Can anyone tell me if my problem is ME system related or if it is scanner problems. I have an HP8720c w/850Mhz, 40gHD, USB, etc. and, I have tried installing 4 different scanners, i.e.: UMAX3400, Compaqs4100, Visioneer5600, and HPSJxxxxS. None of them work after loading. They all have caused my PC to "lockup", requiring me to re-boot each time I attempted to test the scanner. They all were uninstalled, reinstalled, etc. to no avail. I finally took them all back for refunds. By the way, I tested the UMAX on my Win98(2nd edition) PC and, it worked fine. I visited all the sites for info and downloaded new drivers, etc., installed those and still the scanner did not work. I followed HP's advice also and that did not work. Suggestions anyone? Besides telling me that WinME is "junk" or, what have you. Doing a slow burn.........thanks for input info.

WinMe doesn't differentiate between digital cameras and image scanners. Both are still image devices or simply scanners! However, WinMe does differntiate between scanners that have drivers that are made for WinMe and those that are made for earlier versions of Windows. If the device has a WinMe driver, you use the new Scanner and Camera Wizard to acquire images from the device. If the device uses an older driver, you use the devices native TWAIN capture module to acquire images. To install the scanner, you have two choices: If the device is PNP compatible, just connect the device and turn it on. WinMe should recognize the device and install the appropriate drivers the next time you boot. You can launch the Control Panel's Scanners and Cameras icon, and then double click the Add Device icon. This starts the Scanner and Camera Installation Wizard, which you can use to install either one of the supported WinMe models or a driver from the manufacturers disk. After you scanner is installed, you can test it using these steps: Open the Control Panels Scanners and Camera icon. Double click the device to open its property sheet. Display the general tab. Click the "Test" button (the name of which varies depending on the device). Now if the device uses a WinMe driver, use any of the following to get started: Select Start, Programs, Accessories, Scanner and Camera Wizard Run Paint (Start, Programs, Accessories, Paint) and select the File, From Scanner or Camera Command Run Imaging (Start, Programs, Accessories, Imaging) and select the File, Scan New Command. For a device with an older driver, the Scanner and Wizard isn't available. Instead, you need to follow these steps to initiate image capture using WinMe Imaging for Windows program: Select Start, Programs, Accessories, Imaging. WinMe launches the Imaging for Windows application. If you have multiple still image devices installed, choose the one you want to use by running File, Select Scanner, highlighting the device you want to use in the Select Scanner dialog box, then clicking OK. Select the File, Scan New command (or click the Scan New toolbar button). WinMe will now load the image capture software that was installed with the device. From here use the software to capture the image.

I also saw info on delltalk.us.dell.com that suggested getting a USB hub (about $30)when having scanner trouble in ME. Haven't tried it myself, though. Am just "scanning" info, and I have to say I'm not crazy about what I see. May just move on to 2000.

I have been hearing this beef since the ME forum began. Windows ME must not like the software that comes with the hardware because just hooking up a scanner could not be simpler. I hooked in a USB connection for my HP 5200C scanner. I had no Windows ME drivers on the HP CD but I never used it. I went START>PROGRAMS>ACCESSORIES>IMAGING. ME detected my scanner and scanned a page right away.

I bought a Visioneer 8700 for home and I have a Visioneer 7600 at work, both machines have Windows ME. I loaded the software that came with the scanners and then loaded the updated driver for ME found on Visioneers website and both scanners have been working ever since. Before I loaded the windows me update for the scanner, whenever my scanner was plugged in my computer was constantly locking up. The update seems to work. No problems yet.

microsoft calls that plug and play... hehehehe Regards Miro

The new Agfa Snapscan E20 (for ME!) works great!. Very pleased with it. We also took back 3 different scanners..absolute frustration! HP service was TERRIBLE!!! Agfa fine after over 500 scans.