scanner just stopped working with Linux Mint
 

Hello,
I am currently running Linux Mint 9 (Isadora). This is my first Linux OS. I've been a Linux user since 2010, and have been teaching myself as I go along.

I have two scanners, an Epson Perfection 1660 Photo and an Epson WorkForce 600 all-in-one. Prior to today, the 1660 was working perfectly through Simple Scan. The 600 printer and fax features have always worked on Isadora, but the scanner feature has never worked on Isadora. Both machines are plugged in and turned on.

In the past few days, I've installed Linux updates twice. Tonight, when I tried to run Simple Scan, I got the following error message: "Failed to scan. No scanners available. Please connect a scanner." I am also getting a "no devices available" error from XSane.

I ran the following diagnostics from the root directory:
$ sane-find-scanner
found USB scanner (vendor=0x04b8 [EPSON], product=0x0847 [USB2.0 MFP(Hi-Speed)]) at libusb:001:008

$ scanimage -L
No scanners were identified. If you were expecting something different,
check that the scanner is plugged in, turned on and detected by the
sane-find-scanner tool (if appropriate). Please read the documentation
which came with this software (README, FAQ, manpages).

$ lsusb
Bus 001 Device 008: ID 04b8:0847 Seiko Epson Corp.

Note: the USB scanner that was detected was the Epson Workforce 600. The Epson Perfection 1660 Photo, which was working perfectly, is no longer detected at all. Linux is not supported for either machine, and neither is listed in the SANE project of support scanners. I've manually installed the wine .exe files from the original disk that came with the 1660, but it didn't fix anything. Restarted my computer just in case, but that didn't work either. Help please?

Hi,

Welcome to LQ!
Did you installed the drivers?

Check that you are enabled as a user in the "saned" group. If not, add yourself (as root of course)

Also check the plugdev and daemon group too

It's possible the 1660 failed just as you were doing software updates, but I think it's unlikely.

Have you tried switching the usb cords from one scanner to the other? That would either prove one of the cords defective or eliminate that possibility.

Then try unplugging the 1660 for a few seconds, then plug it back in. Then repeat the procedure with the 600.

Now run dmesg. Does it show both hotplug events, or just one?

Finally, read this thread from February. It may prove helpful.

Thank you all for your suggestions.

Satyaveer, I did try to install the drivers that came with the two scanners, but I was not successful. I wasn't able to figure out how to open the .exe files and move the pertinent instructions into Linux, and installing them from the .exe files didn't work. I'd be grateful for any help you could offer with this. FWIW, the 1660 was running perfectly before my last system upgrade, both machines are still powered on, and the Workforce 600 printer, copier and fax features are (still) working perfectly.

barnac1e -- I'm sorry, but I don't know how to check that I'm enabled as a user in a group. I'd be grateful for any help you could offer with this. Do I need to do this if my computer is a standalone? (It is.)

bigrigdriver -- cords and scanners seem to be functioning. I ran dmesg, saved the results into a document file, and searched for "hot plug". There were two entries. I am not sure how to interpret them, but one of them seems to contain an error:

[ 0.852693] pci_hotplug: PCI Hot Plug PCI Core version: 0.5
[ 0.852708] Firmware did not grant requested _OSC control
[ 0.852729] Firmware did not grant requested _OSC control
[ 0.852737] pciehp: PCI Express Hot Plug Controller Driver version: 0.4
[ 0.852806] input: Power Button as /devices/LNXSYSTM:00/LNXSYBUS:00/PNP0C0C:00/input/input0
[ 0.852809] ACPI: Power Button [PWRB]
[ 0.852837] input: Power Button as /devices/LNXSYSTM:00/LNXPWRBN:00/input/input1
[ 0.852838] ACPI: Power Button [PWRF]
[ 0.853842] ACPI: SSDT 00000000bb7900f0 01448 (v01 DpgPmm P001Ist 00000011 INTL 20051117)
[ 0.854178] ACPI: SSDT 00000000bb791540 004F4 (v01 PmRef P001Cst 00003001 INTL 20051117)

Best regards,
loshakova

exe files don't work on linux. Search on Google for drivers for linux.

