| Forum Home | ||||
| Press F1 | ||||
| Thread ID: 31140 | 2003-03-13 07:31:00 | Why does my scanner exercise? | Susan B (19) | Press F1 |
| Post ID | Timestamp | Content | User | ||
| 127721 | 2003-03-13 07:31:00 | My Agfa SnapScan flatbed appears to have a life of its own. It is spooky! :O Just before 7:00am every morning the little green activity light starts flashing and the light that does the scanning goes for a ride up and down the unit all by itself. It does this when the computer is switched off (but not at the wall) and several times I have caught it doing the same at other times of the day, again while the computer is off. Why is it exercising itself like this? Will it do any harm if I prevent its routine by unplugging it from the wall and the computer? Scanner is USB, 3½ years old and connected to the Win 98 PC. |
Susan B (19) | ||
| 127722 | 2003-03-13 08:30:00 | Just a big guess, but perhaps there's a faulty connection somewhere - in the power supply maybe, or in the scanner itself. If I unplug the USB from my scanner to the PC (whether the system is on or not) the scanner will light up - same if I unplug the power then plug it in again. There might be something wrong with the power supply pack. It could possibly also be caused by small power surges or whatever, perhaps within just your home, or your neighbourhood - everyone turning on toasters and jugs etc :) That's my completely unknowledgable opinion on the subject :D Mike. |
Mike (15) | ||
| 127723 | 2003-03-13 08:34:00 | If you catch it heading for the gym,you will will have something to worry about. | Thomas (1820) | ||
| 127724 | 2003-03-13 08:43:00 | it could just be bored ! lol ! Beetle |
beetle (243) | ||
| 127725 | 2003-03-13 08:57:00 | Its probably trying to hook up with the new computer | Baldy (26) | ||
| 127726 | 2003-03-13 19:59:00 | Well you got me thinking there, Mike. I hadn't thought of a faulty PSU being a possible culprit. Surely I would have other problems if it was, though, wouldn't I? I don't think it would be small power surges because like I said, it happens just before 7am each morning and the toaster and jug starts up at least half an hour before that. And the rest of the neighbourhood are still out to it at that time. :p I am sure it is programmed to do it because it happens at the same time each morning. Initially I thought it was only once a day but one night it did its routine when I was out in the kitchen getting a drink in the wee small hours. I hadn't turned on any lights so it gave me the fright of my life when it started up. I wish I had taken note of the time but was too shaken to think of doing so. :D Was just wondering if anyone else's scanner does the same thing or find out if they are meant to do it for some reason. Yes, it must be bored and is trying to hook up with the other computer. That is what it would be doing. :p :D |
Susan B (19) | ||
| 127727 | 2003-03-13 20:24:00 | Susan my HP PSC 750 unit (Printer Scanner Copier) has a setting deep within the software somewhere that does indeed activate itself periodically, 12 hours after last use from memory . Sometimes it will do it even when it hasn't been used for days . Its entirely independent of the PC being on or not . Possibly it was explained in the manual, can't remember but it made sense at the time . It does a "self calibration" I think . BTW if anyone wants a bargain unit, these are on "run-out" end of line special at around $300 at the moment and very good value . A hi-res scanner, photo grade inkjet printer and a photocopier (colour or BW) in the one unit . Wouldnt be without it, the photocopier function does not require the PC to be on, its fully stand alone . Good ink cartridge life as well . |
godfather (25) | ||
| 127728 | 2003-03-13 20:53:00 | I was hoping you might provide an explanation, godfather . :-) It does not say anything in my manual about "self calibrations" but that sounds a logical explanation . Every 12 hours would sound about right because it does it when the computer is switched on and that is usually less than 12 hours after the 7am routine . Well that puts my mind at rest . If it is supposed to do it then I had better not interfere . :-) |
Susan B (19) | ||
| 127729 | 2003-03-13 22:33:00 | I don't know where my brain is sometimes Susan :( I completely missed this post, but it doesn't matter as I don't know the answer anyway. However, I have a bit of advice for anybody else with similar problems. I have an HP1200 printer that was annoying the hell out of me late last year by spitting out a single page with one ascii character on it about 1 minute after I turned off my computer each night. I could live with that, but it had another annoying habit of firing up again anytime during the next hour or so and printing the same character on every sheet in the paper tray. X-( X-( X-( X-( PF1 offered no cure, and nor did HP, so I set up a bank of eight power outlets (2 x 4-ways that mount in place of single power points) and plugged all of my peripherals into them. I added a master switch to kill the lot at one hit and now I can turn off my computer, hit the master switch and everything goes off. One switch turns everything on again in the morning too, so that everything is detected and loaded at boot. This simple solution stops ghostly computer noises in the night and saves power too. The same outcome can be achieved by using a six or eight-way multibox and turning off the supply power point each night. Plug your computer itself into a separate outlet so that your UPS doesn't start up when the power goes off though. You do have a UPS don't you Susan? :p Cheers Billy 8-{) :D |
Billy T (70) | ||
| 127730 | 2003-03-13 22:43:00 | My answer is similar. 2 4 way power strips. One with computer, monitor, printer, stereo (an old one, I run computer sound through it), the other with scanner and other things I don't use on a daily basis. At night, shut things down, turn off power strips. |
Heather P (163) | ||
| 1 2 | |||||