HP photosmart C5550 won't scan from Mac OSX 10.6.8 after upgrading driver

[annlynj]

I tried to get this on your expert's day, but didn't get an answer. I am trying to scan pictures from an old yearbook for our class reunion. The pictures come up with a herringbone/checkerboard-type design all over on some pages and only on some pictures on other pages.  Some pages even have some pictures with the design on them and some nice and clear.  Someone suggested it might be something to do with a filter, or something called Gaussian Blur, but I don't have any idea what that is.  I have tried using  both IPhoto and the HP software and that makes no difference.  I saw one of your experts answer to someone else's problem that they should try updating the  driver, so I followed that direction, but now the scanner won't scan to the computer at all.  I tried unplugging and re-adding the Photosmart, but that didn't help. In Applications it doesn't even show that the Photosmart is connected, but it is.  I don't know what else to try.  Have I messed up everything too bad to be fixed?  It was working fine until I had this scanning problem.

[PrintDoc]

This is called a Moire pattern.  Read about it here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moiré_pattern

Your yearbook is printed using dots.  Your scanner scans in pixels (dots).  The interaction between the two creates patterns.

I would recommend you increase or decreasing the scan dpi settings.

[annlynj]

Do I do that on the scanner (how?) or IPhoto (how?)  Why would it do it to one picture on a page and not another?  Can I send you a picture of it? 

[PrintDoc]

The pattern will change based on the page scanned and the way it is placed on the glass.  For the settings you should scan from your Mac, not from the printer.

Open Image Capture in your Applications folder.  Click on your printer on the left side, then click the "Show Details" along the bottom.

On the right side you can control the way it is scanned, the dpi, filename and to where it is scanned.

[annlynj]

I can't scan from my computer because it doesn't recognize that I have the scanner connected. The printer part of the machine works, but I have tried restarting, uninstalling and reinstalling, everything anyone has told me to do and nothing works on the scanning. And the computer still doesn't show in the applications that I have it connected. I tried to use the original cd to reinstall it, but that didn't work. I tried to download a driver or installer from your website, but it wouldn't complete all the steps for that.

[PrintDoc · Accepted solution]

Let's uninstall the software using the 'scrubber' option:

Go to Applications/Hewlett Packard/ click on HP Uninstaller
Click on Continue
Highlight your device on the left pane
Press and hold Control + Alt + Cmd keys on the keyboard simultaneously while you click on Uninstall <<<< This IS the Scrubber Option, there is no button labeled "Scrubber"
There will be a pop up that asks if you are sure you want to uninstall ALL hp software. (At this point, if you continue, any HP printers you have installed will need to be reinstalled)
Click Continue and let it finish

Restart your Mac

Download and install this: http://support.apple.com/kb/DL907

Now reset the printing system:

- Sys Prefs, Print & Fax
- Right (control) click in the rectangle listing your printers and select Reset Printing System.
WARNING - this will delete ALL of your printers!

Get the latest software for your printer from the "Support & Drivers" link at the top of this page and install it.

There may be more things to do to get it working, but you need to be able to scan from your Mac.

[annlynj]

It Works!!!  Thank you so much!