Ticket Options

Question Profile

Question Details

TICKET ARCHIVE -> Lexmark X502n scanning issue

rprior - Jun 4, 2008 - 5:25 pm

Background: I have a wee network of 2 iBooks and an iMac (all running 10.4.11), connected via a cable modem and an Airport Extreme.

Bascially, I can't scan. It's clearly a software issue. I cannot use the scanning feature on my new X502n because the Presto! software is not to be found. (Copy and print functions work like a charm.) Is that software only Windows, and if so, what am I supposed to use?

I tried the TWAIN acquire on GraphicConverter, but it said no scanner could be found on the network, as does the Lexmark 500 Series application. I can print over the network, so the machine is clearly detectable. I had slightly better luck with Photoshop import. Then the Lexmark 500 Series application appeared, albeit with virtually no options. Hitting Preview set the scanner function to work, but then Scan itself created a blank document and froze Photoshop. The Lexmark Troubleshooting suggested closing all unused programs. I did. In fact, I even restarted the computer and opened only Photoshop. Same results.

A major reason why I bought this is for its advertised scanning and OCR capabilities and Mac OS X compatibility.

I've googled around and found that other Mac users have had similar issues with Lexmark and several other printer models. I've written to Lexmark, but trust you guys better!

Any observations, suggestions, miracles are welcome!

Rich

zo219 - Jun 4, 2008 - 7:02 pm

And you believed them.

Download a trial of VueScan, let us know if that works.

rprior - Jun 5, 2008 - 4:45 pm

Yea, I believed them. I was raised to trust everybody once. :-\

The VueScan page says Lexmark, along with many other common/popular brands, is not supported. I downloaded and ran anyway. No dice. I was immediately informed that no device was connected, just like GraphicConverter told me... but not Photoshop. Like I'd written, Photoshop did preview immediately, then the scan itself turned up nothing.

I guess my next step will be to call CDW, from whom I bought it. They're good folks and have never done me wrong. I just hope they don't have to forward my call to a surly Indian like the other call I had to make about this printer!

I read an article in MacWorld (http://www.macworld.com/article/1336...n_testing.html) about the scanning nightmare they encountered when evaluating a Lexmark X560n. They finally got it to work, but/and then their major, original gripe was about it not being Panther compatible. They put a link to a driver that works... for Panther and the 560, would it be worth a shot to try on Tiger with a 502?

Oh. My support email to Lexmark still hasn't been answered. If CDW has no answer, I'll call them. ::shudders::

Rich.

zo219 - Jun 5, 2008 - 4:57 pm

Wait ... you've tried TwainSane? Google it, or look on MacUpdate ... I've used it in the past, it does work with GrpahicConverter.

Sure, I'd try the Panther driver, no harm done. I'd also clear your PRAM, maybe even reset NV-RAM ... and I can't think that far back, but isn't there Image Capture in Tiger? I'd be looking for the simplest ways to call up the scanner ... not Photoshop. How old *is* this thing.

And you have tried this plugged in?

rprior - Jun 5, 2008 - 5:15 pm

Thanks for stopping me from dialing. Phone was in hand just as I got your note!

Never heard of TwainSane. I've googled it.

I'll try the Panther driver. WTF. Talk about thinking that far back, I don't think I've "cleared PRAM" since my monochrome Classic! Was that OS 8?!!! I wouldn't know NV-RAM if I stepped in it. :-(

Tiger has Grab, but also old reliable command+shift+3.

Gotta ask, which "thing" are you speaking of? The scanner? It part of a multifunctional gizmo. All functions are fine except scanning.

So I'll try the Panther driver, then TwainSane, then report back.

Thanks so much for your input!

Rich.

rprior - Jun 5, 2008 - 5:24 pm

Oops. The "how old" thing I didn't answer. Sorry.

