I contributed to a linux-scanner post a few months ago where I stated I was happy with VueScan and my Nikon Coolscan LS-50 running on my Debian. Since then, I replaced that laptop with an awesome Devuan desktop and got the LS-50 running just fine.
Maybe it was jealousy but the Windows 10 laptop I’d used for years with my Epson Perfection 4180 Photo flatbed scanner died yesterday. This was long a case of if-it-ain’t-broke-don’t-fix-it because I’d run that scanner under Windows for so long I’d never had reason to try it on Linux.
Rather than spend the time resurrecting Windows 10, today, I beat my head against the wall trying to get an MX Linux laptop to ‘see’ the scanner (Nope). Though I found relatively recent ‘epsonscan2’ DEB drivers, everything else I found were ancient i386 RPMs which failed to do the trick after converting them to DEBs with ‘alien’. Sane, xsane and VueScan failed to see the Epson.
So, I think the time may have come to replace the 4180 with a more Linux friendly flatbed and I’d like to know what everyone’s recommendations are.
With the tariffs, this isn’t the best time to buy but I’d rather jump before I find myself in critical need.
What Linux-friendly flatbeds have folks found. I’d strongly prefer something that will work on Debian/Devuan/MX.
Perhaps you should try a different distro. I’ve used opensuse for a couple of decades and used old scsi scanner to more modern usb based units with is via xsane. you might just need the “right” distro to make it work for you.
Hello, I use an Epson Perfection 3200 Photo for over twenty years with different Linux distros. Just connect the scanner with the pc and it works. No drivers needed. I don’t use VueScan, just Xsane or Document Scanner. Perhaps an option?
@AdmFubar, I used and loved opensuse back in the day and have already switched from Debian to MX on that particular laptop so a switch to another distro isn’t very far fetched. Might do the trick. @Ofnuts (below) suggested an Epson sane driver I hadn’t seen so I think I’ll try it on the MX before wiping everything clean for Suse. Thanks for the suggestion.
@paulmatth and @Ofnuts, I’ve had the 4180 so long I can’t even remember when I got it. I was running XP at the time so it’s back there. Epson would be my first choice. I’ll do some research. Thanks.
No, I was running the standard x64 version. That laptop is reasonably recent but I doubt it needs advanced hardware support. Maybe that’s exactly what the scanner needs, though… =^\
The Epson drivers are as old as the scanner. Plus they’re RPMs that already failed when I tried to convert them to DEBs with alien. I think I’m just otta luck with this beast unless I put myself through the equally obtuse ordeal of reinstalling Win 10 (I refuse to allow 10 to go online).
I haven’t used WINE in years but my (extremely) limited understanding of it and how it works is that it adds a layer between Linux and the Windows program you’re trying to run that allows that program to run in Linux. In my case, ViewScan already has both a Windows and Linux version and though I didn’t try the Windows version when I was messin’ around with Win10, I’d expect them to run pretty much the same. If that’s the case, I doubt the Windows version would have seen the scanner, either. And if a dedicated Windows program can’t see the scanner, I don’t think WINE would have added anything.
Well, this is unresolved. Luckily, the laptop can read/write USB drives just fine and only USB mouse functionality is impacted. The touchpad still works but slows me down. To reiterate, if it matters, this was not a new install. I’d been running Devuan Daedalus for some time and was hoping the appropriate firmware update/install would get the mouse back in action. The laptop works as-is and I suppose I’ll get used to it, but…