Image Scanner Problems

This is a software issue, not hardware. Updated to Win 8.1 about 10 days ago, no serious problems, all previously installed programs working normally (or for a value of normal relative to Windows!).

Up until yesterday, I was able to launch directly from photo programs (FastStone, Irfanview, XnView, Zoner Photo Studio) into the Canon CanoScan 9000f software interface, then scanning, then go back to the original program.

Yesterday, I installed a small program for converting .dbf files to .csv (Exportizer). Now, when I try to scan, the Windows scanner interface window pops up (the same one that I used in Win XP!). This adds to extra steps to the scanning process: Windows preview then scan, which opens the Canon interface.

I've done the following: re-installed the Canon software from disc; installed the current drivers from the Canon website (turned out to be the same version I already had); removed the scanner from the computer, then let the computer find it again. I searched the registry for the word twain, but my limited knowledge didn't see any results relative to my level of expertise. No malware found.

For some reason, "acquiring" an image from my scanner now launches the Windows scanner dialogue.

Any ideas or suggestions?

--George

 

Have you tried uninstalling that program?

 

Oops! Yes, that was the first thing I did. I failed to include that step in my post. I've also gone back and uninstalled everything associated with the Canon Scanner (using IobitUninstaller), also FastStone, Xnview and Irfanview, as well as my old HP AIO 6280. Slowly re-installed them all (all up-to-date versions/drivers), testing after each, no change.

After more research, I think my question has evolved:

Is there any way to make Windows default to the Canon scanner interface (ScanGear) when launching the Windows scan app from the start screen? (i.e., a 3rd party scanner interface rather than the WIA service window.)

And I'm starting to believe that my setup was either some kind of fluke, or Windows 8.1 won't let me re-set it up the way 8.0 did.

I'm learning to live with it, but still on the lookout for a solution.

And guess what: I got religion, I now create a restore point before installing or updating anything, plus each morning, no matter what.

Thank you for replying.

--George