HP 3-in-1 Printer/Scanner/Copier Problems

[unknown9]

Alright, my dad got this 3-in-1 scanner for christmas last year. Apparently, he hasn't even tried the scanner......and the other night when he tried it, it brought up the HP program thing, and it said

"Error communicating to the scanner"

Not sure if that was the exact message, ill have to try it and get the write the error down. The copier and printer have worked since he got it though, and are still working fine. He called HP and they gave him some kinda BS that it wasnt the scanner and it was Dell, and so that he should call dell

The Specs (not sure on some):
Dell 550 mhz
Small power supply (they never put in enough)
PC100 SDRAM (yes i know, so old! )


Any idea's?

[woodbutcher]

Have all the drivers been installed?
You also might head over to HP's site and DL the latest drivers.

WB

[unknown9]

Already tried that, actually many times. No luck

[Bill in SD, CA]

Sounds to me that the HP scanner software has never been installed.

Bill

[Jgedeon]

try turning the computer off and then copying something. If it will copy then it's not a scanner problem and then I would would have to agree with the missing software.

edit just reread your post. If the copier works then as said before it's not a scanner problem but software related.

[MDS]

OK a few quick ?'s
first what OS is he running?
and which 3n1? (I have the PSC 750 and I does have some issues scanning using the scan button on the printer in winXP but will work using the HP PSC control software from the install)

[unknown9]

Originally posted by MDS
OK a few quick ?'s
first what OS is he running?
and which 3n1? (I have the PSC 750 and I does have some issues scanning using the scan button on the printer in winXP but will work using the HP PSC control software from the install)

he's using windows 98 (im upgrading to 2k, as he should too, but its the "its not broken, so why fix it" deal.

its the psc 2110, the hp control panel thing we tried scanning from too but it wont work either.......

[Steeple]

Sorry I can't help, but I can rant. Your experience is similar to mine. I've given up on HP multifunction machines. I've had 4 and they have always been finicky (especially the scanner and the OCR function) and I was the only one in the family who could get them to work. In my experience, they are simply not easy enough for the non-techs (that is, parents, wife or children) to work with if they don't perform as they should (which is usually the case). And I've just gottten tired of them. Go for a machine that does 1 thing well; and buy 3 good machines if that is what you have to do to get all the functions you need. If you'll do that, you'll be paying a little more but you're buying ease of use and peace of mind for your family when you aren't there to be "tech monkey."

I know this doesn't help you solve your problem. There are many even-tempered and experienced members of TechImo who can unduobtedly help you -- and they will (you'll find more generosity of spirit here than on other boards). Good luck.

[unknown9]

well im not computer dumb

i think it might be problem with the scanner or the dell psu....i've tried everything else i think.....

[shrae]

Could it have something to do with lack of OCR recognition? The HP drivers would take care of that, tho. Also, make sure Windows Image Acquisition service isn't disabled.