oscar wrote:[color=blue]
> Hi Christopher,
>
> Could you post some of those error messages such as Error Code and Error text?
>
>[/color]
Whoops, I see I accidentally cross-posted to a Win2k group. Fixed now.
To answer, I get no error code, but I do get an error message to the
effect that Vista asks me where to locate the drivers (one would think
the downloaded drivers or CD would know where to look for them). I can't
remember the exact wording but it along the lines of "installing device
driver SW" followed by option window "Found New Hardware".Under "Found
New Hardware" window, I get the choices of automatically find driver
(Recommended), Browse manually to drivers or "Ask Me again later". If I
choose the automatic route, it finds everything but the scanner and says
the installation of unknown device (scanner) failed and the installation
routine refuses to go any further and just sits there. If I cancel out,
Vista sometimes informs me to download the kb941600 at
[url]http://support.microsoft.com/kb/941600/[/url] but when I do that, it tells me
it doesn't apply to my system. For some reason, I don't get the message
to do that download anymore, but all the other symptoms remain the same.

So far it looks like you’re doing all the right things.

(You did try loading drivers manually using Device Manager, yes? Sorry, I
have to ask but I can’t remember if that was one of the mentioned methods
that you tried in the forum that you referred to.)

If it works on another Vista machine with SP1 but not yours then the problem
may indeed be with your OS. Some corrupted files?

1) You may want to look into getting the problem of SP1 installed.

Here’s a start in case you haven’t seen these:

[url]http://windowsvistablog.com/blogs/windowsvista/archive/2008/03/18/windows-vista-sp1-released-to-windows-update.aspx[/url]

[url]http://windowsvistablog.com/blogs/windowsvista/archive/2007/12/12/windows-vista-sp1-rc-now-available-for-public-download.aspx[/url]

2) Try Startup Repair to fix possible damaged OS files

3) See if you can load the drivers in a different user account.

Yes, reinstalling Vista is the last resort. But if I read it correctly, the
mention that your System Restore doesn’t appear to change any settings is a
concern.

Best of luck…



--
oscar :)

....Right click is your very good friend...


"Christopher Hume" wrote:
[color=blue]
> oscar wrote:[color=green]
> > Hi Christopher,
> >
> > Could you post some of those error messages such as Error Code and Error text?
> >
> >[/color]
> Whoops, I see I accidentally cross-posted to a Win2k group. Fixed now.
> To answer, I get no error code, but I do get an error message to the
> effect that Vista asks me where to locate the drivers (one would think
> the downloaded drivers or CD would know where to look for them). I can't
> remember the exact wording but it along the lines of "installing device
> driver SW" followed by option window "Found New Hardware".Under "Found
> New Hardware" window, I get the choices of automatically find driver
> (Recommended), Browse manually to drivers or "Ask Me again later". If I
> choose the automatic route, it finds everything but the scanner and says
> the installation of unknown device (scanner) failed and the installation
> routine refuses to go any further and just sits there. If I cancel out,
> Vista sometimes informs me to download the kb941600 at
> [url]http://support.microsoft.com/kb/941600/[/url] but when I do that, it tells me
> it doesn't apply to my system. For some reason, I don't get the message
> to do that download anymore, but all the other symptoms remain the same.
>[/color]

No problem asking (good not to assume anything). I've tried installing
the drivers manually, but the scanner portion isn't recognized no matter
what I do. It is possible I may have some corrupt system files as my PC
had a huge hang the other day (had to forcibly restart the system and at
the time, System Restore barely worked, but enough to get my PC usable
again -- I suspect with any Windows or any OS for that matter
crash/hang, it's always possible some files get corrupted or even when
Windows is shut down due to a power outage) and I still had to reinstall
a couple of corrupted programs. Also, an external hard drive around that
time died on me :( (it was about 5 yrs old). And yes, you did recall
reading correctly about System Restore being problematic for me. The
reason I didn't mention the HD dying/huge hang, is everything else on my
PC is working fine at the moment except new usb devices for some reason.

