Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Computing/2014 August 2

= August 2 =

Scanner problem
I have a Canon scanner, specific model - CanoScan D646U Ex.

It was earlier used by my Dad on his desktop, and after he passed away, the computer was passed on to me. The scanner was connected and configured completely and so, it was running smoothly. There was a software called the Microsoft Office Document Scanning which did the scanning.

After a while, I had to format my entire hard drive because of some issues and I put in a pirated Windows XP (Yes, I know, it's ancient), and since it didn't have Microsoft Office pre-installed, I downloaded it from a torrent, and keeping in mind that I needed a scanning software, I downloaded 2007 suite, since it was the last suite that came with Microsoft Office Document Scanning. I also downloaded the required driver for my scanner. But, when I plug the scanner in, it's not being detected. Do I also need an installation software for the scanner? Something that might have come inside a CD when the scanner was bought? If so, then I don't know where the CD might be. It's very likely that it's lost.

Any suggestions would be great!

Thank you! — Preceding unsigned comment added by 117.197.234.241 (talk) 03:30, 2 August 2014 (UTC)


 * Assuming you have internet access from that computer, you can try searching for the driver online, and then download it. StuRat (talk) 14:06, 2 August 2014 (UTC)


 * I think you need the TWAIN driver which I found here for your model. Vespine (talk) 01:51, 4 August 2014 (UTC)

Taskbar in Windows 8.1
I have a few questions about the taskbar in the Windows 8.1 operating system. (1) What is the maximum amount of icons that can be added to the taskbar? (2) If you keep adding additional icons, does the taskbar of one row eventually enlarge to become a taskbar that contains two rows? (3) Once you have many icons in place, is there an easy process by which one can re-order them (re-arrange their order of appearance)? Thanks. Joseph A. Spadaro (talk) 16:52, 2 August 2014 (UTC)
 * If you mean the maximum for one row, it will depend on the screen resolution, taskbar orientation, DPI, whether or not you're always combining windows and the size of the noficiation centre and any additional items shown (like the virtual keyboard etc), so can't be answered in any meaningful way. In fact, if you're showing the taskbar on all screens and they're of different resolutions, DPI or taskbar settings they could easily show a different number of windows. (Particularly relevant since AFAIK, the default setting doesn't show the notification centre on any screen but the main screen. Actually I've never seen an option to enable it, but I've never really looked.)
 * If you mean the theoretical maximum, it must exist but I don't know what it is. I'm pretty sure it's high enough that if you ever run in to it you'll probably have other serious problems long before.
 * And as with all versions of Windows since XP or earlier, if you have too many Windows for the task bar, you will get arrows to scroll up and down to different rows of the task bar. The taskbar itself will remain one row, unless you expand it to two rows manually by dragging it up, after unlocking if it's locked. (Did XP auto expand to two physical rows if it was too many for one row and it wasn't locked? Have a vague idea it did but can't remember for sure.)
 * You can drag windows left and right to rearrange them in the taskbar although it can be a bit annoying to rearrange them if on different virtual rows. (Note that unless the program is pinned to the taskbar, the order will only remain as long as it's open. Once you close it, it will reopen at the end again unless you already have another copy of the program running and have turned on the option to combine taskbar buttons in which case it will combine with the already running one.)
 * Nil Einne (talk) 19:42, 2 August 2014 (UTC)


