Does anyone know how to "fix" scanner?

[bo_bear]

I have a Mustek SCSI 1200LS scanner. I didn't use it for about half a year now because I was using Win2k, and it didn't support it(and looks like they never will). So now I finally decide to use Win98 again and thought I could use the scanner. It installed fine and everything, but when I scan, the image is very very dark. At first, I thought it just didn't "detect" the image at all(although the lamp moved across the lens all the way to the other side), later on I brighten up that "image" in Photoshop and realize that it has scanned the picture, but it's way too dark to see. I tried using the scanning software that came with the scanner and also tried using the TWAIN to scan it in Paint Shop Pro, but got same result. I tried to just let it scan (with nothing on it) with the lid open all the way, and seems like it's really scanning, cuz some blurry bright image came out on the screen.

Does anyone know if this is a hardware problem with the scanner itself? Any way to fix this? I really want to use it...otherwise there goes $80 down the drain.

 

[XMan]

Where'd you keep it for that six months?

A scanner is basically a set of mirrors which focus the image of the object at the focus point onto the CCD (charge-coupled device). A dark image probably means that one of the mirrors or the lens of the CCD itself are dirty. Check it carefully, and if it is, clean it with rubbing alcohol.

 

[bo_bear]

well, it was sitting on the top of my file cabinets for the first 3 months, and 1 month in self-storage unit, then another two months in my closet underneath a blanket.

So I need to disassemble it to get to the lens of the CCD?

 

[XMan]

Yeah, it should be pretty obvious . . . a scanner is pretty simple. The only moving parts should be the optics carriage. The CCD should be under a cover somewhere in the mid-rear of the scanner.

If it's still under warranty, you might take it back. don't know if cleaning it would violate the warranty.

 

[bo_bear]

Thanks! I will try to clean the lens. I'm pretty sure my warranty has already expired, bought it for a while. Mustek has really poor technical support and customer service anyway.