1. Check the physical connection between the scanner and your PC. Make sure the USB cable is firmly attached to the scanner and PC.
2. Check the power supply of the scanner. Ensure that the power cable is securely connected, and that the scanner is powered on.
3. Check if the scanner driver is installed and updated. Visit the manufacturer’s website to download and install the latest driver if needed.
4. Restart the computer. This can sometimes help to re-establish communication between your system and scanner.
5. Check if the scanner is compatible with your system. If your operating system is not supported by the driver, you will need to look for an alternative scanner.
6. Make sure the scanner is recognized in Device Manager. Open up Device Manager and double-click on the imaging devices category. Check if there is an entry for the scanner.
7. Disable driver signatures in Windows. You will need to disable driver signature enforcement to ensure that unsigned drivers, such as those from third-party sources, are allowed to be used. To do this, use Start > Run and type “shutdown.exe -o -f -r –t 00” then press Enter. This will restart your computer and open up the Advanced options screen. Select “Troubleshoot” > “Advanced Options” > “Startup Settings” > “Restart” and then choose the “Disable Driver Signature Enforcement” option (No.7).
8. Update the BIOS of your system. Check if a BIOS update is available on the manufacturer’s website which you can use to address any compatibility issues you may have with the scanner.
9. Run a troubleshooting scan. Microsoft has a built-in Troubleshooting scan that can help you identify and fix hardware and software issues related to scanners. Open Control Panel > Troubleshooting > Hardware and Sound > Troubleshoot devices. Then select the “Scanner” option, and follow the on-screen instructions.
10. Perform a System Restore. If updating your drivers and BIOS doesn’t help, try using a System Restore to roll back your system to a time when the scanner was known to work. Open Control Panel > System and Security > System > System Protection and follow the on-screen instructions.
11. Re-install the scanner driver. If you’re still having problems, try uninstalling and re-installing the scanner driver. Download the latest version from the manufacturer’s website and install it on your system.
12. Contact customer support. If none of these solutions have worked for you, contact customer support for help with resolving the issue.