Installing a device driver

[Eireann]

Hmmmm, I wonder. I'm not very technical, so I didn't know about such things.

I DID discover that a higher-res scan is absolutely HUGE; I checked the number of pixels, and I think my digital camera is blushing with embarrassment. Whoa. I've been spending a lot of time enlarging the images just so I can get rid of all the dust marks.

[lordlundar]

Yeah, High res is if you're planning on making a high quality printout on a very good quality printer or enlarging photos, and that is going to take a lot longer than a lower res, because Each pixel is smaller.

As an example (and no, the numbers aren't accurate): a 4"x6" photo being scanned in:

Low res: 400 lines by 600 lines
High res: 1200 lines by 1800 lines

Still the same size at 4"x6" but the high res is a lot more detailed because of the finer scanning. Your display on your monitor on the other hand is designated by pixels, so the higher res will show up as a lot larger, because the line is the same size on the monitor. Printing out will produce the same size photo, but the higher res one will be better quality.

Now consider that every line has to be scanned in one at a time. Which is going to take longer? the 400 lines or the 1200? The 600 or the 1800?

To summarize:

Low res: Faster, smaller file and display size, lower quality printouts.
High res: Slower, larger file and display size, higher quality printouts.

[barcode]

Sorry for the delay...

I've got the manuals for this this computer (another thread), and:
- I/O Ports: Serial (1), Parallel (1), USB 2.0 (8)

So, it looks like there are NO USB1.1 issues.

Now, a note about Previews...

The HP (et. al.) will give you a low-res outline of what you're scanning so that you can use the select tool to frame the area you wish to scan. The fact that you're getting a preview means the scan feature works without ink being needed. So, I'd check to see if you're properly framing the item, or scanning more area in hi-res than you have memory for (as mentioned earlier, it takes lots o' RAM at 12-1600 dpi, but not so much at 3-600).

Another thing I just noticed: you mention FILM? Are you scanning negatives? If so, you'll need the special adapter "box" that reflects the light from the CCFL lamp back behind the slide/negative for the CCD/lens to pick it up. Otherwise, you'll wind up with a "blank" scan. This is where that frame tool is used - you box in the negative from the preview, and then scan it at max res, as you're only selecting the 35mm size instead of the full 8.5x11" bed.

Lastly, may I recommend trying to use another program for graphics that will NOT use up much memory, but should use the HP driver (to see if it's a memory issue)? The program is called "IrfanView", and you can download it here. Be sure to UNcheck the Google toolbar installation part, and you're good to go (you don't have to reboot). Once installed, use the "File -> Acquire -> Select Source -> HP PSC Series" to tell it what to use, then "File -> Acquire -> Image", and see what happens. Also, it's one of the best freakin' free image editors I've ever used. Period. I wish Irfan would port a Linux version...

Now, I've never used the Windows Disk Management for partitioning, but the reason you can't resize your drive C may be why I always use a bootable CD (or floppy/USB) utility, like GPartEd on the PartEdMagic CD. The thing is, you CAN'T re-partition (resize) a partition that you're currently using (or "mounted" in Linux speak). By booting off the CD, it won't mount the drives, so you can partition all day long without worry. I'm hoping that WDM can set your changes as a "do this next time you boot up, before the C drive is mounted" sorta thing, but since Windows has to boot off the drive to run the scheduler... Yeah.

barcode

[Eireann]

Yes, I've been trying to scan film. I removed the regular white panel that usually fits on the lid of the device, just as the instructions stated, then I used to plastic frame that came with the scanner. Everything was as according to the instructions.

Preview showed a big, black screen. I didn't try to scan. (I was trying to scan b/w negs. Could that be part of the issue?)

[Eireann]

Okay, I hope this works!

(Yes, it did!)

[Chromatix]

If you're scanning film, you shouldn't try to scan the whole page area, only the area of a single negative. Otherwise the image you get will be too big for words.

If you have an adapter for handling film, probably the scanner has a special setting for it. This will turn on any special stuff the scanner needs to use, and will probably reduce the scan area to that covered by the adapter. Also, some adapters need to be plugged into the scanner to receive power.

If you're scanning paper, there's no real reason to go beyond about 600dpi, unless you're trying to get something small in exquisite detail.

[Eireann]

Yeah, there is a special "Film" button on the front of the scanner that you're supposed to push before scanning (and, yes, I did push this button before doing the preview), but it seems that the scanner is far more interested in telling me that it needs ink than it is in, oh, actually doing what I want it to do. I think it tried to do the film scan as a regular scan. Pressing the "Settings" button also does no good. I hope I won't have to spend all that money getting ink just to get the stupid thing to work the way it should.

Oh, and thanks for the advice on the resolution! That's a big help. I got some startlingly good scans off this machine, I must admit.