USB Scanner Driver Missing

I have a older HP Scanjet 3970 that I have installed on my HP Win 7 64 Bit computer. It worked fine till a few days ago and now I have a Yellow Triangle showing by USB Scanner. It says no driver is installed for this device.

I checked the HP site and they don't show a driver for this scanner for Win 7 64 Bit. I tried to reinstalling the software for the scanner using the CD. I tried hunting my computer for the driver and it does not find it.

I did a search and read that there are not many drivers for scanners that will work with Win 7 64 Bit.

Puzzled that it worked for two years and then suddenly there is no driver installed and can't find one that will work.

I am considering buying a new scanner but sure would like to know is anyone has Win 7 64 Bit and what scanners you have that works with this.

Suggestions?

 

That is definitely interesting because according to the Windows 7 compatibility site, that scanner is not compatible with Windows 7 64bit.

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/co....aspx?l=en-us&type=Hardware&s=hp scanjet 3970

You can see if the Vista 64bit driver will work.

http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsuppor...esId=298547&swLang=8&taskId=135&swEnvOID=2100

 

I tried the Vista 64bit driver and it did not work.

Yeah strange that it somehow worked for two years.
I tried to reinstall it on my XP computer that it use to work on also and I get Error message saying msi file is missing.

 

What if you disconnect the scanner. Then uninstall the Device in Device Manager. Reconnect. Does it see the scanner?

 

Windows/Microsoft Update has issued at least 2 patches for W7x64 that update the software compatibility list - if it stopped working, that's my guess as to why.

Check through the most recent KB's that have been installed, you might find the culprit and be able to uninstall it.

 

KB ? Sorry but could you elaborate?

 

Each Windows/MSFT Update has a KB (knowledge base) article detailing it, the shorthand for the update would be for example KB2492386, which is the most recent compatibility update I could find using my Windows Update. It's currently labeled as an optional (for me, at least) update and there's no easy way that I can see to tell exactly what software it affects and how.

This update includes at least 4 previous compatibility updates since W7 was launched.

It's possible that there were others but the MSFT site is not my favourite place to search. Sometimes MSFT Updates are pre-checked for download for only a small number of users, perhaps because they know from their data that a particular machine requires it - other times it's because it's not fully tested and they're feeding it out slowly to check for any potential problems.

Bottom line: look for KB2492386 in the updates in the (add/remove) programs control panel.

 

Thank you!
I don't see KB2492386 in my updates.

 

I hope it wasn't too elaborate

If you go to the KB link and scroll down to where it says "Click here to view or to hide the file information for this update", it'll expand to show the earlier versions that were issued and incorporated into the current one - the top 4 are all realated to W7 but only the top 3 might contain something relevant, it's worth checking if those KB's are installed.

If not, and you have a CD or installer software for the scanner, you may still be able to force W7 to (re)install it. Management > Device Manager > highlight the computer name in the right panel > (file menu) Action > Add legacy hardware - follow the prompts.

 

The last windows update was 1/13/12 and the scanner worked a few days ago.
I have the CD but the install did not fix the driver problem.
Thanks for trying to help.
Maybe just have to buy a new scanner.

 

Hmm, save money and use your digital camera/cellphone?

It really depends on how much work you put the scanner to.

 

I am editing old photos mostly.

 

See if you can force install the driver. When you download the exe file of the Vista driver, it is actually a self-extracting archive file. If you have Winzip or Winrar, extract the exe file to a folder on your desktop. The folder will have a number of files including an inf file. Go into Device Manager,right click your USB scanner and select Properties. Select the Driver tab and press Update Driver. Then browse to the inf file in the folder you extracted to your desktop.

http://www.addictivetips.com/window...-or-device-drivers-manually-in-windows-vista/

 

Thanks everyone.
I tried all the above and it will tell me the driver loaded but the yellow triangle is still showing on the scanner icon in device manager.
I have a deadline so going to give up on the win7 64 bit install for now and try again on the win XP. Last time it said the msi file was missing. I am using the CD that came with the scanner.

 

Thanks for the link and advice. Maybe have time this weekend to work on the XP install.

 

With my HP Scanjet G4050 I had issues with it a few years after I had bought it. I never registered it. I took a chance and contacted HP via their tech chat on their website. I stated up front that It was out of warranty and I just needed to get the software running. They not only gave a link to the newest software (drivers), which ships with a different scanner, but stayed on chat with me while the program installed and ensured I was up and running with a test scan. I didn't expect that being that the scanner was out of warranty.