Minolta scan Dual IV setup issue

[fredus]

I've just received my Minolta Scan Dual IV and I'm having some issue installing it. I read a lot before installing anything because I knew some people had experienced some issues ... Well I'm facing the same issues ... Here is what I did:

- Install the software
- Reboot
- Connect the USB cable
- Connect the power
- Power on the scanner
- Close the door
- Open up Minolta software

At that point it is suppose to set up the scanner (I guess some calibration) and then I can insert the tray ... I was able to reach one time this point. I was able to scan one picture (lousy result btw) but then I rebooted my computer for some reason and now every time I try to launch the software, It hangs there. I redo the same step (power on with door close, launch the software ...) ...

What am I missing ? I'm pretty pissed off about that scanner right now ...

I'm running XP btw ...

Thanks !

Fred

 

[BAPIEMAI]

First try to launch the program without turning on the scanner to see if it is a software issue. I recomend to not use the wizard utility but the full program because the wizard does create some problems.

 

[BAPIEMAI]

Second see under Device Manager if there are any hardware conflicts with your scanner. If all seems Ok but the problem persists uninstall the whole utility and re-install it.

What you mention has happened to mine also and I solved it by rebooting with the scanner turned on.

As far as the 'lousy' results give it some time to learn it and it will produce excellent pictures. One point to remember is that it is always a good idea to use some Unsharp Mask in photoshop in every scan, it really transforms the image to the better.

 

[chug]

Check for updates as well maybe?

 

[peter_n]

Fred,
If all the above fails, try this: Have the computer running, scanner switched off. Open the scanner door as if you going to insert the negative carrier, switch the scanner on. Green LED should start blinking - shut the scanner door – green LED continues to blink. Double-click on the Minolta software icon on your desktop and the software should then launch and initialize the scanner – green LED will turn solid. Hope this works for you – the software can be a little flaky – I think the drivers are poor, and the scanner itself can be interesting to fire up. Once everything is going though it is awesome for the money. 🙂

 

[bmattock]

I am sorry that I cannot offer you any advice - I ran mine on XP for awhile before switching to Linux, but I never used the Minolta software. I downloaded and used Vuescan and still do. With Linux, it's my only choice anyway, but it also runs on Windows.

www.hamrick.com

I don't know if it will work for you with the problems you're having, but since you can D/L it for free, it might be worth a shot.

OH! I also thought of this - any chance that your USB port is not a Hi-Speed USB 2.0? That might cause all sorts of problems.

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks

 

[Todd.Hanz]

I run vuescan (Mac) with mine and it hangs up from time to time as well. The scanner works well once it is up and running, be sure to scan your BW in color for better images, Minolta software is the worst, get vuescan!

 

[bmattock]

I run vuescan (Mac) with mine and it hangs up from time to time as well. The scanner works well once it is up and running, be sure to scan your BW in color for better images, Minolta software is the worst, get vuescan!

You might recall, I had a ScanDual III and I had terrible problems with it - on every OS, every computer, different USB cards, etc, etc. Locked up whenever it bloody well felt like it. Very aggravating, as it caused the entire OS to lock as well. I'd never seen Linux lock up before - wasn't sure anything could make it lock up - well this did. Windows too, but that's no trick.

I finally sold it at a loss and bought the IV. Haven't had the same problem with it, and I've put it to use on thousands of negs since then.

However, sometimes if I've been working it really hard, the Vuescan software suddenly just vanishes. And if I restart it, it doesn't 'see' the IV. In other words, I have to reboot to get things working again. But that's thankfully pretty rare.

Recently, I reinstalled my Linux OS and moved from Suse to Fedora Core 3. I downloaded and installed the latest Vuescan - had to get a new (free since I bought the original) serial number for this latest release, but that was painless via email.

Now, 'root' can see the IV and my Epson flatbed, but my user name accound can only see the Epson and cannot 'see' the IV. Weird, but I haven't tried to beat it up yet.

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks

 

[fredus]

Thanks guys, I'll try your suggestion tonight ... I've never seen something as bad with any hardware I've bought before ...

