can't get vista-compatible driver for Epson 4490 to work

[josie k]

I've been having major problems trying to get a Vista-compatible
driver downloaded for a new Epson Perfection 4490 to work. As
instructed by the Epson website, I didn't install from the CD that
came with the product as there was no indication this is Vista-
compatible. I followed online instructions to the letter, as confirmed
by Epson technical support when I contacted them, and over the past
few days have many times downloaded the correct Vista-compatible
driver for the 4490. It downloads OK, and then I can run it on the PC.
But at the stage where I plug in and turn on the scanner in the right
sequence,, and new hardware is being detected and the software is
being installed, things go wrong and I always get messages saying
that "Windows found driver software for your device bur encountered an
error while attempting to install it" and "the system cannot find the
file specified". The words code 28 have appeared, and I think once
code 10. On device manager the scanner icon appears with a yellow
exclamation mark. I've been spending an awful lot of time these past
few days downloading, instalingl and then uninstalling the driver.
I've even tried the download from different Epson sites scattered
across the globe from the UK to Japan just in case one of them
performs better.

Anyone else been having similar problems with downloaded Epson scanner
drivers for Vista? From my online searches it seems not. Epson are
little help, insist the driver is perfect and is being used fine by
other customers, and are blaming a "bug" in Vista. Microsoft referred
me to the PC manufacturer, because the Vista came pre-installed, while
the PC manufacturer passed me back to Epson...

As an interim measure, I decided to at least download the Vista driver
for my old 1240U so as not to be scannerless. Same problem with the
driver for that machine too. ..

Is this a lost cause? I can't afford to spend much more time on the
prob. Maybe I should get a Canon sacnner instead? I've had no probs
getting my (old) Canon printers or camera to work with Vista.

 

[Dakota]

I've been having major problems trying to get a Vista-compatible
driver downloaded for a new Epson Perfection 4490 --------------snipped-----------------
Is this a lost cause? I can't afford to spend much more time

----------more yada yada snipped--------------

josie, I'd say you're f*cked

 

[babaloo]

Welcome to Vista hell.
At the beginning I will say that most of Epson's drivers work well with
Vista. However many Vista users are experiencing problems with Vista drivers
that work well in some hardware/software configurations but not in other
common configurations. I blame Microsoft but you can make up your own mind
who to hate.
First manually delete every, and I mean every, file related to the Epson
driver. You may have to check with Epson to get a complete list of files.
Also manually comb the registry for any references to this device and driver
and delete. Then reboot.
Then try to reinstall and pray.
If it does not work you can try Vuescan (this is the advice I got from Epson
when they were equivocating about issuing a driver for one of my
periperals).
While Epson drivers for my Epson scanner and printer so far seem to work
well I have Vista drivers from other vendors that do not work at all. Trying
to install them generates the same Vista crud "Vista can not find the
driver" that you have experienced. Surprise: these vendors do not reply to
e-mails asking for further assistance.
I have even gotten feedback from Microsoft on this common problem. Guess who
Microsoft blames: not Vista. They blame the OEM for not writing a true Vista
compatible driver! What a surprise! Who would have guessed?
Lots a luck.
This is why Vista is only useful in a dual boot system for experimentation:
Vista is totally not ready for reliable business and personal use. If you
have a new computer that only has Vista on it see if you can install XP in a
dual boot configuration so you can get on with your life.

 

[fred]

This problem can sometimes be remedied in one of a few ways. First, after
removing as much of the "left-over" files from a previous installation
attempt as possible, try one of the following:

Right click on the Epson installation file and select "run as administrator"
to initiate the install. If this doesn't solve your problem, next go to the
directory that was "uncompressed" from the executeable installation file and
find the .inf file and point the Vista wizard at it. If neither of these do
the job, go to the Control Panel/Hardware/Scanners (whatever it takes to get
there - I'm dual booted into WinXP at the moment) and select add scanner.
Pick the port the scanner is installed on and then select the
manufacturer/model and you MIGHT meet with success.

Good Luck

FredF