Satyaveer -- Thanks. I downloaded and expanded the correct files shortly after I posted my help request, but I wasn't able to install them. When I try to install the data file, I get a "missing file operand" error. I am assuming that it wants me to tell it where to install the file, but I don't know where to put it. Sorry, I feel stupid -- so far I have managed to figure out what I needed to use Linux by searching here or on Google, but not this time.

Best regards,
loshakova

What is the complete name of the package you downloaded? And what command you tried to install?

Satyaveer,
The name of the package is iscan_2.28.1-3.ltdl7_amd64. It contains two files, control and data; the two original tar archives, control.tar.gz and data.tar.gz; and a plain text document called debian.binary. I've been trying to install the data file, as that is the one the readme file told me to install first. I have been navigating to the iscan_2.28.1-3.ltdl7_amd64 folder and then typing 'install data'. I get the following error message:

install: missing destination file operand after `data'
Try `install --help' for more information.

I tried 'install data -d', but that gave me back the error message
install: omitting directory `data'

Best regards,
loshakova

Can you run scanimage -L as root?
If the scanners are found it is a permissions issue.

jlinkels

I ran it. Here's the result:
loshakova-desktop loshakova # scanimage -L

No scanners were identified. If you were expecting something different,
check that the scanner is plugged in, turned on and detected by the
sane-find-scanner tool (if appropriate). Please read the documentation
which came with this software (README, FAQ, manpages).

Best regards.
loshakova

Did you extracted the data.tar.gz package? And can you post the files names in this package after extracting it?

Satyaveer,

Yes, I extracted data.tar.gz and control.tar.gz packages before attempting to install them.

The data folder contains many nested folders. The first level of the folder hierarchy has three folders: var, etc, and usr.

The control folder contains four plain text documents and four shell scripts.

Best regards,
loshakova

Please post the content of control folder.

Control folder contents:

text files:
md5sums
control
shlibs
conffiles

shell scripts:
prerm
preinst
postrm
postinst

There is also one free-standing text document at the same folder level as the data and control files. It is called debian-binary.

best regards
loshakova

First try to execute prerm script, then postrm, then preinst and last postinst.

So, I should run those scripts before I install the data folder, then? The readme file that came with the data and control folders said to install the data folder first, but that's what hasn't been working.

best regards
loshakova

What are the contents of data folder? Can you post them here?

data folder contains 3 nested folders: etc, usr, var
> etc folder > sane.d folder > contains epkowa.conf (text document) and dll.d folder > contains iscan text document

> usr folder contains 4 folders: bin, lib, sbin, share
>> bin > iscan (executable)
>> lib contains 2 nested folders, gimp and sane, and two links to shared libraries (libesmod.so.2 and libesmod.so.2.0.0)
>>> gimp > 2.0 > plugins > iscan (executable)
>>> sane > three links to shared libraries (libsane-epkowa.la, libsane-epkowa.so.1, libsane-epkowa.so.1.0.15
>> sbin > iscan-registry (shell script)
>> share contains 5 nested folders: applications, doc, locale, man, menu
>>> applications > iscan.desktol (configuration file)
>>> doc > iscan > examples > xinetd.sane (plain text document); also, at same level as examples folder, 4 plain text documents (AUTHORS, AVASYSPL.en.txt, AVASYSPL.ja.txt, copyright) and 5 gzip archives (changelog.Debian.gz, NEWS.gz, NEWS.ja.gz, README.gz, README.ja.gz
>>> locale folder contains 13 nested folders, each with another level of nested folders, each of which contains a different *.mo file
>>> man folder contains 3 nested folders: man1, man5, man8
>>>> man1 > iscan.1.gz
>>>> man5 > sane-epkowa.5.gz
>>>> man8 > iscan-registry.8.gz
>>> menu > iscan (plain text document)

> var > lib > iscan > (Empty)

I'm not asking about the contents of subdirectories of data directory. What is the output of ls command in data directory just post that.

etc usr var

Isn't there any executable file in data directory?
Or you can checkout the .deb package of drivers on google.

