Astra FAQs

How do I unlock my scanner?
The scanner makes mechanical grinding noises when turned on or when scanning, the scanner head "judders".

UMAX scanners are protected by a lock mechanism which prevents the scanner head from moving while the unit is in transit:

Astra 600S/600P/1200S: The lock mechanism is a small plastic lever on the top surface of the scanner, on the back right hand corner of the scanner surface (the scanner lid must be lifted off to access the lock). The lever should be moved to the back, unlocked position before turning on the scanner.

Astra 610P/610S: The lock mechanism is a small plastic switch on the back panel of the scanner - the switch must be moved to the left (towards the edge of the scanner) to unlock the scanner head.

Astra 1210P: This scanner model does not have a lock mechanism.

Astra 1220S/1220P: The lock mechanism is a small plastic lever on the top surface of the scanner, on the back right hand corner of the scanner surface (the scanner lid must be lifted off to access the lock). The lever should be moved to the back, unlocked position before turning on the scanner.

Transparency Adaptor UTA-2A/UTA-3A: An additional lock must be adjusted - lift the transparency lid and look at the base of its glass, where there is a small plastic switch. Move the switch to the left to unlock (if the lock is difficult to move, first depress the stud beside the switch to make it easier to slide it across).

Turning an Astra scanner on while locked may cause damage to the motor and drive belt, and can prevent the scanner from going to "Ready" (ie being seen by the computer). The quick start guide and operations manual both refer to the "Optical Assembly lock mechanism", with instructions for unlocking the scanner during its installation.

How do I install the software?
"Add new hardware" has failed to install the scanner, my imaging application cannot find the scanner.

All UMAX scanner software is provided on a dual-format (ie MacOS or Windows) CD, including the following:

VistaScan - the scanner driver in TWAIN (16 or 32 bit for Windows) or Photoshop Plug-In (for MacOS) format. The scanner driver includes automatic scanning features, colour correction, scanner networking and the UMAX Copy Utility (scan-to-printer).

On Line User Guides - complete manuals for the scanner software are included in Adobe Acrobat format (*.pdf), with a copy of Acrobat Reader.

Presto! PageManager - the Presto! suite of software includes basic filing and image editing tools, an OCR (Optical Character Recognition) tool and photo album simulation software.

To install the software: Windows users with SCSI scanners should first install the supplied ISA SCSI card. All of the Windows software, including drivers for the SCSI card, is installed by running the setup.exe program from the root level of the CD (do not use Add New Hardware under Windows 95!).

MacOS users should run the VistaScan Installer program from their CD - if the scanner has been purchased with Adobe imaging software we recommend that it is installed before the scanner CD.

Note: UMAX scanners are not supplied with drivers for OS/2, and will not work in OS/2's Windows emulation/compatibility mode.

Is there another version of the UDS-IS11/ISA card I can use, I don't have any free ISA slots?
Can I buy a PCI SCSI card? Can I use an existing SCSI card?

The UMAX SCSI card (UDS-IS11/ISA) is only available as an ISA device, however there are a number of third party and PCI SCSI cards which can be used to control UMAX scanners. For example, we recommend the Adaptec AHA2940AU PCI card for use with our scanners.

If you already have a SCSI card you may be able to use it with the scanner, provided is 100% Adaptec ASPI compatible - for further information on SCSI cards, see the separate SCSI FAQ.

What program do I use to control the scanner?
When I select the "AutoScan" option in the VistaScan group, a configuration screen keeps appearing; where is the "VistaScan" application?

Windows users can control the scanner using any program supports TWAIN scanners - Astra scanners include TWAIN (16bit), TWAIN32 and TWAIN_32 drivers which give support for versions of Windows from 3.1 to 95 and NT4. When using Windows 95 or NT, the imaging application should be a true 32-bit program as older software may have problems controlling scanners. VistaScan is a Windows driver, not a standalone application.

Amongst the software installed by the VistaScan CD, there are several Windows applications that can be used for scanning: the one we recommend is the Presto! PageManager program - launch the program from the Presto! program group, then click on the scanner icon (or choose Acquire from the scan menu).

Other applications which can be used to control the scanner include Adobe Photoshop and PhotoDeluxe, Presto! ImageFolio, Paintshop Pro and Corel Photopaint (in most of these applications, an Acquire TWAIN option gives direct access to the scanner).

MacOS users can scan using the VistaScan DA program, Presto! PageManager, Adobe Photoshop or any other application which supports the Photoshop Plug In standard for scanner drivers.

I have the brief Installation Guide (Quick Start Guide), but where are the user manuals?
Can I get a printed manual for the scanner and software?

Astra scanner, VistaScan software, PageManager

In addition to the printed Quick Start Guide (all models) and Operations Manual (610P/S), a comprehensive set of user manuals are available on disk - by default, these are installed at the same time as the VistaScan scanner driver software. During the installation, Adobe Acrobat (requird for viewing the manuals) is installed - to open the User Guides, select them from the VisstaScan(32) or Presto PageManager program group.

Adobe PhotoDeluxe

The PhotoDeluxe documentation is stored on the installation and CD, and is not copied to the hard disk drive during installation. To view these manuals, you must insert the CD, then double click on the Acrobat (pdf) files in the English installation folders of the CD. For further information please contact Adobe (UK) on 0131 451 6888 or visit http://www.adobe.com/.

Are the UMAX scanner drivers available on floppy disk?
Do I have to own a CD ROM drive to use a UMAX scanner?

No - the VistaScan driver with its accompanying software would take over 20 disks to distribute, so the software has only been available on CD since 01/96. Selected parts of the software can be downloaded from the internet (http://www.imcnet.com/) as disk images.


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