I've had to reinstall Windows XP after a crash. I have a four-port USB
hub for an external DVD recorder, printer, cordless mouse/keyboard and
scanner (a Canon D1250U2). Everything works fine except the scanner,
which was recognised by Windows as a new device, and the relevant
software was installed. But when I try to use the scanner, I get the
message: ""Cannot communicate with scanner. Cable may be
disconnected". I've tried three USB cables and it makes no difference.
(Also, the light on the USB hub doesn't come on when I plug the
scanner in to it. I've even tried another power cord - no change. And,
of course, I've tried bypassing the hub and plugging the scanner
straight into every USB port on the computer. Same thing.)
I'd be grateful for your advice. Until I reinstalled Windows XP, the
scanner worked perfectly ... not any more.
My computer is a Toshiba 2450 laptop with 512MB of RAM, a 30GB hard
disk, an NVidia Go graphics card and Windows XP SP2 installed.
Mark Smith |
Request for Question Clarification by
sublime1-ga
on
09 Nov 2005 16:27 PST
Mark...
After you've gotten that message, have you ever gone to Device
Manager to see whether the scanned ir recognized? Perhaps it's
listed as Unknown USB device? I have a webcam that occasionally,
for no apparent reason, fails recognition by Windows, and shows
up in Device Manager in this way. 9 out of 10 times, a reboot
of Windows corrects the problem, and the cam is listed correctly
under Human Interface Devices.
To get to Device Manager, r-click on the My Computer icon on the
desktop, select Properties, and then the Hardware tab. Then
click on the Device Manager button.
Let me know where this takes you...
sublime1-ga
|
Request for Question Clarification by
sublime1-ga
on
09 Nov 2005 16:29 PST
Excuse me, I meant to type: "...have you ever gone to Device
Manager to see whether the scanner is recognized?"
|
Clarification of Question by
mjismith-ga
on
09 Nov 2005 17:29 PST
Hi there - the scanner isn't listed in Device Manager.
|
Request for Question Clarification by
sublime1-ga
on
09 Nov 2005 18:44 PST
Mark...
I assume you've tried plugging it into both the hub and
the USB ports as the only device?
Is there any difference ascertainable difference between
the original installation of XP and your current SP2
version? Any updates that might have been on the first
but not on the second?
Also, you don't indicate whether you've tried rebooting
several times, as I mentioned, in the hopes of a successful
recognition in the course of one of them.
sublime1-ga
|
Clarification of Question by
mjismith-ga
on
10 Nov 2005 02:38 PST
Sorry to take so long to reply - I'm on UK time and have therefore
been asleep. In answer to your questions, I have tried plugging the
scanner into both the hub (as the only device) and USB ports on my
computer. I have also tried rebooting (many times). And my XP
configuration is no different - SP2 plus all available updates are
installed, as they were before I had the crash and had to reinstall
everything.
Mark
|
Clarification of Question by
mjismith-ga
on
10 Nov 2005 13:21 PST
I have. I think I've tried everything.
There isn't an on/off switch on the scanner - it's meant to switch on
automatically when Windows starts (then switch off after 10 minutes if
not used). But - no signs of life at all.
Mark
|
Request for Question Clarification by
sublime1-ga
on
10 Nov 2005 13:53 PST
Mark...
You noted:
"...when I try to use the scanner, I get the message: 'Cannot
communicate with scanner. Cable may be disconnected'"
This suggests that you have access to an icon for the scanner,
with which to activate it. Perhaps right-clicking on the icon
and selecting Properties will activate a dialog window which
will allow you to make changes to setting for the scanner.
It seems like there may be a setting which needs to be
adjusted so that it will work the way it used to.
If such a dialog is not available from a right-click menu,
perhaps you have access to such a dialog by way of the
Control Panel, or from Start -> Settings -> Printers?
Let me know...
sublime1-ga
|
Request for Question Clarification by
sublime1-ga
on
10 Nov 2005 13:56 PST
Another possibility is that this is a USB1 vs USB2 issue.
Perhaps your scanner requires USB1 and your system has
somehow been set to use USB2?
|
Request for Question Clarification by
sublime1-ga
on
10 Nov 2005 14:15 PST
Re: my last clarification, please see this thread on the
Everything USB Forum:
http://www.everythingusb.com/forums/showthread.php?s=675afb7d07648168f1308750b625f6d1&postid=23389#post23389
Also, I've seen some indication that a thorough uninstall
(from the program icon, preferably, rather than from the
Windows Add/Remove Programs), followed by a reinstall may
sometimes resolve the problem.
|
Clarification of Question by
mjismith-ga
on
10 Nov 2005 16:39 PST
Thanks for the feedback - my scanner was the first USB 2 one on the
market here when I bought it (Canon D1250 U2). I have tried the full
uninstall / reinstall option - no luck. I have an icon, not for the
scanner itself but for Canon Scan Gear Toolbox, which came with it.
