Unable to use scanner

[wayjay]

I changed my printer a few days ago and I was happy to see that I could still use Xnview to scan images into my computer just as I have always done. However, today I am unable to get XnView to scan. Clicking on the scan button does nothing. Clicking File - Acquire does nothing. Clicking on File - Select TWAIN source brings up a window with a blank list of sources.

I must have done something stupid because clicking the scan button worked perfectly yesterday, but I cannot figure out what I've done wrong. Any help will be sincerely appreciated. Thanks.

[cday]

If there is no TWAIN source displayed the problem is likely to be with the scanner interface rather than with XnView.

The obvious first things to check, which you've probably already checked, are that the scanner power lead is plugged in, and that the USB lead is connected to the scanner and also to the computer -- I've made that mistake!

The only other suggestions that come to mind are to try switching the scanner off and then on again, and to try removing the USB connection to the computer and then reinsert it after a short delay -- that sometimes seems to overcome interface problems.

[wayjay]

Thanks cday. I tried your suggestions but nothing has changed. What gets me is that it was working perfectly a day or two ago. I can import a scan thru Windows Live Photo Gallery, so the computer and scanner are working together. It's just that XnView has quit recognizing the scanner.

I love XnView and don't want to use anything else if I can get XnView to work. Is there a number to call for XnView help? Should I try removing XnView and reinstalling it? I have updated it to the latest version. Thanks again for any and all help.

[cday]

I love XnView and don't want to use anything else if I can get XnView to work. Is there a number to call for XnView help? Should I try removing XnView and reinstalling it? I have updated it to the latest version. Thanks again for any and all help.

This is the support forum and XnView is the work of one person who kindly replies to posts about his freeware software when he can; there is no formal support.

You could certainly experiment with reinstalling XnView, or reverting to an earlier version if that worked originally, in case there is a bug in the latest version. You could also test XnViewMP, currently in beta, in case that somehow sheds light on the problem. When faced with an unexplained problem the only solution is to keep trying ideas in the hope of identifying the cause, or at least shedding some light on the problem.

[wayjay]

Thanks again cday. I'll certainly keep trying.

[cday]

Another thought: If you scanned with another application such as Windows Live Photo Gallery between XnView working and XnView not working, ensure that the other application is closed, in case it can lock the TWAIN interface in some way.

[wayjay]

Thanks. I checked and the other app was closed. In any event I didn't use any other app until I found that I couldn't use XnView. You are very kind and I appreciate your time.

[XnTriq]

Another option worth trying:

It's a known issue: XnView abends on scanning

Adding the line newMethod=1 to the [Scan] section of my xnview.ini did the trick for me and my Samsung SCX-4100:

Code: Select all

[Scan]
Digit=0
Directory=X:\Temp\
FileName=scan_
FormatName=pdf
Multi=1
Page=0
Reverse=0
StartIndex=1
Subfolder=0
newMethod=1

Try to add in the xnview.ini, in [scan] section
newMethod=0
or
newMethod=1

[wayjay]

Thanks, XnTrig, but I have no idea what this means. I'm nearly 80 years old. When I was a young man working in an office, we thought we were really uptown if we had an electric adding machine to use instead of the crank type.

I did call the Brother printer Support and he had me install some drivers and restart the computer. Nothing changed. The XnView select TWAIN source box is still blank.

Thanks for your time and suggestions. Much appreiated.

[XnTriq]

Hello wayjay, and welcome to the forum

Thanks, XnTrig, but I have no idea what this means. I'm nearly 80 years old. When I was a young man working in an office, we thought we were really uptown if we had an electric adding machine to use instead of the crank type.

Well, let's hope I'll be able to keep up with technology the way you do when I'm your age, sir

I gotta run now, but I'll give you step-by-step instructions later today. Thanks for your patience!

[XnTriq]

xnview.ini is a specially formatted file where XnView saves its configuration in plain text. Most of these settings can be customized by the user within XnView through the Options... dialog in the Tools menu.
In addition to that, there's a limited set of preferences which aren't accessible from the program's user interface. These “hidden” or “secret” parameters can only be changed by manually editing xnview.ini with the help of a text editor like the Windows Notepad.

1. Depending on certain factors (operating system etc.), xnview.ini can be located in a number of spots on your hard drive. The easiest way to track down the file's whereabouts is to go to the About... dialog in XnView's Info menu, where you'll find a line beginning with INI file location, followed by the path to (or address of) xnview.ini.
2. This address looks something like C:\Program Files\XnView\xnview.ini or C:\Documents and Settings\...\xnview.ini.
   Select the address with the mouse cursor and press Ctrl+C on the keyboard to copy it to the clipboard.
3. Make sure to quit XnView.
4. Open the Windows Start menu and go to All Programs » Accessories to run Notepad.
5. In Notepad, go to File » Open... and paste the contents of the clipboard into the File name field to load the file into the editor.
6. You'll notice that the contents of xnview.ini are devided into sections, each starting with a “headline” enclosed in square brackets ([Browser], [Cache], [Print] etc.), followed by lines of individual settings (FilterBy=5, BottomMargin=0.50 etc.).
   Scroll down until the [Scan] section shows up.
7. Add a new line at the end of this section (below the Subfolder setting) and type newMethod=1.
   Your [Scan] section should now look something like this:

   [Scan]
   Digit=
   Directory=
   FileName=
   FormatName=
   Multi=
   Page=
   Reverse=
   StartIndex=
   Subfolder=
   newMethod=1

8. Save xnview.ini.
9. Try to scan a document using XnView.

[wayjay]

Hi, I followed your directions carefully (I think). When I saved the file (C:\Users\Wayne\AppData\Roaming\XnView\xnview.ini) this was shown as the Scan section:

[Scan]
Digit=0
Directory=C:\
FileName=Scan
FormatName=jpeg
Multi=0
Page=0
Reverse=0
StartIndex=1
Subfolder=0
newMethod=1

Unfortunately, I still am unable to scan from XnView.

I don't want to take any more of your time. I now have found that I can scan with Windows Fax and Scan. Although I like XnView better, I'll settle for the Windows F&S.

If I need to delete the newMethod=1 line, please let me know.

You have been unbelievably generous with your time, and I can't thank you enough. May you prosper.

Best wishes, Wayne

[XnTriq]

Thanks for reporting back, Wayne.

OK, so we now know that newMethod=1 doesn't do the trick. One down, one to go
I take it you're on Windows 7. Would you mind editing xnview.ini one more time to see if newMethod=0 works?
Again: Please make sure that XnView isn't running when you save the changes to xnview.ini.

[wayjay]

I should have mentioned yesterday that I did try newMethod=0 after newMethod=1 did not work. Neither method worked. XnView was not running when I tried both of these.

Maybe it's just me.

Again, thanks for your help.

[XnTriq]

Maybe it's just me.

It's definitely not just you. We've had a number of similar reports in recent years:

Scanning and printing in Windows 7 is one of the most frustrating and troublesome things I have experienced in a while; I've already complained to MS about it.
I just want to use my peripherals, and it seems to get more difficult instead of easier. I recall that computer users previously would just buy the hardware, install the software and were done (some assembly and setup required, naturally). It' seems that these days you have to have some above average computer technical proficiency to do the simplest things.

Could you please tell me/us the version of XnView (Info » About...) and of your operating system (Windows Vista or Seven, 32- or 64-bit), as well as the model number of your Brother scanner (or multi-function printer) and how it's connected to your PC (USB or parallel port)?

I know that Select TWAIN Source... brings up a window with a blank list, but what happens if you go to Acquire from Scanner or Camera (WIA)... (also in the File menu)?