"Epson Scan cannot be started" sigh PLEASE HELP!

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Level 1

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"Epson Scan cannot be started" sigh PLEASE HELP!

Hi there-
I've been scouring these forums over and have found plenty of problems over scanning with an Epson scanner, however; nearly all are related to an OS update and mine is not. I am a seasoned Mac user, but a scanner newbie. I have seen several suggestions of using applications other than the bundled EPSON Scan, but I'd sure like to keep using what I've paid for already! After initially installing all bundled software (sorry, I got my wife and I a 4490 Perfection for Christmas), checking permissions in "Get info" for all 3 users and making sure it ALL worked for ALL users: the new scanning life was good for all. Sometime last month things went awry. Only I cannot use the scanner and I get the warning seen in this "Subject" title every time I switch to my account (I work in a non-Administrator account). Curiously, the other accounts get the same warning but still are able to use the scanner with all of Epson's software. I'd go to Epson for answers except that, again, all the other posts report that as futile and this is the best tech community in the world (sorry for the a** kissing, but it is true).

iMac G4 Mac OS X (10.3.9)

Posted on Feb 19, 2006 9:02 PM

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Answer 1

Feb 20, 2006 6:41 AM in response to notimetalose

I had that problem a while ago with an Epson scanner.

My Epson scanner driver crashed a lot, and had to be reinstalled on a sickeningly regular basis.

I also discovered that unless the scanner's USB plug is plugged directly in the USB socket on the computer itself, it can't get enough power and the driver refuses to start up.

Any use?

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Answer 2

MonK7579

Level 2

260 points

Feb 20, 2006 9:05 AM in response to Tom in London

Tom is right about the usb going directly to the main usb, I have seen many problems with this. I would try uninstalling the software, reparing permissions, re-installing the software, repair permissions again and see what happens.

Why are you not an admin on the machine if you are the seasoned Mac guy?

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Answer 3

notimetalose Author

Level 1

0 points

Feb 20, 2006 5:13 PM in response to MonK7579

Thank you Tom, though I can feel my frustrations growing with your story of constant "maintenance". Did you finally give up on the Epson? Until now, I've always had great luck (and satisfaction) with their products.

MonK- I am the admin., I do all my regular usage on anther "user" account. When I finally pried my stubborn fingers away from Sonnet modified OS8.6 boxes and bought something to run "X" on, the Mac pundits of the day (MacWorld, MacAddict) advised setting up your box in that manner. As I stated in my original post: "I work in a non-Administrator account". Is this not the correct way to use OSX? I have the scanner "plugged directly in the USB socket on the computer itself" and I have done the other steps you suggested plus running Disk Warrior and deleting pref files.

Thank you both very much for your replies to my problem.

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Answer 4

Feb 20, 2006 10:08 PM in response to notimetalose

I had that problem until I removed Epson Scanner Monitor from my startup items list. Also I have found that the scanner has to be turned on before I startup my Mac or the system can't find the scanner.
You might want to try tossing the .plst file for the epson scan.

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Answer 5

Feb 21, 2006 1:37 AM in response to notimetalose

notime,

< Did you finally give up on the Epson? >

My usptairs neighbour had a water leak and the water ended up inside my Epson scanner. I bought a new one, still an Epson but a slightly better machine, and now I no longer have that problem with the driver (although the scanner still insists on being plugged directly into the USB socket on my computer, and will not start up if I plug it into a USB hub).

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Answer 6

notimetalose Author

Level 1

0 points

Feb 22, 2006 12:15 AM in response to Marie Davis

Marie-

YOU HAVE MADE IT ALL BETTER! Thanks so much for your insight. For some reason I still think of a start up folder as a pre-OSX problem area. The old "spaghetti" code OS made me more vigilant, and my mind more frequently exercised to how it all worked. Reliability has turned my noggin to mush.

iMac G4 Mac OS X (10.3.9)

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Answer 7

notimetalose Author

Level 1

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Feb 22, 2006 12:40 AM in response to Tom in London

Tom-

Browsing the forums before I made my post: I found similar complaints concerning scanner-to-hub connections and found that a few folks made replies to the complainants that they were using powered hubs with no problems. Most of those had a theory of low voltage being the culprit of non-powered hubs. Was the hub you tried powered? (I haven't a hub, yet; and I was curious). Thanks.

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Answer 8

Feb 22, 2006 3:15 AM in response to notimetalose

no. it was the hub in my trusty old Apple Extended Keyboard (the one that has 2 USB hubs, one at each side.

(thinks....why did Apple stop doing that? It's so useful)

The Epson scanners (the one that got waterlogged and the one I bought to replace it) are of the type that don't required mains power and are powered directly from USB.

I presume that's why they don't like being plugged into an unpowered hub, and that's why they only worked for me when I plugged them directly into the computer's USB socket.

I never tried with a powered hub. Might work.

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"Epson Scan cannot be started" *sigh* PLEASE HELP!

"Epson Scan cannot be started" sigh PLEASE HELP!