 * Thanks. Just so I understand correctly, this is what you are essentially saying. (1) I can keep adding several icons.  I am thinking in the neighborhood of perhaps 10, 15, or 20 or so.  That is a small enough number that won't create any issues.  (2)  As I keep adding more, the task bar icons will eventually "spill over" into a second row.  When this happens, I have the option to leave it to be viewed by me as just one row (with up and down scroll arrows to access the second row when needed) or I can lock it to always be viewed as two rows.  (3) It is a relatively easy task to move the icons around and re-order them.  Did I get the gist of all that?   Please let me know.  Some follow up questions.  (1) Is there somewhere on the computer where I can find out my screen resolution and DPI (whatever that means)?  (2) What do you mean when you refer to "combining" windows?  (3)  I have always assumed that the icons to the right-hand side are "stuck" and must remain there.  Is that correct?  These are icons like the clock, date, the volume speaker indicator, an icon about internet connection, etc.  Thanks.    Joseph A. Spadaro (talk) 19:52, 2 August 2014 (UTC)
 * In terms of the notification area where the clock and other stuff is shown, you do have a few options. For starters, increase the task bar size will affect how stuff is displayed. And you can also choose when items are shown on the notification area. Since I think Vista or some XP service pack, the nofication area defaults to only showing items when they have notifications. But you can change it this overall and a per program basis to either show them all the time, when they have notifications (i.e. the default) or to never show them. Note that all items will still show when you click the arrow to the left of the notification area whatever setting you have.
 * The exception is for system icons like the clock and the OS volume controls. You can choose whether to show these at all or not. Except for the clock, you can also choose whether to show them all the time or whatever when they are on.
 * You can also rearrange items in the nofication area, similarly to the way you can other items on the task bar by dragging them left and right (and up and down if necessary). However the notification area will remain on the right, and you can mix and match stuff from the nofication area with stuff on the taskbar. And the combining windows/programs is irrelevant to items on the nofication area.
 * When I mentioned combining windows, I meant the way multiple windows or copies of the same program are grouped together as one icon on the task bar. So if you have multiple folders open, multiple Firefox windows (not tabs, unlike with Internet Explorer), they will only show up as one icon but in such a way that you can see there are multiple. See the top example for what I'm referring to (it's Windows 7 but the grouping part remains similar). When you click or hover over the icon (depending you your settings), you will be able to select which particular window or instance you want. Anyway this is the default since Vista or something, but you can disable it. Note that AFAIK, there's no way to change this on a per program basis, you either combine/group for all programs or don't. (Technically the program itself probably could somehow but few do.) The combining itself can be changed between always combining, only when necessary or never combining.
 * The rest is mostly correct. Except about (2), the default is that the taskbar is locked. This means you can't expand it to two rows (or whatever). Unless the defaults where changed by someone (which could include the manufacturer of your PC) or some program, you will need to unlock the taskbar so you can expand it. You can tell it's locked by the fact if you put your mouse cursor at boundary between the taskbar and your open window of desktop, you won't get a cursor to expand the task bar. And if you hold left (or main click) on an empty part of the main part of the task bar (i.e. not the notification area), and drag to the top, or right or left (I'm presuming your task bar is at the bottom), the task bar will not move anywhere.
 * To change any of the defaults, a simply way is to right click on an empty part of the taskbar and in the menu that shows up choose "Properties" (or the equivalent in your local language, it should be at the bottom of the menu). There should be an option to change stuff on the nofication area here although it'll open in a different window. Alternatively, when you click on the arrow to show everything in the nofication area, there should be a "Customise..." (or whatever for your local language).
 * P.S. I'm assuming you're using a mouse or equivalent like a trackpad since I don't recommend you spend too much time in the desktop if you only have a touchscreen.
 * Nil Einne (talk) 10:53, 3 August 2014 (UTC)
 * Oh and as for finding out the screen resolution there are various ways. I suggest you open the Control Panel. If you don't know how, again there are various ways. A simple method is either right click on the start button and choose the control panel from there. Or open the start screen and type in "Control". You probably don't even have to type in the whole thing. The control panel should show up in the search. (If you get multiple things just called Control Panel, it means something else has installed a program it calls Control Panel which is unfortunate. The Control Panel icon will generally look like ).
 * Once you have the Control Panel which should look something like File:Control_Panel_W8.png, click on the search bar to the top right and type in resolution. There should be an option to "adjust screen resolution". If you click on it, it should show you what your resolution currently is. If you have multiple monitors, you will need to click on each one to see the individual resolution.
 * If you go back or type in resolution and search again, you will also seen an option to "make text and other items larger or smaller". If you click on this, it will tell you your sizing option. The default is 100% which translates to a "DPI" of "96" in Windows terms. DPI means Dots per inch and some people dislike the term when it comes to OS settings as it's fairly misleading for a long time. However while the term is use less in Windows, it's still used a fair amount. (For legacy and other reasons, if you search for DPI in the Control Panel you will find the option to "make text and other items larger or smaller" even though the term DPI isn't used there.)
 * BTW, it's possible to search directly for terms which work in the Control Panel like "resolution" on the Start Menu. Unfortunately the way to do so in Windows 8 and 8.1 is a bit more complicated. Even more so since there are both the Metro (Modern UI) settings app and the Control Panel. Which in itself is another point of confusion since Windows has distinct DPI/scaling settings for Metro and desktop.
 * Nil Einne (talk) 11:25, 3 August 2014 (UTC)

... thanks so much for all the helpful information. I never knew any of this! Thanks. Very helpful! Joseph A. Spadaro (talk) 19:18, 7 August 2014 (UTC)