Jacob Rodefeld , Feb 18, 2012; 05:03 a.m.
Hello everyone,
I am doing a project to scan a couple hundred slides for my grandparents. This is part of a larger project that also includes me transferring old VHS home movies to DVDs. I have completed the video, and now I am trying to back up the scans. I want to archive them in high quality TIFF on a hard drive for storage and also I am planning to make DVD slideshows to music.
Anyway, I bought a used Nikon Coolscan III on Ebay to do the scans. I figured that, although quite old, this scanner would do a better job than most options under $2000. Anyway, I cannot find a way to make it work.
Is there any way to get this scanner to work under Windows 7? I am using x64 edition but I could install x32 if that would make a difference. The seller also included an SCSI card. I am not sure of the model but I cannot find drivers that would work on Windows 7.
Looking around on the internet, it seems it can be very complicated to get this old scanner working on modern operating systems. Another thing I have tried is to try using VirtualBox and installing Windows XP in a virtual environment. Unfortunately, that doesn't seem to work either. Other things I have read suggest I might need a different SCSI card or a different cable. I really don't want to have to order something else. If it is something I could pick up for $20 at Radio Shack that would be alright but I have some time pressures to complete this project relatively soon.
Can any of you give me some instructions on how to get the Nikon Coolscan III working on Windows 7 x64 edition? What is the easiest method? I would greatly appreciate the help. I didn't expect it would be so difficult to get this hardware to work.
I can install Windows XP or I could order a different cable or SCSI card, I just want to know what the simplest way to get this thing to work would be.
Thanks.
Jos van Eekelen 
, Feb 18, 2012; 06:09 a.m.
Professor K. , Feb 18, 2012; 06:31 a.m.
Perhaps VueScan will work for you:
http://www.hamrick.com/
I am not familiar with the specifics of your installation, but it's how I use my Coolscan V under Windows 7. Didn't bother to try with the Nikon software - just went straight to Vuescan.
Hope this helps.
Eric Friedemann 
, Feb 18, 2012; 07:39 a.m.
My primary computer has a Vista 64 bit operating system, soon to be replaced by one with Windows 7 64 bit. One of the older computers
I maintain has an XP operating system, and is used solely to support my Nikon LS 8000 scanner. An option might be for you to buy an
old laptop with an old OS and dedicate it to your scanner.
William Kahn 
, Feb 18, 2012; 09:03 a.m.
I had a similar problem with a Minolta Scan Multi II, and my solution was close to Eric's. I have a Vista x32 machine I was able to restore after a motherboard problem. It accepted the old Adaptec 2906 SCSI card (probably the one Jacob has), and I run the scanner on the last version of Silverfast 6.5 software. Since this computer (aka Frankenputer) is linked to my main "darkroom" PC via an ethernet LAN, I scan the imagages directly to a shared folder accessed in Photoshop. Interesting to note that Lasersoft's compatibility info for this scanner only show Silverfast to be compatible with XP and 2000 machines, but it works fine wtih Vista x32.
Walter Degroot 
, Feb 18, 2012; 09:23 a.m.
program not working.
I was usingNTI cd creator and my son insited I needed to run windows 7.
I tried it for a month mand found that some programs I used a lot simply did not work. I installed a Virtual PC edition or
windows xp inside windows 7.
I was tricky but, even for me not impossible,
but the program ( NTI CD creator 6.5) still did
work. I tried the media creator 9 * trial) and felt it was not worth the price. SO even if you install the xp drivers
in a "virtual pc" - a program running withing the win 7 desktop--
there si no assurance that you will see sucess.
using an older pc running xp is the best
and simplest option.
BTW despite the supposed advantages of win 7, I went back to xp after Knashing my teeth for several weeks.
I see no advantage to using the newer and better if it makes you do things differently.
and crated awkward-nesses.
many really NEW systems do not have drivers to support older operating systems.
Les Berkley 
, Feb 18, 2012; 10:09 a.m.
I use a 'vintage' Polaroid SprintScan 4000 under Vista x64. I have an Adaptec 2040UW dual-channel SCSI card, which I got to work after force-loading the driver for the 7xxxx series cards. VueScan is definitely the software to use. There is no need to downgrade your OS, or run an ZP VM.
William Kahn , Feb 18, 2012; 10:36 a.m.
The problem is not always with software compatibility. My Multi II may have run with my "darkroom" Vixta x64 machine, but the only only expansion slot I have left is a PCI Express 6 slot, not compatible with the Adaptec 2906. After choking on the prices of currently available SCSI cards that would work, I went with the Frankenputer option.
I suspect that, as long as there is legacy scanner equipment being used, there will be a market for older machines running historic software...
Robert Lee , Feb 18, 2012; 12:53 p.m.
... I just want to know what the simplest way to get this thing to work would be.
The simplest way to get this working is to run XP on real hardware, with a real SCSI card. Look around for an old computer of around the same era. Never mind paying money for one; you can probably find someone willing to pay you money to haul one away.
Anyways, this is the way I use my Coolscan 5000 and 9000. They're both hooked up to a 8 year old Dell running XP. It's a dedicated scanning station with the digitized file going out to networked storage. Fast scans and uninterrupted workflow - no hassle, no unexplained crashes, no compatibility issues.
JDM von Weinberg , Feb 18, 2012; 01:33 p.m.
Much older scanner software will not work at all with more modern machines, OSs, and processors.
That is why you need to try VueScan. It is ideal for running older hardware.
There have been older SCSI>other converters, but that's so far back that about all that is available now is on eBay as used equipment.
The idea of finding an older computer is a good one, given the 'deliberateness' of the fastest scanners.
You'll have to check out the compatibility of any computer with the SCSI card you got. It may work fine with VueScan, but I think the only way to find out is to try it. On startup, VueScan will tell you if it detects the scanner+card.
VueScan is often better than the OEM software anyhow.
