Trouble, Espon 3170 Photo Scanner

[Joe Townsend]

I've begun to notice gray decolonization on my scanner preview screen. You can see this in the attached image -- the gray line along the left side. This showed up on preview, then I scanned a larger part of the screen to show it in this image (waiting to be restored). On preview it actually shows up across the top, too. Note that is does not seem to affect the scanned image and other scans look pretty good. When I asked Epson tech support about possible maintenance needs, the reply was, "It appears as though the scanner hardware itself is malfunctioning and will require service. " Then went on to say it may well cost more to repair than replace. I replaced my previous scanner when it was showing a yellow-green edge, that had started affecting the image

Can these problems be fixed with a new bulb or cleaning?

Joe

[Doug Nelson]

I haven't had your gray line problem, but I have had the yellow-green edge. That was caused by individual sensors dying (flatbeds use a row of individual sensors that move as a line up the scan, so sensor problems usually appear as vertical line artifacts of one type or another).

If you're having a horizontal line problem (no image is attached, so I can't tell) it might be a stepper motor problem (the little guy that moves the scanning bar). This might end up just being a "bad spot" on the bed.

Use it as an excuse to upgrade

[Joe Townsend]

Hi Doug. I've been suspecting the sensor all along.

I went through the procedure to attached an image twice. Here it is again (35 KB jpg).

Joe

[Doug Nelson]

Looks like multiple sensor probs, or one power problem. Regardless, it would indeed cost too much to diagnose and repair. Flatbeds are essentially disposable nowadays.

[DannyRaphael]

Hi Joe...

No brilliant suggestions, but wanted to say, "Hi" from someone who lives in the general area (North Bend). Used to work in Redmond, however, at that little software company we all know about.