mustek 1200 III EP scanner

[Dave]

I recently inherited (for lack of a better word) the above scanner. From
the git-go I realized it is a piece of crap. To scan in a 4x5" photo at 600
dpi took OVER 5 MINUTES, with the computer basically locked up (I mean the
mouse wouldn't even move) while the scan was in progress.

Well, unfortunately when I realized how long it was going to take to scan, I
decided not to wait. Ctrl-Alt-Del doesn't even friggin' work when this pig
was scanning so I got out the big hammer and powered down the PC. Not such
a great idea I guess. The scanner never reset itself, when I plug it in
(and it's been unplugged overnight now) the ccd light bar is still in the
same mid-scan position. I had to re-install the scan software and scanner
driver as the scan software would crash every time I tried to access the
scanner, now the re-installed software tells me that the scanner "isn't
working properly and cannot be accessed."

My simple question is, prior to tossing this thing in the trash, is there
any way to reset this thing? Other scanners I've used (mainly HP and Apple)
make some noises when you turn 'em on, you know, clicking, whirring, stuff
like you'd expect when the hardware is doing a POST/initialization, but not
the old Mustek.

Thanks for any replies, I know it's my own fault.

thanks

Dave

 

[CSM1]

I recently inherited (for lack of a better word) the above scanner. From
the git-go I realized it is a piece of crap. To scan in a 4x5" photo at 600
dpi took OVER 5 MINUTES, with the computer basically locked up (I mean the
mouse wouldn't even move) while the scan was in progress.

Well, unfortunately when I realized how long it was going to take to scan, I
decided not to wait. Ctrl-Alt-Del doesn't even friggin' work when this pig
was scanning so I got out the big hammer and powered down the PC. Not such
a great idea I guess. The scanner never reset itself, when I plug it in
(and it's been unplugged overnight now) the ccd light bar is still in the
same mid-scan position. I had to re-install the scan software and scanner
driver as the scan software would crash every time I tried to access the
scanner, now the re-installed software tells me that the scanner "isn't
working properly and cannot be accessed."

My simple question is, prior to tossing this thing in the trash, is there
any way to reset this thing? Other scanners I've used (mainly HP and Apple)
make some noises when you turn 'em on, you know, clicking, whirring, stuff
like you'd expect when the hardware is doing a POST/initialization, but not
the old Mustek.

Thanks for any replies, I know it's my own fault.

thanks

Dave

Open the case, manually move the scanner bar to the home position.

Go to this site Click on Drivers and download the latest driver for your
scanner.
http://www.mustek.de/eng_/start_english.htm

You will need the serial number from the scanner.

 

[Dave]

Open the case, manually move the scanner bar to the home position.

I considered it last night but thought there might be some magic tool to
reset it.

Go to this site Click on Drivers and download the latest driver for your
scanner.
http://www.mustek.de/eng_/start_english.htm

You will need the serial number from the scanner.

Hmm, I don't see my scanner listed there, might be too old... I did download
the latest driver off of www.mustek.com which did not seem to help. I think
there has always been a problem with the driver as the fluorescent light was
on all the time once the scanner was plugged in (never turns off). I will
try cracking it open and manually resetting the scan bar to the home
position.

thanks.

 

[Don]

I think
there has always been a problem with the driver as the fluorescent light was
on all the time once the scanner was plugged in (never turns off).

No, that's probably that silly (f)utility Mustek automatically
installs. At least, that's what my Mustek BearPaw 4800 TA Pro came
with.

You know, the one with cartoon-like buttons to let you use those fax,
email, etc. buttons some scanners have. It really is futile as it only
scans up to 300 dpi and makes sure the light burns out as quickly as
possible. :-/

It should be in your taskbar and once you remove it the light will go
off. After that it only comes on when the TWAIN driver is invoked. At
least that's how I fixed it.

I will
try cracking it open and manually resetting the scan bar to the home
position.

I would definitely avoid moving the lamp assembly by hand. You risk
damaging too many things. When (not if...) Mustek TWAIN crashes I
often end up with the light on and in the middle of the scanner.
Turning everything off (scanner and computer) and restarting should
move the assembly back to its home position automatically.

Don.

