[SOLVED] Using old scanner with Zorin OS9

Hi there

Have a very old scanner that i'd like to use with my "relatively" new computer ( I7 4770 , SSD + HDD , etc... ) with Zorin OS9 .

It's an Acer ( now re-branded as Benq ) "640 U" scanner that as far as i've read should be compatible with SANE ... and, fun fact, owners of this device tend to have a time making it work with Windows 8 ... if they even manage to...

That said: Right now i have this device hooked up to an old 10+ year computer with WinXP/RoboLinux ... and it works perfectly fine.... with WinXP , but can't get it to work with any Linux distro i've tried so far.

Only managed to make it work with a live RoboLinux distro once ... and never again ( tried next to 20 different Linux distros, live and HD-installed versions ) .

According to the compatibility list, this device "should" work out of the box ... but it doesn't.

Now, i only need a scanner to digitalize the artwork of my physical cds collection ( that extends to some thousands ) . Thought about getting a new one but the strong points ( better quality, faster, smaller & USB-powered ... implying it could be easier to hide and just take it when i need it ... saving space on the table ) crush against the negative fact ( 62 eur for the cheapest Ubuntu-guaranteed-compatible scan i can find ; too much for a device i'll be using just to scan the rare cds i can't find googling around ... not to mention i hate the thought of throwing away a perfectly working device, burns my mind ) .

So i'm facing the challenge of making this one works with Zorin OS9, maybe it's way more simple than i think ... but since already know i'm not the only owner experiencing some difficulties, guess it'll take some time to make it fully functional... hopefully not ^__^

Just on the starting line now... the OS simply doesn't recognize any scanning device plugged so... where should i start ?

Thanks in advance for any help

Hi, Please take a look here:

http://snapscan.sourceforge.net/

and here:

http://www.sane-project.org/man/sane-snapscan.5.html


keep us posted!

From what I have found on the internet it ALMOST works out of the box.
http://www.hamrick.com/vuescan/acer_benq_640u.html
says

You can use this scanner on Mac OS X and Linux without installing any other software.
On Linux, you need to set up libusb device protections.

and directs you to http://www.freecolormanagement.com/sane/libusb.html

To find out if it is properly detected you may want to try using this

Code:

sudo dmesg | egrep "(epson|scanner|acer|benq|0x4b8)"

just a shot in the dark =]

Good evening there !

Sorry for the delay getting back on topic and thanks-a-zillion for your help.

Had an extraordinary busy days lately so was forced to wait until the weekend to put some time into it.

Right now just powered-up & plugged the scanner ... but nothing happens.

First action-> copy-pasted this line :

Code:

sudo dmesg | egrep "(epson|scanner|acer|benq|0x4b8)"


... but nothing happens ... doesn't print anything at all ?!?! ...

I was also almost sure it'd be just plug & play but fact is ... something went wrong. Will be checking those first two links, although my guess ( ... and i'm not even sure about this ) is, that something else is missing.

Added:

Ok, i'm now just checking VueScan and downloaded the .tar file, but must admit i'm kinda lost about where should i start.

My Linux knowledge is still limited and just got used to simple steps with .deb files . Also checked this link:

http://www.freecolormanagement.com/sane/libusb.html

... and as far as i understand i must create a script ( not even sure about the file extension used here ) at .....

/etc/hotplug/usb/epson_scanner

Is that right ?

I apologize for asking so many questions, but it's the first time dealing with anything drivers-related and not as confident doing it on Linux.

Thanks for your understanding

I am in similar boat friend - think I may need to contact people at SANE for some hand-holding!

(New purchase - Canon MG-7550 all-in-one - printer driver ok - just spewing blank pages though!)

Sadly, the article posted on their website is kinda old, Alot has changed since the kernel version they are referring too, I don't know how accurate that information is. I know I personally have had no issues with my HP ethernet printer/scanner, literally ran a command and everything works, scann, copy, print, etc.

But it looks like better support has beeen added for that device since the posting on the companys website.
http://manpages.ubuntu.com/manpages/hardy/man4/uscanner.4.html "Epson Perfection 640U", is listed.

Try running this, maybe it is being detected

Code:

ls /dev/ | grep scanner

Let us know what the output is.

most of time, Linux will not show "new hardware detected" like Windows does.

Swarfendor437 wrote:I am in similar boat friend - think I may need to contact people at SANE for some hand-holding!

(New purchase - Canon MG-7550 all-in-one - printer driver ok - just spewing blank pages though!)

