Workaround found, marking Solved (sort of) Help need setting up an older Epson GT 15000 wide format scanner & software

ptartist · Mar 30, 2022

I am hoping for help with an older Epson GT 15000 wide format scanner software.

I have a valuable but ancient wide format scanner: Epson GT 15000.

I had this scanner working fine with a version of the Epson scan management software on my old PC under Windows 10 two days ago, but I have a new PC running Windows 11.

As I recall things changed in the scanner TWAIN world years ago, so original drivers & software were no longer compatible. I remember struggling to get a driver and scanner management software that provided a good interface to my scanner functionality, BUT I don't have any notes nor do I have recognizable downloads saved..

NOW: I installed the GT 15000 (TWAIN Driver and EPSON Scan Utility v3.04A) from EPSON. I see a low res interface to some familiar scanner settings, but I do not see a window or button to actually start a scan. The physical scanner start button does nothing.
UPDATE if I click on blank areas in this low res interface, more buttons & settings appear like magic, including functional Preview & Scan buttons! So this is working, but sadly the buttons disappear every time, and have to be resurrected! Not exactly how it should work...!

I found another scan software that also lets me run a scan with some minimal configuration options but it is very clumsy and wants to "import" the result to a folder with many required fields and no defaults that make sense. Barely usable, worse than "invisible" buttons.

Can anyone help, or suggest where to find help?

Whackbag · Mar 30, 2022

Epson GT-15000 drivers ...?

Not sure what's what, looks like everything going way back...may need to run in compatibility mode.

bobkn · Mar 30, 2022

I see that the Epson drivers and software are 15 years old. If it ran under Windows 10, I'm a little surprised that it's failing under 11.

Maybe the compatibility mode suggestion will work.

If all else fails, and you don't mind some expense, you could try Vuescan from Hamrick Software. The GT-15000 is on its supported list. It offers a free trial, so you can check it out without a commitment. I don't use it, but it has a good reputation. Its main reason for being appears to be to keep scanners running that have been orphaned by their makers.

glasskuter · Mar 31, 2022

ptartist · Mar 31, 2022

bobkn: Thank you for suggesting Vuescan, I will look at that. It is quite strange to find that the software & driver actually works, it is just the interface graphics etc. that is almost impossible! I can "find" all the operational buttons by clicking on the blank areas now that I have discovered them. The buttons appear, and the worst case scenario is that I start a scan prematurely and have to reset parameters and repeat it... Seems crazy but there it is!
Today it looks a bit different, and may be improving ... or this may be random happenstance: today at start up I have Scan & Preview buttons right away, but other buttons missing until I click on the correct blank locations... I attach before & after shots for your amusement. Note that originally I ran this 2-3 times without the critical Scan & Preview buttons, and NO preview window. Hence my original conviction that this would not work at all. Resulting scans seem just fine, though I have not tested various settings that I never fully understood or used.

glasskuter said:
Have you installed the other downloads from SPT_B11B160011 | Epson GT-15000 | GT Series | Scanners | Support | Epson US

There are downloads there under 3 categories: drivers, utilities, and admin tools

I have looked carefully at these: they offer the same driver alone or packaged with the mgt interface, in two spots, an "event" manager that I installed to no avail: it seems to be for a scanner with control panel (mine has one mechanical button only) and it did not work for me, plus another item that is for LAN based devices (GT-15000 that I have is certainly not ethernet enabled). But thank you for asking...

My workaround is to click on various blank spots in the management software window until necessary buttons appear and seem to work fine....

ptartist · May 9, 2022

Update May 9. A few days ago after yet another Error message about the missing WIA driver after a system restart, I downloaded and installed the Epson driver & scan utility from the Epson site. Still dated 2007, but being a bit crazy at this point, I hoped it had been updated since Epson has just recently added Windows 11 to the list of compatible OS under this download. In addition I changed the startup mode for the Windows Imaging service to automatic, per some advice somewhere...
Next I double clicked on the scanner icon in control panel devices, and indeed I got a whole new, simplified scanner interface, very generic looking, but usable. And I could miraculously turn my scanner on & off and still use it. Progress, maybe even victory, I thought.
However all was not well. After a system restart, I got the same sorry error message to the effect "You must install a WIA driver to use this device"!!!
So I may be back to reinstalling the driver after every reboot!
Somewhere along the way today, I found the Windows Fax & Scan utility. It will "operate" my scanner, but it is a real clunker to use (let me list the ways... but that takes too long!), and probably won't help with the real problem of Windows 11 "losing" the driver.

