OSX SCSI & scanner recognition problems

mrbrien

Registered
I've had a problem getting my G3 with OSX (10.3) to see my old UMAX 1200s scanner. Under OS9 I didn't have this problem. After some exploration, it seems that UMAX doesn't support their products well, and it would seem the only way to use this scanner would be to puchase some Silverfast software or boot into OS9.2.2 and scan from there. Being cheap and needing to use the scanner right away, I decided to use the OS9.2.2 method, but I still get the same problem.

The error message reads:

Scanner not found or not ready.
(Check cable connections, SCSI id.
Restart the scanner & redo scanning.)

Well, I have repeatedly checked the cable connections and SCSI id. I have tried id's 4-6 with no success. The SCSI card drivers are installed (Adaptec 290X-2930 v.1.1.0, loaded, valid, authentic, & satisfied under system profile), but the system profile finds no information on SCSI devices. The UMAX VistaScan/twain have all been installed. I have seen mention of termination problems with SCSI devices, but considering the fact that the scanner worked fine all by itself in OS9, I don't think that termination is the problem. It is possible that the SCSI card decided to go bad the day I switched to OSX, but that too would seem to be an improbable scenario. Any help would be much appreciated.

comp specs:

blue & white G3
300 MHZ
256 MB RAM

OSX (10.3)
updated OS 9.2.2

UMAX Astra 1200S scanner (only SCSI device)
Adaptec SCSI 2906
DB25 SCSI connector

also:

I am using The MacOSX driver 1.1, and it is the latest available for OSX that I am aware of. Here is a link to the Adaptec site:


http://www.adaptec.com/worldwide/su...t=/Product/AVA-2906&filekey=apd2906_X_v11.hqx

"Mac OS X Driver, version 1.1

Notes:
The version 1.1 driver is embedded in Mac OS X 10.2 and later, there is no need to download and install this driver if you are running Mac OS X 10.2 or later."

I am running OSX 10.3, and the systems folder > software > extensions says that I have the v.1.10 driver installed. I have seen a v.1.13 driver that can be downloaded, but apparently it is a special version for G4's and their sleep modes. I have a G3, so I figure it wouldn't be of much help.

- Thanks,
- Brien.
 
Although you say you don't think termination is a problem, have you actually tried terminating the scanner?

Worth a go...
 
Termination is a must. I have known terminators to go bad. Replace the one you have if you already have the scanner terminated.
 
Ummm...actually, it seems that SCSI itself is an issue in Panther. Apparently, also, Adaptec's 29xx line is unsupported (even though it says the driver is loaded), and will not be supported at any time, under Panther. Something about a ROM issue, I think...I read it somewhere in Apple's Support Area.
 
Hmmm. Thanks for the help, guys. By the way, the scanner is terminated. I didn't know that Panther wasn't going to be supported by Adaptec. So far you guys have been the most helpful on this issue. After a bit of poking, I came up with a reference to the Adaptec bug issue:

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

http://www.macattorney.com/panther.html#Anchor-SCSI-63255
SCSI Scanner Problems

Panther introduced a bug in the Adaptec SCSI drivers for the following Adaptec SCSI cards: AVA-2906, Power Domain 2930U, Power Domain 29160, Power Domain 29160N, and Power Domain 39160. The bug removs support for the IOSCSIDeviceInterface, which works on Mac OS X 10.2, and only supports SCSITaskInterface, which doesn't work with many scanners (the SCSI Sense buffer is too small).

This is only a problem with some scanners, but it's especially a problem with UMAX and Linotype Ultra SCSI scanners

While the Adaptec site says that there is no problem with Jaguar:
http://tinyurl.com/tn7n

In private correspondence Adaptec acknowledges the problem and they say that they are investigating a solution.

Ed Hamrick has released Vuescan 7.6.65, which now allows you to successfully use Umax and LinoType scanners under OSX.3
http://www.hamrick.com/vsm.html

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 
Simple as installing the driver (Adaptec 2906.pkg) from the original install disk make sure you have you SCSI address set correctly with no conflicts (use 1) and simple as that. Along with Vue Scan it brought my Epson 836XL back to life. Don't know why there is so many people saying the 2906 won't work...here is the driver...Also Vue scan works well with my Umax powerlook 1100 Firewire Scanner...cool little piece of software
 

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