Before we start looking at how to connect a scanner to a computer, let’s figure out what kind of device it is. In general, a scanner is a device or program that reads some analogue or digital information and converting it into digital form, suitable for further processing.

There are barcode scanners widely used in supermarkets, for example; biometric scanners that read fingerprints or retinal patterns; port or vulnerability scanners - software; radio frequency scanners that check the radio air; scanners graphic information. Only the latter are widely called without additional prefixes to the name - simply scanners. These are the ones that will be discussed further.

Graphic scanners

So, a scanner is a device designed to convert graphic information into digital form. Using a scanner, any image printed on solid media (that is, plain paper) is transferred to the file of the selected graphic format. There are various types scanners - hand-held, drum, flatbed and projection.

Handheld scanners have recently been used quite rarely due to the widespread use of digital cameras and mobile phones with a camera. Projection scanners are still widely used to digitize images from photographic films. Drum or pull-through scanners are often included with MFPs and allow you to scan multi-page documents without the tedious task of repositioning each page.

But scanners, as separate devices, are most widely used in tablet format. How to connect the scanner and configure it will be discussed further.

Any flatbed scanner takes up quite a large space on the desktop, which cannot be smaller than the size of a regular A4 sheet. Therefore, before connecting, you should prepare sufficient space for its installation.

Interface selection

Since their inception, flatbed scanners have been connected to a computer via a parallel LPT port, via a SCSI interface, or via serial USB ports. LPT ports did not provide sufficient speed to transfer large enough amounts of information when scanning at high resolution. SCSI, although it allows you to transfer the required volume per unit of time, but requires the installation of additional controllers and appropriate software.

For these reasons, almost all scanners are now connected via a USB port. This interface provides sufficient speed to transmit a stream of information when scanning forty pages per minute with a resolution of 600dpi. In addition, USB ports are available in all modern computers and laptops and are supported by all operating systems, eliminating the need to purchase additional controllers or software.

Therefore, to connect a scanner, you need to make sure there is a free port. If there is none, then the problem can be easily solved by purchasing an inexpensive USB hub.

Connecting a scanner

The place on the table has been prepared, the port is available - now you need to prepare software, which will bring your scanner to life. In general, this software includes a scanner driver and a shell program that provides a user interface for working with the device. It is best to use drivers and software that are developed by the equipment manufacturer and are included with the scanner itself. In this case, the most stable scanning performance is guaranteed.

If there are no drivers included with the scanner, then drivers for any device can be found on the Internet. But keep in mind that older models may not have working drivers for new operating systems - as a rule, manufacturers provide support for their devices no more than a year and a half after discontinuation.

So, install the scanner in the chosen place, connect it to a 220V network and connect it to the computer with a USB cable. Windows will immediately ask you to install drivers for your new device. At this stage it is preferable to refuse automatic installation and run the driver installation program from the included disk. The installer will automatically install all the necessary software. After installation, you may need to restart your computer.

Connecting a scanner to a laptop is no different from the same procedure for a regular PC, so we will not separately consider how to connect a scanner to a laptop in this article.

Scanner setup

Setting up the scanner involves calibrating its scanning head. For this purpose, special template images are used. In most cases, calibration is performed once during software installation. To perform calibration, you simply need to strictly follow the installer's instructions.

To create copies of documents, photographs and any notes on paper, you need a scanner. With its help, the contents of paper media are analyzed and their digital image is reproduced and the file is saved on a computer. To install the equipment, you must not only properly connect the device to the computer, but also configure it for operation. The equipment is necessary for the full operation of most organizations, and more and more people are purchasing devices for personal use.

For high-quality operation of the device, it is necessary to correctly connect and install drivers. Modern equipment is equipped with everything necessary for an ordinary person to cope with this without specific skills and knowledge.

First you need to prepare for the device convenient place next to the computer. For future convenience and comfort in work, it is necessary to take into account the dimensions of the device and the length of the connecting wire. Once the scanner is in place, you can begin connecting.

Important! Before you start connecting the device, you must carefully read the instructions for use and operation of the equipment.

What will it take?

