HP 2300c Scanner doesn't work after re-loading XP

[Guest]

Hello All,

Yesterday, I re-loaded XP on our Gateway box because I was having repeated
problems sharing within workgroups (I could see everyone in my network; -
they could see me but not connect with me). Firewall(s) (ZoneAlarm and
Windows Firewall) were disabled, no apparent reason why the other three
machines could not access the shared folders.

Anyway, I re-loaded XP and pulled down the rollups and any additional
software. This solved the sharing problems, but introduced a new bug.

The Updater 'saw' that I had an HP 2300c scanner attached, but lacking a
driver because I had forgotten to disconnect the scanner during the Update
phase. (hadn't gotten to the scanner yet!), so it selected an update called
'Hewlett-Packard - Other Hardware - HP Scanjet 2300c' and proceeded to
install it.

Later, I tried to load the HP CD scanner software as one of the last steps
in putting my system back to working order, BUT the HP Director crashes each
time it accesses the scanner with a message similar to 'the device is not
available.' (don't have the message at present).

I've unloaded the scanner driver and software three times. Cycled the PC,
making sure the scanner was not connected during the software load, scanned
the registry for any entry related to Scanjet or 2300c.

Even resorted to retrieving the driver from HP but that didn't work either.

I've re-loaded the XP system and re-loaded HP software once before without
difficulties. This is the first time it has been this stubborn, further
complicated (it would seem) by MS sticking its nose into something better
left to the manufacturer of the scanner, I think.

The problem seems to be related to the Updater pulling down this gneric HP
driver that I can't find and can't remove.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

 

[Rock]

Hello All,

Yesterday, I re-loaded XP on our Gateway box because I was having repeated
problems sharing within workgroups (I could see everyone in my network; -
they could see me but not connect with me). Firewall(s) (ZoneAlarm and
Windows Firewall) were disabled, no apparent reason why the other three
machines could not access the shared folders.

Anyway, I re-loaded XP and pulled down the rollups and any additional
software. This solved the sharing problems, but introduced a new bug.

The Updater 'saw' that I had an HP 2300c scanner attached, but lacking a
driver because I had forgotten to disconnect the scanner during the Update
phase. (hadn't gotten to the scanner yet!), so it selected an update
called
'Hewlett-Packard - Other Hardware - HP Scanjet 2300c' and proceeded to
install it.

Later, I tried to load the HP CD scanner software as one of the last steps
in putting my system back to working order, BUT the HP Director crashes
each
time it accesses the scanner with a message similar to 'the device is not
available.' (don't have the message at present).

I've unloaded the scanner driver and software three times. Cycled the PC,
making sure the scanner was not connected during the software load,
scanned
the registry for any entry related to Scanjet or 2300c.

Even resorted to retrieving the driver from HP but that didn't work
either.

I've re-loaded the XP system and re-loaded HP software once before without
difficulties. This is the first time it has been this stubborn, further
complicated (it would seem) by MS sticking its nose into something better
left to the manufacturer of the scanner, I think.

The problem seems to be related to the Updater pulling down this gneric HP
driver that I can't find and can't remove.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Sorry I can't help with your problem, but this is another example of why one
should never get driver updates from the windows update site, unless it's an
MS manufactured device. Screen all updates to make sure none are for
drivers, and to make sure you want each of those udpates.

Good luck.

 

[Guest]

Well Rock, thanks for the reply none-the-less.

Spent about 7 hours re-building the PC today. BUT now I have one new
problem with this installation.

Fixed the problem with the scanner as mentioned in my original thread and a
number of missing .dll symptoms as well with apps like Nero for instance. Go
figure!

You'd think that if someone was loading XP on the same platform using the
same media, that the process should be repeatable and have a predictable
outcome. However, each install brings with it a different set of issues.

Well, I'm afraid that MS is too complex a subject to allow consistency to be
the rule.

Mine new problem started shortly after SP2 came down and updated.

I noticed that the PC went directly to the desktop each time it cycled with
each pass of updates, bypassing the XP 'Welcome' splash screen entirely.

Once I loaded all of the latest patches (after SP2) it had 'quietened' down
a bit, but it automatically opened the user group in Welcome and prompted for
Owner's password without any human intervention. I haven't tried to add a
second account to see if that changes what happens.

Has anyone seen this happen and is there a simple registry fix or patch for
it?

I can capture a screen print if someone waant to see what happens and is
willing to view this through email.

Please let me know.

 

[Rock]

Well Rock, thanks for the reply none-the-less.

Spent about 7 hours re-building the PC today. BUT now I have one new
problem with this installation.

Fixed the problem with the scanner as mentioned in my original thread and
a
number of missing .dll symptoms as well with apps like Nero for instance.
Go
figure!

You'd think that if someone was loading XP on the same platform using the
same media, that the process should be repeatable and have a predictable
outcome. However, each install brings with it a different set of issues.

Well, I'm afraid that MS is too complex a subject to allow consistency to
be
the rule.

Mine new problem started shortly after SP2 came down and updated.

I noticed that the PC went directly to the desktop each time it cycled
with
each pass of updates, bypassing the XP 'Welcome' splash screen entirely.

