Scanner problems after the last update

The software support for the scanner has expired for ... many years, but I managed to install the drivers and exploit it with all the Windows updates that I have no idea why the drivers keep crashing from time to time. That is until yesterday. Until yesterday when although I reinstalled the drivers (I booted in the way Windows allows me to install unsigned drivers) and in the device manager the scanner appears ok, in the scanning application the scanner is offline . I also tried to scan via twain from other applications that see the scanner online, but the scan did not take place, it gives me an error (unknown).

I tried running in compatibility mode, admin mode, to no avail.

I have an older laptop on which I could install Windows 7 (I don't know where I would find the installer, but let's say) but it's somehow beyond my control.  

Is there any way I can figure out what Microsoft changed in the update and try to fix it? Should I wait for a later update to fix it?