MF Toolbox doesn't work on Windows 10

[mj1856]

I have a MF4570dn, and recently upgraded from Windows 8.1 to Windows 10.

I can no longer scan using the MF Toolbox utility.   I had MF Toolbox 4.9 installed before the upgrade, and it worked just fine.  After the upgrade, I get "Cannot communicate with the scanner" error dialog:

I thought I would try to reinstall the MF Toolbox utility, but there are two problems.

1) The downloads page shows no downloads for Windows 10 for this printer. This should be updated.

2) I downloaded the one for Windows 8.1, and tried to reinstall, but it just hangs at the "Processing Installation" screen:

I've also tried to uninstall the existing MF Toolbox first, and it also hangs at this same dialog.

I've also tried various other things without success:

- Connecting via USB instead of Network.  It detects the scanner, and MF Toolbox can switch to that device, but it still gives a communications error.

- Trying the built-in Windows Scan app instead of MF Toolbox.  It uses the WIA driver.  It barely starts to scan, then immediately cancels.

Please Canon - forward this to your engineers and provide a fix asap.  I cannot use my scanner on Windows 10.

(I can use the printer functionality just fine.)

[danwong]

it worked and fixed my problem, thank you so much..!!

[Nym]

I just tried to use the MF toolbox to scan but I get the message "There is no scanner selected. please select a scanner"

When I go to settings to select a scanner, it gives me the following message:

Cannot communicate with the scanner.

The cable may be disconnected, or the scanner may be turned off.

Check the scanner status and try again.

Scanner driver will be terminated.

I was scanning fine until 14 December 2015. I did not use the scan since then. I have upgraded to Windows 10 just fine, downloaded and installed the new toolbox just fine and used the scan just fine up unitl then.

What the hell happened between 14 December and now?

Note that I can print just fine as well. Please help.

[Elcalvo]

Major Windows 10 update is what happened.

The solution below worked for me and many others, thanks to Piers A

Piers_A wrote:

This simple fix I found online worked for me:

Start> in the run box type. Services.msc

Scroll down to Windows Image Acquisition (WIA)

Right click, select Properties

Check that Startup type is set to Automatic

Click Log On Tab

Check that Local System account , and Allow service to interact with desktop is checked. Hit apply.

Click Recovery...Click on window next to First Failure, Scroll to Restart the Service. Hit apply.

[Nym]

Thank you for your fast answer and the time you spent for it!

I had already fixed the problem though by uninstalling and reinstalling the driver. Strangely enough for my usual computer problems and tough luck, this worked out.

[Selles]

Solution of   Piers_A   really worked for me, exept...

MF Toolbox give's an error:   after scanning second time at the ADF.    Scanning on platen glass is no problem.

I have to switch from Scanning at ADF to scanning on platen glass, then start scanning on platen glass, cancel scanning

and then return to scan on ADF.  Crazy isn't it?

Anyone,  Can you help me?

[sferrell615]

i agree with you that the problem is from a windows 10 update... because i had no issues for a while until recently.  

i couldn't get what worked for you to work for me though.  

i did a windows restore to a couple weeks earlier and that fixed it.  obviously, this problem will reoccur for me though.

[tarekbaj]

no its not Solved !!!!

[Albert22]

I have an Image Class MF4880dw that worked fine with Windows 7. Bought a new Asus laptop running Windows 10, downloaded the latest drivers from Canon. Printer works, but had the same scan issue as others, "Cannot communicate with the Scanner" message. 

What fixed my problem was as follows:

1) Right click on the desktop icon "Canon MF Toolbox 4.8

2) Click on "Properties"

3) Click on "Compatibility Tab"

4) Click on "Compatibility Trouble Shooter"

5) Windows will ask question if the application worked in older Windows versions. Then it will check and then have you run a scan test. The scanner worked, then Windows asked if I wanted to save the new settings. 

Worked for me and still working!

[nahabze]

Hi Just scrolled thru the responses.... I have an MF216n, (My rig is 64-bit Home) and had the same problems that everyone here has stated. My fix was to follow previous suggestions - go to and uninstall the MF Toolbox and re-install it individually from the disk. Go to services.msc and check settings for windows image acqusition service. Made those suggested changes too.

That part of the fix did not work, so I re-started my computer, and then went to the installation disk>Drivers>us_eng>x64 setup...there is a 32-bit choice as well. That brings up the Setup Wizard for the MF Drivers. Choose Next>Yes>Choose your connection (Mine is Network)>Next>Select drivers. At this point I only selected the Scanner Driver, and unchecked the Printer and Fax drivers. Next>Confirm Settings>Start, which then installed the driver. That worked. I haven't restarted my computer yet, but I will after I finish this post.

I'll come back to this post if it is not working after a restart. Otherwise, presume it's working so far...

[nahabze]

PREVIOUS POST

Hi Just scrolled thru the responses.... I have an MF216n, (My rig is 64-bit Home) and had the same problems that everyone here has stated. My fix was to follow previous suggestions - go to and uninstall the MF Toolbox and re-install it individually from the disk. Go to services.msc and check settings for windows image acqusition service. Made those suggested changes too.

That part of the fix did not work, so I re-started my computer, and then went to the installation disk>Drivers>us_eng>x64 setup...there is a 32-bit choice as well. That brings up the Setup Wizard for the MF Drivers. Choose Next>Yes>Choose your connection (Mine is Network)>Next>Select drivers. At this point I only selected the Scanner Driver, and unchecked the Printer and Fax drivers. Next>Confirm Settings>Start, which then installed the driver. That worked. I haven't restarted my computer yet, but I will after I finish this post.

I'll come back to this post if it is not working after a restart. Otherwise, presume it's working so far...

POSTSCRIPT TO PREVIOUS POST

Still working after restart...

This time I went to one of my other machines running Win 10 X64 Pro. At first, I opened the MF Toolbox from the dektop icon, and got the error message again. I decided not to uninstall everything this time to see if the earlier procedure would work without a restart. Behold and Lo... it did work on the Pro machine too.

It suggests that going to the disc and then reloading the driver directly from the driver file on the disk, then using the Driver Setup wizard and not just the entire setup routine might be an alternative approach. I did not make any other changes to the WAI files via Services either, so I guess I'm satisfied that the appropriate driver is not getting installed on first install.

For MF216n users, I did go their support website where I found drivers dated 11-11-15: http://bit.ly/1UG4w11  ( the entire URL is way to long to post) which may be later than the ones you have.  I'm sticking to the disk though, since it has now worked twice for me on 2 flavors of the Win10 OS. Good Luck!

POST POSTSCRIPT

When I restarted the Pro machine, it went to a Windows Update (not major).... still working so far....