Once I loaded all of the latest patches (after SP2) it had 'quietened'
down
a bit, but it automatically opened the user group in Welcome and prompted
for
Owner's password without any human intervention. I haven't tried to add a
second account to see if that changes what happens.

Has anyone seen this happen and is there a simple registry fix or patch
for
it?

I can capture a screen print if someone waant to see what happens and is
willing to view this through email.

It's easy to set up an auto login, either manually or with TweakUI.

1. Go to Start | Run and type in: control userpasswords2 | Ok.

2. On the Users tab, clear the Users Must Enter A User Name And Password To
Use This Computer check box and then click OK.

3. In the Automatically Log On dialog box that appears, type the user name
and password for the account you want to be logged on each time you start
your computer.

You can accomplish the same thing by:

Download and install TweakUI for XP and use its auto logon feature.
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/downloads/powertoys.asp

Lastly you can add the Dialog box that comes up when running control
userpasswords2 to the Control Panel with the following tweak:

Add Control User Passwords2 to the Control Panel (Line 1)
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm

When building a machine, I recommend you get a drive imaging program such as
Acronis True Image Home version 10 and an external hard drive. A drive
imaging program creates a compressed image of the drive or partition.
Subsequent images can be incremental or differential, and restores can be
done on a file, partition or drive basis. ATI also does file backup and
disk cloning.

Image the system at each milestone change when it is running well. That way
if something damages it, you can restore to the previous image and work out
why.

For applying SP2, I prefer not to use Windows Update for that. The best
thing to do is to create an installation CD that has SP2 integrated on it,
in a process called slipstreaming. Autostreamer makes it easier. Then do
the original install with this CD. If all you have is a recovery CD then
that won't work, but in that case use the SP2 CD (it can be obtained from MS
for the cost of shipping, or ask around, there were thousands given away.
You might find someone that has one. Or if you have broadband download the
full version of SP2, and burn that to CD. Apply SP2 right after the
initial installation. After it is installed, then go to Windows Updates for
the remaining ones.

With windows updates on a system that is caught up and I'm just adding the
new ones that came out that month, I do a custom scan, examine each update
to see if I want it, then download the individual update, save a copy
somewhere, and install it from that downloaded file. I test between each
one to make sure there are no problems. As I said before never get driver
updates from windows update.

When building a machine it would be horrendously slow to do that. If you
had already downloaded them from a previous installation that helps, but
otherwise, I would recommend installing them a small group at a time, 3-5.
Testing after each one. Make incremental images occasionally as you go
along.

The key to having a good running installation is to regularly image it when
things are fine, and only make changes one item at a time. If problems
occur, fix them before going on to the next. Image regularly as a backup.
I do a full image weekly and incremental images nightly. I alternate
between two external drives so one can be kept off site that week. In this
way there is redundancy, and multiple images are archived.

Here are some links on slipstreaming, and on ordering SP2 on CD or
downloading the full version.

Slipstream

http://www.theeldergeek.com/slipstreamed_xpsp2_cd.htm
http://unattended.msfn.org/unattended.xp/

Autostreamer
http://fileforum.betanews.com/detail/1092632287/1
http://www.simplyguides.net/guides/using_autostreamer/using_autostreamer.html
http://www.neowin.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=223562

Download Windows Service Pack 2 Standalone Version
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...BE-3B8E-4F30-8245-9E368D3CDB5A&displaylang=en

Order Windows XP Service Pack 2 on CD
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/downloads/updates/sp2/cdorder/en_us/default810.mspx

 

[Guest]

Hello Rock,

And again, thanks for the reply. Most valuable and loaded with insights
shared willing, I think.

My son has XP SP2 running on his desktop (bought the copy at his university
bookstore for about $100.00 CDN) last September. He tells me his PC does the
same thing with the login screen. 'New' to me though!

We used to have three different account logins on this one machine until we
moved two users off to W2000 machines in separate rooms. I removed the
accounts at that time, but had not re-built this machine as a single user
until this past week.

With the new rollups I could do as you suggest by creating a type of
'checkpoint restart', provided we had some ghosting or imaging software.
(Used to manage a QA group for General Motors about 10 years ago). My machine
comes with an OEM version of XP Home SP1, so it is a slow process to get back
to current.

Thanks again for the insights.

 

[Rock]

Hello Rock,

And again, thanks for the reply. Most valuable and loaded with insights
shared willing, I think.

My son has XP SP2 running on his desktop (bought the copy at his
university
bookstore for about $100.00 CDN) last September. He tells me his PC does
the
same thing with the login screen. 'New' to me though!

We used to have three different account logins on this one machine until
we
moved two users off to W2000 machines in separate rooms. I removed the
accounts at that time, but had not re-built this machine as a single user
until this past week.

With the new rollups I could do as you suggest by creating a type of
'checkpoint restart', provided we had some ghosting or imaging software.
(Used to manage a QA group for General Motors about 10 years ago). My
machine
comes with an OEM version of XP Home SP1, so it is a slow process to get
back
to current.

Thanks again for the insights.

You're welcome. Good luck.