Minolta Dimage Scan Multi Pro - An Epic

[10969307]

Might be best if you register the scanner in Device Manager

 

If the scanner cannot be recognised by the computer for longer than 30 seconds, I think this will be very difficult to do.

 

However, I will give this a go. Thanks again for your responses.

Edited April 6, 2019 by 10969307

[kmac]

I found this about Device Manager.

"If Windows still does not detect the device, either that device is not compatible with your version of Windows, or it is bad."

Link ...

Identifying problems in Windows Device Manager

 

You need a disc in the computer at the same time as the scanner is connected

 

The scanner may not be compatible with Windows 7 and the 30secs is probably the amount of time Windows 7 makes up it's mind it can't accept the Minolta

[10969307]

I found this about Device Manager.

 

The scanner may not be compatible with Windows 7 and the 30secs is probably the amount of time Windows 7 makes up it's mind it can't accept the Minolta

 

Thanks for checking this out for me. I'll look into it.

 

I would agree with you, though I am slightly confused as to why it would be that the computer (and VueScan) originally accepted the scanner no problem, including me being able to interact with the scanner via my Windows 7 laptop.

[rodeo_joe1]

A SCSI card might be your best bet. As long as the card drivers are installed properly, there should be no issue with the device not being recognised. SCSI devices are hard-addressed; that is you set a device number on the scanner, and the SCSI interface sends all communication to that selected device address.

 

A SCSI interface worked perfectly reliably for me with an old scanner. The only complication is that some SCSI devices need a terminator pack to work reliably. Other devices are self-terminated. I suspect most scanners will have the terminating pull-up resistors built in to render them fairly foolproof.

 

My scanner was supplied with a small OEM SCSI card using Advansys chips IIRC. Adaptec cards were the industry standard, but I actually found the supplied card to work and install with less hassle than an Adaptec card. Although once installed, both cards worked equally well.

 

Give SCSI a try. Old PCI cards should still be readily available. Finding a cable might be more of an issue. Good luck!

[WJT]

I can't really offer anymore suggestions than what has already been said but I can at least mention my situation. I have the same scanner but I have it connected via the SCSI to a dedicated PC running XP Pro. That is all I use that PC for. I use the Minolta scanning software and the setup works fine. I have experimented with the Firewire on this setup and it woks fine as well but I feel that the SCSI is faster.

 

I also have experimented using this scanner on a second PC that I have that is running WIN7 Ultimate. The Minolta software will not work on this system so I use Vuescan with this system. I use the Firewire connection on this PC with the Vuescan driver. This system also works fine with no issues with device recognition. I use the above mentioned XP system most of the time because I prefer the Minolta software over the Vuescan. Regards.

[rodeo_joe1]

Well, I've just wasted the best part of 3 days trying to get my own switchable USB/Firewire Primefilm scanner working with Windows 7 64 bit. No dice!

 

Tried 2 different IEEE 1394 interface cards, and a raft of drivers. The scanner works perfectly (but slowly) via USB and gets recognised as a scanner using the Firewire connection. It even talks to the maker's software up to a point - and then hangs. Consistently at the same point in the calibration process. No matter how long the scanner or computer have been powered on.

 

I'm pretty sure it's a Win 7/ MS "can't be arsed to sort it out" issue. Judging by the number of unresolved internet complaints about Firewire + Win 7 and onwards.

 

Humph! Look MS, if you want to play petty and kill off Apple's interface; don't get the rest of the world involved. Just admit straight out that your Firewire support ended with XP, and we'll all know where we stand and can make other arrangements. Like Linux for example.

[10969307]

Thanks for your continued input to this thread everyone.

 

I am going to give Windows XP a shot.

 

Could anyone recommend an economical PC running a default XP OS with both a FireWire port and a SCSI port? Let's say in the ballpark of £100?

 

@WJT Thanks for giving an insight into your experience. Interesting regarding the WIN7 set-up.

 

[uSER=2403817]@rodeo_joe|1[/uSER] I have long disliked the way Microsoft has held back compatibility with Apple

[james_lai]

Is your Win 7 updated? If so, can you roll it back to the original Win 7? As I recall there was at least 1 service pack released, and that did something to the firewire port.

