"Fatal System Error" When You Try to Use a Hewlett-Packard 5100C ScanJet

When you try to use a Hewlett-Packard (HP) 5100C ScanJet scanner, you may receive the following stop message: Your Brother MFC-7300C is connected to the pass through parallel port on the HP scanner.

The Epstw2k.sys device driver can cause this behavior.

To resolve this behavior, connect the Brother printer to a second parallel port on the computer, instead of chaining the devices together.

To work around this behavior, disconnect the Brother printer from the HP scanner, connect the HP scanner to the parallel port, and then restart the computer.

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed at the beginning of this article.

The configuration that is described in the Symptoms section is called a "daisy chain," a set of devices that are connected in a series.

The third-party products that are discussed in this article are manufactured by companies that are independent of Microsoft. Microsoft makes no warranty, implied or otherwise, regarding the performance or reliability of these products.