Cable problem: Decided it was time to scan my slides with my old Nikon Cool Scan 4000 ED. Unfortunately there is no port on the new computer for the six prong cable from the scanner to...

Scott Hompland

Decided it was time to scan my slides with my old Nikon Cool Scan 4000 ED. Unfortunately there is no port on the new computer for the six prong cable from the scanner to connect to. Research suggests that the available adapter between 6 prong and USB functions poorly. Any suggestion is appreciated.

ChuckMc Loc: Prescott, AZ

Sounds like GAS to me.
But in lieu of buying a new scanner, the adapter should be an inexpensive experiment to see if it really does work well or not. Best of luck to you.
Chuck

jwreed50 Loc: Manassas, VA

ChuckMc wrote:

Sounds like GAS to me.

I doubt that it’s GAS. There’s not really anything out there today that will top the Nikon Coolscan 4000. Unfortunately, the Coolscans are quickly becoming old relics and Nikon doesn’t support them any longer. It’s getting more and more difficult to keep them working.

I sure wish Nikon had not quit the scanner business. There really is nothing today that competes with their Coolscans (and oh how I wish I had not sold mine a few years ago . . .).

steve49 Loc: massachusetts

Epsom 600.

R.G. Loc: Scotland

Scott Hompland wrote:

Decided it was time to scan my slides with my old Nikon Cool Scan 4000 ED. Unfortunately there is no port on the new computer for the six prong cable from the scanner to connect to. Research suggests that the available adapter between 6 prong and USB functions poorly. Any suggestion is appreciated.

If "poorly" means slowly, you may just have to put up with that.

f8lee Loc: New Mexico

steve49 wrote:

Epsom 600.

Epson 600?

No comparison for slide scanning; the Nikon is far superior (particularly if you use the automatic slide feeder. You have to use Silverfast software as the driver, since the original software doesn't work on new computers - but having scanned thousands of slides with the Nikon I know attempting it on a flatbed scanner would be a far more time consuming project.

cahale Loc: San Angelo, TX

steve49 wrote:

Epsom 600.

You're suggesting he use salt for what?

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

cahale wrote:

You're suggesting he use salt for what?

That has to be an instance of autocorrection failure. It happens over and over here. And since no one seems to proofread in 2020...

drobvit Loc: Southern NV

cahale wrote:

You're suggesting he use salt for what?

👍😆

drobvit Loc: Southern NV

burkphoto wrote:

That has to be an instance of autocorrection failure. It happens over and over here. And since no one seems to proofread in 2020...

All this high tech and they can't throw in a "proofread pause"?!

claytonsummers Loc: Orange County, CA

It looks like the 6 prong is a firewire interface. I would check for other options besides usb. If you use a desktop, you can probably add a firewire interface card. Most new laptops have usb c or thunderbolt ports which may support the higher speed of firewire better than older usb ports.

cgondolf Loc: Eugene Oregon

claytonsummers wrote:

It looks like the 6 prong is a firewire interface. I would check for other options besides usb. If you use a desktop, you can probably add a firewire interface card. Most new laptops have usb c or thunderbolt ports which may support the higher speed of firewire better than older usb ports.

I looked into this several years ago and found there is no adapter that will work. The technical explanation is that Firewire is a continuous feed while USB is not. You can still get a Firewire adapter for your desktop. I use mine with VueScan software for the driver on Windows 10.

drrobins Loc: San Francisco East Bay (Walnut Creek)

If you are on a Mac the Thunderbolt connections support a FireWire 800 to Thunderbolt adapter (Apple’s adapter or others). If your scanner is FireWire 400 there’s also an adapter to add for 400 -> 800. Don’t know what there is for a Windows machine besides the FireWire card already suggested.

11bravo

cgondolf wrote:

I looked into this several years ago and found there is no adapter that will work. The technical explanation is that Firewire is a continuous feed while USB is not. You can still get a Firewire adapter for your desktop. I use mine with VueScan software for the driver on Windows 10.

Thanks for the heads-up! The desktop that I had when I bought the Nikon scanner had a FireWire port as it was an HP entertainment PC. Mobo died years ago.

Have been thinking about digging out the scanner and continuing to March so appreciate the reminder about the connection. Just bought a Syba FireWire card from Newegg, SY-PEX30016, reviews saying no problems with Windows 10, and I've got slots available. Now just have to remember where I stored the scanner...

PoppieJ Loc: North Georgia

i think that you are talking about a usb to serial port adapter. I have been using one for years and have never had a problem with it.