 

I have a Nikon D1H that worked fine with the original Win 7 through the firewire connection, but once the service pack got installed the D1H wouldn't connect with the computer anymore. I remember at one time I reinstalled Win 7 from the original install discs and the D1H could connect again, that is until Windows updated itself again and the computer couldn't see the D1H anymore.

[RaymondC]

He's tried it on more than 1 different computer re: Firewire. Including a Mac. You're prob getting a SCSI card yourself. Computers very seldom had SCSI cards, maybe unless if it was a server / workstation.

 

You could get a old laptop with PCMCIA - not expresscard. But SCSI cards are $100-150US. A desktop PC would be cheaper and you can get a $15US Adaptec SCSI card.

Edited April 9, 2019 by RaymondC

[ben_hutcherson]

PC hardware is much more standardised and backwardly compatible than Apple's flavour-of-the-month choice of CPU and OS.

 

There's no reason why a 32 bit version of XP shouldn't run on the latest 8 core i7/Ryzen (over)powered gaming machine. It would probably also run in a virtual machine with virtual drivers. As long as you can fit a Firewire card in it - not sure that Firewire cards are available for the PCIe interface though.

 

Firewire on Macs is rock solid, and has been since about OS 8.5.5. Even though I don't do it-since I prefer the Nikon scanner software-I can run my LS8000 via Vuescan from macOS 10.14.

 

If it won't work on an iMac G4 running OS X 10.4 or 10.5 with an appropriate version of Vuescan for that OS(yes, it's out there on the legacy downloads page-I don't recall the version off the top of my head but have it installed on a couple of computers running these OSs) it's more than likely the case that the FW controller in the scanner is bad.

[10969307]

He's tried it on more than 1 different computer re: Firewire. Including a Mac. You're prob getting a SCSI card yourself. Computers very seldom had SCSI cards, maybe unless if it was a server / workstation.

 

You could get a old laptop with PCMCIA - not expresscard. But SCSI cards are $100-150US. A desktop PC would be cheaper and you can get a $15US Adaptec SCSI card.

 

Thanks for the info! I haven't tinkered with installing a card on a desktop PC for a while, so that'll be an experience.. I'll see what eBay has in store for me PC wise.

 

@ben_hutcherson Your hunch about the FireWire is echoed by a few people here, and I am starting to think it could be one of the more likely suspects.

 

When I find a PC that supports FireWire (and add to that a SCSI card), I should be able to determine what the real culprit is once and for all.

 

Cue long exhalation of stale air from a Minolta-induced yawn...

[ben_hutcherson]

Side note-

 

If you want to go the Mac route, it's fairly easy to find a PowerMac G4 tower with a factory-installed Adaptec 2930CU. It will work without any trickery in 10.4.11, although doesn't work in 10.5.

 

This is a good card with an external LVD-50(high density Centronics) connector on it. I don't know what your scanner has for an interface on the back-I have a couple of SCSI scanners-a Nikon with this type of connector, and then both a Nikon and a Polaroid with a standard 50 pin Centronics. In any case, I have LVD-50 to LVD-50 and LVD-50 to Centronics-50 cables for both.

 

At one point, I also used another model number Adaptec card with an external DB-25 connector, and it's easy to find DB-25 to Centronics 50. This also worked fine in 10.4.11 .

 

Finding a SCSI card that's compatible with a PowerMac G5 and/or one that will work in 10.5 can be an exercise in frustration.

 

Up through OS X 10.4 at least, Apple also made SCSI a breeze. Up into the G3 era, many Macs(laptops included) had SCSI built in, and it was the default HDD interface for higher end Mac desktops through most of the 90s. I run my Coolscan III on a PowerMac G4 running OS 9 with the Adaptec 2930CU mentioned above, and I run my old Polaroid SprintScan(which admittedly I haven't used in ages) on a Power Macintosh 9600 using the on-board SCSI controller.

[10969307]

Side note-

 

If you want to go the Mac route, it's fairly easy to find a PowerMac G4 tower with a factory-installed Adaptec 2930CU. It will work without any trickery in 10.4.11, although doesn't work in 10.5.

 

This is a good card with an external LVD-50(high density Centronics) connector on it. I don't know what your scanner has for an interface on the back-I have a couple of SCSI scanners-a Nikon with this type of connector, and then both a Nikon and a Polaroid with a standard 50 pin Centronics. In any case, I have LVD-50 to LVD-50 and LVD-50 to Centronics-50 cables for both.