After studying the operating instructions for the device, you need to prepare all the necessary cables and make sure that there are no external mechanical damage to them. The connecting wires should not be strained when connecting, as this increases the likelihood of the connection breaking. The equipment itself also needs to be inspected for damage or cracks. Usually a disk with the necessary drivers and software is included with the scanner. The disk does not need to be removed far; it will make it easier to install files through the drive. Modern computer models are not all equipped with disk drives, so disks are not needed for such equipment. For such cases, drivers can be downloaded from special sites. It is advisable to take advantage of the offer to download and install drivers from the scanner manufacturer’s website.

Reference! If the cable that connects the computer and the scanner is too long, then for convenience it should be carefully wound and secured with a rope or cord. This will help you avoid tripping over it and thereby extend its service life.

What problems may arise

It may happen that the connection was carried out according to the rules, but the scanner still does not work. There can be many reasons for the problem. One of possible reasons It may be that the drivers have not been installed. The scanner may not work if the cables are poorly and loosely connected to the computer, or the control lever is simply not turned on. Scanning may not occur or the image may be of very poor quality. To determine the true problem, sequential steps must be taken to check the equipment.

Troubleshooting

The first step is to make sure that the equipment is connected to a power source and turned on. The fact that the device is connected to power is indicated by the lighting indicator, which is located at the bottom of the case. Then you need to check whether the cables are connected correctly. If one of them is poorly connected, this may be the cause of the problem. Many models of modern scanners are equipped with special levers that lock the equipment during transportation. This fact should be indicated in the operating instructions, so you should carefully re-read it again. Sometimes you can normalize the scanner's operation by simply restarting your computer or laptop.

When the problem is related to the drivers, you can try installing them again. If this does not help, and it is impossible to figure it out on your own, you need to contact a specialist. It even happens that you get defective products. If you are unlucky and you come across such a product, then the scanner must be returned to the store.

Attention! It should be added that if you cannot independently identify the cause of a problem with the operation of the scanner, you should contact a specialist, and under no circumstances try to disassemble the device. In this case, the product warranty will be void.

How to connect a scanner to a computer: step by step

1. After studying the instructions, you can begin connecting the device. First you need to disconnect your computer from the network.
2. Connect the scanning device with a cable to the corresponding port on your computer or laptop.
3. Turn on your computer or laptop and wait until the equipment boots up completely.
4. The loading field on the screen will display a system message indicating that a new device has been detected.
5. Insert the disc into the drive and load the drivers. You can not use the disk, but download it from a special website from an Internet resource.
6. Use the installation wizard to install the software.
7. Scan any document or image to check the operation of the device.
8. If you need to connect several computers to one scanner, you will have to use a network switch.

If you need to connect several computers to one scanner, you will have to use a network switch. This way you can connect any office equipment: printer, fax or telephone. Drivers must be installed on all types of equipment. Only in this case is the uninterrupted operation of the equipment possible. Otherwise, scanning or faxing of documentation will not proceed correctly or will not function at all.

Depending on Windows

After installing the device to a computer running Windows system 8 or 8.1, a problem may arise that is completely solvable. A frame with the message “Unable to connect the scanner” may appear on your computer monitor. This system does not install drivers by default without digital signature. The system has only one boot mode. To solve this problem, you should perform the following sequential actions:

• Go to side menu, find the “Options” item.
• The next item is “Changing computer settings”.
• Go to “Update and Recovery”, and then to “Recovery”.
• To get to the menu for selecting boot options, you need to restart the computer while holding down the “Shift” key.
• In the menu that appears, select “Diagnostics”, then “Boot Options”.
• A list of options will appear from which to select “Enable mandatory driver signature verification” and restart the computer.
• After the reboot, the “Boot Options” menu will appear, select item number 7. This is done using the key with the same number.
• Now you should restore the previously deleted software.
• Test the operation of the device by printing any document.

After all the steps have been completed, the scanner will start working. In order for equipment to work smoothly for a long time, it must be handled carefully. The scanner should not be dropped, hit, or installed in a room with high humidity or heavy dust. If you follow the basic rules, the device will serve for a long time and with high quality.

