Unable to install Fax Service on Win XP Home

Tried to install Fax Service using Add/Remove Windows Components. Windows Components Wizard indicates it is being installed but it is not. Have run AntiVirus, Ad-Aware, and Spybot. Still no go. Any ideas? Thanks.

 

Bristle - was passing thru n waiting for someone to ans your post.
(not a particular fan of administrator of this board - we have our differences on advertising n what constitutes an altering of a post)

Guess I'll take it. Have Windows XP home n fax service running.
How do you know service wasn't installed?

I assume you re-booted 'puter afterwards.
Go to start-control panel - printers n faxes.
Does it list FAX as one of the installed printers?

 

Unable to install Fax Servicd on Win XP Home

Ephemarial, thanks for the reply.

Sub folder of Fax in Accessories/Communications in All Programs indicates empty.

Computer was re-booted every time I tried to install. Installing Fax Printer in Control Panel/Printers and Faxes does exactly the same thing as tryng to install the program with Add/Remove Windows Components. Wizard indicates both actions are installing then jumps to "Finish" when indicator is about half way across. Neither Fax Printer or Fax Service are installed. There are 25-30 FSX*** files located in the Windows\I386 folder, all missing last character in their extension.

Any other ideas short of a grenade?

Thanks,
B

 

Check out these links.

FAX Frequently Asked Questions

How to enable and configure the Fax service in Windows XP

 

Whiskeyman--Time for me to show my ignorance.
I have no Fax machine. I do have a printer/scanner, email service through Outlook Express and internet service through both cable, and if, I choose, through dialup modems. (The dialup service also has an email program. It is Juno, which sometimes has proprietary quirks.)
Is installing the MS Fax Service going to let me send faxes? I gather it will require I use the Juno dial up connection. If so, what source material can I use? And can I receive faxes? How will they come to my PC? As Juno emails?

 

I am not sure about Outlook Express. Here's Microsofts article about the FAX Service. I haven't used it yet, but will be testing it out in the future.

Faxing in Windows XP

 

Whiskeyman & Ephermial
Finally got it. Thanks for the help
B

 

Whiskeyman--Thanks. That MS article explains it well. Indeed, only a dialup modem will work.
And I have a suspicion that Juno will not handle incoming faxes since I do not have unlimited connection time with them.

 

That's why I have my DSL service through my phone company (Alltel). If the DSL goes down I still have unlimited dial-up. I gave away my old US Robotics Sportster Fax modem to a friend who needed it badly about 4 years ago. I wish I had it now.

 

Here’s how the fax service works.
Either thru dial-up, DSL or Cable.
It’s independent of the internet. I’m assuming you have a land line n not a Vonage/ internet phone number "“ I do "“ have to be connected to internet then or don’t have a phone.

For receiving:
Computer must be on "“ hooked up to phone line - else just an incoming call on phone line.

Doesn’t matter if connected to Internet, this is a phone call you're getting.

Your phone rings- a little blurb comes up on screen "“ phone ringing - press here to answer as a fax call. If pressed your computer gives out a fax screech n answers the incoming call. The fax will be saved and/or automatically saved n also printed out depending on how it’s configured. You can also configure it to automatically answer all incoming calls as a fax call. NOT a good idea unless you want to screech in everyone’s ear.


For sending:
The fax software is installed as a printer.
You simply print out to the fax.
A fax wizard appears n guides you thru the rest.
What phone number, cover page, ect.
It’ll then dial the number n send it.

whoops - almost forgot- if on dial-up better NOT be connected to internet or your phone line will be busy n unabe to send/receive a fax.

 

A side benefit of the Fax program is that it allows you to print any individual page of a multi-page document on those occasions when some program doesn't offer that feature. Just fax a copy of the document to your own phone number. It will fail to transmit but you'll have a copy of it in your "Outbox" of the Fax console. Opening it there will bring up the Windows Picture and Fax viewer. Printing from there offers full selection of any individual pages you like.

 

Unable to install Fax Service

I have been beating my head against the computer for a few hours now experiencing the same problem you had with installing the Fax Service in Windows XP.

I see that you finally got it figured out.

I would really appreciate it if you could tell me how to fix this.

Thanks

 

ephemarial:

Please help me on this one then.

I have a dialup modem (internal) and am also connected to the internet via ADSL......always on line.

Are you suggesting then that I am unable to receive fax online if I am on the internet...to which I am always connected?

If such is the case what alternative fax facility or work around could I use?

roy66

 

I assume your ADSL connection is via your telephone line, not cable. If so,
your ADSL will not interfere with telephone (or telephonic device such as a fax modem or answering machine) on the same telephone line, provided you have the micro filters on the phones. You can then phone (or fax) and be connected to the internet at the same time. An alternative to using micro flters on each telephone is to get a face plate that incorporates a filter for the master socket where the telephone line comes into the house.
To send/receive faxes you need to connect the fax modem (with a filter) to a telephone socket, in addition to however you connect your PC to the ADSL line (external ADSL modem or ethernet card).

Is your internal modem a fax modem? (very likely it is, but just checking).

The following site (from UK, but the general principles are the same anywhere) gives some explanations and also shows some wiring diagrams..

http://www.adslguide.org.uk/qanda.asp?faq=install

 

Roy

Sorry if any confusion. I was referring if connecting to Internet via a dial-up connection.
You’re using the phone then. Can’t be sending / receiving faxes via a phone call, your already using the phone line. Have to get off the Internet to free up phone.

If on DSL your ok. As mentioned your computer needs to be hooked up to phone line.
So you need a dial up modem in computer.

If the computer is hooked up directly to a line coming FROM the DSL modem you do NOT need to put a filter in place. Output from the DSL modem is already filtered.

If computer is connected to a telephone jack NOT coming from the DSL modem you need a filter.

For DSL n a phone I probably have the most confusing (and simplist) setup. A standalone DSL connection with an internet phone number (Vonage). Being online n at same time using the phone OR receiving /sending faxes works just fine.

Only thing to really remember is sending/receiving faxes is a phone call. Nothing to do with internet. So if your computer can dial a phone number you can use the fax service.

Ps .
Microsoft’s fax service not very smart.
It doesn’t distinguish between a fax or voice call. So you have to be at computer to decide if want to answer call as a fax.

Solution is to either install a comswitch or have an answering machine that's smart enough to recognize a fax tone n route it.

 

Thanks for everything.
Have got the phone/fax up and running just need to get the sound to the headset working

roy66