 

At one point, I also used another model number Adaptec card with an external DB-25 connector, and it's easy to find DB-25 to Centronics 50. This also worked fine in 10.4.11 .

 

Finding a SCSI card that's compatible with a PowerMac G5 and/or one that will work in 10.5 can be an exercise in frustration.

 

Up through OS X 10.4 at least, Apple also made SCSI a breeze. Up into the G3 era, many Macs(laptops included) had SCSI built in, and it was the default HDD interface for higher end Mac desktops through most of the 90s. I run my Coolscan III on a PowerMac G4 running OS 9 with the Adaptec 2930CU mentioned above, and I run my old Polaroid SprintScan(which admittedly I haven't used in ages) on a Power Macintosh 9600 using the on-board SCSI controller.

 

Thanks so much for the very insightful notes.

 

I could try a PowerMac G4. In fact, I had considered one prior to the iMac G4. One of the main triggers behind my decision to abandon Apple was the growing momentum towards a consensus that Windows XP would be the least burdensome/most bland option for the scanner to be able stomach.

 

I'll have to sleep on it and see which way the pendulum swings in the morning.

 

AHHHHHH.

[rodeo_joe1]

I guess what my rant about Win7 firewire support boils down to is: Even if the scanner is fully working, there's no way of telling using Win7.

 

A SCSI card should just slot into a spare PCI slot (not PCIe) and pretty much go. Just watch what connector the card comes with. The old standard was a huge Centronics connector with wire clips each side. Ultra SCSI has a much smaller and squarer connector. Best bet is to match the connector on the back of the scanner with that on the card - it'll make finding a cable slightly easier.

 

Your use of the £ currency leads me to believe you're in the UK. In which case I could probably fix you up with a SCSI card and cable for the price of postage and packing if you PM me.

[10969307]

I have managed to find a desktop running Windows XP freshly installed, with a 25pin SCSI port. The Minolta takes a 50pin lead, however I see that it's fairly easy to get hold of a 25pin-50pin lead.

 

Do you think this would cause any disruption to an otherwise fair go at the SCSI method to get the Minolta up and running?

 

[uSER=2403817]@rodeo_joe|1[/uSER] The UK indeed! Thanks very much for your kind offer! Much appreciated. I may still yet have to take you up on that offer.

[rodeo_joe1]

The Minolta takes a 50pin lead, however I see that it's fairly easy to get hold of a 25pin-50pin lead.

 

Do you think this would cause any disruption to an otherwise fair go at the SCSI method to get the Minolta up and running?

Hopefully not. There was 'wide' SCSI, but it was never very popular and in most cases the extra pins were either unused, or simply used for shielding between signal wires.

 

All you can do is give it a try.

 

P.S. I'd be glad to get rid of some of my excess SCSI cables and cards!

[WJT]

The Minolta scanner, when new, came with an Ultra SCSI D-sub half-pitch 50 pin cable. The adapter that I am using on my XP Pro PC is an Adaptec 29320A Ultra320 SCSI chip that is built into the Supermicro MB. Be sure to set your terminations correctly.

 

Not to insult you but did you remove the locking screw underneath the scanner? That could cause a problem if left in place.

[10969307]

The Minolta scanner, when new, came with an Ultra SCSI D-sub half-pitch 50 pin cable. The adapter that I am using on my XP Pro PC is an Adaptec 29320A Ultra320 SCSI chip that is built into the Supermicro MB. Be sure to set your terminations correctly.

 

Not to insult you but did you remove the locking screw underneath the scanner? That could cause a problem if left in place.

 

No offence caused! Screw is removed.

 

I considered opening up the scanner just to see whether there are any visible faults.

 

I have a new desktop coming, so I will report back with my findings. This is the last chance saloon for this scanner.

[10969307]

It's been a while since I last posted on this thread. I've managed to finally get around to setting up the Windows XP PC with the right SCSI card and connection lead.

 

I have installed the original Minolta Dimage Scanning Utility and also Vuescan. Where I could previously not get the scanner to eject the film holder tray, the scanner now responds, though the scanner is not recognised on the PC.