A barcode scanner is used in many areas where record keeping is necessary. It is most often used to automate the trade process (supermarkets), to accept and ship goods in warehouse accounting, to monitor employee attendance at enterprises in any field, etc.

Before you can use your scanner, it must be connected to your computer and configured correctly. You need to install special software on your computer. Scanners differ in the type of connection interface into three groups:
“into the keyboard gap”;
via COM port – the RS-232 connector is used;
via USB connector - can be used as a virtual COM port on a computer or as a keyboard.

Connecting “into the keyboard gap” involves installing a scanner between the keyboard and the computer. The connection diagram is as follows: the keyboard is disconnected from the computer, a scanner is connected to the PS/2 connector where the keyboard was, then it is connected to the scanner. With this type of connection, the read information is entered where the keyboard cursor is located. If for some reason the scanner cannot read the barcode, you can enter it manually. When using of this interface It is important to monitor the keyboard layout when reading a code that contains letters, because they may not display correctly. Connecting “into the keyboard gap” helps save an extra COM port or USB type and is very convenient if, in addition to the scanner, many other devices are used (for example, a printer, scales, etc.).

Connection via the COM port uses an RS-232 connector, which supports serial data transfer. After connecting the scanner to the COM port, the system will ask you to install drivers. They can be found either on the disk that came with the kit or on the Internet. When using this interface, information is read into the COM port. Therefore, with this type of connection, the 1C program is used to display and store the barcode read. In the 1C settings, a scanner is connected indicating the COM port number.

USB connection allows you to connect the equipment to a running computer and has high speed exchange of information. When connecting the scanner to the connector USB computer detects it as a keyboard and does not require driver installation. Read barcodes are displayed at the location where the cursor is positioned. If necessary, scanners connected via USB can be made to operate in emulated COM port mode. To do this, you need to read the special control barcode in the operating instructions and install the virtual port driver. Thus, the scanner will be transferred from the USB interface to the COM port emulation mode and will work similarly to equipment connected via the RS-232 connector.

Connecting a barcode scanner to the controller

Using a reading scanner paired with a controller may be necessary in enterprises or institutions with installed system access control, or for collecting and processing data from different points. The scanner is connected to the controller via the RS-232 connector. Controllers used in control systems remote access(ACS), does not have RS-232 connectors and uses the Wiegand interface to connect reading devices. In this case, special converters are used that are connected between the scanner and the controller. The scheme for reading and processing information will be as follows: the scanner reads the barcode, transmits it to the converter, which converts the information into a code read by the controller, and then transmits it directly to the controller, then the information can be transferred to the server or be processed.

How to set up a barcode scanner

After connecting the scanner, its communication protocol is configured. You will find the default settings in the operating instructions or in the manufacturer’s specialized software (if the scanner supports this function). When setting up, special attention should be paid to the following parameters:
1. Data between the scanner and the computer must be transferred at the same speed, otherwise the computer simply will not respond.
2. Number of bits – allows you to set the number of bits required to encode a barcode. For example, if the code being read uses only numbers and letters of the Latin alphabet, then 7 bits will be enough, but if there are also Cyrillic letters, then 8 bits are needed.
3. Availability of suffixes – the ability to use the settings to add service characters to the code input. These characters are CR - carriage return and LF - line feed. In some models, these parameters are installed by default, but they can be turned off and on according to your wishes and needs.

Getting to the computer is a task that every user must cope with. Even a novice user masters these skills before working with such a complex machine. More and more often, users are interested in how to connect a scanner to a laptop. What tips and recommendations will help you cope with the task? What should every person planning to bring an idea to life know?

The scanner is...

The first step is to understand what kind of connected device we are talking about. Why is it needed?

A scanner is a device that allows you to convert documents into digital mode. In addition, the machine serves to make copies of papers placed in it. It's very convenient! Most often in practice, such technology is associated with printer functions.

There are several types of scanners. For example, black and white and color. Accordingly, in the first case, copies will be only in black and white, in the second - in color. Each user decides for himself which model to purchase. Models that work with color are popular. But how to connect a scanner to a laptop? What will it take?

