the worst (at least as far as the big 3 or 4 brands go) for both scanners and printers.
Well hope you pick a good scanner. I’m still trying to find a good one I like too. I have a Canon and I like that one so far and it’s okay, but when it comes to scanning in the lineat mode, It’s lacking really.
Good luck and I hope you get one soon! =)
that sucks man…
Can’t you get it repaired? That sucks!
There are some devices that protect electronic equipment from voltage outbursts due to thunderstorms and from low electric tension.
If get some of those, you can protect everything that uses electricity, including your Wii and the TV. Also, a few of them can power your computer for a few minutes so you can save your work before the power goes out!!!
“I might as well look into an UPS at the same time.”
unless it’s one of those nicer $400 and up scanners, repairing it wouldn’t be worth it. By the time you spend the money repairing it, you could just buy a new one (if it’s of the $150 dollar variety.)
I bought a Canon 8400F a year ago. Very happy with it! Came recommended by MacWorld.
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=8250858&st=canon+scanner&type=product&id=1169512292297
and
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=7424575&st=ups&type=product&id=1122655672527
I do work at Best Buy, but I own the UPS and my friend owns the scanner and we’re quite happy with them both. APC is the best UPS brand.
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=8250858&st=canon+scanner&type=product&id=1169512292297
and
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=7424575&st=ups&type=product&id=1122655672527
I do work at Best Buy, but I own the UPS and my friend owns the scanner and we’re quite happy with them both. APC is the best UPS brand.
if this is a duplicate comment, my apologies.
I use a CannoScan Lide20 on my macbook… works like a charm and it even travels well to and from work. Cheap,high quality, and big resoloution. I recommend any Lide model :)
i cant really explain w/o confusing people, but lets just say that thunder has the capabilities of overriding static energy with its own force. i believe that the components inside ur scanner pretty much burnt out when lightning struck. meybe it was close enough to make some damage. blah blah blah. i could be wrong
does a family member have a scanner you could use? Then you could just put the file (or a few) on a flash drive and bring them home.
Canons are really good Hawk, I enjoy mine very much. :) And I agree with you, drawing on paper is better.
Sorry to see your scanner has joined the zombies. I once had a surge literally kill a computer. The power supply and the monitor both went…POP…sizzzle… m(_ _)m I hope your next scanner is even better than the last one.
Ouch. Yes, get a UPS quick, or at least a surge suppressor.
I’ve got 2 APC XS/RS 1500VA UPSes, one for my Mac Pro and networking gear and accessories and another for my old PC and other accessories. Unfortunately the APC software isn’t as good on the Mac as the PC, but either way I’m plugged in and safe. Heck I bought the UPS for the Mac Pro before I bought the Mac Pro :-)
Everything else important is plugged into some sort of surge, usually one of those wallwarts that goes into wall and your gear goes into it.
Good luck man. I’d go with Canon or Epson based on brand preference, I don’t know anything about the software.
i have an hp all-in-one. i like it. it works well. scans better than my last (which was an old canon). i got it to print out my wedding invites (that i designed myself) and i do A LOT of photo editing (off digital and scanned photos).
I see many solutions for replacement but have a last bit of troubleshooting to try as it sounds like your firmware may be buggered.
Plug it in, turn it on, will it’s powering up/on yank the power cord, most model printer/scanners this will wipe the firmware and it will go into a more basic mode (with some HP prodcuts the hardware mode is actually faster as firmware reduces abilities based on model, stupid huh?).
hope that works, gluck.
Also make sure there is a page in there…. becuase i did that once.The bottom of the top of my scanner was white so I’m basically yelling at the thing to work. Then I noticed there wasn’t anything in there.
I been looking at a Canon LiDE70 USB 2.0 scanner.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16838111010
I got a six-year-old HP Scanjet 3500C USB 1.0 scanner that I would like to replace soon. Please let us know which scanner you decide to get.
man, did you remember to put a sheet to be scanned? lol :P
Don’t let a UPS be the only thing you get. The UPS only protects agains blackouts and brownouts, but it really isn’t the best equipment to protect agains a full blown lightning. You will want a high voltage protector ( lightning protector ) on the mains before you connect the UPS.
Also, when you select the USP, be ready to gasp. A UPS is in general rather expensive if you want it functional. The best UPSs are from APC. (for several reasons). I recommend going for twice the wattage you need (get an electrician to measure the power usage of the work area you want to protect).
Oh and a final hint: EVERYTHING connected to unprotected mains and also connected to the computers is dangerous. Even if it’s not connected to the UPS, you will want a surge protector on the mains to stop the lightning from circumventing your protection :)
Did you try switching the USB/Firewire cables?
You’re in the DC area, no? I’m in CA now, but my parents in Fredericksburg have a Canon printer/scanner that I decided not to bring out here with me that I’d be willing to let you have for free if pickup can be arranged. Probably not a permanent solution, but it keeps things running in the meantime, no?
same thing happened to me, Hawk. Same exact scanner too. I ended up getting a Canon 4400F which works really nice.
Maybe it’s a sign that you should get a tablet. >,>
And I agree with Þór on the electrical systems, although he’s(?) more detailed and precise than I would have been.
Uh, dude… He has a ….
Have you tried unplugging your scanner after turning it off, then turning it on then replugging it in? (All cables)
I had a similar problem a month ago with my scanner. Had an old epson, it wore out (i guess because it wouldn’t scan) bought a canon, the canon didnt’ work and didn’t have a useful tech support on their website. I took it back, got a new epson and it worked immediately. I am sticking with Epson after that episode. Hope your Canon works for you, because mine jip’d me hardcore.
i had a similar problem with my (lexmark) scanner where it made a few noises “scanned” and came up with a blank image. Basically “fixed” it by pressing “preview” and “scan” and turning scanner/computer on and off about 20 times lol.
A UPS, U makes a “yoo” noise, no need for the “an” to distinguish it as a separate vowel.
um, as someone who dislikes people who point out proper grammer on the nternet, I feel compelled to point out your mistaken pointing out. use “a” to preface a word beginning with a consa.. not vowel. use “an” to preface a vowel. Remember, the written English language is not here for your “convenience”
now on topic. I’ve owned 3 hp scanners in too fast of succession to remember their call numbers. hp suxors
so why not take pictures with a digital camera of your drawings? a scanner is just a sloooow camera :)
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i really like have your ac plug from the 1670 scanner why my mother got me 1670 scanner from goodwill get did;nt have a plug. thank you