I have been trying to get my HP 5100C scanner to work since I put Windows SE on and haven't been able to get a answer or help on the issue. I saw your posting on Computing.Net and saw a variety of responses.
I have the original disk that came with the scanner and one that I
recently ordered from HP. I am running Windows 98 second edition and my printer is an Apollo P-1200 made by HP. It installs the software fine but when I go to run it, it gives me the error message that "an application is using the scanner, please let it finish or close it, and do I choose to go ahead run Precision Scan without the scanner, yes or no". It shows that the device is set up properly, but it will not budge. I tried to disable the printer to free the port and that wont work, I have run the diagnostic tools and it shows that everything is fine. I am at a loss of what to do next. Can you help?

Drew

I don't have an immediate answer for you, but I have always found HP scanner support to be helpful. I've used HP scanners since about the year 1400, and find them incredibly difficult to keep up and ready to go, software-wise. Something is always going out of whack which usually requires reinstalling in precisely the manner HP wants.

Wow, I wasn't aware they had scanners back in the 1400's. Were those the kerosine powered models?

You wouldn't BELIEVE what I had to go through to get my HP 4300C scanner to work with Win98SE. It took me almost a month of deleting, reinstalling, deleting, reinstalling, turning off, turning on, unplugging, downloading latest drivers, etc. just to get the darn thing to work. I tried hooking it through USB, parallel, USB, parallel.... Somehow, it finally took. Be patient and keep reinstalling. It's all I can tell you. Believe me, it's not you.

I had similar problems with my HP 4200C; however, I solved all my problems using HP's website.

I am running and HP 1218X Printer and HP4300 scanner with no problems, using win98se. Did run into the usual snag with not having current release driver for HP1218, once I downloaded it no conflict which was the famous spool32 error. Just for info I keep my scanner unplugged when not in use so on startup do not see messages. But I pretty much agree that going to www.hewlettpackard.com/support you may get a real good answer. It would not hurt to check Microsoft for any support articles regarding your particular model(S) and possible problems with win98se.

I also have an HP 5100 scanjet. I just recently tried installing it on my new computer (running Windows Millineum) and I have the same problems you have. I called HP and they have a recording saying this model is no longer supported. I got on their website and you can send email for every model, EXCEPT the 5100, it seems. They have stopped supporting this model. However, they do have driver files. I installed those and that didn't help either.