Necessary equipment

In fact, everything is not as difficult as it seems. Scanners are connected to laptops in the same way as to laptops. But for this, the user must have certain equipment. Which one exactly? What are we talking about?

If a person is wondering how to connect a scanner (and printer) to a laptop, he will need the following items:

• a working PC (in this case, a laptop);
• USB cable for scanner/printer;
• power cable from the connected device;
• driver disk.

No further accessories are needed. Perhaps any power source (free socket), as well as a free USB connector on the laptop. As a rule, all the necessary cables and cords along with the installation disk are included with the equipment.

Connection instructions

How to connect a scanner to a laptop? It's not difficult to do this. It is enough to follow short instructions that are understandable even for a novice user. It is recommended not to violate the algorithm of actions. Otherwise, the connected equipment will not work correctly.

How to connect an HP or any other scanner to a laptop? This requires:

1. Remove the equipment from the box and then place it in a place convenient for a person. It is better to immediately find a separate space for the scanner.
2. In the box, the user will find a power cable, a USB cable and a disk with drivers (sometimes it contains additional software for working with scanned images). All these items must be removed and unpacked.
3. Turn on your laptop/computer. You must wait until the operating system loads.
4. Connect the power cord to the scanner, then to the network.
5. Connect the device using a USB cable to a laptop or computer.
6. Turn on the scanner. On modern operating systems will begin automatic search drivers. It usually ends in failure.
7. Insert the driver disk into the computer (DVD or CD-ROM). Following the installer's instructions, install necessary software to recognize connected equipment.
8. As soon as the drivers are installed, the connected scanner will be recognized on the laptop. You can work with the device.

It is this algorithm of action that is recommended to be followed when implementing the task of connecting scanners or printers. You can first run the driver installer and then turn on the connected hardware. But in this case, you will have to wait until the initializer itself “asks” the user to do this.

Without disk

This is far from the only option developments of events. More and more often, users are interested in how to connect a scanner to a laptop without a disk. Is it even possible to do this?

Yes. After all, the disk can get lost over time. This does not mean that you can no longer connect a scanner or printer. To do without installation disk, you can use one interesting technique.

We are talking about downloading the necessary driver from the Internet. To bring your idea to life, you need:

1. Go to the website of the manufacturer of the printer or scanner you want to use.
2. Select the type of equipment to be connected in a special menu, and then the specific model of the device. It is written both on the scanner and on the box in which the purchase was.
3. Download executable file(.exe format).

This is all. What actions should the user take after this? How do you connect a scanner or printer to a computer if there is no driver disk?

Instructions for connecting without a disk

The process as a whole is not much different from the previously given algorithm. How to connect a scanner to a laptop without an installation disk? To do this you will have to:

1. Place the device in a convenient place.
2. Connect the printer/scanner to the laptop using a USB cable and a power cable.
3. Turn on the computer and the device you plan to work with.
4. Run the previously downloaded executable file. It serves as a replacement for the driver disk.
5. Following the installer's instructions, install the hardware drivers.

This is where the whole process ends. The main thing is to download the driver for specific model devices. Otherwise, installing the software will not bring results.

The scanner is connected to the computer using a USB cable. Installation of drivers is also a prerequisite. Scanner setup sometimes it can lead to certain difficulties, which is primarily due to the specifics of the installed software. Sometimes drivers may not be suitable for specific operating systems.

Connecting the scanner to a laptop

In this case, the connection is made in the same way as in the case of a computer. You will need the following:

• USB cable;
• installing drivers;
• device setup;
• installation of additional software

Installing drivers for connecting a scanner

To install drivers, you will need a special installation disk. If it is lost, then you can download the drivers from the Internet by entering the model of your scanner in the search bar. It is best to use manual installation, thanks to which the user can refuse some additional programs, which may be offered during installation from disk. If you do not have the skills to install drivers, then it is best to trust the automatic installation.

Scanner setup

Many users use directly those programs for working with the scanner that come with the driver. The most popular program today is FineReader, which allows you to quickly scan a specific document, recognize it as a picture, table or document, and save it in a specific format. In addition, you can independently select the image resolution from 200 to 600 dpi. The higher the number, the better the result, but the scanning time will be slightly longer.