Hey, at the very least it does move , my scanner doesn't even flinch

Linx wrote:Sadly, the article posted on their website is kinda old, Alot has changed since the kernel version they are referring too, I don't know how accurate that information is. I know I personally have had no issues with my HP ethernet printer/scanner, literally ran a command and everything works, scann, copy, print, etc.

But it looks like better support has beeen added for that device since the posting on the companys website.
http://manpages.ubuntu.com/manpages/hardy/man4/uscanner.4.html "Epson Perfection 640U", is listed.

Try running this, maybe it is being detected

Code:

ls /dev/ | grep scanner

Let us know what the output is.

most of time, Linux will not show "new hardware detected" like Windows does.

Yes, i also saw that list not long ago ... that's why i was convinced this should be just plug & play ... but surprisingly isn't

Just tried that line on the terminal ... but still .. it does absolutely nothing ... doesn't show a thing...

From what i've read ... and considering i didn't completely got everything right ... looks like i'd need to activate hot-plug compatibility since Zorin doesn't react to the scanner ? I know you said it doesn't react the same way as windows, but on this case ... maybe something isn't working here.

On second thought ... this is a way too old scanner with a fairly new computer so... probably the scanner uses USB 1.0 while all the USB ports are 2.0 ( there's 3.0 ports but needless to say, not pluggin it on those ) . As far as i know, this shouldn't be a problem ... or could it be ?

I don't think the ports should be an issue, they are supposed to be backward compatible.

There is one more thing I would like to see.

Code:

sudo lsusb

It should show something like this.

Code:

$ sudo lsusb
Bus 002 Device 004: ID 0e6f:0137 Logic3
Bus 002 Device 002: ID 8087:0024 Intel Corp. Integrated Rate Matching Hub
Bus 002 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
Bus 004 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0003 Linux Foundation 3.0 root hub
Bus 003 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
Bus 001 Device 003: ID 058f:a014 Alcor Micro Corp. Asus Integrated Webcam
Bus 001 Device 002: ID 8087:0024 Intel Corp. Integrated Rate Matching Hub
Bus 001 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub


In my case the only thing plugged in is a built in webcam, and "Logic3" which is my fancy wireless headset.

Linx wrote:I don't think the ports should be an issue, they are supposed to be backward compatible.

There is one more thing I would like to see.

Code:

sudo lsusb

It should show something like this.

Code:

$ sudo lsusb
Bus 002 Device 004: ID 0e6f:0137 Logic3
Bus 002 Device 002: ID 8087:0024 Intel Corp. Integrated Rate Matching Hub
Bus 002 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
Bus 004 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0003 Linux Foundation 3.0 root hub
Bus 003 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
Bus 001 Device 003: ID 058f:a014 Alcor Micro Corp. Asus Integrated Webcam
Bus 001 Device 002: ID 8087:0024 Intel Corp. Integrated Rate Matching Hub
Bus 001 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub


In my case the only thing plugged in is a built in webcam, and "Logic3" which is my fancy wireless headset.

Done! ^__^ and here's the result :

Code:

Bus 002 Device 002: ID 8087:8000 Intel Corp.
Bus 002 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
Bus 001 Device 002: ID 8087:8008 Intel Corp.
Bus 001 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
Bus 004 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0003 Linux Foundation 3.0 root hub
Bus 003 Device 004: ID 04a5:2060 Acer Peripherals Inc. (now BenQ Corp.) Prisa 620U+/640U
Bus 003 Device 003: ID 1d57:ffa8 Xenta
Bus 003 Device 002: ID 045e:00db Microsoft Corp. Natural Ergonomic Keyboard 4000 V1.0
Bus 003 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub

So ... certainly the scanner is there ... what could be the problem then ?

Just installed Skanlite ( even though is for KDE ) out of sheer curiosity ... and this is what happened:

Try this

Code:

sudo apt-get install libsane-extras

and if that doesn't work try to unplug the scanner, then run this

Code:

sudo dmesg -C

Now plug in the scanner

Code:

dmesg

Paste the output.

So ... certainly the scanner is there ... what could be the problem then ?

Honestly, I have no idea, I'm just poking around and googeling what were seeing.

Didn't work .... and here's what was on my screen:

[ 188.503687] usb 3-2: new full-speed USB device number 5 using xhci_hcd
[ 188.524448] usb 3-2: New USB device found, idVendor=04a5, idProduct=2060
[ 188.524457] usb 3-2: New USB device strings: Mfr=1, Product=2, SerialNumber=0
[ 188.524462] usb 3-2: Product: FlatbedScanner 13
[ 188.524466] usb 3-2: Manufacturer: Color

Well it sees it is plugged in, but then not handling it, I haven't seen this before, but I find it intriguing.

