Nikon Coolscan 8000 Firewire Problem

[bongeiste]

I've been up and down the Web trying to find a solution for a problem I've been

having with a newly acquired (secondhand) Nikon Coolscan 8000. When I plug the

scanner's Firewire cable in to the computer and turn it on, nothing happens. The

computer doesn't even recognize the fact that there's a scanner connected to the

computer.

 

From what I've read, some people believe this problem arises from the card being

a Texas Instruments card. The card in my case is a Creative SB Audigy soundcard.

Other people on the Web have suggested that there is a workaround of some sort

that will allow you to connect the scanner to a Texas Instruments card and have

it work. Others have suggested buying another card. I have found what appears to

be an NEC card on Newegg.com, but I was wondering if there was some kind of

software solution (new drivers or other software) that might correct this

situation. My computer is an older Gateway computer running Windows XP

Professional. I also have a newer Dell Laptop, but it doesn't have Firewire

ports. I'm considering getting a Firewire ExpressCard for that computer in case

the 8000 works with that, but the only card I've found that seems to be

compatible with my laptop, an SIIG card, seems to be a Texas Instruments chipset

card. If, as some have said, the fact that the hardware is made by Texas

Instruments is of no consequence, I could simply get that ExpressCard and work

with that. Otherwise, I'll have to try a PCI card for my desktop. Option number

three would be to try a software workaround. Any help would be greatly

appreciated. Thanks.

[curt wiler]

The first thing I would do is confirm that the Firewire port is active, preferably by attaching another device. Windows XP allows you to disable such ports. I also have the 8000, and originally there did seem to be a problem (Nikon supplied their own card with the scanner to avoid this) but I have not found a problem with any card or built-in port in recent years.

[bongeiste]

@Curt. One of the first things I did was connect a Firewire external hard drive to the port and it worked, so I ruled out the port or the cable not working.

[bgelfand]

If you do not have the LS8000 manual, you may download load it from here: http://www.nikonusa.com/pdf/manuals/scanners/LS8000_en.pdf

 

Look on page 2, 8 thru10, and the checks on page 11. If your board is not a NEC chip set and OHCI compliant, you may have problems.

[curt wiler]

OK, since the port is working you need to follow the installation sequence described in the manual linked above; ie, install the Nikon Scan software before connecting the scanner. If you don't have it, it is available on the NikonUSA site. I am currently using Nikon Scan ver.4 with Windows XP Pro. I am also using a Texas Instruments OHCI compliant IEEE 1394 host controller (built into the motherboard) and everything works OK.

[Stock-Photos]

Have you tried replacing the firewire cable?

 

Sometimes 1 of the many internal wires can have an intermittant break, causing all kinds of trouble.

 

A new cable should have been the first thing you checked.