johnlgalt · May 9, 2022

ptartist said:
bobkn: Thank you for suggesting Vuescan, I will look at that. It is quite strange to find that the software & driver actually works, it is just the interface graphics etc. that is almost impossible! I can "find" all the operational buttons by clicking on the blank areas now that I have discovered them. The buttons appear, and the worst case scenario is that I start a scan prematurely and have to reset parameters and repeat it... Seems crazy but there it is!
Today it looks a bit different, and may be improving ... or this may be random happenstance: today at start up I have Scan & Preview buttons right away, but other buttons missing until I click on the correct blank locations... I attach before & after shots for your amusement. Note that originally I ran this 2-3 times without the critical Scan & Preview buttons, and NO preview window. Hence my original conviction that this would not work at all. Resulting scans seem just fine, though I have not tested various settings that I never fully understood or used.

I have looked carefully at these: they offer the same driver alone or packaged with the mgt interface, in two spots, an "event" manager that I installed to no avail: it seems to be for a scanner with control panel (mine has one mechanical button only) and it did not work for me, plus another item that is for LAN based devices (GT-15000 that I have is certainly not ethernet enabled). But thank you for asking...

My workaround is to click on various blank spots in the management software window until necessary buttons appear and seem to work fine....

I have a much newer (sort of) Precision V330 Perfection. The Event manager works to monitor the physical button(s) (in my V330, there are actually 4 buttons, power, Scan, Scan to PDF and Scan to email) so that the software automatically pops up when you press one of the buttons, other than power. If you only have a power button, then you're correct, the event manager probably will not do anything for you, but it is still worth a try, if the power button is also used to scan.

As for why the software will not show up correctly - check your display setting on the new machine. Specifically, look at the scaling section.

If your scaling section is anything other than 100% (meaning larger), then it plays havoc with older dialog windows. But you might be able to fix it by trying this.

Find the Epson Scan utility in your start menu, as such, (I just typed Epson in the search bar) and using the menu at the right, select Open file location.

After that file location opens, right click on the shortcut to Epson Scan (not the settings) and select properties, and you should get the following:

Click the open file location button.

That should take you to the folder with the actual program in it. Find it and right click on it:

Now you should see this:

Click on the compatibility tab.

Click on Change High DPI settings.

Change that section above to match below.

Click OK, and close out everything.You may need to pick another setting in the drop down, like System or Application in order for it to work.

Also, the setting above may need to be tried as well. I have since disconnected my scanner, but if you need more help, I can connect it back and try. I had the exact same problem as you're describing, but I don't remember if I ever got it working reliably or not.

If no variation of the settings above in that dialog box work, try dragging the window around on the screen also.

HTH

spapakons · May 10, 2022

Yes, that should do it. I was about to recommend changing the scaling in compatibility settings to the scanner software runs with 100% scaling, not larger. I would also check the "disable fullscreen optimization" box. Do both for all users, not only current user, just in case.

Bernard H · May 11, 2022

I have the same problem - since Win11 I have lost the preview and scan buttons. I cannot get them to reappear by clicking all around. Have spent an hour (at some telephonic expense) with a helpful support assistant from Epson who confirmed (after taking me through all the above download options - which I had already tried) there was a problem here that he could not solve and it would be escalated...my current (pessimistic) thoughts are that this is going to be a duff bit of kit that has to be replaced as "out of date" -even though it sounds mechanically perfect. Is there a keyboard equivalent to the button presses? If Win11 is to blame someone has a lot to answer for. If Epson doesn't fix it I shall not - as a consultant - be able to recommend their kit to anyone!

spapakons · May 11, 2022

You don't see the buttons probably because you are using larger than 100% scaling. The programmer has a fixed size designated area on the application to put the buttons and increasing scaling makes them draw outside this area, invisible and useless. Change the scaling to 100% or configure this application to override the global scaling and always run at 100% (see my previous reply).

Bernard H · May 11, 2022

Thank you spapakons - that is checked as 100% and no change.
Thank you BOBKN - I tried Vuescan and after installation as soon as their startup screen was loading up the scanner woke-up and started buzzing. For information their product is quick to install - entirely self contained, works perfectly with no tweaking, can be checked-out - except for an embedded watermark with a click of the buttons (which are there!) There is an annual subscription option for payment, or a lifetime use fee. If I paid myself at minimum wage I would save the cost of faffing around trying other solutions or waiting for Epson to do something. Thank you to all who tried to help - especially the guys at Vuescan.

spapakons · May 11, 2022

Vuescan is good for old scanners without current drivers available, but make sure it works for your model before buying. Unfortunately, it doesn't work for all scanners. You may find out that there is no support for your model, so try first before paying. Another workaround is to use a virtual machine running Windows 7 (or other OS were the scanner worked perfectly), disconnect the device from the host OS, connect to the guest OS and use it there. I had done that with an old HP scanner that had only XP drivers.

