Can mirroring control an Epson V500 Photo scanner on a newer iMac using older software?

basementdogs wrote:

Epson has software for this scanner which is compatible with my newer 24" iMac. However, the options available are generic, nothing close to the level of the original software.

Give Image Capture a shot with the scanner connected the newer 24" iMac.

see > Image Capture User Guide for Mac - Apple Support

The internal HD on the 27" was blue screening too much, so I replaced (mirrored?) it with Crucial 2.5 in. SSD external HD. Still, this computer is slow and limited compared to the 24".

Will mirroring allow me to control the scanner using the 24"? Or should I throw Epson another $500 for perishable goods?

If Image Capture in the new macOS doesn't fit the bill.

Reconnect the scanner to the 27" iMac, then use Screen Sharing to access the 27" iMac from the 24" iMac.

see > Set up and use screen sharing on Mac - Apple Support

basementdogs wrote:

Will mirroring allow me to control the scanner using the 24"? Or should I throw Epson another $500 for perishable goods?

It's not clear what you mean by "mirroring." Mirroring on a Mac is when you connect a second display to your Mac and set it to show (duplicate) what is on your primary display.

Epson has not updated the V500 drivers since macOS Mojave (10 years ago) except for the Epson ICA Scanner Driver for the V500, which continues to be updated. The Epson ICA Scanner Driver is available on the Epson V500 support webpage. If you install the Epson ICA Scanner driver (currently v. 5.8.23) on your newer 24" iMac you will be able to use the V500 with it and the iMac's built-in Image Capture app.

First Mac’s aren’t junk if they still do what you want

i use 2011 Mac DAILY running 10.6.8 (Snow Leopard) for Epson 4990 flatbed scanner, Nikon 8000 film scanner — and the expensive 3rd party software that still scan beautifully

my 2011 also runs GoLive and the full adobe creative suite (cs6), including photoshop

I have 2019 hardware for newer stuff — if the 2011 fails — then I’m left paying for adobe subscription for the full suite, replacing my scanners

my point is consider keeping the old stuff working with fully functioning scanning software

+++++

second on what you mean by “mirroring” — screen sharing, cloning?

good to always note the model year and macOS version you are talking about

if you want advice on your old machine — evaluating drive health, clone/backup, upgrading to SSD — hit back with some details…

VueScan Professional requires functional Epson V500 drivers installed before it will work on macOS. Those Espon V500 drivers may be 32-bit and incompatible after Mojave. Same is true for the V600. The V700 and above models are supported by VueScan Professional without Epson driver requirements.

If Image Capture doesn't do the job give the d demo/free version of VueScan  a try.

Your iMac is considered Obsolete by Apple so repairs will be difficult to get and expensive.

If you ever get a new Mac the Mac Mini M4 is an excellent choice. For instance: a 10 Core Mac Mini M4 with 16 GB RAM and 1 TB SSD ($1084 US) with a 32" LG 4k monitor ($331 US) from Amazon.com)  is $1415 US which is $541US less than a similarly configured new 24" iMac ($1956 US)  re 07/2025. Keep your keyboard and mouse from your current Mac for use with the Mini. 

I got the above Mini with a 32" LG 4K monitor w/speakers for only $60 US more than the 27" (didn't know the Mini had a speaker).  There are many monitors available in 27" size for $100 US to $500 US depending on what features you want.  The monitor prices are before tariffs.

Just some food for thought.