Connecting Nikon Super Coolscan 9000 to Modern PC with Windows 11

[J C]

Hello all,

As the title of the thread suggests, I've been trying to connect a Nikon Super Coolscan 9000 to my modern laptop running on Windows 11. I've tried following a guide and installing homebrewed drivers, but my efforts have been stopped by the fact that I haven't found a way to successfully physically connect the scanner to the laptop. After trying to use both a Firewire to USB adapter cable and the daisy chain of adapters used by the previous owner to connect to his Apple laptop that ends in thunderbolt, I read that USB and Firewire are somehow fundamentally incompatible connection methods and that a simple adapter wire is useless. I've found that to be the case, and I am writing here to ask for advice. I am also intent on using Nikon Scan rather than VueScan, as I have read that it allows for better results. Any information on the matter would be much appreciated.

 

[mshchem]

I bought an inexpensive desktop and bought a card with firewire connection. Works pretty effortlessly with VueScan. One gripe is VueScan (and the original Nikon software) doesn't handle any 120 format over 6x9, or panoramic 35mm formats. I would think that this is purely software??? I don't know.

 

[wiltw]

You have run into the precise reason that I have chosen to NOT upgrade to Windows 11 ...

1. while my current desktop cannot be upgraded to Windows 11...
2. ...I do not wish to risk losing function of my Canon flatbed scanner

so I do not plan to replace my desktop PC, but will keep it simply to ensure continued use of my scanner. If and when I ever decide to upgrade my dSLR to mirrorless, entailing an upgrade to latest RAW processor (or entailing the conversion of RAW to DNG files to permit continued use of LR 6.1 without the monthly tithing to Adobe). As a retiree, I will do everything I can to avoid the purchase of a Windows 11 computer (to replace the existing desktop), which would also entail the abandonment of legacy software now infrequently used, for which I do not want to also start paying monthly tithing to Microsoft, too.

 

[koraks]

I am writing here to ask for advice

Is that scanner natively firewire or SCSI? If it's firewire, get yourself a desktop computer and plug a firewire card into it, or use a laptop that natively has a firewire port (look on second hand market, but you'll have to do a lot of rooting around since it's not a common thing in the PC world). You could try a different brand of USB<>firewire adapter on your present laptop, but it's a bit of a long shot and it may or may not work, leaving you with multiple useless adapters.
Sorry, such are the woes of using old scanners on modern computers. And laptops are the most unfortunate choice in this regard because there's no way to plug something into a PCI or PCIe slot.

 

[brbo]

Save yourself the trouble of finding the "right" USB - FW adapter. You will not be the first to find one.

 

[Archiloque]

There a couple methods that I've tested with mine.

If your computer has a thunderbolt port, a daisy chain of adapters should work. HOWEVER, I have encountered thunderbolt compatibles laptops that will not recognize this daisy chain for whatever reasons.

The solution that I found is getting an old OWC thunderbolt 3 USB dock. Did the trick for me.

If your computer doesn't have a thunderbolt port, I am effraid there isn't much that can be done unless you have a desktop computer and you're willing to mount a Firewire PCI card into.

 

[koraks]

One problem is that USB-C looks like Thunderbolt but is not quite the same. Plenty of comouters have USB-C, but that doesn't make them Thunderbolt devices.

 

[benveniste]

If your laptop has an actual Thunderbolt port, the "daisy chain" approach should work, but you may need upgraded drivers.

 

[radialMelt]

I run a 9000 on a modern computer. However it is a desktop computer where I have installed a PCIe firewire adapter (https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B08339PGM8?ref_=ppx_hzod_title_dt_b_fed_asin_title_0_0). Works like a charm.

While not specifically a scanner, I do run old firewire devices on a modern laptop with thunderbolt. Slightly trickier, but doable. You can get a thunderbolt PCIe enclosure (check Sonnettech) and then install a PCIe firewire adapter in that, for example. There's other possible configurations as well depending on your needs.

 

[J C]

Thanks for all the advice. I wanted to avoid getting a separate computer for this scanner, like I had to do with my drum scanner. But, it seems there are no alternatives. The daisy chain either throws an error on the USB-C port or simply isn't detected on the Thunderbolt 4 port I found on the back of my laptop. I guess I'll pick up an ancient computer with a FireWire connection for cheap on eBay. My only concern there is getting Nikon Scan onto that computer.

It's a true shame there are no high quality new film scanners being made today. As someone in another thread noted, it might be due to the costs of R&D and production heavily outweighing any potential sales from a minuscule market.

 

[benveniste]

It's a true shame there are no high quality new film scanners being made today. As someone in another thread noted, it might be due to the costs of R&D and production heavily outweighing any potential sales from a minuscule market.

Have you heard anything bad about the Plustek OpticFilm 120 other than the price?

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1824380-REG/plustek_of120_optic_film_120_scanner.html

 

[brbo]

Have you heard anything bad about the Plustek OpticFilm 120 other than the price?

Banding and no focus control. Apparently you need a bit of luck with those scanners.

