I've never gotten my hp4200 usb scanner to work under Linux but I decided to give it another shot with the latest version of Mandrake 8.2.

1. I powered down my computer
2. I connected my scanner to computer and plugged it in
3. I start up computer
4. I ran the scanner configuration under hardware from control panel. Mandrake installed some package said it detected a hp4200 usb scanner.I click yes to configure
5.I launch xsane and their scan say's no such device avaible.

I'm assuming it's configured as /dev/usb/scanner0 since that's what mandrake's scanner setup said it was.

Two years with this scanner collecting dust I want it to work under Linux else I might be forced to install Windows just to scan images. To help prevent such a tradegy could some tell me what to do to get this darn thing working.

Try running it as root.

Parrallel port scanners have problems running sane as a user but your usb one shouldn't.

Possibly allowing a user to use the scanner by changing ownership the /dev entry may help.

Have a look here,
http://hp4200-backend.sourceforge.net