I just bought the printer/scanner/copier/fax/cappucino maker. NIB. The software (Mac only I suppose) dates '07 and is their v1.0

rprior - Jun 6, 2008 - 9:51 am

Update. Yesterday afternoon I'd tried scanning via Photoshop using the driver supplied with the Lexmark. Response to the preview and scan commands was immediate, a window opened, but no image appeared. This morning, however, the image was there. I have no idea how many HOURS it took to acquire that single image, but there it was, so it works... eventually. So is Photoshop (v 7.0) the culprit? GraphicConverter won't even recognize the scanner on the network.

So I followed your suggestions and tried VueScan, the Leopard driver, and TwainSane. Zero success with any of them. I'm right back where I started. As an experiment this morning I tried another scan via Photoshop. It worked like a charm up to the same point. Empty pane, Photoshop froze. This time I recorded the exact time the scanner did its job and the blank pane appeared: 8:47:20 AM. It's now 9:43 and still nothing. I can't sit here all day staring at the screen for something to happen, so I'll keep checking back for an apparition.

Clearly it shouldn't take this long, so something's amiss. I think it also sucks that I'd have to already have an image processing program to access the freakin' driver. Photoshop ain't $20 shareware!

I'll check back here later to see if anyone has any other ideas. At some point today I'll call CWD, then Calcutta... I mean Lexmark... and report back. (I wrote their support folks three days ago and their 48 hour response policy appears longer than advertised as well.)

Rich.

rprior - Jun 6, 2008 - 11:17 am

Update. Yesterday afternoon I'd tried scanning via Photoshop using the driver supplied with the Lexmark. Response to the preview and scan commands was immediate, a window opened, but no image appeared. This morning, however, the image was there. I have no idea how many HOURS it took to acquire that single image, but there it was, so it works... eventually. So is Photoshop (v 7.0) the culprit? GraphicConverter won't even recognize the scanner on the network.

So I followed your suggestions and tried VueScan, the Leopard driver, and TwainSane. Zero success with any of them. I'm right back where I started. As an experiment this morning I tried another scan via Photoshop. It worked like a charm up to the same point. Empty pane, Photoshop froze. This time I recorded the exact time the scanner did its job and the blank pane appeared: 8:47:20 AM. It's now 9:43 and still nothing. I can't sit here all day staring at the screen for something to happen, so I'll keep checking back for an apparition.

Clearly it shouldn't take this long, so something's amiss. I think it also sucks that I'd have to already have an image processing program to access the freakin' driver. Photoshop ain't $20 shareware!

I'll check back here later to see if anyone has any other ideas. At some point today I'll call CWD, then Calcutta... I mean Lexmark... and report back. (I wrote their support folks three days ago and their 48 hour response policy appears longer than advertised as well.)

Rich.

rprior - Jun 6, 2008 - 1:04 pm

After 4 hours I had to abort my experiment. In the meantime I tried a different tack, namely programming a profile into one of the jiffy quick access buttons. As usual, their instructions were clear as mud, but I muddled through ;-) and it worked until a brick wall was hit. This time the scanner wouldn't recognize my iBook. They copy and print functions are ducky, the scanning is snappy too, but there's that damn brick wall!

Just to double check if it was Photoshop or my iBook, I tried a scan on my cheapo USB only HP flatbed via Photoshop. That experiment took a mere 26 seconds! Smells like Lexmark's driver is the problem, (v 1.0 by the way) and according to VueScan, they, along with Brother and some other popular brands, write such byzantine code that it's impossible to deal with them.

Well, I'll make those calls and report back in hopes that I'll get this straightened out -- it's war at this point! -- and to help others in this same pickle.

Rich.

I guess I'll have to resort to making another call.

zo219 - Jun 8, 2008 - 4:49 pm

There's no point waiting for more than a minute for an image to appear, btw.

I can't see how TwainSane could fail to acquire! Sure sounds like it's a Lexmark problem. I will leave this ticket open for other techs to review, sorry I couldn't be of more help.