> is there anything else that could be suspect in my setup? Yes: Linux hockney 2.4.2-2 #1 Sun Apr 8 20:41:30 EDT 2001 i686 unknown
This kernel scanner driver does not have the support to send the control messages, which are needed by the UMAX scanner. Either upgrade your kernel, or upgrade the scanner driver (if possible). http://www1.jump.net/~dnelson/linux/usb/ Frank.