PC Hardware Annoyances

SCANNER ANNOYANCES

PC DOESN’T SEE THE USB SCANNER

The Annoyance:

My PC fails to recognize my USB scanner. Other USB devices work just fine.

The Fix:

First, make sure your system meets (preferably exceeds) the minimum system requirements for your scanner. For example, you may need an OS upgrade before you connect the USB scanner.

Next, make sure the power and USB cables are attached securely at both ends. Many USB devices also require you to install drivers and other supporting software (such as scanner management software) before you attach the actual hardware. In this case, detach the scanner, remove any unknown entries from the Device Manager (Open the System control panel, click the Hardware tab, and then click the Device Manager button), then install the scanner software as recommended by the manufacturer.

If the scanner is still AWOL, test the USB port by attaching another USB device (such as a mouse) to the port to see if it works. If not, connect the scanner to another port or troubleshoot the original USB port (see Chapter 1 for some tasty USB annoyances). If the USB mouse works, you know the port works (although it never hurts to try a different USB port anyway). Next, try the scanner on another PC. Still no luck? Then you should return the scanner to the place of purchase or contact the manufacturer.

Here’s one more trick for techie-types. Because systems often power-down idle USB ports, but don’t always allow the port to re-awaken itself when a device is attached, you could ...