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General discussion

Microtek Scanner Won't Turn Off

Mar 10, 2004 8:26AM PST

I have a Microtek ScanMaker 4800 and I'm running XP Home SP1 with all Critical Updates, AMD XP2600+, Abit KD7A MB, 1 GB Ram.

The scanner works fine using the Microtek ScanWizard 5 software except for one small problem. Each time I boot, the scanner light turns on so the scanner is ready to use. I don't use it very often, so in ScanWizard I set the options to turn the scanner off after 1 minute (the minimum). But it doesn't turn off! If I start the ScanWizard program and then immediately close it, the scanner turns off 1 minute later.

I've discussed this with Microtek support but, after trying everything they suggested without success, they said: "Most systems have no problems but some like mine do. Since Microtek cannot duplicate the problem, they have nothing more to suggest."

So...

1) Has anyone else had this problem and found a solution?

2) Does anyone know how to write a program or script that would run at boot and start and then close the ScanWizard program?

Discussion is locked

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Re:Microtek Scanner Won't Turn Off
Mar 10, 2004 9:15AM PST

Because it's USB enabled, it basically is at the "ready" as the USB device is acknowledged for use. Otherwise, you'll have USB problem of some sort. If the AC adapater is plugged into power strip or such, with separate off/on for devices, look into that. There's also a powered USB hub you can plug it into so it can powered off that hub. The power strips usually sit under the monitor. At best, the USB device is "hiberating" awaiting to wake-up for use. I don't really think there's problem unless it robbing power from something as I see it. Hope this helps ...

good luck -----Willy

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Re:Microtek Scanner Won't Turn Off
Mar 11, 2004 1:35AM PST

Thanks Willy but I don't have a separate switch on the AC adapter and don't want to buy a USB hub just to turn it off.

What I do now is I have the ScanWizard program open automatically at bootup and then just close the program manually. The scanner then turns off after 1 minute. Too bad they didn't just put an on/off switch on the scanner!

Anyway, I was just wondering if there is some way to write a program (script?) that would do this automatically? (Like in the old DOS days you could write a batch program that would run at bootup.)

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PSTOOLS.
Mar 11, 2004 3:53AM PST
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Found a neat solution!
Apr 1, 2004 5:11AM PST

Got Batchrun from http://www.outertech.com/index.php?_charisma_page=product&id=1

This is a free program that lets you make batch files (like the old .bat files in DOS). You can run them by double clicking or put them into your Startup folder.

Great program, works with Win9x/WinME/Win2k/WinXP and free too! Can't beat that!

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Caster, had a similar prob. on my Umax.
Apr 1, 2004 5:40AM PST

Worked on it for over a year, tech support was no help. In fact, they stalled till the warranty ran out,then
laughed about it. The solution was simple when I looked backed. I started having problems when I removed my USB hub because the scanner was the only thing on it. One day, for no reason, I put the hub back. No problems since. Not saying this will work for you, but it works so often, there seems to be an unwritten rule for USB.
1.Some things will not work well, or at all, on a hub.
2.Some things will ONLY work on a hub.
For what it's worth. If you can borrow a hub and try it, do so. chuck