Plustek 120 was unavailable for quite a while, then the new version (Plustek 120 Pro) was introduced years ago that should've fixed those problems and added some nice things. But the Pro version was never really sold and now Plustek is selling the old plain version again.

 

[radialMelt]

Thanks for all the advice. I wanted to avoid getting a separate computer for this scanner, like I had to do with my drum scanner. But, it seems there are no alternatives. The daisy chain either throws an error on the USB-C port or simply isn't detected on the Thunderbolt 4 port I found on the back of my laptop. I guess I'll pick up an ancient computer with a FireWire connection for cheap on eBay. My only concern there is getting Nikon Scan onto that computer.

It's a true shame there are no high quality new film scanners being made today. As someone in another thread noted, it might be due to the costs of R&D and production heavily outweighing any potential sales from a minuscule market.

I literally gave you an alternative. Sonnettech Thunderbolt PCIe enclosure plus a StarTech PCIe firewire card.

 

[Les Sarile]

I run a 9000 on a modern computer. However it is a desktop computer where I have installed a PCIe firewire adapter (https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B08339PGM8?ref_=ppx_hzod_title_dt_b_fed_asin_title_0_0). Works like a charm.

While not specifically a scanner, I do run old firewire devices on a modern laptop with thunderbolt. Slightly trickier, but doable. You can get a thunderbolt PCIe enclosure (check Sonnettech) and then install a PCIe firewire adapter in that, for example. There's other possible configurations as well depending on your needs.

Are you running Nikonscan in this configuration?

 

[radialMelt]

Are you running Nikonscan in this configuration?

Yes, although it isn't my go-to scanning software. Occasionally I will fire it up to compare inversions against Vuescan (and other software).

 

[koraks]

The daisy chain either throws an error on the USB-C port

What error do you get?

 

[J C]

What error do you get?

A "Device Descriptor Request Failed" error in Device Manager

You can get a thunderbolt PCIe enclosure (check Sonnettech) and then install a PCIe firewire adapter

I'm going to go that route.

 

[koraks]

A "Device Descriptor Request Failed" error in Device Manager

OK, that's usually a dead-end street.

 

[Archiloque]

A "Device Descriptor Request Failed" error in Device Manager


I'm going to go that route.

I also gave you another solution. That even might be cheaper (but not cheap). This.

Works perfectly for me with a computer whose thunderbolt port wasn't working either with my daisy chained Coolscan. Try it. And resell it if it doesn't work, they're kind of rare and looked after.

 

[J C]

Ok. I think I'm almost there. I got a PCIe firewire card and a Thunderbolt PCIe enclosure. After installing a driver, the scanner is properly recognized as Nikon SUPER COOLSCAN 9000 ED in Device Manager. However, each time I try to scan or even open Nikon Scan, the scanner takes in the negative carrier, does what I presume is the prescan, and throws up a text box saying "Please remove the film holder and press the "OK" button on the screen to try again.". Pressing ok on this text box causes the scanner to eject the carrier and Nikon Scan to hang up, eventually displaying the same text box again. I can open the smaller window to configure the film type, film carrier type, etc., but I cannot click on any of the dropdown menus. Any advice on how to remedy the situation?

 

[J C]

Update: I got the 120 glass holder to feed and give me the options to preview, scan, etc. But the 35mm strip and mounted slide holders go in, then get pulled in, the scanner makes chunking noises for a minute or two, and spits out the carriers with the text box mentioned above.

 

[F4U]

Anybody here run Linux Mint? I'm a cheapskate and when my Win 7 laptop hard drive died in Jan '24, I installed a scrap hard drive and loaded Mint on it. No such thing as "obsolete" equipment on Linux, as far as I've been able to tell. Runs whatever you plug into it.

 

[reddesert]

I have no experience with this particular hardware chain, but at this point, I think you should download and install the free trial of Vuescan and see if that can recognize and operate your scanner. You can try all the functionality with the free trial, it just puts a watermark on your scans until you pay for the license.

I know you said in the first post that you wanted to use Nikon Scan rather than Vuescan for the reputation of better results, but (a) it's free to try and will test the connectivity and whether the issue is limited to Nikon Scan; (b) at some point, with these non-supported technologies, everybody has to decide whether they want to debug software or scan photos.

 

[koraks]

Anybody here run Linux Mint? I'm a cheapskate and when my Win 7 laptop hard drive died in Jan '24, I installed a scrap hard drive and loaded Mint on it. No such thing as "obsolete" equipment on Linux, as far as I've been able to tell. Runs whatever you plug into it.

OP is trying to get his scanner to work under Windows. Feel free to discuss your preference for Linux on a computer-related forum.

I think you should download and install the free trial of Vuescan and see if that can recognize and operate your scanner.

I agree; that's where I'd start.
The clunking noises are a bit disconcerting; they may signal non-software related problems.

 

[J C]

I guess Vuescan will have to do for now, as it does work with the 35mm film carriers. I wonder why Nikon Scan is having issues with only some carriers but not others.

Vuescan focuses the scanner before scanning like Nikon Scan does, right? I noticed that Nikon Scan has a plethora of setup and calibration options that I fear I would lose out on in Vuescan.