Is this the end of my scanner

Saganich · Jul 23, 2018

All my scans tonight look like this (see attached). Sever banding. Anyone have any idea what would cause this to happen over night? Very sad. DiMage 5400 with lots of use running VueScan. When I reset/reboot it scans all black and then back to all the banding.

shutterfinger · Jul 24, 2018

Download the service manual https://manualzz.com/doc/1450918/minolta-dimage-scan-elite-5400-service-manual
try a new usb cable or firewire cable whichever you use. This can be caused by corrupt software also. Windows or Mac?
Once the software and cables have been eliminated open it up, clean and lube all mechanical movements, check all electrical connections, reseat ribbon cables OR
take it to a scanner repair shop in your area.

Saganich · Jul 24, 2018

Thanks. Yep, have to troubleshoot everything. I was afraid that it could be "anything" and I was hoping someone could narrow it down for sanity's sake.

Kino · Jul 24, 2018

Just a guess, but maybe the scanner sensor is "chattering" on the rail due to lubrication drying out. The exposure of a sensor is very sensitive to uneven velocity...

Then again, I have seen this happen when the ribbon cable between the sensor and the motherboard has developed hairline cracks.

Good luck!

shutterfinger · Jul 24, 2018

USB cable, Software, mechanism lubrication, ribbon cable connection, failing chip, failing internal power supply, failing electronic components, cracked circuit board, cold solder.
Start with the first item and work through the list, it may be the one that is not listed such as sensor failure.

sissysphoto · Jul 24, 2018

My very first thought was the movement chattering on dried out rails. Second being a software issue.

Saganich · Jul 24, 2018

Update. I started with the last change I made, which was to update VueScan a few weeks ago...first update in a 6 months or more. I went into time machine and retrieved the previous version and guess what? Scanned a whole roll with not an issue and everything looked sharper as well. The scanner was being fussy about the time I updated, there were a few OOF scans that I had to rescan and come to think of it a lot of just off focus shots that I attributed to beer and f1.4@60. Well perhaps there a software issue.

shutterfinger · Jul 24, 2018

Windows has built in tools to repair it, don't know about Mac.
System File Checker (SFC), Deployment Image Servicing and Management (DISM)
The update could have been corrupted also.

BMbikerider · Jul 27, 2018

I had a similar problem with my Nikon Coolscan V. I sent it to a repairer who specialises with these and it turned out to be a very dusty mirror inside the device. A good clean and service and it is as good as new. It is also quieter in operation than I remember.

Is this the end of my scanner

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