Did your Document Scanner stop working the first of this year?

[Benson]

About your scanner failure.

My scanners failed also. It started shortly after I started to work on the taxes for 2025 in Feb or March 2026. While using scanner I got a message from Epson that an update was being automatically installed. That is when trouble started.

I called Epson tech support and they tried (in 3 or 4 sessions over several days, with me on the phone with them) to fix it but could not figure out what was wrong.

Epson said they would work on problem and call me back with a fix. Three weeks later they called with the fix. They emailed me an updated software install package for me to install on the computer.

This fixed problem with this scanner but I then found that another different model HP scanner at the house was now failing and my scanner at the shop at work failed also. The Boss’s scanner at the shop failed also (a different manufacturer).

They said that the problem was wide spread and many others had the same problem. It seems it started with an update that Microsoft downloaded by way of Windows Updates. Many different manufacturers had same problem not just Epson.

Later I found that my three scanners also failed on the WINDOWS 10 and Windows 11 machines (fixes are different depending upon if it is installed on a Win 10 or Win 11 machine.

Machines involved are:

HP V-600
HP ES-580W
HP V-39

Each machine required a separate fix from Epson. Also a separate fix if machine was installed on a Win 10 or Windows 11 machine.

I suggest that you call your Manufacturer and say machine stopped working after it was updated.

[German guy]

YES! Epson HP 6000 (European version) started sending me notices about 9 months ago that it would no longer support my current computer software...but it kept working for another 6 months. At that point it simply stopped printing or anything else. Epson said that my 5 year old iMAC was "too old"!!!


Well...printers are pretty cheap...but the calendar based obsolescence marketing concept is rogue capitalism at its worst. There was no reason why my computer software which had been working for 5 years with the same printer could not continue to do so as long as I did not update the Epson software.

[ModelA29]

Originally Posted by German guy

...but the calendar based obsolescence marketing concept is rogue capitalism at its worst. .

Coming soon to a car near you. A friend went to a GM round table while he was an editor at Motor Trend in the late 80s. They were tired of being sued every time a wheel fell off a 57 Chevy and wanted cars to have a 7 year life and then be scrapped. They said everyone seemed to change cars every 3-4 years whether it be new or used. Their method would be to put a drop dead date in the electronics and make the fix more expensive than buying a different car.

[Joe K]

I have a Canon in the house and an HP in the shop/mancave.

Both of these machine had been installed "in situ" - and both worked apparently against and independent of the Internet - and in alignment with the Wifi direction.

HP was the first - Update. Now HP requires "HP-Smart" - and won't work without the Internet as part of the communication loop.

I can use it if I plug the printer directly into the Computer - but there is a "trick" to acknowledging the fail on Internet/Wifi - a trick which allows the printer to go ahead independently.

Most recently noticed the Canon now has taken an update and is now a similar sort of Internet alliance. Not so much in your face as "HP Smart" but still an equivalent "Canon Smart."

I haven't had time (or need) to fully explore Canon and resolve the printer/scan issue. I can still bring the Laptop out to the Man-Cave and make it work using the HP to print (in black & white) any printed/non-color document.

Very frustrating.

AND - I've recently noticed that my 2024 Toyota Tacoma now "detects" where I am - and what speed I should be driving at - and I get an alarm. I remove the alarm feature - which lasts until the truck takes another update - which seemingly restores all the "defaults" for the vehicle - including the "leave the truck and it automatically locks" feature.

How long before I get a "we don't like where you drive or how fast you go - and we're not letting you in the truck to drive?"

Joe K

[Benson]

Joe,

Here is additional info on HP Smart:

HP Smart software has been replaced.

https://support.hp.com/us-en/documen...89-12600034-16

Expand questions for more info.

[Joe K]

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Additional Info on "Modules." (Run Time 14:26)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b2_Ya9_APHU&t=6s

Toyota requires a "bypass harness" which is more common for audio systems, not quite out there yet for Telematic Box.


Joe K

[Benson]

That is why I still drive a 1988 Cressida and a 2002 Highlander.

I wonder if the 2002 is tracking?

[CT Jack]

The type of communication connection between the scanner and computer can also be a problem. The 2 types of connections are wireless and ethernet. The ethernet connection is a wired connection and usually is the most reliable. Wireless communication connections usually work well but occasionally can be problematic when scanning. I had this problem recently with my HP scanner which required connecting via ethernet.

[updraught]

The latest version of Windows grabs all your files and uploads them to the cloud. Apparently, it is for your own good.