Lin - save all you packing materials and try your scanner out using items that are red, ornage and pink. A while back, I had a heckuva_time getting a scanner to communicate with my 3 year old computer
I found an Epson $100+ with a $40 rebate that scans pics and negatives PLUS likes pink and orange with 4 Sony's failed me.

Call me anytime... just e_me for my phone number... or ask Ross for advice. He was the one who managed to get to the bottom of my technical problems so I could get a scanner that worked for me and on my pc.