Run this

Code:

lsmod

Just after plugging in the scanner It will tell us what modules your Kernel has loaded at the time of execution.

As always, Just post back so I can see.

^__^ And here it is :

Code:

Module                  Size  Used by
nls_utf8               12557  0
isofs                  39837  0
rfcomm                 69160  0
bnep                   19624  2
bluetooth             391136  10 bnep,rfcomm
binfmt_misc            17468  1
nls_iso8859_1          12713  1
x86_pkg_temp_thermal    14205  0
snd_hda_codec_hdmi     46368  1
intel_powerclamp       14705  0
joydev                 17381  0
coretemp               13435  0
kvm_intel             143187  0
kvm                   455794  1 kvm_intel
snd_hda_codec_realtek    65626  1
snd_hda_intel          56531  5
snd_hda_codec         192980  3 snd_hda_codec_realtek,snd_hda_codec_hdmi,snd_hda_intel
snd_hwdep              13602  1 snd_hda_codec
snd_pcm               102099  3 snd_hda_codec_hdmi,snd_hda_codec,snd_hda_intel
crct10dif_pclmul       14289  0
snd_page_alloc         18710  2 snd_pcm,snd_hda_intel
dm_multipath           22873  0
snd_seq_midi           13324  0
snd_seq_midi_event     14899  1 snd_seq_midi
snd_rawmidi            30144  1 snd_seq_midi
crc32_pclmul           13113  0
ghash_clmulni_intel    13216  0
aesni_intel            55624  0
aes_x86_64             17131  1 aesni_intel
snd_seq                61560  2 snd_seq_midi_event,snd_seq_midi
lrw                    13286  1 aesni_intel
snd_seq_device         14497  3 snd_seq,snd_rawmidi,snd_seq_midi
snd_timer              29482  2 snd_pcm,snd_seq
gf128mul               14951  1 lrw
glue_helper            13990  1 aesni_intel
ablk_helper            13597  1 aesni_intel
cryptd                 20359  3 ghash_clmulni_intel,aesni_intel,ablk_helper
snd                    69322  21 snd_hda_codec_realtek,snd_hwdep,snd_timer,snd_hda_codec_hdmi,snd_pcm,snd_seq,snd_rawmidi,snd_hda_codec,snd_hda_intel,snd_seq_device,snd_seq_midi
scsi_dh                14882  1 dm_multipath
soundcore              12680  1 snd
serio_raw              13462  0
mei_me                 18627  0
mei                    82276  1 mei_me
lpc_ich                21080  0
shpchp                 37032  0
parport_pc             32701  0
ppdev                  17671  0
intel_smartconnect     12619  0
lp                     17759  0
parport                42348  3 lp,ppdev,parport_pc
mac_hid                13205  0
btrfs                 835994  0
xor                    21411  1 btrfs
raid6_pq               97812  1 btrfs
libcrc32c              12644  1 btrfs
dm_mirror              22135  0
dm_region_hash         20862  1 dm_mirror
dm_log                 18411  2 dm_region_hash,dm_mirror
hid_generic            12548  0
hid_microsoft          12805  0
usbhid                 52659  0
hid                   106148  3 hid_generic,hid_microsoft,usbhid
radeon               1522664  5
e1000e                254433  0
i2c_algo_bit           13413  1 radeon
psmouse               106647  0
ttm                    93424  1 radeon
drm_kms_helper         55071  1 radeon
ahci                   34091  8
ptp                    18933  1 e1000e
drm                   303102  7 ttm,drm_kms_helper,radeon
libahci                32716  1 ahci
pps_core               19382  1 ptp
video                  19476  0


Just bumping, hoping there's some update with this

Hi Maerskian, I have had issues with a new All-in-One and the solution was VueScan - I haven't purchased this yet as it is a bit pricey (for the professional one). The demo version just captures images (no OCR unless you purchase). What gobsmacked me was it correctly identified the all-in-one down ot its model number!

http://www.hamrick.com/

Swarfendor437 wrote:Hi Maerskian, I have had issues with a new All-in-One and the solution was VueScan - I haven't purchased this yet as it is a bit pricey (for the professional one). The demo version just captures images (no OCR unless you purchase). What gobsmacked me was it correctly identified the all-in-one down ot its model number!

http://www.hamrick.com/

Woah ... as you mentioned, it's quite expensive ... for the price i might as well throw my old scanner to the bin and get a brand new one.

so i guess this is a dead end then ?

