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Connecting Nikon Super Coolscan 9000 to Modern PC with Windows 11

If I see this right, the Sonnettech Echo III costs more then a middle class desktop PC with the card slots... So unless it's 100% necessary to run this on a modern laptop, for me it would make more sense to add a desktop... And the expansion box and the scanner are anyways not mobile devices
 
I use my scanner (AgfaScan T5000) on NT4 VM with Ubuntu 24.04 as host. No problem running the scanner at all (except for small size of VM display on a high-dpi screen). It works fine using an Adaptec 39320A-R (PCI-X in standard PCI slot).
In the past with an older laptop that had a PCMCIA/Expresscard full slot, I usef the StarTech Expresscard to PCI extension. That system had one advantage: at booting time, one could see the Adaptec bios message with connected devices. This is unfortunately not the case anymore with TB solution.
 

True, it is not cheap, but it allows one to have a single system (laptop) ro do everything, will live longer than the laptop so can be reused with the next one. The scanner, Echo stay at home and (in my case) stay connected to the laptop’s docking station so connecting the laptop to its station will connect the scanner. No transfer of files between a tower (that needs its own monitor) and the laptop needed - transfer through USB on old computer can be slow, through network could be unsafe with old OS.
The chosen solution - small tower or TB extension - is, I guess, a matter of what one wants to optimize.
 

Sure, I get your point, and yes, I'd optimize differently. I have anyways already an extra screen with the laptop, and a NAS/home server for easy back up and for file transfer. I'm happy with Linux and vuescan and don't rely on old windows versions, but if needed I could isolate a device in my network easily (running tp-link omada network, so VLAN and detailed rules can be set up)