Help with Epson Scanner that has stopped working; Epson support says it is windows.

You shouldn't need to stop and restart a service to get it working, but if it works ....

You can start and stop services from an Elevated Command Prompt (i.e., "Run as administrator") using the NET STOP and NET START commands.  See the example here:  https://www.coretechnologies.com/blog/windows-services/essential-tools-for-windows-services-net-command/

The catch is that in order to run the command with administrator rights you have to create a batch file (*.bat) with the command, then create a shortcut to the batch file, then go into the properties of the shortcut and check the box to "Run as administrator."

Even then, however, when you double-click the shortcut you'll get the UAC prompt and the user will have to input the password for an administrator account.

If you don't want the UAC account to appear, there are ways around that as well. 

Here's one:  http://superuser.com/questions/788924/is-it-possible-to-automatically-run-a-batch-file-as-administrator

Before you do all of the above, make sure that the NET STOP command works for your Epson service.  If it doesn't try the SC command (see http://stackoverflow.com/questions/133883/stop-and-start-a-service-via-batch-or-cmd-file)

My version of this problem (and thanks to all the previous posters for their efforts)

I just have to restart the computer.  Not log off log on actually restart.  Then it's ok for a while (hours, days) and then "cannot communicate with scanner" and repeat repeat

I think I've tried all relevant suggestions above.   

Using services.msc then stopping and then starting the Epson Scanner Service does the trick - is there any way of creating a desktop shortcut to do this so as to permit the less savvy in the house to do this.

Thanks

win7 pro  epson xp-402   usb connection

I have been have this problem with my scanner all day, but found a fix on my computer.  Seem this scanner will only work correctly in the USB 2.0 port and NOT the USB 3.0 that I had my scanner plugged into.  Not all the functions are working at this time, but I am able to scan in the Home mode and I am able to scan my slides as well as my color prints.

I was having this same error message on a Windows 10 Pro Asus desktop computer. Shell Hardware Detection was on and apparently functioning fine, however, when I restarted Shell Hardware Detection and unplugged and plugged the scanner back in the scanner opened a dialogue box informing me that it was setting up. It then appeared in my active devices and functioned normally. 

Thanks for the tip!

Steps:

1. Search services.msc
2. Open services.msc
3. Scroll down to Shell Hardware Detection
4. Click on Shell Hardware Detection
5. Click "Restart" the service
6. Unplug scanner
7. Plug scanner back in
8. Boot Epson scan utility

What I meant was to minimize or close the main window by clicking on the dash or X in the upper right corner:

But I won't be surprised if you do that and don't find anything hidden behind the window.

What happened when you right-clicked the icon for your scanner in the main Devices and Printers window (not the screen in your screenshot)?

What happens if you double-click on the left icon shown in your screenshot (the one that just says "EPSON Scan")?

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