topic Re: Linux software in Tech Help - Software/Hardware etc

Linux software

gleneagles — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 16:31:40 GMT

Are there many vendors who provide drivers on a disk for Linux users who purchase their hardware ?
Despite downloading a variety of files for an Epson 2480 Photo Scanner I am unable to get it to work so time for a new scanner but it must be able to work with Linux.
Any recommendations or thoughts on this ?

Re: Linux software

Steve — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 17:01:43 GMT

This Is going to take you a while so grab a beer and browse through the stickys http://ubuntuforums.org/forumdisplay.php?f=332

Re: Linux software

VileReynard — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 17:30:22 GMT

My scanner comes from a skip. And it works.
No drivers necessary.
It's an ancient HP Scanjet 6200C - if you get a TWAIN compliant scanner, then you can use some TWAIN compatible software.

Re: Linux software

ejs — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 17:33:23 GMT

Installing software from disk or by downloading and running some random program isn't really how things are done in Linux.
Almost all scanner drivers end up as part of the SANE project and come as part of the distribution. HP provide some drivers, including some scanning support for their all-in-one stuff, as part of their hplip project. Again, it comes as part of the Linux distro.

Re: Linux software

CX — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 17:39:19 GMT

It sounds like the Epson scanner can be made to work in Linux, but it's not just a matter of installing an app or service from the repository; you will need to download the firmware for it and place it in the appropriate directory.
What are you using? Ubuntu?

Re: Linux software

Steve — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 17:56:42 GMT

@ CX23882 I think gleneagles uses Mint

Re: Linux software

MisterW — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 18:22:44 GMT

Since Mint is based on Ubuntu it should be the same.
A quick google turns up this http://ubuntu-help.blogspot.com/2011/03/how-to-install-epson-perfection-2480.html
Which seems to agree with previous posters.
You basically are installing Sane and providing it with the firmware for the 2480.
Hope that helps

Re: Linux software

HairyMcbiker — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 19:06:44 GMT

I had this issue with my previous scanner, some need a f/w file to be added. If you look on the sane web page it will tell you what the file is.
My current scanner (a Canon LIDE from freecycle works OOB BTW ;))

Re: Linux software

gleneagles — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 14:46:23 GMT

Quote from: MisterW
Since Mint is based on Ubuntu it should be the same.
A quick google turns up this http://ubuntu-help.blogspot.com/2011/03/how-to-install-epson-perfection-2480.html
Which seems to agree with previous posters.
You basically are installing Sane and providing it with the firmware for the 2480.
Hope that helps

This is the most comprehensive set of instructions I have seen on this topic.
I Have snapscan & esfw41.bin but have been using info from other postings without success, will have a go with this later today & let you know how I get on.
Am using Mint 11

Re: Linux software

gleneagles — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 16:08:42 GMT

Still struggling with this,
I have followed the instructions to the following point but get the error message shown after I enter sudo cp /Home/xxxxxxx/Desktop/esfw41.bin /usr/share/sane/snapscan
sudo cp /home/xxxxxxx/Desktop/esfw41.bin /usr/share/sane/snapscan
cp: cannot stat `/home/xxxxxxx/Desktop/esfw41.bin': No such file or directory
XXXXX represents my password not shown for obvious reasons.
Cannot understand why it says no such file or directory as sudo mkdir /usr/share/sane/snapscan shows this directory already exists ?

Re: Linux software

CX — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 17:09:49 GMT

Make sure that the esfw41.bin file exists on your desktop.
Alternatively, take this approach. Enter the following commands after opening a new terminal:


wget http://luc.byhet.free.fr/epson2480/esfw41.bin
sudo mv esfw41.bin /usr/share/sane/snapscan

This will use wget to download the esfw41.bin file. Then the second command moves the downloaded file into the snapscan directory.

Re: Linux software

MisterW — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 17:16:30 GMT

Quote
XXXXX represents my password not shown for obvious reasons.

XXXXX should be your username NOT your password. It needs copy copy the file from YOUR desktop i.e the desktop of the user you are logged in as.
OR just use CX's method

Re: Linux software

HairyMcbiker — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 18:56:23 GMT

As above the xxxx is your USER name not password, or if you are in your Desktop folder (and the file is there) ignore the bit up to the file name and just enter usr/share/sane/snapscan
Or
from a shell
cd Desktop
sudo cp esf*.bin /usr/share/sane/snapscan
then copy it somewhere safe for the next system upgrade (Mint 12/13) you will need to copy it back.

Re: Linux software

gleneagles — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 19:45:05 GMT

Quote from: CX23882
Make sure that the esfw41.bin file exists on your desktop.
Alternatively, take this approach. Enter the following commands after opening a new terminal:
wget http://luc.byhet.free.fr/epson2480/esfw41.bin
sudo mv esfw41.bin /usr/share/sane/snapscan
This will use wget to download the esfw41.bin file. Then the second command moves the downloaded file into the snapscan directory.

First line downloads the file ok but when I run the second line I get,
mv: cannot stat `esfw41.bin': No such file or directory
I actually copied & pasted the line to ensure there are no errors in it

Re: Linux software

VileReynard — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 19:56:33 GMT

You should see esfw41.bin in your home directory located at /home/xxxxxx
(where xxxxx is your user name)
change that second command to

Quote

sudo mv /home/xxxxxx/esfw41.bin /usr/share/sane/snapscan

Re: Linux software

HairyMcbiker — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 09:50:44 GMT

Quote from: gleneagles
[First line downloads the file ok but when I run the second line I get,

If the first line completes successfully then the file SHOULD be there. try "ls *.bin" and check the folder.
Alternate way (32!)

sudo -s
cd /usr/share/sane/snapscan
wget http://luc.byhet.free.fr/epson2480/esfw41.bin 
exit

This way it is placed DIRECTLY into the destination folder. But as I said before keep a copy save somewhere.

Re: Linux software

gleneagles — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 15:39:17 GMT

The file is there but still get an error message,
sudo mv /home/duncan/esfw41.bin /usr/share/sane/snapscan
mv: cannot stat `/home/xxxxxx/esfw41.bin': No such file or directory
I Will keep playing around with this as clearly it is something quite simple that I am failing to do but having spent hours on it I have no intention of giving up.
Out of interest have you any thoughts about the kind of simple error a beginner in Linux is likely to make on this specific topic ?

Re: Linux software

gleneagles — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 16:19:54 GMT

wget http://luc.byhet.free.fr/epson2480/esfw41.bin
--2012-01-12 16:17:44-- http://luc.byhet.free.fr/epson2480/esfw41.bin
Resolving luc.byhet.free.fr... 212.27.63.149
Connecting to luc.byhet.free.fr|212.27.63.149|:80... connected.
HTTP request sent, awaiting response... 200 OK
Length: 64000 (62K) [application/octet-stream]
Saving to: `esfw41.bin.2'
100%[======================================>] 64,000 133K/s in 0.5s
2012-01-12 16:17:45 (133 KB/s) - `esfw41.bin.2' saved [64000/64000]
so the file is there

Re: Linux software

gleneagles — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 16:35:36 GMT

and Linux can clearly see the scanner,
Bus 002 Device 003: ID 04b8:0121 Seiko Epson Corp. Perfection 2480 Photo

Re: Linux software

ejs — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 17:12:17 GMT

You can put the firmware file anywhere you like, as long as you edit /etc/sane.d/snapscan.conf and put in the full path and filename.