Most scanner manufacturers recommend that you install no more than one scanner driver on your computer at a time, since the potential for conflict between the two drivers is very high. There is a good probability that the resulting software conflicts will cause both scanners to malfunction, as they compete for computer resources and send and receive duplicate messages from the system. Exorcizing a “Ghost” Driver Are you still getting a message that your computer can’t recognize your software even after you’ve performed an uninstallation procedure and purged it from your System Properties dialog box? If so, you might be a haunted by what’s colloquially known as a ghost driver. No one knows why; it’s an unintended result. You usually can’t see the ghost driver when your computer is running in its normal mode. Safe Mode is a special diagnostic tool that allows your system to run using minimal resources and special diagnostic capabilities. While you’re running your PC in Safe Mode, you’re not connected to your network, and you don’t have access to CD-ROM drives, printers, or other devices. To detect and exorcize a ghost driver, you have to shut down your computer and reboot using the Safe Mode of operation. To reboot your computer in Safe Mode, follow these steps: 1. Click the Start icon on your Windows taskbar, then select Shut Down from the pop-up menu that appears. 2. Select Restart from the dialog box that appears on your screen, then click OK. 3. Press and hold CTRL until the Microsoft Windows Startup menu appears in white print on an entirely black screen. On some computers, you can continually tap F8 instead of CTRL to bring up the Microsoft Windows Startup menu. 4. The Windows Startup menu on the black screen will have several numbered options from which you can select; to make a selection, enter the number of the option. 5. Enter the menu option number for Safe Mode, then press ENTER. A message appears that your computer is running in Safe Mode and some of your devices or drivers might be unavailable. While you’re in Safe Mode, however, you can access your Control Panel. 124 How to Do Everything with Your Scanner Please purchase PDF Split-Merge on www.verypdf.com to remove this watermark. 6. Click the Start icon on the Windows taskbar and select Settings, then Control Panel from the pop-up menu. Double-click the System icon. The System Properties dialog box appears. 7. Click the Device Manager tab and scroll through the dialog box to locate the Imaging Device icon. 8. Click the plus sign next to the Imaging Device icon to display a list of scanner drivers currently on your system. There should be only one, but you might be surprised to see a driver that did not show up in the Device Manager when your computer was running in Normal Mode. If more than one driver appears, delete the icon for the old scanner driver you’re no longer using. After you finish checking your system in Safe Mode, you need to restart your computer to run Windows in Normal Mode. Slow Scans, Saves, and Edits Is your computer suddenly running at a maddeningly slow pace when you try to scan, store, and edit images? This is particularly baffling if your computer was running just fine a few hours or days ago. The problem is most likely traceable to a shortage of a particular resource your computer needs to process tasks quickly. This resource, called random access memory, or RAM, handles the processing of all current tasks. The more available RAM, the more tasks can be performed simultaneously, speeding up the overall processing time. Conflicting Scanner Drivers Drivers for scanners you’ve previously installed can cause software conflicts as they compete for RAM resources with your new scanner. To remedy this problem, follow the steps in the previous “Basic Uninstallation Procedure for Old Drivers” section to correctly uninstall drivers for old scanners you’re no longer using. Other Programs Competing for Resources Windows conveniently allows you to identify programs that you want to open every time you start your computer. The theory behind this is that it saves you time if you routinely use these programs. CHAPTER 7: Troubleshooting Tips and Tricks 125 7 Please purchase PDF Split-Merge on www.verypdf.com to remove this watermark. The problem with this logic is that many software makers have designed their programs to run automatically every time you start your computer, often without your realizing it. (For example, I found an accounting program I haven’t used in months included in my Start menu.) When several programs start automatically, they compete for system resources and slow your processing time. The solution is to decrease the number of programs that automatically open and continue to run when you boot up your computer. To check for programs that start without your knowledge and remove the ones you don’t want, follow these steps: 1. Click your Windows Start Menu button, choose Settings, and then Taskbar & Start Menu. A Taskbar and Start Menu Properties dialog box appears. 2. Click the Advanced tab. A list of each program on your system appears, with a check box next to it, as shown in Figure 7-7. 3. Delete any programs from the startup folder that you do not want to run automatically when you start your computer. FIGURE 7-7 Remove programs you don’t want running in the background at startup. Programs in this folder start up automatically. 126 How to Do Everything with Your Scanner Please purchase PDF Split-Merge on www.verypdf.com to remove this watermark. Do not deselect programs that are necessary to run your system at startup. 4. Restart your computer to free resources from previously started programs, and to allow the new settings to take effect. Checking Your System Resources You can check your system resources while you’re running your scanner and image- editing software to see if they’re running low. According to Hewlett-Packard, your available resources should be about 85 percent of your total resources during the scanning process. To check the resources available on your system for scanning and editing, follow these steps: 1. While your scanner and image-editing software are both open, right-click the My Computer icon on your Windows desktop. 2. The System Properties dialog box appears, as shown in Figure 7-8. FIGURE 7-8 Check the available resources on your system. Available system resources CHAPTER 7: Troubleshooting Tips and Tricks 127 7 Please purchase PDF Split-Merge on www.verypdf.com to remove this watermark. 3. Click the Performance tab to display the available system resources. 4. If your system resources are below 80 percent, limit the number of programs running in the background by following the steps in the previous “Other Programs Competing for Resources” section. Recommendation for Cleaning Your Scanner: Don’t! If you’re getting flecks of dust on your scanned photos or weird streaks, don’t be tempted to resort to drastic cleaning measures. Scanner manufacturers unanimously concur that you should never attempt to clean your scanner surface with anything other than a dry cloth. More importantly, don’t ever attempt to lift the scanner glass or take it apart for cleaning. 128 How to Do Everything with Your Scanner Please purchase PDF Split-Merge on www.verypdf.com to remove this watermark. . attempt to clean your scanner surface with anything other than a dry cloth. More importantly, don’t ever attempt to lift the scanner glass or take it apart for cleaning. 128 How to Do Everything with. that your computer is running in Safe Mode and some of your devices or drivers might be unavailable. While you’re in Safe Mode, however, you can access your Control Panel. 124 How to Do Everything. program on your system appears, with a check box next to it, as shown in Figure 7-7. 3. Delete any programs from the startup folder that you do not want to run automatically when you start your computer. FIGURE