My Solution to "Can't Find Scanner"

[Liesl]

I went through many excruciating hours of trying to figure out why my
Microtek ScanMaker 9600XL wasn't showing up on my computer. I followed
the advice of many, including unstalling and reinstalling the
ScanWizard software, making sure the scanner is turned on before
booting the computer, trying a brand new cable; I even installed an
ASPI driver.

The manuals for this scanner was non-existent on Microtek's web site -
they dedicated WAY too much space to the software and almost nothing to
the hardware.

The answer? What appears to be a dipswitch on the back of the scanner.
Somewhere during our move, or maybe even afterwards, someone had
intervertently toggled it to "9". Again, I couldn't find ANY
information on Microtek's site about this switch so I just randomly
changed it to "1". That was it! My scanner stopped scanning incessantly
when it was powered on, and my computer recognized it immediately.

Liesl

PS: I still haven't found any documentation about my scanner's locking
mechanism. Microtek says the 9600XL has a bottom screw lock but I can't
find it.

 

[Don]

The answer? What appears to be a dipswitch on the back of the scanner.
Somewhere during our move, or maybe even afterwards, someone had
intervertently toggled it to "9". Again, I couldn't find ANY
information on Microtek's site about this switch so I just randomly
changed it to "1". That was it! My scanner stopped scanning incessantly
when it was powered on, and my computer recognized it immediately.

This is perhaps out of left field because I haven't been following the
thread closely, but could it be that the dip switch (among other
things) selects the SCSI number?

If the previous setting resulted in number already occupied by some
other device that could cause a conflict. Or "9" could simply be the
terminator setting and your scanner wasn't the last in the chain!?

Just a thought... The important thing is you got it working!

Don.

 

[Wayne Fulton]

I went through many excruciating hours of trying to figure out why my
Microtek ScanMaker 9600XL wasn't showing up on my computer. I followed
the advice of many, including unstalling and reinstalling the
ScanWizard software, making sure the scanner is turned on before
booting the computer, trying a brand new cable; I even installed an
ASPI driver.

The manuals for this scanner was non-existent on Microtek's web site -
they dedicated WAY too much space to the software and almost nothing to
the hardware.

The answer? What appears to be a dipswitch on the back of the scanner.
Somewhere during our move, or maybe even afterwards, someone had
intervertently toggled it to "9". Again, I couldn't find ANY
information on Microtek's site about this switch so I just randomly
changed it to "1". That was it! My scanner stopped scanning incessantly
when it was powered on, and my computer recognized it immediately.

Liesl

PS: I still haven't found any documentation about my scanner's locking
mechanism. Microtek says the 9600XL has a bottom screw lock but I can't
find it.

That's great! Best possible answer. The continual seeking back and
forth of the carriage had me worried that it was a powerup selftest
failure (implying hardware), however part of that selftest includes
finding the communication port.

All SCSI devices have this "SCSI ID" switch to select SCSI channel ID.
This unique ID is how multiple devices can operate on one SCSI bus.
Some bigger SCSI boards do have 16 channels, but most boards only have 8
channels, numbered 0 to 7. ID 7 is normally reserved for the SCSI card
itself. SCSI disks, if used, are often 0 and 1. Microtek normally
ships scanners set to default ID of 6.

But the purpose of the switch is because it can be set to any number 0-6
(for your SCSI card), so long as that ID number does not conflict with
(is not used by) the ID number set on any other SCSI device present. All
SCSI devices have this switch, and each device must be set to a unique
ID number by itself - any number so long as only one device per number.
You will have to reboot the computer after changing the ID switch.

So 1 is surely fine, if you dont have another SCSI device already at 1.
If you did, and both were powered on, then probably neither would work
with same ID.

The carriage lock screw is on the bottom (underside), near the front
under where the carriage is parked, and probably towards one side. It
likely will be the only feature of interest on the bottom. On some
scanners, it can be a larger plastic slide mechanism, but on Microteks,
probably it is a regular-looking metal screw, but spring loaded. Your
finger will be able to push it (against the spring) in a very short
travel, to then be screwed into the carriage to hold it motionless for
shipping. When unscrewed (unlocked), the spring pops the screw back
out, out of the way, for using the scanner without interferring with the
carriage.

Hope that helps. Thanks for posting details of your success.

 

[Don]

I went through many excruciating hours of trying to figure out why my
Microtek ScanMaker 9600XL wasn't showing up on my computer. ....
PS: I still haven't found any documentation about my scanner's locking
mechanism. Microtek says the 9600XL has a bottom screw lock but I can't
find it.

P.S. Wait a minute! I actually had a Microtek ScanMaker E6 and I
distinctly remember reading about this screw! Let me check my notes
(if I can find them)...

OK, there are 3 types of locking mechanism: a screw (the "fifth" screw
when you turn the scanner over), or a "button type lock" next to the
scanner's power socket, or a "latch type lock" near the front panel
lights. Does that help any? That's all I have.

I don't see any reference to DIP switches in my notes but they refer
to a "rotary" SCSI ID selector ranging from 0 to 9 (A-ha! "9"!). I
didn't use the supplied SCSI card because I already had the Adaptec,
so I have no additional notes about IRQ jumper settings and suchlike.

Anyway, it says here "don't use SCSI #7, #8 and #9 because they may be
used for self-test mode and make the carriage move back and forth".
Bingo! Sounds familiar, eh? ;o)

BTW, is there Microtec Canada? Might be worth a call, if there is.
Also, many of these companies "hide" information on their web site so,
if you haven't tried that already, an email might also do the trick
because they may know a "deep link" where the manuals live.

Don.

 

[Hecate]

P.S. Wait a minute! I actually had a Microtek ScanMaker E6 and I
distinctly remember reading about this screw! Let me check my notes
(if I can find them)...

I had one of those too. That's why I now have Epson and Minolta ;-)

--

Hecate - The Real One
(e-mail address removed)
Fashion: Buying things you don't need, with money
you don't have, to impress people you don't like...

 

[Liesl]

<snip>

Hope that helps. Thanks for posting details of your success.


--
Wayne
http://www.scantips.com "A few scanning tips"

_________________________________________

Thanks everyone for your most excellent comments. Yes, that was indeed
the SCSI ID selector, not a DIP switch. I received an email reply from
Microtek's support group in less than 24 hours, and they immediately
offered the right solution. I know there has been some negative
postings about Microtek's support but, I have to say, they worked for
me!

Liesl

 

[Don]

I had one of those too. That's why I now have Epson and Minolta ;-)

Yeah, they do look "stone age" these days, don't they? ;o)

I didn't actually use it much. It was back when I was "rich and
famous" and bought a lot of hardware (like the LS-30) "in preparation"
(also as a tax write-off) but had no time to actually use any of them.

Then by the time I actually got around to scanning they were all
hopelessly out of date... :-(

Don.