After a year of so of problem free use, my Epson Perfection 1250 scanner has decided to stop working properly. When trying to access the scanner either through the Smart Panel application or my graphics program, I get the error:

"Unable to access the scanner because it is not ready or another application is using it. Please make sure that the scanner is on and connected to your computer, or close all scanning applications".

I did a google search for this error and found several postings suggesting that I modify my registry settings (Current Version\Detect\ACPIOption) or disable the stimon program. I tried the registry idea with no success and I do not appear to have stimon running. I'm using Windows 2000 with the latest service packs and Microsoft security updates. I've also reinstalled the latest driver software from the Epson web site. No luck with any of these actions.

When the SmartPanel application tries to access the scanner, it does seem to respond during the scanner initialization phase by moving a bit and then coming to stop (sounds normal), but then responds with the above error message. Since I need a working scanner, I'm about at my wits end with this. Can anyone offer advice about how to get things back to working shape?

Thanks,
Ken

Try uninstalling your scanner program in your control panel "add remove
programs" and then reinstall the scanner from your disc that was supplied
with your scanner.
..
"Ken" <kjg501@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:3FEDCBCA.1090607@hotmail.com...
| After a year of so of problem free use, my Epson Perfection 1250 scanner
has decided to stop working properly. When trying to access the scanner
either through the Smart Panel application or my graphics program, I get the
error:
|
| "Unable to access the scanner because it is not ready or another
application is using it. Please make sure that the scanner is on and
connected to your computer, or close all scanning applications".
|
||
| Thanks,
| Ken
|

The same thing happpened to me with my Epson 3200 under Windows XP.
I've uninstalled all Epson and NewSoft software, followed their
various instructions, ie, run a Windows patch, done the registry
deletion, replaced twain files, done all this several times, but Epson
Scan won't run again. It will flash the graphic once, then dead and
the scanner can't be accessed by Smart Panel or other programs.

I now access the scanner using Vuescan or through the Windows WIA.

Epson refuses to reply to messages to their tech support and NewSoft
says to buy one of their other programs: "Our sincere apologies for
not being able to resolve your problems with Smart Panel. However
because we appreciate our customers at Newsoft please feel free to
download our PageManager software and upgrade from Smart Panel ..."

It is very strange that I had no problems using Smart Panel and Epson
Scan for many months before they suddenly quit.

charlie

joeslip wrote:
Thanks for the response and the suggestion. I removed every possible bit of Epson software and reinstalled from the original CD-ROM and the problem unfortunately remains. Sigh.

At this point, I think there is little value spending more time with it, and its just time for a new scanner (something other than an Epson this time).

Thanks again for the assistance.

Ken

Ken