The Everything USB web site suggests changing Power Management
properties in Device Manager, USB Ports. I'll try that when I get back
from work (in eight hours) and let you know ...
Mark
|
Clarification of Question by
mjismith-ga
on
12 Nov 2005 06:57 PST
Dear Mel (and your two colleagues, who along with yourself have been
trying to sort this out since Wednesday night) - success! You
suggestion that I should shut down the computer, then pull out the
power cables from both it and the scanner, reconnect them and boot up
again worked. I can now scan again. I believed I'd tried everything,
but I hadn't thought of trying that.
I am really impressed with the help you've given me on Google Answers,
and your refusal to give up until you'd found a solution. It's
probably the best £14.35 (at our rate of exchange) I've ever spent.
Thank you.
Mark
|
Request for Question Clarification by
sublime1-ga
on
12 Nov 2005 12:23 PST
Mark...
Mel, or merfieslaw-ga, is not a Google Answers Researcher, as
indicated by the fact that his username does not appear in blue,
and is not linked to Researcher ratings. He is thus unable to
post in the Answer space and collect fees. And, no answer has yet
been formally posted, since, in cases like this, I'm reluctant
to formally answer until a solution has been reached.
Therefore, I leave it up to you as to whether you wish to take
Mel's free comment as the solution, for which you would only
pay the 50 cent listing fee for posting the question, or whether
you consider my contribution to the process worthy of allowing
me to post a formal answer and collect the fee.
sublime1-ga
|
Clarification of Question by
mjismith-ga
on
12 Nov 2005 20:00 PST
Feel free to charge me the full $25. Once again, thanks for all your help.
Mark
|
Mark...
Per your instruction, I'll go ahead and post a compilation
of the information I provided as my contribution to your
question.
---------------------------------------------------------
After you've gotten that message, have you ever gone to Device
Manager to see whether the scanner is recognized? Perhaps it's
listed as Unknown USB device? I have a webcam that occasionally,
for no apparent reason, fails recognition by Windows, and shows
up in Device Manager in this way. 9 out of 10 times, a reboot
of Windows corrects the problem, and the cam is listed correctly
under Human Interface Devices.
To get to Device Manager, r-click on the My Computer icon on the
desktop, select Properties, and then the Hardware tab. Then
click on the Device Manager button.
---
I assume you've tried plugging it into both the hub and
the USB ports as the only device?
Is there any difference ascertainable difference between
the original installation of XP and your current SP2
version? Any updates that might have been on the first
but not on the second?
Also, you don't indicate whether you've tried rebooting
several times, as I mentioned, in the hopes of a successful
recognition in the course of one of them.
---
You noted:
"...when I try to use the scanner, I get the message: 'Cannot
communicate with scanner. Cable may be disconnected'"
This suggests that you have access to an icon for the scanner,
with which to activate it. Perhaps right-clicking on the icon
and selecting Properties will activate a dialog window which
will allow you to make changes to setting for the scanner.
It seems like there may be a setting which needs to be
adjusted so that it will work the way it used to.
If such a dialog is not available from a right-click menu,
perhaps you have access to such a dialog by way of the
Control Panel, or from Start -> Settings -> Printers?
---
Another possibility is that this is a USB1 vs USB2 issue.
Perhaps your scanner requires USB1 and your system has
somehow been set to use USB2?
In regard to that, please see this thread on the Everything
USB Forum:
http://www.everythingusb.com/forums/showthread.php?s=675afb7d07648168f1308750b625f6d1&postid=23389#post23389
Also, I've seen some indication that a thorough uninstall
(from the program icon, preferably, rather than from the
Windows Add/Remove Programs), followed by a reinstall may
sometimes resolve the problem.
---------------------------------------------------------
Congratulations on your success, and please feel welcome
to use Google Answers again in the future.
sublime1-ga
Searches done, via Google:
"cannot communicate with scanner"
://www.google.com/search?q=%22cannot+communicate+with+scanner%22
"cannot communicate with scanner" Canon D1250U2
://www.google.com/search?q=%22cannot+communicate+with+scanner%22+Canon+D1250U2 |
