<hmould***@gmail.com> wrote in message news:1111218077.878643.157600@f14g2000cwb.googlegroups.com...
> About three or four weeks ago my HP scanner went on the blink. Worked
> like a champ until then, no glitches worth mentioning. I suddenly
> started getting "Undefined program error 2117" from the TWAIN
> software, or something like that.
>
> So I tried reinstalling the software several times, without any luck.
> I finally came to the conclusion that I might be dealing with some
> malware. I installed a copy of PC-cillin, which did detect a trojan
> of some sort. After cleaning that up, I tried to reinstall again,
> with no better luck.
>
> I made sure the scanner still works. I've been debating installing
> Linux on the old PC, but luckily hadn't done anything like that so
> far. Cabling up the scanner was the work of moments. The old machine
> (WinME) booted without trouble and allowed me to make scans. So the
> scanner hardware is working fine, as is the cabling.
>
> A visit to HP.com later I had instructions for completely cleaning
> out the HP drivers and software, which I followed carefully. (Does
> anyone ever follow them carelessly? ^_^) I also downloaded HP's
> latest driver installation program for the scanner.
>
> A cleanup later I reinstalled, and found that now the software
> won't install at all. After running the installation program I
> restart the computer, connect the scanner, and then I get that
> "Required section not found" error message. Arrgh! Even the
> original CD doesn't work anymore. I use a switching hub, but
> eliminating that doesn't make any difference.
>
> I just got off the phone with HP's rep, who says that something
> has gotten corrupted in the USB drivers, and I have to try to
> extract the correct files from the disk to fix them.
>
> I've already tried the obvious, which is to disconnect all USB
> equipment, uninstall all USB drivers, and then reconnect the USB
> stuff one at a time to get the drivers reloaded. Apparently there's
> stuff that the uninstall doesn't remove, and the reinstall doesn't
> replace. (HP's rep warned me of that.) Now it gets complicated,
> since my system is a homebrew, and I don't know how to find which
> files Windows installed when it initially set up the USB drivers.
> Is there an installation log file I could look in?
>
> I only wish the INF error message were more helpful. Which required
> section is missing? It doesn't say. (I think that's why the HP rep
> suspects a corrupted file.)
>
> For what it's worth, I've run the Norton WinDoctor, which found and
> removed a large number of bad keys from the registry. Shouldn't
> there be a way to find missing driver linkages, or corrupt INF or
> PNF or SYS files?
>
> To make matters even more complicated, my USB jumpdrive and my USB
> connected Cannon printer work fine - as long as the scanner's
> software isn't installed, and the scanner is not connected.
>
> Is OS reinstallation really the only option?
>
> I'm running W2K SP4. I describe the hardware as homebrew, but it's
> really pretty standard, just no brandname for the box, and no
> "tested for Windows" sticker. Since it mostly works fine (and the
> scanner in fact used to work fine, too), I can't imagine that'd be
> an issue.
> --
>  Helge Moulding
>  mailto:hmould***@gmail.com                 Just another guy
>  http://hmoulding.cjb.net/                  with a weird name
>