Uninstalling and Reinstalling a Scanner on Windows
Uninstalling
First, you must identify the type of scanner you have in order to uninstall it. To do this, open the Control Panel (Start > Settings > Control Panel). Click on “Scanners and Cameras”. This will bring up a list of all scanners connected to your computer. Right click on the scanner you want to uninstall, then click Uninstall.
Once the scanner is uninstalled, go back to the Control Panel and click on “Add or Remove Programs”. Search for the scanner in question, and uninstall it from here as well.
Delete any remaining drivers and software associated with the scanner using the Windows Explorer (My Computer > Local Disk C: > Program Files > Common Files). Delete all folders that are associated with the scanner.
Finally, restart your computer. The scanner will now be completely removed from your system.
Reinstalling
To reinstall your scanner, start by locating the installation CD or downloading the appropriate software from the manufacturer’s website. Once you have the software, insert the CD into your PC’s disc drive and follow the installation instructions. If you downloaded the software, double-click the installation file to begin the setup process.
Once you have completed the installation process, restart your computer. After your computer has restarted, open the Control Panel and click on “Scanners and Cameras”. Your scanner should now appear in this list. If it does not, try restarting your computer again.
Once the scanner appears in the Scanners and Cameras list, right-click on it and select “Properties”. A window will appear with several tabs. Select the “Driver” tab. Click the “Update Driver” button. Follow the instructions to complete the driver update.
Finally, test the scanner to make sure it is working correctly. Open an application such as Paint or Word and try scanning a document. If everything is working properly, you have successfully reinstalled your scanner.