[kcor]

The other thread about scanning "styles" makes me think to ask if anyone can suggest an alternative scanning software.

I have a HP Scanjet 7400C (unlikely to get a different scanner until it busts) and was using HP PrecisionScan Pro software, but when they (IT) wrecked my computer and built me a new one theoretically identical, I've never been able to get the software to communicate with the scanner again.

Although we may be able to accomplish this with some tweaking, if it doesn't work out I would like to know:

What scanning software, that would run my scanner, would do the same job as Precisionscan Pro; or even be a better one?

I scan both vintage comics and original art (sometimes paintings).

[Aussie500]

You can use any software for editing, but you might need to update your scanner driver, or possibly the driver is not installed. Often if you change the USB slot windows will go off and say it is new software, even though it has already been installed, it will install whatever driver it thinks is the best. This will not always be the driver that it is meant to be though, and it might not be the one that works best with your scanner. You could try installing uninstalling the scanner and installing the driver that you got with the scanner or preferably looking on the HP site for the latest driver for your model, make sure to take note of the installation instructions.
http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/softwareCategory?product=59553&lc=en&cc=us&dlc=en

As to editing programs Adobe Photoshop is meant to be the best, but l prefer Paint Shop Pro, neither will work  with your scanner unless you have it installed properly.

[kcor]

Your comments re: USB slots are similar to thoughts we've had. One thing we haven't tried is installing a scsi slot and using a scsi cable--others have had success with that approach but curious to tell one wall we run up against here is getting budget for simplest things. We've tried all the combos of uninstall/install/patches etc. we can think of. But thanks for the link.

Been using the built-in Windows scanner-operator (WIA something-something) and it's pretty limited.

Conversationally, I do use PS CS2 with allied Adobe applications, although I have used some Corel applications in the past.