At 02:29 PM 10/30/98 , Greg Anderson wrote:
>        I have customer that had me upgrade their computer (p233MHz MMX,
>32MB, 3.2GB HDD) from WIN95 to WIN98. I reformatted the hard drive,
>installed WIN98 and everything came up and worked just fine. The modem,
>sound card, printer, etc. The HP5 scanner came up and worked fine. I
>scanned 2 pictures to show them it worked ok.
>        They have since told me that days after I left, they were on the
>Internet and the PC locked up. So they booted the PC. Since that time
>the Device Manager shows no entry for the scanner, only the SCSI card
>(SYMBIOSxxxx). I have removed the SCSI card, brought the PC up and then
>down, reinstalled the SCSI card and it plug-n-plays beautifully. But, it
>never detects the scanner. Can anyone provide me any thoughts on how to
>get the scanner connected? Is there a problem running the HP5 scanner to
>run consistently under WIN98? Am I hopefully just missing some steps to
>get the scanner recognized? Any help would be greatly appreciated!

There exists many issues with the HP Deskjet scanners and Win98.
Some models like the HP4p scanner was supplied with proprietary cards
that must be replaced to function under Win98...   the HP5p requires
special drivers from HP and Hewlett Packard has a great solution:
THEY ARE CHARGING MONEY FOR THE UPGRADE DRIVERS.

If you have an HP5S scanner it should work fine with no upgrade.  If you
have the HP5p/pse scanner prepare to pay HP for their scanner drivers in
order to use it with Windows98.

This issue exists for many of the early HP Deskject scanners such as the
HP4p scanner I own.   My solution was to replace their proprietary interface
card with a real SCSI card.   It cost me more than the driver upgrade from
HP, but  it was the principle of the issue.  If we all were suddenly forced to
"BUY" drivers for our hardware when we upgraded to a new operating
system...  and considering the number of drivers involved in most systems,
the cost would be prohibitive.

This is a very bad precedent.   Somewhat of a battle between Microsoft
and Hewlett Packard...   Microsoft should be providing these drivers with
Win98 or at the very least HP should be providing the support for their
hardware to a new OS free of charge, as all other hardware manufacturers
have done in the past.

This is the reason that the software upgrade that HP is selling can be found
for free download by many people, just to tweak HP's nose.   I am apposed
to software piracy...   but, I am also apposed to companies like HP &
Microsoft forcing users to choose between buying new hardware or drivers
that have always been complementary, (free), in the past.

If this system is the HP5p or 5pse you will find the information about HP's
little grasping attempt to "shake down" users for the drivers at:
     http://www.scanjet.hp.com/support/5p/index.htm

I hope this helps...




Bob Wright  -   The NOSPIN GROUP
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Listserv Owner   PCBUILD  -  PCSOFT
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