Bernard H · May 11, 2022

Good advice - but everything works just as it should (and always used to!)

ptartist · May 11, 2022

While my original problem included the issue of an inoperable Epson scan utility with "invisible" buttons, that has actually been fixed. The driver download now has a simplified and perfectly functional scan utility interface.

BUT there is still a significant and infuriating problem: while the Epson Scan utility works, updated/simplified with color mgnt. options either removed or relocated, the big issue is that the Windows 11 does NOT find the installed WIA driver and run the scan software after a reboot.

After every system reboot, I see the scanner under Devices, but when I double click on the scanner icon, I am back to the error message that I "must install a WIA driver". I have found 2 scan utilities that work fine, as long as I reinstall the ##@%%$! driver every single time my system restarts.

I have followed a couple of suggestions to cure the problem, but changing permissions and modes on the Windows Aquisition Service (startup=auto, and properties->permissions to allow Local Account access to the desktop). This has not fixed the error.

When I start Windows Fax & Scan -> New Scan, I get the error "no scanners found".

Where does Windows 11 expect to find the WIA driver? Could it be installed in the wrong place? It can't be that simple... since it works initially, until reboot.

johnlgalt said:
I have a much newer (sort of) Precision V330 Perfection. The Event manager works to monitor the physical button(s) (in my V330, there are actually 4 buttons, power, Scan, Scan to PDF and Scan to email) so that the software automatically pops up when you press one of the buttons, other than power. If you only have a power button, then you're correct, the event manager probably will not do anything for you, but it is still worth a try, if the power button is also used to scan.

As for why the software will not show up correctly - check your display setting on the new machine. Specifically, look at the scaling section.

View attachment 28788

If your scaling section is anything other than 100% (meaning larger), then it plays havoc with older dialog windows. But you might be able to fix it by trying this.

Find the Epson Scan utility in your start menu, as such, (I just typed Epson in the search bar) and using the menu at the right, select Open file location.

View attachment 28789

After that file location opens, right click on the shortcut to Epson Scan (not the settings) and select properties, and you should get the following:

View attachment 28791

Click the open file location button.

That should take you to the folder with the actual program in it. Find it and right click on it:

View attachment 28792

Now you should see this:

View attachment 28793

Click on the compatibility tab.

View attachment 28794

Click on Change High DPI settings.

View attachment 28795

Change that section above to match below.

View attachment 28796

Click OK, and close out everything.You may need to pick another setting in the drop down, like System or Application in order for it to work.

Also, the setting above may need to be tried as well. I have since disconnected my scanner, but if you need more help, I can connect it back and try. I had the exact same problem as you're describing, but I don't remember if I ever got it working reliably or not.

If no variation of the settings above in that dialog box work, try dragging the window around on the screen also.

HTH

jimbo45 · May 11, 2022

ptartist said:
I am hoping for help with an older Epson GT 15000 wide format scanner software.

I have a valuable but ancient wide format scanner: Epson GT 15000.

I had this scanner working fine with a version of the Epson scan management software on my old PC under Windows 10 two days ago, but I have a new PC running Windows 11.

As I recall things changed in the scanner TWAIN world years ago, so original drivers & software were no longer compatible. I remember struggling to get a driver and scanner management software that provided a good interface to my scanner functionality, BUT I don't have any notes nor do I have recognizable downloads saved..

NOW: I installed the GT 15000 (TWAIN Driver and EPSON Scan Utility v3.04A) from EPSON. I see a low res interface to some familiar scanner settings, but I do not see a window or button to actually start a scan. The physical scanner start button does nothing.
UPDATE if I click on blank areas in this low res interface, more buttons & settings appear like magic, including functional Preview & Scan buttons! So this is working, but sadly the buttons disappear every time, and have to be resurrected! Not exactly how it should work...!

I found another scan software that also lets me run a scan with some minimal configuration options but it is very clumsy and wants to "import" the result to a folder with many required fields and no defaults that make sense. Barely usable, worse than "invisible" buttons.

Can anyone help, or suggest where to find help?

