I know my scanner is working and properly connected, but sometimes when I try to scan something, the scanner software complains that the scanner isn't connected. I tried unplugging the scanner and plugging it back in, but that didn't help. What gives?
You've encountered a bug in Windows XP that affects USB devices. Although many drivers compensate for the problem, some devices particularly older scanners will exhibit the "disconnected" problem as a result. Scanners remain totally dormant, sending no information to your PC until you try to scan something, and Windows misinterprets this inactivity as an opportunity to shut down the USB port to save power.
At the time of this writing, Microsoft hasn't released a patch that effectively fixes this problem. My suggested workaround: the next time you see that error, try scanning again right away. It can take Windows a few seconds to reactivate the USB port, and your scanner software may not have waited long enough for this to happen.
No luck? Restart Windows, and your scanner should be available immediately. But don't dawdle; Windows gives inactive USB devices only a 15-30 minute grace period before cutting power to the port again.
Naturally, you can also try visiting the scanner manufacturer's web site for a driver or software update that may provide a more convenient or reliable workaround.
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