Hi - it depends what you intend to use your scanner for - if it is just for scanning images, the demo will be sufficient. I still have an old Dexxa Scanner (Parallel Port) which I never got round to sorting out (apparently only ever worked on Debian). I have tried the SANE package for the new scanner and it doesn't work - the only one that did work was the VUE scan package. MakuluLinux is Debian based and I don't have a parallel port on my current rig (would mean purchasing a parallel port card). A possible alternative solution would be to run a copy of Windows in Virtual Box and install the scanner driver that way? It is all I can come up with I am afraid!

Swarfendor437 wrote:Hi - it depends what you intend to use your scanner for - if it is just for scanning images, the demo will be sufficient. I still have an old Dexxa Scanner (Parallel Port) which I never got round to sorting out (apparently only ever worked on Debian). I have tried the SANE package for the new scanner and it doesn't work - the only one that did work was the VUE scan package. MakuluLinux is Debian based and I don't have a parallel port on my current rig (would mean purchasing a parallel port card). A possible alternative solution would be to run a copy of Windows in Virtual Box and install the scanner driver that way? It is all I can come up with I am afraid!

Good evening

I apologize for taking so long to reply back... but have been on holidays ... and paradoxically enough, had less time than usual to be around the computer .

Yes, i just need it to scan images so just dowloaded the demo ... wasn't really sure how to install it . It was just a .tgz file ... uncompressed it and there's just 3 files, one of them without any file extension.

Executed that extensionless file and worked ! The scanner suddenly worked and finally was able to scan something , finally the light at the end of the tunnel ... or not ?

Unfortunately there's a slight problem ... the demo version also prints an annoying watermark all over the scanned image, so i better forget about this option ... for a reasonable price could be worth it, but as i said... it can't possibly be worth the price of a brand new device.

Will be searching for new approaches anyways...

Regardless, thanks for mentioning the option of running WinXP on a Vbox . Never did this before, do you know an easy step-by-step tutorial - link ?
Looks like a measure of last resource, but truth is ... never thought about that before... maybe i just wanted to keep it within Linux and hoped not to see Windows again...

Thank you very much for your help & time !

Ok, here's a weird update :

As i said earlier, tried this scanner with several linux distros and only worked once ... once, and no more ... using some random distro and on live mode only .

Since i installed Zorin OS9 as my sole O.S. this scanner never worked... installed alternative soft like simple scan , skanlite ... whatever i could find ... but it wasn't until the VueScan demo version that this scan finally worked... alas, watermarked

Now... here's the weird update:

Left the VueScan app open and was organizing my firefox's speed dial ; usually, the whole OS freezes completely while i'm at it ( not sure about the reasons, maybe too much icons, who knows ? but doesn't bother me that much nor i want to go at it right now ) so all i can do is hit the reset ( kinda make remember Windows times ) ... but this time, while rebooting, the scanner started making noises .... the usual noises it makes while the OS recognize it/ configure it ...

I was literally astonished about it, so tried SimpleScan and ..... worked !!!!

It wasn't really great to be honest, just scanned a cd ( i mean the disc itself ) and the printed letters were slightly pixillated/out of focus while the background printed artwork was ok... but oh well, maybe i didn't set everything right.

After that, tried Skanlite ... and worked like magic !!! ( funny enough, same parameters used on SimpleScan ) .

Only problem with this is... while i'm really happy the scanner is really working as it should ... can't say i understand what happened ... not to mention i'm not sure this will work like this next time i start my computer ...

Does any of this makes some sense for any of you ? Something the O.S. does while rebooting maybe ?

Cheers

Hi, and thanks for the update - that IS curious!

Swarfendor437 wrote:Hi, and thanks for the update - that IS curious!

And i have a theory about all this ... not sure if it makes sense :

When i executed the VueScan file... maybe it created some missing directories & files necessary for this old scanner to run properly... and since these directories & files are common for each & any scan-app ... all of a sudden, they all work as they no longer miss anything

This would imply the VueScan demo is a nice way to add a wider spectrum of drivers to our OS's that would directly help other apps ^__^

Couple days later ... everything is still working

No real step-by-step solution ... but guess we can mark this as solved and let it stay for future reference.

Thank you everybody !

Nice going Maerskian!

60 blue jewels for sharing!

Hi again ^__^

One final update:

Had to fix something at home that required me to turn off the power grid so turned off the computer completely .
Once the power was back .... turned on the computer and the scanner wouldn't work, once again.

So once again, executed the demo version of VueScan, did a "preview" just in case, closed .... then used "Skanlite" ... and yes, once again, it worked... and it's been working again since then.

No idea what's happening on the background ( it's like VueScan add some missing files each time ) , but at least it works