Is it possible to use Microsoft's Scanning Wizard with HP Officejet 7410 All-In-One?

[Gervas]

I have a HP Officejet 7410 connected to my system and it works well bu to scan documents I prefer the software that comes in the Accessories of  WindowsXP. Naturally, the HP software overrides that facility and the scanner is not seen. Is there a way of making it visible to the Microsoft program?

Thanks for any suggestions.

[DexterM · Accepted solution]

if the printer is connected by the USB cable, then you should find the scanner icon under Control Panel > Scanners and Cameras. if you double click on the scanner icon, it should start the wizard for scanning.

[Gervas]

Thanks for your reply. My printer is not connected directly to the computer. It is setup on an ethernet connection, but my initital question is not "how to scan" but to specifically using the "Microsoft Scanning Wizard". I prefer that to the HP wizard that is automatically setup when the printer is installed. What I need to do is to bypass the HP Wizard and use the Microsoft one.

[DexterM]

if you're trying to scan by pressing the Scan button on the printer, then the HP software will start the scanning. there is no way to bypass that. but if you start the Microsoft scanner wizard manually by double-clicking on the scanner icon under Scanners and Cameras or My Computer, then this will start. but since this is a network printer, the software and drivers have to be installed for the scanner icon to appear.

[Gervas]

Thanks again for your comment. In order to run the HP Officejet, I had to install the drivers in the computer as well and I can see the icons both under the printers and scanners. But if I click on the scanner icon the only thing I can do is test the scanner but not "run" it and no wizard shows up either the HP or the Microsoft. Are you suggesting that, if the connection was made through the USB I should be able to run a wizard directly by clicking the icon?

[DexterM]

in my opinion, the most reliable form of connection is the USB connection. the ethernet connection is equally reliable. so connecting and installing them this way is most preferrable.

also, if by cliking on the scanner icon, if you get the scanner test window, it means, that there is a connection failure between the scanner and the PC. if there is a proper connection, then it should start the wizard.

[Gervas]

I should explain that the reason why I am asking these questions is because I recently had a drive crash that required reinstallation of all my software. Going back to the OfficeJet 7410, I agree that the most reliable connection is the USB however, I also have an old HP 812 Photosmart camera that I love because of it's slimplicity of use and HP advises that the software for the camera must be installed prior to the Officejet 7410 in order for ImageZone to work correctly. When I follow that sequence, the installation through the USB can not be completed because the computer does not see the 7410. This is the result of a registry problem that I believe HP is aware of and even though we tried to correct it before HP and I did not meet with success. To overcome that difficulty I had to finally instal the 7410 through the network, vs. USB, and it works fine. My specific problem is that I personally prefer the simplicity of the Microsoft scanning wizard to the more complex HP's. When I click on the scanner icon under "Scanners and Cameras" I do see the icon for my scanner (All-In-One 7410) and clicking on it, opens the "Properties" window which I believe is the correct sequence. An element of the "Properties" window, amongst others, is a test of the connection which, when I run it, returns a "correct installation" advisory. The OS that I am using is WindowsXP Standard and I am curious as to whether when I click on the icon under "Scanners and Cameras" I should really get the "Properties" window or a running wizard.  

[DDSmith]

I have similar problems to Gervas with scanning on our HP 7410's and our Corporate IT staff doesn't seem to be able to resolve these issues.  Most of our 7410s are connected to laptops in home offices through Intel Linksys routers.  Printing usually works but scanning is a continual problem.  Standard installation usually doesn't provide seamless scanning connections and operation.   The "HP Solution Center" returns a message that there is a connection problem yet printing is working fine without a connection problem. 

Trying the HP internet page http://192.168.1.105 doesn't work either.  One can get a "Preview" with this but the scan button doesn't work nor does the Office Jet feed the scan for even the preview.   If HP has an expert on these matters he hasn't surfaced yet.  If so I would like to put this person in touch with our IT department as we have these units all over the world. If not I must reluctantly conclude that we will have to explore shifting to Epson products (as recommended by at least one person on this site) which I am loath to do as we have such a significant investment in the HP products.

If using the Microsoft scanning software is a solution I would like to know but it appears that Gervas has a problem making that work as well.

This has been a consistent, chronic,  and recurring problem over many HP Officejet models for a number of years.

[Gervas]

Hello DDSmith, thanks for your post. At least I am finding out that my problem is not unique. Your situation is identical to mine. I also run a small business of my own and act as the IT administrator. I am fairly conversant with the management of computers and find that the HP software leaves a lot to be desired to the point that I have looked into changing the hardware. I have not checked this personally but have been told that the only scanner that works well with Windows and lets the user work with the Microsoft Scanning program is the Xerox. Before you change to Epson you might like to check that out and if you find that Epson works please let me know because I will definitely change my printer/scanner as much as I like the hardware. It is the software that I have a problem with and there does not seem to be a way to resolve it. I have called HP directly and they have tried but not succeeded and I also find it surprising that HP has not addressed these issues. They used to be very good at it. Please keep in touch because, like I said, our problems are identical.

[BradleyPounds]

I'm having the exact same problem . .. The Microsoft Scanner and Digital Camera Wizard needs and INF that's not there?/