 

I see that I need to install a driver / digitally sign the driver and, having previously tried installing drivers on the laptop and iMac to no avail, I'd gratefully appreciate some advice/step-by-step instructions on how to get the right driver and how to do this.

 

I would also like to know what SCSI ID number (0-7) I should input on the scanner. The PC I am using is an old DELL OptiPlex 755, if that information helps.

 

The tension....

[10969307]

Just a quick comment to add.

 

The scanner is definitely connecting to the PC I own via the SCSI connection because it initiates its initialisation sequence only when I connect it to the PC. It is for this reason that I believe the scanner "likes" the PC I have, but doesn't have the keys to the padlock yet.

[kmac]

What is the driver for ? You've got Vuescan and Minolta Scan, what more do you need ?

[10969307]

To operate the scanner.

 

It is not uncommon that drivers need to be manually installed, though I do not have sufficient knowledge on how to go about disabling/updating drivers properly, step-by-step. This might speak volumes about my inabilities with drivers, but I am aware of a similar process having tried (and failed) with the alternative pc/software combos.

 

The disc I used containing Minolta Scan came with a Minolta Elite 5400 I have for 35mm, not with the PRO when I purchased it, hence I feel there is a driver missing. When searching for the Multi PRO driver in the Minolta Dimage Scan disc, the PC cannot find a driver.

 

The PC asks that the scanner be "digitally signed-in". I can see it as a supported scanner on the list provided by XP, but I don't have the driver.

[kmac]

When the scanner first came out, it would only work on Windows 2000 Pro according to this link. Hopefully the later XP is also suitable for that scanner

(NOTE: Minolta specifies that the scanner requires Windows 2000 Professional, so don't plan on plugging it into your Windows 98 or Me machine.)

 

Update!: Above we mention that per Minolta, Windows 2000 Pro is the only operating system that can be used with the scanner. Thanks to an IR reader, Owen, we recently discovered that the scanner is also compatible with Windows ME.

Link .... Digital Film Scanners - Minolta Dimage Scan Multi Pro Scanner Review, Information, and Specifications

The Elite 5400 disc may not be the right disc for the Multi Pro. Here's a link to download the Multi Pro software, whether the download will still work is another thing, it might be too old but no harm trying it. It seems XP will be ok for the Multi Pro but there was various versions of XP, they accepted some things and not others

 

Link .... Minolta DiMAGE Scan Multi PRO Driver

Edited May 9, 2019 by kmac

[10969307]

When the scanner first came out, it would only work on Windows 2000 Pro according to this link. Hopefully the later XP is also suitable for that scanner

(NOTE: Minolta specifies that the scanner requires Windows 2000 Professional, so don't plan on plugging it into your Windows 98 or Me machine.)

 

Update!: Above we mention that per Minolta, Windows 2000 Pro is the only operating system that can be used with the scanner. Thanks to an IR reader, Owen, we recently discovered that the scanner is also compatible with Windows ME.

Link .... Digital Film Scanners - Minolta Dimage Scan Multi Pro Scanner Review, Information, and Specifications

The Elite 5400 disc may not be the right disc for the Multi Pro. Here's a link to download the Multi Pro software, whether the download will still work is another thing, it might be too old but no harm trying it. It seems XP will be ok for the Multi Pro but there was various versions of XP, they accepted some things and not others

 

Link .... Minolta DiMAGE Scan Multi PRO Driver

 

Very interesting to read. Thank you for finding this. Bit of a shame I didn't find this earlier.

 

I hope that it is compatible with Windows XP as I know that users of the PRO have managed to get it working with Windows 7. I even know a chap who has managed to get his working with the latest Mac OS Mojave.

 

As I mentioned, I see that XP actually supports KONICA MINOLTA as a line of scanners, and included that line is the PRO. Hence, I have a hunch it is compatible with this particular version of XP. I could be entirely wrong, however.

[10969307]

The scanner is definitely active and forming some kind of connection with the PC because if the SCSI lead isn't connected into the computer, the scanner remains inactive. As soon as it is plugged into the PC, it activates and completes its initialisation phase. This wasn't the case at all with the FireWire connection. I see that SCSI ID is important, and SilverFast recommends using 2,4, and 5. However, truthfully, I don't know what I am doing with that either.