My sympathies. As you may know by now Nikon Tech Support is useless. The telephone center support does not know anything at all about scanners. So you end up having to send the scanner to Melville if you have any problems at all, whether you need to or not.
Actually when my scanner needed repair, I did finally get one guy who at least helped me figure out it really was a hardware problem but I had to call 5 times to find someone bright enough to figure out I was speaking about a scanner and not a camera within the first 5 minutes, although I start the conversation with I have a "Nikon Coolscan 8000".
I was so frustrated we went out and bought a MF digital back, because once I scan all my MF film worthy of scanning, I am selling the dang scanner and getting away from Nikon forever. We bought our first Nikon in the 70's. Nikon used to have one of the best Tech Support Systems around. It is so sad.
Wish I could be of help with your problem. But does it make you feel better to have someone join you in your vent?