Windows 7 scanner message "Which device do you want to use?"

[dc2000]

We just upgraded our office desktop from Windows XP and Windows 7. We used to scan driver's license IDs into our accounting program on XP. It worked pretty smoothly. But now on Windows 7 (the same hardware, except the desktop itself) when someone tries to scan a document we get the following window (see attached) that says,

"Which device do you want to use?"

With only one scanner in the list. That is kind of stupid, isn't it... Plus this window doesn't just popup, it becomes hidden behind other windows and the only way to tell that it's there is by its flashing icon on the taskbar, which is very confusing for most of our office workers.

Does anyone know how to make this window not show up and go directly into that scanner (like it used to work on XP)?

 

[alphanumeric]

Is it a dedicated scanner or part of an all in one printer scanner? If you go to the Devices and Printers screen and right click on its icon, is there a set as default device option?

 

[dc2000]

It is a printer & scanner in one. I get this in properties:

 

[alphanumeric]

All I'm seeing is a little black box with an x in it. If I click it, it opens in another window.
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/9733-screenshots-files-upload-post-seven-forums.html

Is that an actual screen shot of your setup?

 

[dc2000]

Sorry, the screenshots were (hopefully attached now.)

 

[alphanumeric]

My "guess" is that even though its the only scanner, your getting that first prompt because the printer its attached to isn't set as the default. As a test you could set the canon as default printer and see if the "which device do you want to use" prompt goes away. I know its not a solution but it would maybe prove or disprove my theory. It it's not that then it may be a setting in the program that uses the scanner. I've got an all in one and a monochrome laser here at home. If I get a chance I'll do some playing around later on today.

 

[dc2000]

No, it sets the default printer. For some stupid reason there's no same check for a scanner. Did Microsoft forget about scanners altogether? In either case even if it worked I can't change the default printer to that one.

 

[alphanumeric]

I don't know what to tell you. I scan by pushing the actual scan button on my all in one. That launches the HP OCR software that installed with the drivers for my Deskjet F4100. I don't even have Windows scan and fax installed. My LaserJet is set as default printer. When you do the scan, is it started from a program running on the PC or is it Windows fax and scan that's trying to do it?

 

[alphanumeric]

Well, I played around with Windows fax and scan and didn't get that Select Device window. I'm guessing its the actual program doing the scan that's asking you to select the device. If so you'll have to look and see if there is an option in that program to set the default scanner.

 

[dc2000]

Thanks for doing this. That is what I was afraid of. The program is a proprietary accounting software. We use this scanner to scan drivers licenses into it. I'm assuming that one can press a button on the scanner itself and scan into a file... The problem are all those steps. The way our personnel was used to doing it is right from that accounting software. They'd hit one button, the window would come up (see attached) then they would click scan and the picture of a person's ID would be trimmed and scanned into the program. All done!

Now I can't seem to figure out how to get that sequence back

 

[Layback Bear]

Can you or do you want to use the Cannon printer as default? If so right click on the Cannon printer and select default. Reboot and see if the Green check mark stays there on the Cannon. Use your programs one at a time and recheck and see if the Green check mark stays on the Cannon printer or if their is a program that doesn't work with Cannon set to default. If it was my computer I would remove HP scanner printer and the Onenote 2010 also from the computer.

 

[alphanumeric]

I usually nuke the extra added virtual printers I never use like XPS and scan and fax. I use the "turn windows features on and off" section to do it. That way if I ever do need one of them its easy to put back in again.