Scanner lock problem

[rosawoodsii]

This started with my Visioneer 8650 scanner. I would attempt to scan, and up would come the message "Please verify that you have unlocked the scanner hardware." Huh? It hasn't moved for months, so why would I lock it? But I locked and unlocked it--and it still says it's locked. Turn off the scanner, turn it back on. It works. So I've had this recurring problem for a few weeks, and this week it decided that nothing I did would get rid of the message. Okay, I decide that the scanner is hosed. So I plugged in my other scanner, a Visioneer 8100, which worked perfectly when I unplugged it---and I'm getting the same message "Please verify that you have unlocked the scanner hardware. Press OK when unlocked." Does Visioneer have a drop dead date after which you must buy new hardware? (Hey, that would be some marketing technique, eh?"

Does anyone have any clue what this is about?

[jholland1964]

I don't believe this is referring to software it is referring to the shipping lock on the scanner...the actual lock.

Verify that the shipping lock on the scanner is in the unlocked (open padlock) position
the shipping lock is on the underside of the scanner.
If you have already unlocked the scanner, unplug the power and toggle the lock switch firmly 4 times, then plug the scanner power back in. Even though you may have already unlocked it, the hardware may not have fully disengaged the lock.

[jholland1964]

I don't believe this is referring to software it is referring to the shipping lock on the scanner...the actual lock.

Verify that the shipping lock on the scanner is in the unlocked (open padlock) position
the shipping lock is on the underside of the scanner.
If you have already unlocked the scanner, unplug the power and toggle the lock switch firmly 4 times, then plug the scanner power back in. Even though you may have already unlocked it, the hardware may not have fully disengaged the lock.

Does Visioneer have a drop dead date after which you must buy new hardware?

No, but it may require new drivers...as most scanners do from time to time. This could go for the other one also. When you plugged this second one into the computer did you install all the needed software and drivers? Usually each scanner comes with it's own software and drivers and they are not interchangeable. Go to the Visioneer website and see if there are new drivers available. I know with my Epson I probably have installed at the very least two updated drivers since I purchased it.

[rosawoodsii]

No, I don't think it's software, either. I was talking about the hardware lock. BTW, I did update the software to the latest version on both. What's odd now is that when I try to toggle the switch, it won't move. It's "locked" in the unlock position--on both scanners. Since one of them has just lost the bulb as well, I think I'll just accept that they're both old and go buy another.