Fred

 

[fredus]

Still can't make that POS to work ... I was able to bring up the software once and that's it ... Then now I can't even launch it ...

Just so you know, I'm in a computer industry and I've used scanner before. It's not like I don't know what I'm doing ... Geee I can't believe how bad the setup of the crap is ...

I'll try again tomorrow. I'm too pissed off right now to do anything good ...

Fred

 

[fredus]

Hi guys,

A quick update on where I am with this thing ... I'm able to scan 2 or 3 negs and then the scanner crash. It wouldn't too much of a problem if all I had to do is to reboot. But no, it's more complicated than that. The only way I've found to make it work again, is to uninstall the whole thing by restoring at a previous sync point and then reinstall ... I don't think that I'm going to keep the scanner if I have to do this every time ...

Any suggestion ??

Fred

 

[Todd.Hanz]

Did you check for software updates?

 

[nemjo]

hi,

i had the same problem and turned out after some trials, that only occured if a usb hub was between the scanner and the computer.
maybe this help.

nemjo

 

[fredus]

I'm using the latest software from Minolta. Whether I plug the scanner on a Hub or not doesn't make a difference. Same behavior ...

I really want to like this scanner. The scan I was able to make between failure are great ... But it's a real pain in the neck to make it work ...

Thanks !

Fred

 

[Solinar]

On my Pentium III with an on-board USB 1 port, the SD IV wasn't too reliable for whatever reason. I've since installed a USB2 / Firewire PCI card and everything is 1.) much quicker and 2.) doesn't crash at all.

 

[bmattock]

I'm using the latest software from Minolta. Whether I plug the scanner on a Hub or not doesn't make a difference. Same behavior ...

I really want to like this scanner. The scan I was able to make between failure are great ... But it's a real pain in the neck to make it work ...

Thanks !

Fred

Fred, before I got my Scan Dual IV, I had a Scan Dual III. It had a problem that seems sadly similar to yours. Mine locked up the entire PC when it died, and it might work for an hour, or it might work for 1 scan. Just depends on how it felt, I guess. Had the problem regardless of any OS, USB port or card, even scanning software. I sold it, but that's because I didn't have the receipt anymore and could not return it.

Before you murder it with a hammer, you might want to return the thing and try another.

The only other thing I can think of - and I'm not a Windows guru - is that sometimes, when software is installed on Windows, it makes changes to the registry settings that it does NOT remove when the software is uninstalled. You may find that you have to search for and remove any reference to the software in your registry.

I guess if you were really, really, willing, you could reinstall your entire OS and try with a clean one. I had a problem installing a printer for my wife once - turned out she had a virus. A really old one, none of the virus scanners we use had caught it, and it didn't actually seem to 'do' anything, but once we reloaded the OS, we could install the printer. I hate Windows.

Good luck, I know how frustrating it can be!

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks

 

[fredus]

Thanks for the tip Bill but I've cleaned my registry pretty well already. I'm not going to reinstall XP for this ... no no no no !! 😛

SOmebody actually told me to use a USB slot located on an external card and not the one directly from the motherboard. That I haven't tried. Can't think of any reason why it would make a difference but at least I hacve something new to try tonight ..

Fred

 

[bmattock]

Thanks for the tip Bill but I've cleaned my registry pretty well already. I'm not going to reinstall XP for this ... no no no no !! 😛

SOmebody actually told me to use a USB slot located on an external card and not the one directly from the motherboard. That I haven't tried. Can't think of any reason why it would make a difference but at least I hacve something new to try tonight ..

Fred

I got the same advice when I was having problems with my III. I replaced the USB card in my home machine, and installed a USB PCMCIA card in my laptop - no dice. But, I have heard that KM don't 'like' certain brands of USB chip. Don't know if that is true or hogwash.

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks

 

[fredus]

YEah I don't have much hope but I'll try anyway ... 😛

One thing I was wondering. If I want to use vuescan, do I need to install any of the MK crap ?

Fred