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General discussion

visioneer 5800 onetouch scanner

Feb 22, 2004 5:38PM PST

This scanner is driving me nuts!! I am hooking it up to a relatives computer running Win XP Home. It worked perfectly when they had Win 98SE. I am getting an error message saying to unlock the scanner. There is no physical lock on the thing. I went to Visioneer's website and they talk about this error message saying that the scanner can not calibrate and that is the default message the driver gives. They suggest updating the driver. I did that, and I still have the same message. I even tried to install it in my laptop and I received the same message. Per their website the scanner is compatible with xp. I am at my wits end. Since the scanner is over a year old there is no free support for it now per their site. Has anyone experienced this and gotten anywhere? I would appreciate your help. Thanks!!

Discussion is locked

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Lock for Computer
Jul 31, 2010 10:27PM PDT
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VISONEER ONETOUCH 5800 FLAT BED SCANNER
Apr 6, 2005 4:16AM PDT

I installed the scanner on Win 98 and it worked..but quit and now tells me to unlock the scanner. Installed it on laptop WinXP...same message...have decided to buy a new one but it won't be anything from these guys...no support. If you find a way to make it work, let me know.

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Visioneer5800
Jun 20, 2005 1:06AM PDT

Let me add my two cents. I'm pretty sophisticated about computers and periphery and my children and grandchildren rely on my assistance. My daughter bought three Compaq Prosario computers for herself and children (my grandchildren). The computers came with as a package with Visioneer5800 scanners and XP home installed. All worked fine until the warranty period ran out (of course). Then we started getting the message ''unlock scanner''. At one point, I got one of the scanners to work by moving it to another machine. That worked for about a month, then the error re-appeared. I then uninstalled, deleted, cleaned the registry, etc.--everything the Visioneer website insisted on--downloaded and reinstalled the drivers. Worked fine. FOR ONE DAY. Then stopped. Called the 900 number for tech support, paid them the lousy $4 a minute for support. After 5 minutes, was told it was a hardware problem. All three scanners! Hung up the phone in disgust (I didn't believe them, but what could I do?), went out and bought an Epson scanner for my grandchilden, and it works fine.

From the discussion, a couple of ideas occur: (1) as they age, the voltage output of the power units might be dropping. New power units might work. (2) Somehow, one of the Microsoft updates is conflicting with the Visioneer drivers and Visioneer won't fix the drivers.

I would appreciate hearing if anyone else ever figures our the solution. I would hook up the old Visioneer scanner to one of the grandchildren's computers--I would use it if I could fix it, but would not buy another product from this compnay.

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"Visioneer won't fix the drivers"
Jun 20, 2005 1:22AM PDT

They won't fix it since the devices:
a. Generate no income (except for those phone calls.)
b. The devices have reached the end of their service life. Everyone wants them to last 10 years.

Here's an analogy. Let's say you buy an add-on for your car. A few years pass and then you replace the car. The device now fails. Does anyone fix it for free now? This is what we ask for when we want the drivers fixed for the newer OS.

Drivers are not cheap and the code monkeys demand to be fed and paid. If you won't feed or pay the code monkeys, you won't get your drivers.

Unless you run Linux, but that's another system.

Bob

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Visioneer support
Jun 24, 2005 1:19PM PDT

I don't find the analogy with the automobile very persuasive. Automobiles do last 10 years or more, and the manufacturers supply replacement parts for even longer. When an automobile breaks down, you can repair it--you do not need to junk it. Visioneer abandoned this product after only one year or two.

Nor is the fact that support is "free" a justification. I was willing to pay for the fix (provided it didn't cost more than replacing the whole damn thing), paid for a telephone call, and still was brushed off.

Moreover, everyone knows that operating systems are constantly being upgraded and patched and buysrs have a reasonable expectation that the company selling you a peripheral will provide updated drivers during the life of the hardware (within reason). Visioneer misled all of us purchasers when it reneged on this implied (but very real) representation. (Any class action litigators listening??)

This is a company that has no interest in establishing customer loyalty, and it certainly won't have mine. Why in the the world would I buy something from a company that won't update drivers the day after I buy the hardware????

While I'm posting this message, let me add to my prior description of the problem: 1) first, we acquired the scanners from E-Machines (now a Gateway subsidiary), not Compaq; 2) I tried to install two of the scanners on a ''clean'' machine running ME. Same problem. So it isn't a question of something corrupting the drivers after they are installed.

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You don't get free parts or service.
Jun 24, 2005 1:26PM PDT

The auto analogy works fine. The consumers didn't want to pay for drivers so how to pay the code monkeys?

Bob

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Well it still sucks
Aug 7, 2005 5:13AM PDT

I have not upgraded anything except security updates from MS and now I am hearing that one party upgraded and the other did not and I am without a product that worked fine. Yes it was cheap but I will certainly think twice before giving anymore dollars to visioneer. Interestingly enough their website states that the 5800 will now carry the MS logo!! If it works don't fix it! More non-biodegradable waste, that sucks.

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re- error message unlock 5800 scanner
Jan 6, 2006 12:13PM PST

I had the same problem,then i put the darn thing away.I lost the power supply,so i talk to a friend who told me.To run 12 volt output,but i was concerned about the amp.should be 1.2 i believe.But i just found one at the thrift shop that was 12volt op.I believe the amps were like 1000ml.amp,works fine i run xp sp2.Its beyond me. David

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Visioneer 5800
Nov 16, 2006 11:30AM PST

Just read some of the forums.
I replaced the power supply with one which has 2A. That is more than enough current but it's all I had.
Anyway, it fixed the "Unlock" problem.
Hope this helps.