[X-Newbies] Leopard and Scanner Incompatability

[Clive Read]

With OX 4, I cannot remember having problems with Printers or  
Scanners: Select Printer Sep-Up in System Preferences, 'Add' printer  
and the additional unit identifies itself, so that it can be added.

Since I have upgraded to Leopard 10.5.5 (I have a 13" MacBook with  
2GHz Intel Core Duo and 2GB 667 MHz DDR2 SDRAM) the 'Printer Setup  
Utility' is a Question Mark in the Dock. When I choose Print and Fax  
in System Preferences, no new printers or scanners are identified, and  
selecting the + brings no change.

I purchased VueScan which worked LAST WEEK, but no longer works, since  
I activated Time Machine.

When I click on the ScanGear Starter 1.1E icon in the dock, a menu  
shows me the two printers/scanners that are NOT connected, but will  
not give me access to the CanoScan LIDE25, that I could use ten days  
ago.

I have wasted three days trying to resolve the problem, and the need  
is now URGENT.

Can anyone point me in the direction of a likely solution?

THANKS

Clive in Spain