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scanner probs-yellow fat line on side

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by fantsea 1 view

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I have a Hp Scanjet 4C using 8.6 on PowerMac 7600 with a G3 card-512mg memory. My problem is when it scans anything there is a yellow vertical stripe on the right side of the picture and a smaller one a few inches away from that one. I use the Deskscan software that comes with it. I've reinstalled the software but it doesn't help. Also when doing the
scanner test it says it can't find the scanner.Scanjet copy can't find it. Apple Personal Diagnostics sees it. TechTool Pro says all scanner tests pass. The scanner is hooked up directly to puter with a new cable and is terminated.
Please help! Thanks

16 replies

by thechas

I would almost guarantee that it is an internal hardware problem with the scanner.

It is one of 3 things;
The lamp:
The mirror;
Or the imaging device itself.

The scanner passes the diagnostics because it only checks the electronics, not theimaging quality.

by fantsea

I do agree. I reinstalled again to no avail. What do I do if it is the mirror?
Thanks so much for your speedy response!

by thechas

If it is the hardware, is the scanner still under waranty?
If so, contact HP customer service.

If it is not under warranty, I would still contact customer service.
That way, you can get an idea of rapair costs, and weight the cost of repair versus a new scanner.

If it is out of warrenty, you could lift the lid, and see if there is any debris or foriegn material inside the scanner.
If so, you could try to CAREFULLY open up the scanner and clean it.
Only do this if you are confident in your abilities, and if the scanner is out of waranty, and the repair cost is steep.

by timthetoolman

Hi,

Yep, It does sound like a scanner hardware problem rather than a software problem.

To verify this, you could attach your scanner to another machine and try it. I would go for a PC rather than a Mac just to be sure that the software was completely different.

If you get the same result then that would clinch it...

Cheers,
Tim.

by fantsea

Thank you so much for your speedy response. Any suggestions if it is the mirror(on what should I do with the mirror) which I think it is?

by fantsea

You guys are fantastic!!! Fastest response I've gotten in the past week. Thanks you so much. I'm re-downloading deskscsan again. Will let u know how it goes. I'm wondering if it is the mirror also. If it is then what?

Thanks again

by timthetoolman

Hi,

If its the mirror... then... tricky...
Compressed air would be the first try for cleaning, I think. Its the safest.

Hopefully you'll be able to see whatever is causing the problem but it could be corrosion under the glass on the backing reflective stuff (assuming thats how the mirror is made...)

Has the scanner been out in the weather? Perhaps your room is too humid?

On the good news front, if you cant repair it, then scanners are very cheap these days.

Hope you DO fix it,
Cheers,
Tim.

by timthetoolman

Hi,

In that case, I'd say the yellow celophane is almost certainly the culprit! It wouldn't need to be directly on the mirror - a reflection would be all that was needed to get that yellow light onto your image...

So look for other debris around that may be reflecting light back through that cellophane...

At worst, I guess you could carefully colour it black with a marker pen, I guess its there to stop any light being reflected from the screw.

Do you get the feeling that it is meantto be yellow could it have faded that way over time?

Cheers,
Tim.

by shanghai sam

The problem was thE mirrors & camera in the scanner being dirty. Everything working A-ok now & thanks to the guys who gave me great suggestions!

by fantsea

I took it apart & cleaned it. Along side the mirror is a small piece of yellow celephane covering a screw. Don't know what it's for or if that could somehow be involved.
Did clean mirrors & everything else to no avail. So unless anyone knows any different I will see how much it costs to repair it.
I thank you all so very much for your input.
;-)

by fantsea

Tim, No- I think it was originally yellow. I will cover it with something. If that doesn't work I'll someway, someday, somehow get a new scanner.
Any recommendations?
Tim help me.
Thanks so much you are such a doll!

by fantsea

Tim, No- I think it was originally yellow. I will cover it with something. If that doesn't work I'll someway, someday, somehow get a new scanner.
Any recommendations?
Tim help me.
Thanks so much you are such a doll!

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