You can usally get even more older HP scanners to work fine. Check the parallel port settings in the bios (see above). If that was not okay, change the setting, try the scanner again. If that was okay, try un-installing the scanner software - there should be one or more entries in Add/Remove programs - reboot - then install it again using the manufacturer's directions. If that doesn't help....... Look at the printer cable. Most scanners made in the last ten years are so are supposed to use cables rated IEEE1284 for greater reliability - some scanners will not work properly unless you use such a cable. It is preferable, and may even be essential, you have such a cable - the IEEE1284 is usually printed on the cable itself, or on one or both end connectors. The cheapest parallel port printer cables often do not have this rating. Look in Device Manager - there should be no yellow ?'s or red X's beside the parallel port, or beside a ECP parallel port, and there should not be muliple parallel ports. Look in System Information (Start - Run - type: msinfo32 - click OK) (but Windows doesn't always show you problems) Open up Hardware ..... on the left. Choose Conflicts/Sharing Are there any entries that start with red lettering? Is anything sharing the IRQ for the parallel port other than IRQ holder.....? Look at Components - Problem Devices Anything there

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correction: If that doesn't help....... Look at the SCANNER cable. Most scanners made in the last ........ ..... By the way, the scanner having a parallel port for a printer doesn't mean you have to use it. Having two ports like that indicates the parallel port connection is wired on the scanner so that you can use a parallel connected printer and the scanner without having to have a second parallel port - it's the same thing as it would be if there were two connectors for the one parallel port on the computer. You have usb ports - plug your printer into one of them. If you do not have enough of them, get a USB controller card (not a USB hub). Do not use a USB hub with a printer - the printer will probably either not work at all, or it will not work properly. If you were looking for a really cheap parallel port to USB device adapter, there are no really cheap ones - they require an interface circuit, not just an adapter to match up the pin connections. And the ones you can get probably won't work (see above).

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Actually, I'm not as concerned about the printer. It has a USB cable, and is plugged into a USB port on my CPU. The parallel cable from the scanner is plugged into the parallel port on my CPU. I can accept not having the scanner & printer working together - that's not the main problem. How do I get the scanner software to recognize the scanner? When I try to open the program, it says "open fail, ppscan.vxd" then says that I may have a scanner connected but it can't be found. The computer knows it's there, I've downloaded every update and patch I can find on HP's site, what else do I need to do? Thanks again... Carolyn

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Check over everything I have told you so far. If there's anything you haven't tried or checked, do that. The only other things I can think of - make sure the scanner is powered ON when windows tries to find it. Some scanners can't be found if they are not on when you first install them. Some scanners have a physical locking device that protects the scanner internals from being damaged when you move it from place to place - with some scanners if that lock is engaged, it will not be recpgnized - I know this appliesw to at least some HP scanners - if you're not sure, it should be mentioned in the manual or installation instructions. - if you have installation directions, follow them - if you don't have them get them, or look in the manual - get the manual if you don't have it.

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I'm assuming the scanner has power. Most scanners are powered by a power adapter of some sort - is it plugged in - is it working?

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Here's what I tried yesterday: 1. Checked BIOS settings and changed the parallel port to EPP. 2. Uninstalled scanner software. Reinstalled in while in SAFE mode. 3. Uninstalled scanner software. Copied software from CD to computer desktop. Reinstalled software from hard drive. 4. Uninstalled software. Deleted file "ppscan.vxd" from software copy on desktop. Reinstalled software. 5. The scanner is plugged in, has power, is not locked. There are no device conflicts. The correct scanner model is listed in imaging devices in device manager. The scanner cable is IEEE1284. The scanner software is listed in Program Files. After step 4, when I got the same message about ppscan.vxd and not being able to detect a scanner, I have given up. Thanks very much for all your help, but I think I'm going to get a new one. There are some inexpensive all-in-ones; maybe one of those. Thanks again... Carolyn

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That was a nicely detailed post. I'm out of ideas - maybe something is damaged in it. I have a far older HP scanner that works fine. Be sure to read the specs for the all in ones and make sure the scanner is good enough for what you want to do - they usually have lesser specs than the ones you get as a separate unit. And check out the size/capacity of the printer cartridges if it is inkjet - the cheapesr all in ones have tiny cartridges, and the money you save buying the all in one is very soon eclipsed by the extra money you spend having to replace the cartridges.

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