Officejet J6480 All-in-One, scanning stopped working

[kapsberger]

I'm running OS 10.6.2 on an Intel Core Duo iMac.  I've had an Officejet J6480 for about a year.  The scanner worked fine when I first bought it, but now it's stopped working.  If I use the HP software, I get an "An unknown error has occurred" message.  If I try to scan by using the buttons on the printer, I get a "No scan options available" error on the display.  I've already tried uninstalling and reinstalling the software, and it didn't work (although before the reinstall, the error messages just said, "No scanner available," so I suppose that's an improvement?).

I don't use the scanner a lot, but my only guess is that it stopped working sometime after I upgraded to Snow Leopard.  I was running regular Leopard when I bought the machine and first used the scanner.  I see a lot of posts about the scanner not working with Windows, but I didn't find anything with Mac in particular.

Help?

[PrintDoc]

The problem is the existence of the HP software for 10.5 still on your Mac.   Let's uninstall it:

Go to Applications/Hewlett Packard/ click on HP Uninstaller
Click on Continue
Highlight your device on the left pane
Hold the Ctrl, Opt and Cmd keys and click on Uninstall
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

Now, run a Software Update.

Next, remove and re-install the printer in System Preferences, Print & Fax.

You do not need the software now since Snow Leopard has both print & scan drivers built-in. Scan from Preview or Image Capture apps. Scanning from the front panel of the printer does not yet work.

[kapsberger]

O.K., I followed all of those steps, but neither Preview nor Image Capture will recognize having a scanner attached.  In Preview, the Import from Scanner selection shows a "Include Networked Devices" option, but nothing else.  Image Capture says there is no scanner attached.  The printer still prints after that procedure, so it is connected and active.  What else can I do to get scanning working again?

[PrintDoc · Accepted solution]

OK, one more step - let's reset the printing system:

- Sys Prefs, Print & Fax
- Right (control) click the print queue area and select Reset Printing System.
- Select the plus sign to re-add it. Look for the printer, select it and wait until the "Add" button becomes available. Click it.

[kapsberger]

Brilliant, that did the trick.  Thanks for the help!

[thewelldoc]

I have been experiencing the same issues as capsberger and just followed all the steps you laid out to get my iMac to recognize the scanner option for my officejet. However when I went back in to reset the printing system as you suggested I still recieve the same error messages from Image Capture (no camera or scanner detected) and Preview (Include networked devices). Any further suggestions you may would be welcomed!

[PrintDoc]

I assume you uninstalled any 10.5 software and reset the printing system (both).  How is your printer attached?

Let's start with a fresh reboot of your Mac, reset the printer (hold # & 6 keys while powering on) and your router if it is network-attached.

If that does not work, let's do a Permissions repair - Applications > Utilities > Disk Utility.  Select your hard drive and click the Repair Disk Permissions button.

Also, 10.6.3 is out, you may want to do a Software Update for that.

[hpvl]

I have done all the steps above and still cannot scan.  Would appreciate any help you can give on this.  I have version 10.6.8.

thanks

[PrintDoc]

Did you try what is in message 2 of this thread?

[hpvl]

yes, I did all step previously recommended