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Canon MX870 Scanner will not work, but printer does (wirelessly).

I just bought a new MacBook Pro and have loaded the software/drivers for the Canon MX870. Printing is working great, but it will not scan. I get the following error message when I try to scan to PDF: "Cannot communicate with scanner. Cable may be disconnected or scanner may be turned off. Check status. Scanner driver will be closed. 2.1.0". The printer function is working (wirelessly). I plugged the printer cable into the MacBook just to check if that was the problem and I got the same error message. I can still scan to my PC, but I need this to work with my MacBook as I have transitioned from PC email and I need to send this out electronically. Thanks.

MacBook Pro, iOS 4, Not positive what OS I have - purchased new system 2 weeks ago!

Posted on Mar 22, 2011 3:43 PM

36 replies

Dec 1, 2013 7:25 PM in response to mtnartist

Glad I could help!

John

Jan 20, 2015 9:16 AM in response to John Vestal1

Just found your longer list of explanation - will try that! thank you

Jan 20, 2015 9:20 AM in response to John Vestal1

Unfortunately updating the plist didn't work.

Ah well, thanks anyway John!

pesmou

Level 1

0 points

Mar 16, 2015 7:10 PM in response to John Vestal1

John,

how do i find this?

CHScannerRegister in Library/Image Capture/Support/LegacyDeviceDiscoveryHelpers

Thank you.

iphi

Level 1

13 points

Aug 7, 2015 3:06 AM in response to John Vestal1

This worked for me. Thanks John.

1) Go to /Library/Image Capture/Support/LegacyDeviceDiscoveryHelpers in the Finder.

2) You should see a file named CHScannerRegister or something close to that.

3) Right click and select show package contents

4) a new window should appear showing a Contents folder. In the window go into Contents/Resources/

5) you should now see a bunch of files in resources. You want NetworkDevice.plist.

6) edit NetworkDevices.plist in TextEdit and just copy the line that contains MX860 and paste it below the MX860 entry and change the pasted entry to MX870.

7) I don't remember if just trying to add the scanner found it or if you need to logout and back in. But it should now work with that file changed.

To add to it... I copied the plist file (NetworkDevice.plist) to the desktop and edited it in TextEdit. Then deleted the old plist file and copied the new one into the folder and authenticated it. Then rebooted. I reset the print system (right click on the printer in sys pref) and reinstalled the printer and scanner.

All good.

iphi

Level 1

13 points

Aug 7, 2015 3:13 AM in response to pesmou

John,

how do i find this?

CHScannerRegister in Library/Image Capture/Support/LegacyDeviceDiscoveryHelpers

---

Go to the folder /Library/Image Capture/Support/LegacyDeviceDiscoveryHelpers and right click on the file 'CIJScannerRegister' and click 'Show Package Contents' then click 'Contents' and 'Resources' and then you should find the plist file you need to edit (NetworkDevice.plist).

Canon MX870 Scanner will not work, but printer does (wirelessly).