Not free software but worth it -- try VUESCAN

VueScan Scanner Software for macOS, Windows, and Linux

VueScan is the easiest way to get your scanner working on macOS, Windows and more. VueScan includes a driver for your scanner even though it isn't support anymore.

www.hamrick.com

cheers
jimbo

spapakons · May 11, 2022

So you install the driver, works OK only to be lost after restart? I suspect Windows Update replaces your working driver with some "newer version" driver that is not 100% compatible. In that case, download the Windows Update Show/Hide Tool. Install the working driver, then run the tool. This will list all available updates. check the box to hide (block) any Epson driver update. Next time this update will not install retaining your official working Epson software. I did the same with my custom Intel graphics drivers on my test laptop (see my 1st system specs), so they are not replaced by the generic Intel WDDM 1.0 driver.

Bernard H · May 11, 2022

Vuescan worked for me - and is free to try it out (with watermarked scans). Cost is minimal compared with the time I have wasted for good advice here and with no helpful advice at all from Epson ("Try switching on-and off" "Try unplugging the USB").

ptartist · May 11, 2022

spapakons said:
So you install the driver, works OK only to be lost after restart? I suspect Windows Update replaces your working driver with some "newer version" driver that is not 100% compatible. In that case, download the Windows Update Show/Hide Tool. Install the working driver, then run the tool. This will list all available updates. check the box to hide (block) any Epson driver update. Next time this update will not install retaining your official working Epson software. I did the same with my custom Intel graphics drivers on my test laptop (see my 1st system specs), so they are not replaced by the generic Intel WDDM 1.0 driver.

This solution sounds promising but ... where do I find? buy? a Windows Show/Hide Update tool compatible with Windows 11? I don't find the original? Microsoft Update Troubleshooter for protecting updates on the Microsoft Download Center. Did you just get it elsewhere?
Thanks

johnlgalt · May 11, 2022

ptartist said:
While my original problem included the issue of an inoperable Epson scan utility with "invisible" buttons, that has actually been fixed. The driver download now has a simplified and perfectly functional scan utility interface.

BUT there is still a significant and infuriating problem: while the Epson Scan utility works, updated/simplified with color mgnt. options either removed or relocated, the big issue is that the Windows 11 does NOT find the installed WIA driver and run the scan software after a reboot.

After every system reboot, I see the scanner under Devices, but when I double click on the scanner icon, I am back to the error message that I "must install a WIA driver". I have found 2 scan utilities that work fine, as long as I reinstall the ##@%%$! driver every single time my system restarts.

I have followed a couple of suggestions to cure the problem, but changing permissions and modes on the Windows Aquisition Service (startup=auto, and properties->permissions to allow Local Account access to the desktop). This has not fixed the error.

When I start Windows Fax & Scan -> New Scan, I get the error "no scanners found".

Where does Windows 11 expect to find the WIA driver? Could it be installed in the wrong place? It can't be that simple... since it works initially, until reboot.

Hmmm. I might have to plug my V330 back in to see if it exhibits the same. Although it didn't before, and I only disconnected it early this year, during my March clean install event, IIRC.

jimbo45 said:
Not free software but worth it -- try VUESCAN

VueScan Scanner Software for macOS, Windows, and Linux

VueScan is the easiest way to get your scanner working on macOS, Windows and more. VueScan includes a driver for your scanner even though it isn't support anymore.

www.hamrick.com

cheers
jimbo

Yeah, bobkn mentioned it above.

ptartist said:
This solution sounds promising but ... where do I find? buy? a Windows Show/Hide Update tool compatible with Windows 11? I don't find the original? Microsoft Update Troubleshooter for protecting updates on the Microsoft Download Center. Did you just get it elsewhere?
Thanks

Check out our sister site Ten Forums' tutorial - although Microsoft removed it, we do have it there, I just tried and downloaded it.

Hide or Show Windows Updates in Windows 10

How to Hide or Show Windows Updates in Windows 10

www.tenforums.com

Sorry the link was not provided before.

jimbo45 · May 11, 2022

johnlgalt said:
Hmmm. I might have to plug my V330 back in to see if it exhibits the same. Although it didn't before, and I only disconnected it early this year, during my March clean install event, IIRC.

Yeah, bobkn mentioned it above.

Check out our sister site Ten Forums' tutorial - although Microsoft removed it, we do have it there, I just tried and downloaded it.

Hide or Show Windows Updates in Windows 10

How to Hide or Show Windows Updates in Windows 10

www.tenforums.com

Sorry the link was not provided before.

I think WIA was deprecated a long time ago -- My preferred solution with dealing with legacy hardware is simply to use a VM - but if people don't want to do that then there's always going to be a problem where manufacturers don't supply up to date drivers.

Cheers
jimbo

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