There are executable files in the folders that are nested inside the folders I listed. Please see my previous post for the complete list.

Yes I saw there are some executable files but I don't think those files will compile the package.

Oh dear. The package I downloaded was the one recommended by Epson for Linux Mint users who had OS 5 and above.

Do you know of another place I might be able to find a package or patch that would make Isadora compatible with one or both of my scanners again? The 1660 worked perfectly until last week, so I think it's something that changed in one of the recent updates.

Here what I found on google, so many links: https://www.google.co.in/#hl=en&scli...w=1280&bih=834

https://www.google.co.in/#hl=en&scli...w=1280&bih=834

Just go through these links if it helps you.

Thanks, Satyaveer. Unfortunately, that's where I got the driver packages that aren't working properly. Epson offers the Linux drivers that used to be available at Avasys, but they don't have Linux support.

I'll post a help request on the Linux Mint forum, and link to this thread.
best regards
loshakova

Check this link and try to download from here. rpms, debian packages, tarballs all are given.
http://download.ebz.epson.net/dsc/du...953185bf2a9e1a
At the bottom of the page just click accept button and it will show list of downloadable packages.

Thanks...yes, that's where I got the download that's not installing properly. Epson provides Linux drivers, but they don't have any Linux support.

Yeah, they don't have linux support but still you can try. Download the debian package and give it a try to install.

The debian package is the one I've been trying to install. When I couldn't get it to work, I did try converting the RPM package to debian, but that didn't work either.

But, guess what? I just ran Linux 9 system updates again, and this week's updates fixed it! So I'm back to having a working Epson Perfection 1660 Photo scanner. The Workforce 600 still doesn't work in Linux 9.

Before I checked for updates, I tried booting from a Linux 12 CD. On Linux 12, the Workforce 600 scanner works -- but not the 1600 scanner. So it definitely seems to be an issue with the scanner recognition. Weird...but now I have an emergency workaround for bulk scanning until I figure out what the issue is.

Thanks for your continued efforts to help -- I really appreciate it.
best regards
loshakova

How did you try to install the package? What command you used to install?
There wasn't any need of converting RPM package to .deb package when the debian package is available in their website and you can download that.
Again try to install the .deb package on your linux mint 9, maybe this time you get some luck or some trick.
Glad to know that updating the system worked for you.

First, I tried to install the .deb package following the instructions in the installation file that was included in the package. This is the same manual that is linked on this Epson page, subsituting the name of my package in the command string. I got the following error:
bash: ./configure: No such file or directory

Then, I tried to use the instructions in the tutorial here.

I tried both of these several times on different days, and from all levels of the package folder hierarchy -- from inside the Downloads folder but outside the package folder, from inside the package folder but outside the data folder, from inside the data folder, etc. In all cases, I got the following error:
E: Couldn't find package iscan

I hunted around some more and found this. I installed the PPA, but got another package error when I tried to do step 2.

Then, only as a last resort, I tried to convert the RPM package, using the instructions here. That didn't work either.

Just to reassure you, I do understand that I should be installing a .deb package on a Debian OS.

What command you tried to install the package? Did you tried ./configure to install the .deb package?
You don't need to convert the packages all the time, when .deb package is already there on this link.
You just need to download the .deb package and install it that's it.
The command for installing .deb package is-

The .deb command you included above was exactly the command I used. I also tried ./configure. Neither worked. Something must be messed up somewhere.

What were the errors you got while using above command posted in my last post? Also post what command you used.

for sudo -i:

dpkg: error processing iscan_2.28.1-3.ltdl7_amd64.deb (--install):
cannot access archive: No such file or directory
Errors were encountered while processing:
iscan_2.28.1-3.ltdl7_amd64.deb

for ./config:

bash: ./configure: No such file or directory

Do your machine supports amd64 bit architecture packages?