Thanks for your help :).

oscar wrote:[color=blue]
> So far it looks like you’re doing all the right things.
>
> (You did try loading drivers manually using Device Manager, yes? Sorry, I
> have to ask but I can’t remember if that was one of the mentioned methods
> that you tried in the forum that you referred to.)
>
> If it works on another Vista machine with SP1 but not yours then the problem
> may indeed be with your OS. Some corrupted files?
>
> 1) You may want to look into getting the problem of SP1 installed.
>
> Here’s a start in case you haven’t seen these:
>
> [url]http://windowsvistablog.com/blogs/windowsvista/archive/2008/03/18/windows-vista-sp1-released-to-windows-update.aspx[/url]
>
> [url]http://windowsvistablog.com/blogs/windowsvista/archive/2007/12/12/windows-vista-sp1-rc-now-available-for-public-download.aspx[/url]
>
> 2) Try Startup Repair to fix possible damaged OS files
>
> 3) See if you can load the drivers in a different user account.
>
> Yes, reinstalling Vista is the last resort. But if I read it correctly, the
> mention that your System Restore doesn’t appear to change any settings is a
> concern.
>
> Best of luck…
>
>
>[/color]

Christopher,

I'm sure you'll get it fixed.

With my XP computers I have reinstalled the OS once a year.

With my Vista Home Premium Sp1 machine (one year anniversary coming up), I
haven't seen any need to do so... so far. Knock wood.

Right now, I'm using two user accounts. One administrator account that I
only use for global maintenance work and a standard user account which I use
everyday. I think that using the standard user account with elevated
priveleges when needed helps keep the minimize damage to the OS in case some
"bad" software does its number.

Cheers...
--
oscar :)

....Right click is your very good friend...


"Christopher Hume" wrote:
[color=blue]
> No problem asking (good not to assume anything). I've tried installing
> the drivers manually, but the scanner portion isn't recognized no matter
> what I do. It is possible I may have some corrupt system files as my PC
> had a huge hang the other day (had to forcibly restart the system and at
> the time, System Restore barely worked, but enough to get my PC usable
> again -- I suspect with any Windows or any OS for that matter
> crash/hang, it's always possible some files get corrupted or even when
> Windows is shut down due to a power outage) and I still had to reinstall
> a couple of corrupted programs. Also, an external hard drive around that
> time died on me :( (it was about 5 yrs old). And yes, you did recall
> reading correctly about System Restore being problematic for me. The
> reason I didn't mention the HD dying/huge hang, is everything else on my
> PC is working fine at the moment except new usb devices for some reason.
>
> Thanks for your help :).
>
> oscar wrote:[color=green]
> > So far it looks like you’re doing all the right things.
> >
> > (You did try loading drivers manually using Device Manager, yes? Sorry, I
> > have to ask but I can’t remember if that was one of the mentioned methods
> > that you tried in the forum that you referred to.)
> >
> > If it works on another Vista machine with SP1 but not yours then the problem
> > may indeed be with your OS. Some corrupted files?
> >
> > 1) You may want to look into getting the problem of SP1 installed.
> >
> > Here’s a start in case you haven’t seen these:
> >
> > [url]http://windowsvistablog.com/blogs/windowsvista/archive/2008/03/18/windows-vista-sp1-released-to-windows-update.aspx[/url]
> >
> > [url]http://windowsvistablog.com/blogs/windowsvista/archive/2007/12/12/windows-vista-sp1-rc-now-available-for-public-download.aspx[/url]
> >
> > 2) Try Startup Repair to fix possible damaged OS files
> >
> > 3) See if you can load the drivers in a different user account.
> >
> > Yes, reinstalling Vista is the last resort. But if I read it correctly, the
> > mention that your System Restore doesn’t appear to change any settings is a
> > concern.
> >
> > Best of luck…
> >
> >
> >[/color]
>[/color]

I'm sure I'll get it fixed eventually, one way or the other :). I had
thought of running as a standard user for one account and an
administrator (for global maintenance work) as another, but had tried
that under XP and didn't work too well (most programs at the time
required administrator privileges). I hear it's very different under
Vista (i.e., much easier) but haven't tried it for fear of way too many
programs insisting on administrator privileges --- although I could try
it as it'd give me a chance to see if there's something wrong with my
current profiles and as you said, if any "bad" software or even "good"
software malfunctions, the damage to the OS will be minimal.

oscar wrote:[color=blue]
> Christopher,
>
> I'm sure you'll get it fixed.
>
> With my XP computers I have reinstalled the OS once a year.
>
> With my Vista Home Premium Sp1 machine (one year anniversary coming up), I
> haven't seen any need to do so... so far. Knock wood.
>
> Right now, I'm using two user accounts. One administrator account that I
> only use for global maintenance work and a standard user account which I use
> everyday. I think that using the standard user account with elevated
> priveleges when needed helps keep the minimize damage to the OS in case some
> "bad" software does its number.
>
> Cheers...[/color]