For Seniors: Install a Scanner on Your Laptop
Connect a scanner to your laptop, and use it to convert hard copies of information into electronic files. Before you can scan documents into your laptop, you need to install the scanner driver so that your scanner and laptop can communicate.
You can use a scanner to create electronic files from hard copies of newspaper clippings, your birth certificate, driver’s license, pictures, or whatever will fit into/onto your scanner. You can then work with the electronic files, send them to others as e-mail attachments, or print them.
Before you begin, connect the scanner to your laptop’s USB port. If needed, refer to your scanner manual for information about how it connects to your laptop.
Once the scanner is connected, turn it on.
Some scanners use Plug and Play, a technology that Windows uses to recognize equipment, install it automatically, and set it up. If your scanner is Plug and Play–enabled, Windows 7 shows a Found New Hardware message on the taskbar notification area (in the lower-right corner). Most Plug and Play devices will then install automatically; you'll see another message telling when the installation is complete.
If your scanner driver does not install automatically, click the Found New Hardware message to proceed.
The Found New Hardware Wizard appears. This starts only if you don’t permit Windows 7 to connect automatically to Windows Update. Click Yes, This Time Only and then click Next.
If you have a CD for the scanner, insert it in your CD/DVD drive and click Next.
Windows 7 searches for your scanner driver software and installs it.
Choose Start→Control Panel/
The Control Panel window appears.
In the Search box, at the top of the window, type scanners.
Windows returns a set of links. Click the View Scanners and Cameras link. The Scanners and Cameras window appears.
Click the Add Device button.
The Scanners and Cameras Installation Wizard window appears. Click Next.
Click your scanner's manufacturer in the list on the left and then click the model in the list on the right.
Follow the wizard directions for the model of scanner you chose. Note whether you have a manufacturer’s disc (a CD- or DVD-ROM) for your scanner; if you don’t have a disc, Windows will help you download software from the Internet.
When you reach the end of the wizard, click Finish to complete the installation.
When you’re ready to run a scan, place the item to be scanned in your scanner. Depending on your model, the item may be placed on a flat “bed” with a hinged cover or fed through a tray.
Check your scanner manual for the specific procedure to initiate a scan (for example, clicking a Scan or Start button). After you begin the scan, your laptop automatically detects it and displays a dialog box that shows you the scan progress and allows you to view and save the scanned item.