I am not 100% positive about this. Is amd64 the same as 64-bit? I have a Dell Inspiron 580s with an Intel® Core™ i3-550 processor, and I had 64-bit Windows before installing 64-bit Linux.

According to this Epson FAQ page, iscan_2.28.1-3.ltdl7_amd64.deb seems to be the correct package for Linux users who are using Linux Mint 6 or later.

Your laptop's processor is intel and does not support amd64 bit architecture, that's why you're getting the error while installing.

Argh. I feel like such a dummy now. So, which debian package would you recommend that I use? There didn't seem to be another option for ltdl7. I tried downloading iscan-data_1.15.0-2_all, but had similar problems when I tried to install it.

I sure wish Epson provided full support for Linux.

Try to install x86_64 bit architecture package.
On this link there is a package named - iscan_2.28.1-3.tar.gz, download this package and you can convert it into .deb package. Like this -
and then you can install the .deb package like this -

Or other alternative is that you download the package named - iscan-2.28.1-3.x86_64.rpm from the same link and convert it into .deb package, like this -

But first check if alien package is installed on your machine or not, if not then do this -

and then to convert it into a .deb package, you simply run

and then you can install the .deb converted package like this -

Or you can do another thing, after downloading this package iscan_2.28.1-3.tar.gz, extract the package like this -

I tried the first .deb conversion. I got the following error:

dpkg-buildpackage: set CFLAGS to default value: -g -O2
dpkg-buildpackage: set CPPFLAGS to default value:
dpkg-buildpackage: set LDFLAGS to default value: -Wl,-Bsymbolic-functions
dpkg-buildpackage: set FFLAGS to default value: -g -O2
dpkg-buildpackage: set CXXFLAGS to default value: -g -O2
dpkg-buildpackage: source package iscan
dpkg-buildpackage: source version 2.28.1-3
dpkg-buildpackage: source changed by AVASYS CORPORATION <pipsnews@avasys.jp>
dpkg-buildpackage: host architecture amd64
dpkg-checkbuilddeps: Unmet build dependencies: cdbs libgimp2.0-dev
dpkg-buildpackage: warning: Build dependencies/conflicts unsatisfied; aborting.
dpkg-buildpackage: warning: (Use -d flag to override.)

Next, I tried /.config. It seems to have been successful. Woot! However, iscan doesn't show up in the software or package managers. When I try to run it from the terminal, I get the following error:

iscan: error while loading shared libraries: libesmod.so.2: cannot open shared object file: No such file or directory

Sorry for asking again, but can you please once again confirm me that you're looking for drivers for your 1660 scanner, am I right? If not then please make me correct. :(

After compiling and installing the package did you restart your machine? If not then restart the machine and try again with your scanner.

The 1660 scanner is working again since I did the second system update a couple of days ago. The Workforce 660 scanner has not worked since I switched to Linux (although the printer, fax, & copier features work fine). Theoretically, they're both supposed to work with the same iscan package -- I just checked again to make sure, and the package you told me to download is listed for both scanners.

I did not restart my computer after running /.config, so I'll go do that now.

Please post the output of dpkg -l | grep sane command.

I restarted my computer. Iscan is still not available in software manager or package manager. Simple Scan still runs my 1600. When I looked in preferences, the only scanner option listed is Epson GT-8300. It appears that the Windows driver is the same for the 1660 and the GT-8300.

Just out of curiosity, I just tried to run XSane again. It still does not recognize either of my scanners. Very strange.

It could be the problem of OS that it is not detecting your Epson Workforce 600 Scanner. Did you update your OS?
Unanswered question - Post no. 47. Please!

Now you have restarted your system. Do one thing, open a terminal in graphical mode and type iscan and what's the output or error you get, post that also.