...but I too experienced the problem (perfection 3170), and followed your advice. Unfortunately, the software crashes during scan while on auto, right after the scan on home and professional. If you choose only to scan and save, it gives you the thumbnails after a 10 minute wait, and then after you click "next".....nothing.

Ah well, hope the update is out soon. After having the scanner for a month solid on 10.2.8, my wife glibbly asks, "So why again did you get Panther?"