Polaroid Sprintscan 35 Plus Error

[chuckeecoop]

Hi all!

Hoping to find some help with a Polaroid Sprintscan 35 Plus which I
recently purchased. I realize it's quite an ancient device but I got it
to do some inexpensive experimentation.

I am on a PC using Windows ME with an Adaptec 2940 SCSI controller
which I use to connect to the scanner.

I am able to use the software to initiate a Preview or Scan but after
the tray goes up and down a time or two, an error message pops up with
a reference number of 8008000H. I have already contacted Polaroid and
they have suggested I send the unit in for repair.

Is this a problem with the scanner, the SCSI card, the SCSI cable or
something else?

I wanted to bring this matter before the real experts before making my
next move. Surely, I'm not the first user this has happened to.

Any help would be appreciated.


Thanks!

Chuck

 

[rafeb]

Hi all!

Hoping to find some help with a Polaroid Sprintscan 35 Plus which I
recently purchased. I realize it's quite an ancient device but I got it
to do some inexpensive experimentation.

I am on a PC using Windows ME with an Adaptec 2940 SCSI controller
which I use to connect to the scanner.

I am able to use the software to initiate a Preview or Scan but after
the tray goes up and down a time or two, an error message pops up with
a reference number of 8008000H. I have already contacted Polaroid and
they have suggested I send the unit in for repair.

Is this a problem with the scanner, the SCSI card, the SCSI cable or
something else?

I wanted to bring this matter before the real experts before making my
next move. Surely, I'm not the first user this has happened to.

Any help would be appreciated.

Check the lamp. Very easy to
replace, in fact there may be
a spare inside the front cover.

You can find 4W flourescents at
Home Despot that will fit and do
the job.


rafe b.
http://www.terrapinphoto.com

 

[chuckeecoop]

Thanks for the help Rafe!!!

I'll try that and post here if it does indeed rectify the situation.

Chuck

 

[chuckeecoop]

Thanks for the help Rafe!!!

I'll try that and post here if it does indeed rectify the situation.

Chuck

 

[chuckeecoop]

Purchased a new lamp at the Depot but still the scanner is a no go.

Any other suggestions?

Thanks for your time!

Chuck

 

[rafe bustin]

Purchased a new lamp at the Depot but still the scanner is a no go.

Any other suggestions?

Are you sure the lamp is lit?

I'd do a careful disassembly and
watch it while it's doing its
pre-scan calbration. Make sure
there's nothing obstructing the
slot where the lamp shines through.

Another idea... unplug, re-plug
both ends of the SCSI connection,
or try another cable.

Beyond that, I'm plumb out of ideas.

This was a fine scanner in its day,
but I've seen 'em go for under $100
on eBay.


rafe b.
http://www.terrapinphoto.com

 

[chuckeecoop]

This is an ebay purchase! At well under the $100 price tag you
mentioned. Also had to purchase the SCSI card from the bay as well.
This is my first time dealing with any SCSI technology so I'm having to
learn a new level of patience. I am eager to start playing with my new,
old toy though.

To answer your question, the lamp does not come on at all. The carrier
does its thing (calibrating I presume) by going up and down twice and
then the error message pops up every time.

I've hooked everything up on two different computers and get the exact
same results.

I may very well have to go find another cable and try that too.

Another idea I had was trying one of these SCSI to USB
adapters--specifically, the Adaptec USBxchange. I'm thinking this may
very well improve communications between the computer and the scanning
device.

Your thoughts on this would be appreciated.

Thanks for all your input!

Chuck

 

[rafeb]

This is an ebay purchase! At well under the $100 price tag you
mentioned. Also had to purchase the SCSI card from the bay as well.
This is my first time dealing with any SCSI technology so I'm having to
learn a new level of patience. I am eager to start playing with my new,
old toy though.

To answer your question, the lamp does not come on at all. The carrier
does its thing (calibrating I presume) by going up and down twice and
then the error message pops up every time.

I've hooked everything up on two different computers and get the exact
same results.

I may very well have to go find another cable and try that too.

Another idea I had was trying one of these SCSI to USB
adapters--specifically, the Adaptec USBxchange. I'm thinking this may
very well improve communications between the computer and the scanning
device.

No, the lamp is the problem, I think,
or more specifically the lamp power supply.

It certainly MUST be on for preview or scan,
and of course during the short calibration
phase just prior to each scan.

At this point, from what you've told us,
I'd work on getting that lamp to come on.
There's no hard evidence (yet) of a SCSI problem.

The lamp power supply is easily identified
within the chassis.


rafe b.
http://www.terrapinphoto.com

 

[chuckeecoop]

It is true that I have never seen a lamp on for this device, so I do
not know when it is supposed to come on and/or shut off.

I have taken the cover off and see no signs and anything getting in the
way of the carrier. I'm sure I see the lamp power supply as well but
not being anywhere near a master electrician, I'm not sure what I'm
looking for or what to do next.


Thanks!

Chuck

 

[rafe bustin]

It is true that I have never seen a lamp on for this device, so I do
not know when it is supposed to come on and/or shut off.

I have taken the cover off and see no signs and anything getting in the
way of the carrier. I'm sure I see the lamp power supply as well but
not being anywhere near a master electrician, I'm not sure what I'm
looking for or what to do next.

In that case, you may be SOL, unless you
can get that lamp lit.

If you wanna get really creative...
find a lamp socket/fixture for a 4W
bulb that contains a power supply,
and use the electronics from that.


rafe b.
http://www.terrapinphoto.com

 

[chuckeecoop]

The scanner gods must be with me.

Don't know how or why but all of a sudden, the lamp started coming on
and the thing is now fully functional.

I've started piddling around with the device and it does work quite
well for the money but I am concerned about the apparent inability to
do what I was hoping to do. That is to scan slides at the maximum dpi
of 2700 to get a printable image in 8.5 x 11 inch format. Is this just
not possible with the device I have? Everytime I try to adjust the
output the resolution decreases automatically. Not sure if I'm just
doing something wrong.

Thanks for all your help!

Chuck

 

[rafeb]

The scanner gods must be with me.

Don't know how or why but all of a sudden, the lamp started coming on
and the thing is now fully functional.

I've started piddling around with the device and it does work quite
well for the money but I am concerned about the apparent inability to
do what I was hoping to do. That is to scan slides at the maximum dpi
of 2700 to get a printable image in 8.5 x 11 inch format. Is this just
not possible with the device I have? Everytime I try to adjust the
output the resolution decreases automatically. Not sure if I'm just
doing something wrong.

It is most certainly possible.

But the image you get will be 2700 dpi
of an area approximately 1" x 1.5".

In other words the image you get will
be at most 2700 x (1.5 * 2700) pixels.

Which works out to about 9 million
pixels, or 27 million bytes.

Fiddle with the sizing dialog a bit.
Most likely the default setting will do.

You may also have to learn to use the
image size dialongs in your chosen
image editor.

see www.scantips.com


rafe b.
http://www.terrapinphoto.com