What program will streamline the process of scanning several pages into a single file and is preferably free?

I run Windows XP and use Microsoft Office Vista. Before the upgrade to Office Vista, MS's doent imager would allow me to scan files into one .tif doent. Now with the upgrade none of my MS programs will let me scan directly into a doent. Not even into an Outlook email. They've caused me to have to open up a photo imaging program to scan with and it's added a good 10 extra minutes to tasks. (At least it feels that way.) Is there an open source program that can help me? Does Open Office allow scanning directly into one of their doents? And any ideas as to why MS got rid of this functionality to its office programs? To make you buy another program or to appease some DRM idiocy? Any advice will be well appreciated from this frustrated office worker.