Mustek 1200 UB Scanner  

Can anyone, anyone at all, give me a straight answer to a straight question. IS THERE A WINDOWS 7 COMPATIBLE DRIVER, AVAILABLE FOR THIS SCANNER? - BEFORE I THROW IT IN THE BIN!

If it can be recognized as a TWAIN device it might work. But then I had one I had to junk, went with an All-in-One unit I wanted anyway.

Mark J said:

Can anyone, anyone at all, give me a straight answer to a straight question. IS THERE A WINDOWS 7 COMPATIBLE DRIVER, AVAILABLE FOR THIS SCANNER? - BEFORE I THROW IT IN THE BIN!

Hi there

It's paid software but try VUESCAN - this seems to work with all these old scanners.
VueScan Scanner Software for Windows, Mac OS X and Linux

Another two suggestions

1) Run an XP VM - then your scanner will keep working.
2) Run a Linux V M or dual boot -- XSANE / KOOKA applications on Linux seem to work with loads of these early scanners too.

Remember that the OLDER scanners acquire the image NOT by the current Windows method WIA - Windows Image Acquisition but by using TWAIN so you are unlikely to get W7 drivers for older scanners that use TWAIN which yours does.

Cheers
jimbo

Thanks so much folks, for taking the time and trouble to reply and for the welcome to the forum. As a tight wad, I'll try the compatibility mode first. If not, it's raid the piggy bank for some £ notes methinks!

Mark J said:

Thanks so much folks, for taking the time and trouble to reply and for the welcome to the forum. As a tight wad, I'll try the compatibility mode first. If not, it's raid the piggy bank for some £ notes methinks!

Hi there

Why raid the piggy Bank -- what's wrong with the VM idea or even the Linux Distro -- a VM will keep your hardware working for YEARS - and just copy the scan to the HOST.

The problem with Modern software and Old scanners is that the new software uses WIA while your old scanner uses TWAIN - so even in compatibility mode I'd almost bet a billion dollars to a bucket full of "back end of Bull" that it won't work.

Why Junk perfectly good hardware -- now if you WANT a new scanner that's another issue but you don't have to buy into this "planned obsolescence". I'm no "socialist" just rabbiting on against corporates making shedloads of money -- I just don't like junking perfectly GOOD serviceable hardware where the new stuff doesn't offer a significant improvement either.

Some of the older scanners give much better results than these modern "all in" devices - printers + scanner + fax etc.

I'd trust my old CANOSCAN N1240U far better than any modern cheap one combined with a printer

Here's an image on my XP VM running on a Linux OPENSUSE host making a Scan. I'm using VMware workstation - but the FREE VMware player works just as good too -- I'm using workstation since I get it FREE from work !!!.

Cheers
jimbo

Jimbo,

Thanks for your reply.

You are right. The driver would not install in compatibility mode.
I fully agree with you, about the feeling that manufacturers are constantly trying to 'railroad' us into buying new hardware, just because they won't release updated drivers. This is the case with Mustek - I contacted them and was fobbed off in no uncertain terms.
This is my primary reason for posting on this forum. The 1200UB works well, and produces exceptional results. I didn't just want to chuck it away, if there was an alternative.
Looks like the suggestion here, of running a VM is the best bet. If nothing else, it postpones putting money into the back pockets of Mr. Canon/Epson/Hp/ Kodak and the rest!

Thanks again,
Mark

It happens with all products, once they are no longer made and sold there's no money coming in to pay the people who write the software to run them. It's like with cars, used to be one could get an OEM part for a 9 or 10 year old car but with all the electronics in them now I get the feeling that time period may no longer be true.