Epson 4990 in 2025 - Windows 11 Compatibility / Experience

Does anyone here still use a 4990? If you do, I'd be interested to know:

1. Do you run it on Windows 10/11 and does it require any special driver hacks to do so?
2. If you run it on Mac do you use the latest version of MacOS?
3. Is there an ideal version of Epson Scan for this scanner and how is it?
4. Does Epson Scan have any known deficiencies with this scanner that compromise it and make Silverfast or Vuescan obligatory?
5. In the Epson Scan app, is the infrared dust correction feature labelled as actual ICE brand technology? I believe the scanner has Infrared but I see that it doesn't have an ICE badge on it.

Thanks in advance if you're out there and willing to help!

Note: I do not have specific questions about scan quality or comparison to other scanners. I understand it's place in the market that regard. My intended use case is for digital sharing of medium format now and possibly large format in the future.

I use a 4870 if that's close enough, since they're pretty similar other than maximum transparency size.

1. I run it on windows 11, no special drivers required. Just run the OG Epson scan and the drivers are on the Epson website.
2. I don't use mac.
3. I've always used the original Epson Scan software. It looks a bit like software designed for Windows 98, but otherwise operates fine. Just run it in professional mode.
4. Not that I'm aware of.
5. Yes, it has the option for both software based dust removal (not as useful) and infrared dust removal which is labeled as Digital ICE in the software.

I run one on windows 10

I'm curious if any Mac people will chime in as I'm thinking about jumping the windows ship.

hwy17 said:

Does anyone here still use a 4990? If you do, I'd be interested to know:

Click to expand...

Yes

hwy17 said:

1. Do you run it on Windows 10/11 and does it require any special driver hacks to do so?

Click to expand...

Win10; I just installed the latest version of Epson Scan which I think is still available for download from Epson. No additional drivers, hacks etc.

hwy17 said:

2. If you run it on Mac do you use the latest version of MacOS?

Click to expand...

Never, sorry.

hwy17 said:

3. Is there an ideal version of Epson Scan for this scanner and how is it?

Click to expand...

Just use the latest that's specified to work with this scanner. I don't think the differences between the (later) versions were particularly big.

hwy17 said:

4. Does Epson Scan have any known deficiencies with this scanner that compromise it and make Silverfast or Vuescan obligatory?

Click to expand...

Not to the best of my knowledge, and I've used Epson Scan with this scanner quite intensively for many years. It's quick, convenient and unlocks everything the scanner has to offer.

hwy17 said:

5. In the Epson Scan app, is the infrared dust correction feature labelled as actual ICE brand technology? I believe the scanner has Infrared but I see that it doesn't have an ICE badge on it.

Click to expand...

It's called "DIGITAL ICE":

I vaguely recall that on the packaging (original box etc.) an ICE logo was shown, but man, that's been like 20 years or so...
I never use the ICE feature btw.

Thank you all. This is all great news.

Epson Scan will not run on macOS Catalina (10.15) or later. Epson Scan 2 does run, but 4990 is not supported and Epson Scan 2 is seriously dumbed down (and doesn't have ICE) anyway.

I'm afraid you will need to buy Vuescan or Silverfast to get the most out of 4990 on modern Macs.

I have an Epson 4490 which is almost the same chronologically. The software works in Windows 10 in professional, unadjusted mode to scan to uncropped TIF. However I lost the ability in the software to preview the images before the scan one day, presumably after a Windows update. It still scans and I'm hobbling along with it, but have switched to a DSLR for most applications.

Oh, I will add, that one quirk of the original Epson scan software running on windows 11, is that when you first boot it up in professional mode, it will hide most of the function buttons, and you need to hit the alt key to unhide them. Not sure exactly why that is, but it's a trivial inconvenience if you're aware of it.