connecting an Epson Expression to a Windows PC

I have an Epson Expression 1640XL scanner, connected to a Windows XP PC
by a USB cable. I like using the Epson software, and want to continue
using it.

If ever I unplug the USB cable and plug it in again, the Epson software
stops working If I try to use it, it says "Epson Scan cannot be
started". I know that everything is still working, because I can still
drive the scanner via Windows' Settings - Control-Panel - Scanners and
Cameras. But toget the Epson software to work again, I have to do the
following, in the right order:
uninstall the Epson software
delete the Epson software
uninstall the scanner driver
unplug the USB cable
power down the PC
switch off the scanner
and then, in the right order:
download the Epson software
install the Epson software
install the scanner driver
plug in the USB cable
boot the PC
switch on the scanner

By the time I have done all this, maybe half a dozen times to find the
right order of moves, I am in a bad mood, and forget to right down what
the right order was. So, my questions:

Does anyone know what the right order of moves is?
Or better, is there a way to bypass this entire procedure, and tell the
Epson software to stop whinging and just do its job?

Nick

 

Yes, that was one of the things I tried. It didn't work.

Yes, I did. But it seems that that was my mistake. My son has now got
it all working smoothly for me - he started by deleting the latest
version of the software, and reinstalling the version that came on the
CD with the scanner, a couple of years ago. Now I can unplug and
reconnect the USB connection, and everything just carries on working.

Nick