 

[Dave]

No, that's probably that silly (f)utility Mustek automatically
installs. At least, that's what my Mustek BearPaw 4800 TA Pro came
with.

It should be in your taskbar and once you remove it the light will go
off. After that it only comes on when the TWAIN driver is invoked. At
least that's how I fixed it.

Eureka, no more light. One problem down, one to go.

I would definitely avoid moving the lamp assembly by hand. You risk
damaging too many things. When (not if...) Mustek TWAIN crashes I
often end up with the light on and in the middle of the scanner.
Turning everything off (scanner and computer) and restarting should
move the assembly back to its home position automatically.

Well, I did have to open up the case and return the light bar to the home
position manually. I just turned the motor by hand nice 'n slow, when I
fired up the scanner it worked perfectly (I mean, as well as it did before).
Must remember not to mess with it while it's scanning. I am finding it
extremely slow but it works. A 4x5" photo at 300dpi takes just over a
minute to scan (of course I have to wait for "initializing scanner" for 20
or 30 seconds of that... sure would be nice if they'd add a feature to the
driver to just leave the friggin' thing on and ready to scan when you choose
"scan multiple images").

Just for fun I chose 2400dpi on a 4x5" photo (interpolated of course as the
optics will only do 1200) and clicked scan. Went to bed an hour later and
it was at 30%. Checked on it in the morning and it was at 49%. Hard drive
a-spinnin' like crazy. Now, the PC that this guy is connected to ain't
much, a 450MHz Celeron chip with a whoppin' 128mb of RAM BUT... should it
take this long? I seem to be able to scan to 600dpi in 2-1/2 minutes per
photo, any higher and it takes an eternity.

Thanks for the tips.

Dave

 

[CSM1]

Eureka, no more light. One problem down, one to go.


Well, I did have to open up the case and return the light bar to the home
position manually. I just turned the motor by hand nice 'n slow, when I
fired up the scanner it worked perfectly (I mean, as well as it did
before).
Must remember not to mess with it while it's scanning. I am finding it
extremely slow but it works. A 4x5" photo at 300dpi takes just over a
minute to scan (of course I have to wait for "initializing scanner" for 20
or 30 seconds of that... sure would be nice if they'd add a feature to the
driver to just leave the friggin' thing on and ready to scan when you
choose
"scan multiple images").

Just for fun I chose 2400dpi on a 4x5" photo (interpolated of course as
the
optics will only do 1200) and clicked scan. Went to bed an hour later and
it was at 30%. Checked on it in the morning and it was at 49%. Hard
drive
a-spinnin' like crazy. Now, the PC that this guy is connected to ain't
much, a 450MHz Celeron chip with a whoppin' 128mb of RAM BUT... should it
take this long? I seem to be able to scan to 600dpi in 2-1/2 minutes per
photo, any higher and it takes an eternity.

Thanks for the tips.

Dave

That is why we do not use interpolation, because the software is so
ssslow...
Never set the scanning at anything over the optical resolution of the
scanner. This is true for even the fast scanners of today.

If you need to interpolate something, it is better to do it in a good Photo
Editor such as PhotoShop.

Glad you got it going.

 

[Don]

Well, I did have to open up the case and return the light bar to the home
position manually. I just turned the motor by hand nice 'n slow, when I
fired up the scanner it worked perfectly (I mean, as well as it did before).
Must remember not to mess with it while it's scanning.

Definitely don't touch anything while it's moving!!

I hope you kept the area dust free when you opened it because dust has
a nasty habit of getting in everywhere. Because of that - and other
reasons - I clean the underside of the glass every few weeks.

Just for fun I chose 2400dpi on a 4x5" photo (interpolated of course as the
optics will only do 1200) and clicked scan.

As Carl said, don't use interpolation while scanning. It's not real.
Anything above optical is "invented" by the scanner and just slows
everything down to a crawl. Also, if you chose lower resolution stick
to "whole" numbers i.e. divide optical by 2 (in your case use 600, 300
or 150). Anything else will usually just get interpolated again.

So I second what Carl said about better doing that sort of thing in an
image editor afterwards. Not only is it faster but you'll get much
better quality than the quick and dirty on-the-go scanner
interpolation.

Thanks for the tips.

You're most welcome. Good luck!

Don.