Problem with Minolta Dual Scan IV

[Alan in Hampshire]

Hi - I'm new to this group but I've been browsing for a while since
encountering a problem with my Dual Scan IV scanner.

It was working fine earlier in the year but I didn't do any scanning
over the summer and when i tried it again three months ago, I hit this
problem.

What happens is that when I try to scan a strip of negatives, it does
the index scan OK, usually scans the first frame OK, and then fails
whilst attempting the preview scan for the second frame. When it
stops, it pops up the message "Error = 1, Unknown Error, Confirm all
other DIMAGE scan software is closed".

I checked carefully in the Task List and I'm sure only one copy of the
software is running.

I'm running Windows XP SP2, on an IBM Thinkpad T40, with 2GB memory.
I've been able to try it on two other machines - one with XP SP2 and an
older one with Windows 2000 and it works fine on these. Furthermore,
I've tried VueScan on the T40 and that works fine too (apart from those
dollar signs - I haven't registered it), so it looks like the hardware
(scanner and computer) all work fine.

I've installed the latest version of the software (1.01) and I've tried
clearing out all the multiple entries for the scanner that had got into
the Windows registry and reinstalled the software several times, all to
no avail.

It looks like a software problem to me but the error message is so
unhelpful (i.e. wrong!) that I don't know where to start. I've tried
Minolta Support in the UK and although they've been helpful up till
now, they're now trying to say it's not their problem.

I'd appreciate any ideas or suggestions. My otherwise excellent
scanner is now sitting unused and I'm not happy. I could register
VueScan but I don't see why I should pay for software to replace the
Minolta software that should work.

Thanks for reading!

Alan

 

[CSM1]

Hi - I'm new to this group but I've been browsing for a while since
encountering a problem with my Dual Scan IV scanner.

It was working fine earlier in the year but I didn't do any scanning
over the summer and when i tried it again three months ago, I hit this
problem.

What happens is that when I try to scan a strip of negatives, it does
the index scan OK, usually scans the first frame OK, and then fails
whilst attempting the preview scan for the second frame. When it
stops, it pops up the message "Error = 1, Unknown Error, Confirm all
other DIMAGE scan software is closed".

I checked carefully in the Task List and I'm sure only one copy of the
software is running.

I'm running Windows XP SP2, on an IBM Thinkpad T40, with 2GB memory.
I've been able to try it on two other machines - one with XP SP2 and an
older one with Windows 2000 and it works fine on these. Furthermore,
I've tried VueScan on the T40 and that works fine too (apart from those
dollar signs - I haven't registered it), so it looks like the hardware
(scanner and computer) all work fine.

I've installed the latest version of the software (1.01) and I've tried
clearing out all the multiple entries for the scanner that had got into
the Windows registry and reinstalled the software several times, all to
no avail.

It looks like a software problem to me but the error message is so
unhelpful (i.e. wrong!) that I don't know where to start. I've tried
Minolta Support in the UK and although they've been helpful up till
now, they're now trying to say it's not their problem.

I'd appreciate any ideas or suggestions. My otherwise excellent
scanner is now sitting unused and I'm not happy. I could register
VueScan but I don't see why I should pay for software to replace the
Minolta software that should work.

Thanks for reading!

Alan

"Error = 1, Unknown Error, Confirm all other DIMAGE scan software is
closed".

The above error message is generated when the Scan Dual Software (the
computer) loses communication with the scanner (the scanner goes OFF LINE).
It is a loss of USB connection to the scanner. It is the same as pulling the
USB cable or the power cable from the back of the scanner when the TWAIN
interface is active.

Check your USB ports on your computer, Check the cable, wiggle the
connection, try a new cable. Try a different USB port on the computer.

Try the Minolta scan dual 4 on a USB 1.1 port.

This scanner uses a standard "A" to "B" USB 2.0 cable.

 

[Alan in Hampshire]

Hi - thank you for that. I had a suspicion it might be related to the
USB connection as sometimes (but not always) when the problem occurs, I
see that funny message from Windows XP saying something like "you've
connected a USB 2.0 device to a USB 1.1 port". Since both USB ports on
my laptop are USB2.0 this isn't true but does suggest something odd
going on with USB.

It all worked fine using different software (VueScan) so I'm doubtful
that anything is wrong with the cable etc..

It actually works fine on ISB1.1 on another machine I have so I almost
wonder whether, if I connected a USB 1.1 hub to my USB 2.0 port and
then connected the scanner to that, whether it would work more
reliably. Maybe a silly idea - I'm not sure, but I'll try anything if
it might work!

thanks again,

Alan

 

[CSM1]

Try it and see.

Please quote the previous message so that we know what you are referring to.
Use the Reply Group command.

 

[Alan in Hampshire]

Hi - thank you for that. I had a suspicion it might be related to the
USB connection as sometimes (but not always) when the problem occurs, I
see that funny message from Windows XP saying something like "you've
connected a USB 2.0 device to a USB 1.1 port". Since both USB ports on
my laptop are USB2.0 this isn't true but does suggest something odd
going on with USB.

It all worked fine using different software (VueScan) so I'm doubtful
that anything is wrong with the cable etc..

It actually works fine on ISB1.1 on another machine I have so I almost
wonder whether, if I connected a USB 1.1 hub to my USB 2.0 port and
then connected the scanner to that, whether it would work more
reliably. Maybe a silly idea - I'm not sure, but I'll try anything if
it might work!

thanks again,

Alan

 

[CSM1]

If you connect through a Hub you are making things worse, Hubs and scanners
do not get along.

The Scan Dual IV is very sensitive to the USB, even a USB cable that is out
of spec for USB 2.0 will cause loss of connection. If the cable is too long
it will make the Scan Dual IV go Off line. USB problems can cause Scan Dual
IV to freeze and lock up.

At USB 1.1, the Scan Dual IV is happy because of the lower transfer rate and
the lesser Spec for USB. USB 1.1 is slow compared to 2.0.

With USB 1.1, scanning at high resolution, the data transfer is slow, and
takes longer to scan.

Try removing the USB Controller in Device Manager.

Go to Windows Update and Update the USB from Microsoft. If are you running
Windows XP. Update to SP1 or SP2.

 

[Alan in Hampshire]

Thank you. It does sounds as though the problem is USB related. I've
already tried (lots of times) deleting the USB devices in device
manager and reinstalling them. Although I had the problem on SP1, with
lots of security updates, I recently installed SP2 in the hope that it
might help. I notice that the usb drivers have all been updated by
installed SP2 but I still have the problem.

I'm using the cable that came with the scanner, so I kind of assume
that it's suitable. I suppose I could try another one - it would be an
easy thing to try.

When I tried it on another laptop that only had USB 1.1, I expected
scanning to be terribly slow but in fact it didn't seem that different.
My idea (and your probably right that it's a bad one) of forcing it to
operate as USB1.1 on my normal machine by going via a USB1.1 hub was
that it might make it less sensitive to USB problems, if that is the
problem.

The other thing I could do and haven't tried yet, is to update the
laptop's firmware (BIOS etc.). Although the read.me for the most
recent level doesn't mention updates to the way USB works, I suppose it
could still make a difference. I support too it's always possible that
the USB interface on my laptop is actually faulty. I have seen some
odd behaviour when attaching a USB 2 external hard disk, so I suppose
that is possible.

Anyway - thank you for your help and suggestions.

Alan