Major Problem With Epson 4990. Need Help!

[b.cipolla]

Hi guys,

So I recently moved into a new apartment and brought my Epson 4990 with me. I sat down to scan some film and found that the prescan was taking much longer than usual and when it was done, was a streaky, noisy mess that looked nothing like it should. I was scanning on a laptop that has a newer operating system than the one I typically used, but I updated the drivers, and even downloaded a trial version of VueScan to see if it was the software (I'm using SilverFast) and had no luck. I'm assuming it's not the scanning software now. I did forget to lock the scanner heads while I was transporting it, but it's not as if it was getting knocked around in the process. The only conclusion I can come to is that in the process of moving, something did happen to the scanner heads, but I'm really hoping it doesn't come to that. Also, I tried reflective scanning and that seems to be working fine oddly enough. Only scanning in transparent mode appears to be a problem. Maybe it's a problem with the connection between the two? I'm attaching an image of what the scanner was coming up with. Just for some technical info...My laptop is a MacBook Pro and currently has Snow Leopard, or Mac OS X 10.6.8 installed. The scanner is an Epson Perfection 4990 Photo scanner and the software I have been using is SilverFast 6.4.3. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

[Kuzano]

Two changes...
Do you still have the computer or access to the computer you originally used. Hook up the old system.
Do you know if the AC current in the new apartment is up to spec and there are no brownouts in the building or other voltage drops.

Both are possible scenarios. I've worked on computers that wouldn't boot below a threshold level of AC current. Your AC adaptor should compensate, but.....

[Doug Fisher]

I looks like a calibration problem that probably has a simple answer. The most basic is that the insert was left in the lid of the scanner. Next would be not using a film holder or something covering part of the calibration gap. Confirm those and then let us know.

Doug
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