HP C6180 won't scan to word or document viewer etc etc

What application are you using to initiate the scan? If you have the HP software go to document viewer to initiate a scan. Have you tried initiating a scan from MS Word for example?
If you are using the HP application check all the options.
It sounds like it doesn't know what software to associate with the scan, perhaps you or your better half has changed the file format it saves to (jpg/bmp/pdf etc) and that has confused things otherwise I can't think why this might happen.
If all else fails deinstall and reinstall the software that came with the device.
I hope I have been of help but please do not hesitate to ask if you have any further questions.

Here is a link to the home support page for your HP printer, an excellent resource of guides and information, updated drivers and software, as well as troubleshooting help.
In particular, here's a link to the scanning section of the site, and here are specific instructions on how to scan. You can see there are various options available to you, depending on what software you use, etc. etc.
You may also find it's sometimes easier to bypass the HP scanning software and use a third party image viewer like FastStone Image Viewer to organize and view your scanned images. They also have an excellent built-in scanning board, that I have found useful. Free downloads here.
I hope this information allows you to resolve this issue. If you need further assistance, please post back with a comment to this thread.
If I've managed to answer your question or solve a problem, please take just a moment to rate this post....thanks!

(1.) Start / All Programs / HP / HP Viewer / Scan Document (icon is in left margin)
(2.) A small screen appears entitled "Select Source", and provides the "HP Officejet 6200 Series TWAIN" option. Highlight this then click "select".
(3.) I accept the default provided on the next screen (i.e., radio buttons for "Document" & "Scan for editable text"; "Scan to:" (drop box) "HP Document Viewer; check "Show Preview" box; then click "Scan".
(4.) After a brief pause, my printer scans, then the HP Document Viewer screen on the PC provides a small image of the scanned document and allows me to click the "accept" icon.
(5.) After "accepting" the scan into the HP Document Viewer, it takes a minute for it to appear in the "viewer". Notice that the "View Thumbnails" tab is highlighted at the top of this screen. Click the check-box next to the scanned item then click the "View Page" tab just to the right of the "View Thumbnails" tab.
(6.) The new screen should show a larger version of your scanned document. Now notice the "Save As" icon in the upper left corner. Click that, then "yes" to warning default screen, then select a file name and location to save it into.
(7.) Before clicking save, click the drop box next to the "Save as type:" and select one of the pdf options. Mine offers: "PDF 1-bit", PDF 8-bit Grayscale", and "PDF 24-bit Color" options. Choose one of them then click "save".
(8.) You should then be able to find the scanned pdf file in the directory you selected to save it under.

Note that you may need all of the HP printer utilities and tool software installed for this to work. If you don't, you may need to uninstall/reinstall the printer software.

I believe it will only do multiple scans from the document feeder. Tax papers, book report, etc. If it involves the flatbed, you're outa luck. It will be on at a time. Even the large commercial printers are the same way.

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?docname=c01705280&lc=en&dlc=en&cc=us&lang=en&product=1153494

These instructions will help you install the HP software in Windows XP - make sure you choose the FULL driver install (explained on the link). The basic driver does not provide any HP scanning software.

If you want to scan pictures without installing any HP software, Windows has some built in scanning features.

For XP...

For Vista...

If you want to scan multiple pages, go to HP Scan Pro, click on the SCAN menu, and then make sure that "Documents" is checked under "New Scan." This will allow you to scan multiple pages and it will scan black n white or color...whatever you place on the glass.

folow the link,it will surely help,its solution provided by hp
http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?docname=c00762521&cc=us&lc=en&dlc=en&product=1153494

If you are using WinXP or Vista, the drivers for the device are part of the driver packages included with the operating system. As far as software to operate the scanner, MS Office products include the capability to use an attached scanner to scan documents and images as well as a Document Imaging Tool and a Document Scanning Tool.. Many other packages also offer the same type of functionality. Going directly to the HP site (www.hp.com) and selecting the Support and Drivers tab, selecting the 'download drivers and software' button and entering 'scanjet' and the specific model number of your device can give you any software that they still have available for your product. They have a long list of scanners that they provide DeskScan and Copy software for WinXP/Win2K, etc. The newer ones also have updated drivers and software for Vista users.

on the scan options , "select "scan to pdf", it will scan as a document instead of printing.

Follow below instructions to scan more than one pages to a single document :

1. Open HP solution center.
Click Start - All programs - HP - HP Solution center.

2. Click Scan document - Click Accept.
Computer will ask "Would you like to scan another page?" Say Yes and scan the other side of the document by following onscreen steps.

Thanks