I have had this scanner for 7 years and have had no problems. I just used it LAST week but now when I try to use it, the bar light flashes constantly. From what I found out on HP site is the scanner runs it's own diagnostics and when blinking, there is a problem. does not mean your scanner is broken. So I tried all of their fixes and NOTHING has worked. I uninstalled and re-installed program, still nothing. In Control Panel under Add/Remove Programs, it is there and stated the last time I used it was 8/24/08, but when I click on Cameras and Scanners, the only THING listed is my camera. I had HP do a detection search, they did not find it. I am puzzled as to what to do. HP says uninstall-restall, did that - did all they told me to until it came to drivers. I'm not that computer savvy, so I didn't mess with drivers. Don't know how it could be anything, really, as it was just working and I have done nothing to the computer to change anything. Since I uninstall and downloaded and installed from their website, I'm assuming that download had all updates, drivers, etc., that I needed. This has obviously been a problem before as there is a specific title for it, and I did everything it said - turn off computer, disconnect USB - wait 60 seconds, replug, turn on computer. If lightbar is still flashing, there is an unidentified program error. Okay, if that's the problem, how do I find an Unidentified Program Error?

Thanks for help! Debby
I think your scanner may be broken. The self testing that most computer items does...like computers, printers, scanners, etc... is made to run a list of checks. Not only for drivers but also for sensor checks on the scanner itself as well as motor checks.

In your case the scanner was working and than just stopped. Its 7 years old, which is old. It just maybe shot and you might have to LOOK at replacing it.

A few things you could try are connecting it to another computer and see if it still doesn't work. This will tell you that the problem is not a driver and is the scanner. Than next if you are comfortable pulling it apart, I would open the scanner up and use compressed air to blow the slide off and other moving parts. Sometimes a piece of paper or trash can block the small hole that has a sensor light. The sensor can't be read so the machine fails the self-test. Blowing it out can remove the blocked sensor.

Sorry for the bad news. But the good news is that in 7 years scanners have gotten much better and the prices have come down. If you have to replace it you have that going for you!
Doesn't everything break at the worst times? Hubby to retire - but secretly am glad to be buying new scanner, even though I love this ONE. Like you said, the new ones are much better. I was looking on line to see who has the highest ratings for them, but it overwhelmed me at the number of scanners and all the ratings. It would take days to go through all that! But thanks for the info, at least I wasn't the only one who thought it was ready for the garbage.

Debby
Probably the best approach when buying /looking at new equipment is to start with a dollar amount of what you can spend...
This helps narrow the choices down and can always be adjusted up a little if need be for more/better features.