Home → Kurzweil 3000 (K3000) → Scanner Troubleshooting & Information → General Information: Scanner setting changes that fix most scanner issues (Win/Mac)
4.3. General Information: Scanner setting changes that fix most scanner issues (Win/Mac)
Last Updated: December 2019
Applies to all versions of Kurzweil 3000 (Win/Mac)
*First read this article for general scanner support information: http://support.cambiumtech.com/index.php?pg=kb.page&id=1220
Note: If you find that your scanner is not compatible with Kurzweil, you can always scan in images as .pdf or another supported image type using your scanner's bundled software or your OS scanning software, and then open the scanned files directly inside Kurzweil. If you are scanning multiple pages, it's best to use the multi-page option before starting your scan.
Issue Summary:
The scanner is not working properly with Kurzweil. Your scanner may fail to initialize or Kurzweil may crash during the scan process. Kurzweil may also not stop scanning or only scan the first page.
Basic Troubleshooting (Win/Mac)
Before attempting troubleshooting, it is best practice to make sure you have the latest update/patch for Kurzweil 3000. Click here for more details.
If you get an error/scan fails:
1. Make sure Kurzweil is not open.
2. As your scanner may be locked up, please power off your scanner and power it back on, then reboot your computer.
3. When your reboot is complete, make sure your scanner is in the "ON" or "Ready" state, open Kurzweil and attempt to scan.
Macintosh first time scan:
When you first scan with Kurzweil you have to select a device from the left pane. You are looking for a “Show” button that may need to be expanded with and arrow > under shared devices. Please select your scanner device for the scanning window to function.
Advanced Troubleshooting (Windows)
First, try changing your scanner source in Kurzweil via the Scan Menu > Scanner Source > Select scanner option. There will most likely be multiple devices in the list for your scanner that you own. Try one of the alternate choices. Please be aware that this may lock up your scanner device if it fails. If that happens, you would need to power cycle your scanner and or reboot your computer and try again.
If above does not help, please see the below information on how to use our scanner diagnostic tool:
1. Open the following folder: C:\Program Files (x86)\Kurzweil Educational Systems\Diags - If you cannot find the Program Files (x86) folder, check in C:\Program Files\Kurzweil Educational Systems\Diags instead.
2. Open the ScanConf.exe application by right-clicking it and selecting "Run as Administrator". If you do not have this option, please check with your IT department if you are at a school or work site, otherwise launch normally.
3. At the top-left section of the active window, there is a selection field used to select the scanner devices installed on your computer. Select all the choices listed there one at a time and check the "Ignore this Scanner" box for each one.
4. After ignoring each scanner available, go back to the list and select the listing that also has the (TWAIN) option. You want to uncheck the "Ignore this scanner" box for that device only. In other words, you want to ignore all scanner listings but this one. The (TWAIN) option is typically the most compatible driver. You may have more than one listing that has (TWAIN) in the name, please select the listing for your scanner that only has (TWAIN) and the name of the scanner if possible, i.e. : Canon LIDE 400 (TWAIN)
5. With the TWAIN driver selected and not ignored: Change "Hold Scanner" to Never, and "Simulate Xfer Ready" to Always On.. Click the "Done" button to close out of the "Scanner Configuration" window.
6. Launch K3000 and select Scan -> Scanner Setup -> Select Scanner -> and then select the (TWAIN) driver to initialize.
7. Try scanning with Kurzweil. If you still have issues, it's best to contact technical support.
Advanced Troubleshooting (Mac)
These settings typically work best for OCR accuracy and compatibly when scanning in Kurzweil 3000 Mac:
Document Kind: Color
Resolution: 300 DPI
Paper Size: A4
UNCHECK “Use Custom Size”
Format: PNG
If the above settings do not help you and you have tried the basic troubleshooting steps, please see below:
1. Install the full software package for your scanner, it's typically best to download the latest version from the manufacturer's website instead of using the install disc that it may come with.
2. After the software is installed, try scanning through Applications->Image Capture on your Mac.
3. If this works, there is a good chance it will work in Kurzweil, close out of the scanner software.
4. Attempt to scan via Kurzweil.
If scanning works in step 3 but does not work in step 4, try the following solution below:
1. Close out of Kurzweil
2. Uninstall the scanner's software by going to the Applications folder and dragging the scanner's software to the trash, or running the uninstaller if it has one.
3. Remove the scanner's USB cable from the computer
4. Go to the Hard Drive/Library/Image Capture/Twain Data Sources folder
5. Delete all of the .ds files that you find there (Please note that this will wipe out any scanners you may have installed on your Mac)
6. Go to the scanner manufacturer's website and download the latest scanner driver package
7. Install the downloaded driver package making sure you follow the steps from the scanner manufacture's website
8. Reboot the machine
9. Plug in the scanner and wait for it to initialize
10. Try scanning through Applications->Image Capture
11. If successful, close Image Capture.
12. Try scanning once more in Kurzweil.