Device Type missing from Device Manager

[Guest]

The Device Manager no longer shows "Imaging Devices" as one of the available
device types. It's very likely my fault, and I don't know how to fix it.

I was struggling to get a Canon flatbed scanner to work with my new desktop
system (a separate problem). Following directions from Canon technical
support, I opened device manager, found the scanner listed under "Imaging
Devices", right clicked, then clicked "Uninstall".

I seem to have uninstalled more than just the scanner, however - that's the
point at which "Imaging Devices" disappared.

Now, when I plug in the scanner (which still doesn't work), it comes up
under "unknown devices".

Also, Canon tech support had me search for usbscan.sys, which does not seem
to be anywhere on my hard drive (this was after the accident with the Device
Manager.)

so, how badly did I mess up?

 

[dean-dean]

The "Imaging Devices" category in Device Manager will return when your
scanner's driver is installed. Empty categories aren't shown. Your only
problem so far is getting the driver for your scanner installed...

As far as usbscan.sys goes, look under
C:\Windows\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository\ for a folder beginning with
sti.inf_...

 

[Guest]

--
freddy

The "Imaging Devices" category in Device Manager will return when your
scanner's driver is installed. Empty categories aren't shown. Your only
problem so far is getting the driver for your scanner installed...

As far as usbscan.sys goes, look under
C:\Windows\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository\ for a folder beginning with
sti.inf_...

 

[Guest]

rjk42,

Did you manage to ever get the scanner to work under Vista? You comments
sound as though you didn't manage this, even with Cannon tech support. Is
this correct?

Are the scanner drivers and software you were trying to use Vista
compatible? Drivers for the scanner must be Vista compatible in order to
make the scanner function properly.

The reason I'm asking is because Vista drivers/software for your scanner are
likely available from a 3rd party vendor if you need them. I post this for
your information and consideration. Post back if you need information abort
those drivers.

 

[Guest]

Error in posting, ignore above item.
--
freddy

 

[Guest]

Freddy,

It looks as though I've been chasing a red herring while the real problem
goes unresolved: I never managed to get the scanner to work on this computer.

It's a CanoScan LiDE 60. I downloaded the 32-bit Vista compatible driver
directly from the Canon site. After I install it and plug in the scanner,
the new hardware wizard searches in vain for the driver before producing a
contradictory error message: on the one hand, it claims to have found the
driver but encountered an error, on the other hand it claims not to have
found the driver.

I've tried any number of contortions - uninstalling, reinstalling, using
selective startup, etc. (following directions from the folks at Canon). No
dice.

Any ideas?

 

[Guest]

ohhh . . . so *that's* where they hide it. Thanks. Now I just have to
figure out how to get the scanner to work.

 

[Guest]

rjk42,

Well, if you're sure you have Vista compatible drivers, then they should be
recognized and install. There must be some other problem causing this
condition to happen.

For example, some folks have had good luck resolving issues like you have by
deleting the INFCACHE.1 file, which can get corrupted with bad data and cause
issues with driver recognition. The file is located at C:\Windows\inf.
There, scroll down to the INFCACHE.1 file and right click it and select
delete. To do this, you will likely have to give yourself permission to
delete it, because of Windows built-in security you know. Just right click
the file, select Properties and then click on the
security tab. Let us know whether this procedure does anything. Sometimes
it does and sometimes not.

 

[Guest]

Freddy,

I tried this, but it did not work. I checked, and the scanner still shows
up in the Device Manager as "Other Device(?)" - while it used to show up as
"Imaging Device".

rjk42

 

[Guest]

rjk42,

In Device Manager, right click the Other Device and select Uninstall. Let
the computer reboot to see whether it detects the scanner and installs it
correctly. This is assuming that the scanner is connected and that the Vista
compatible drivers have been installed.

If that doesn't work, start over by reinstalling the drivers, following the
manufacturer's instructions for doing so. This has to work, somehow. If it
doesn't, maybe the drivers aren't compatible. Just a thought.