Quixdraw Loc: x

Bought this gadget with accessories confident I would be able to download the software for it and Firewire. Many hours later, even with expert help, no go. Can't get it to boot up. If anyone has a disk they would sell, rent, or loan, much appreciate a Private Message.
Otherwise, I'll need to take the thing back.
Side note, in the process thought I had fried my main computer -- came out o.k., but I definitely need to organize my backups better!

amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA

I don't think the original disk would do you any good (and have no idea where my copy is)....

At least not if your computer is relatively recent and using any operating system from this century.

The original software/drivers for the 4000ED and the Firewire 400 adapter it used were never updated by Nikon or anyone else. You didn't say what you're using, but I can tell you for certain the driver for the FW adapter and the Nikon Scan software are not compatible with Windows Vista, 7 and later. Nikon dropped all support for the 4000ED years many ago.

However, I'm still able to use my 4000ED without any problems.

No longer need the adapter because I've got Firewire 400 connectivity built into my computer (a 5 or 6 year old HP running Win 7) and use that to connect the scanner. Then I use Vuescan software to work with the 4000ED.

Vuescan costs $90 and works fine. It's available as a free trial download, so you can test if it works okay with your computer and the scanner before buying.

If I were doing more scanning, I might spend more to get Silverfast Ai. But, for as little as I've been doing the last few years, Vuescan has been fine.

Hope this helps.

Searcher Loc: Kent, England

This may or may not be suitable for you but it may be worth looking at:

http://www.hamrick.com/vuescan/nikon_coolscan_4000_ed.html

Quixdraw Loc: x

Thanks amphoto1. Just goes to show a little computer knowledge and overconfidence can be dangerous. Actually, looking on Ebay, the accessories might bring as much as I paid if I can't return it.

Quixdraw Loc: x

Searcher, Thanks! Will run that by the resident expert.

amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA

Yeah, that's what I'm using and it works fine.

I'm not sure what "accessories" you have with the 4000ED. It came with a lot of associated items included:

- Firewire 400 card, cable and firmware
- Film strip holder
- Film strip adapter
- Mounted slide adapter (single slide, manual feed)
- Nikon Scan software disk

Maybe some other other stuff I'm forgetting (and my scanner is packed away in storage, so I can't simply check it). It also has some means of handling uncut rolls of 35mm slide or negative film. I forget if that's a separate feeder or not, but if so it was included originally.

The only accessories sold separately that I'm aware of are:

- Extra film strip holders
- SF-200 bulk slide adapter (up to 40 or 50 slides at a time, depending upon mount thickness, auto feeding)

I bought separately and still have the SF-200. It wasn't cheap, but was the only batch processor for mounted slides available at anything resembling a reasonable cost at the time, and was one of the reasons I chose the 4000ED over other film scanners. (Today there are a couple not-too-terribly-expensive bulk slide scanners avail. from Braun and Pacific Imaging).

I seem to recall the 4000ED itself cost about $1700-1800 when new (with all the accessories mentioned above)... and the SF-200 sold separately for around $400-450. I never needed or bought an extra film strip holder.

I wouldn't be too quick to separate and sell off any of the originally supplied accessories for the 4000ED. Most of them are essential to being able to use it for various types of film scanning and it would be pretty much worthless without them (which might be why people would pay a premium to replace a lost or broken item).

I would NOT use the originally supplied Firewire card and driver in any relatively modern computer. They were fine with my old Windows NT/2000 computer 15 years ago. But are likely not compatible with today's hardware and software.

popmoose

Vue Scan works fine with my 4000ED. I use a FireWire to USB cord (Amazon). My Mac recognizes the scanner. Still tack sharp after all these years.