Tek-Talk

Tek-Talk is a monthly column devoted to the F.A.Q.s sent to our tech support department. Send responses or questions to wine@awpi.com.

This month we'll start with an F.A.Q. we receive via e-mail on a daily basis. In fact, it is the single most F.A.Q. besides - "duh....Where is the ON switch?!"

Q: My scanner won't function properly and sometimes doesn't even appear on the bus. I just bought this scanner and have a job due out in three days. Is my scanner defective? What can I do?

- - Mike Schultz, San Francisco

A: We always look at a few key elements before assuming a defective scanner. In the past 2 years, I have had less than a 1% failure rate on new scanners. However, In order to answer your question, we must ask a few questions :

  1. How many other devices are in your chain?

    Scanners are notorious for creating unseen address errors. Most of the major manufacturers recommend placing the scanner at the end of your SCSI chain AND leaving at least one address open between the scanner and its previous companion.

  2. How long are your SCSI cables?

    SCSI VooDoo is still prevalent in our world of superstition and fear. Therefore, please remember that the longer your cables, the more potential for noise induction into the data chain. We often sell a customer a 6' SCSI cable only to exchange or resell a 2' or 3' cable later. This is especially true when chaining 2 or more devices together.

  3. Is your chain terminated?

    There is still confusion over this issue. ALL SCSI CHAINS MUST BE TERMINATED. Unfortunately, this is confusing because sometimes a device may work arbitrarily without being terminated. Fortunately, most scanners are now shipping with pass-through termination cables or are self terminating.

  4. Have you installed the drivers correctly?

    Sometimes, in our typical abhorence for manuals, drivers are placed in the wrong location or are not loaded at all. Of course, it's possible that the file has become corrupted. Often a clean re-install will solve the problem.

  5. Have you turned the unit on?

    Really, we don't intend to be patronizing, but...well O.K. we really do. However, I must admit that even I have fallen prey to this oversight. Scanner manufactuers hold huge company wide contests to see which engineer can select the most obtuse location for a power switch. Of course the joke's on them when they win an all expense paid trip to Detroit in January for a week long tour of the Michelin factory. SO...make sure the scanner is turned on. Also, probably better to turn it on before thew CPU, so the computer can scan the bus and already find it there.

Tek Talk is sponsored by Digital Axis, an international reseller of hi-end graphics and multi-media hardware & software.