why does my apple not recognize my scanner

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How is it connected eg. Ethernet, wireless or USB. Sometimes the All In Ones will print fine with Ethernet and Wireless but need USB for scanning.

Image Capture does not recognize my Scanner - an HP ScanJet 5300C connected via USB - nor can I add it through Print & Scan in System Preferences.

However, I downloaded VueScan, it came up right away into Scan Mode, walked me through the scan and produced a life-size file from an old photo - Trial version output is watermarked and cannot be saved --- unless, of course, you capture it with something else :-O. I am purchasing VueScan now.

Question: Why can VueScan do this when Apple OSX Mountain Lion cannot even "see" the scanner?

BrianForbesColgate wrote:

Image Capture does not recognize my Scanner - an HP ScanJet 5300C connected via USB - nor can I add it through Print & Scan in System Preferences.

However, I downloaded VueScan, it came up right away into Scan Mode, walked me through the scan and produced a life-size file from an old photo - Trial version output is watermarked and cannot be saved --- unless, of course, you capture it with something else :-O. I am purchasing VueScan now.

Question: Why can VueScan do this when Apple OSX Mountain Lion cannot even "see" the scanner?

That answer may be because your device is quite old and is no longer officially supported. Have you looked in Apple's advice letter that notes the supported printers and scanners? If not please check it out at:

support.apple.com/kb/ht3669

Thanks ... it really doesn't address the issue. The ScanJet 5300C is not listed, only printers.
When I Googled for the 5300C and OS X, C|Net came up with a download from HP, but when I tried to install it, it was flagged as corrupt or incomplete.
I'll just go with VueScan ... it worked right from the get go.

Why can VueScan do this when Apple OSX Mountain Lion cannot even "see" the scanner?

Your 5300C is a very old scanner (Mac OS 9 / Win XP) era. HP discontinued support for a lot of its older printers & scanners back when OS X Lion was released, so there are probably no drivers for it preinstalled on your Mt. Lion Mac ... because HP didn't supply them to Apple.

Vuescan can see the scanner because Ed Hamrick (the author) has always done a really good job of working around scaner driver limitations. Vuescan is an outstanding application and Ed maintains it very well. I have used many versions over many years on many Macs & PCs.

He certainly has ...
I guess that is why VueScan came up so often when I googled for scanner software for OS X 🙂

BrianForbesColgate wrote:

Thanks ... it really doesn't address the issue. The ScanJet 5300C is not listed, only printers.
When I Googled for the 5300C and OS X, C|Net came up with a download from HP, but when I tried to install it, it was flagged as corrupt or incomplete.
I'll just go with VueScan ... it worked right from the get go.

The fact that your scanner was not listed indicates HP and Apple have dropped support for it, which explains why no driver was available. However I'm glad you found VueScan and it works for you.