Faxing

[telboy1938]

After years of good service my Brother Fax Machine has decided to only transmit Black pages to recipients so I thought I would use my PC to send messages etc to people without a computer. However "E-Fax" want �7:50 per month to do this...I was always under the impression that there was a free faxing system via Windows XP Professional.....Can anyone advise please

[Ethel]

All versions of Windows XP has a fax facility.

Start - all programmes - accessories - communications - fax

But you need to be connected to your telephone line by the dial up modem - you can't do it over broadband.

[kempie]

Although the fax facility is a standard XP component it may not have been automatically installed when XP was first setup on the PC.

If it cannot be found where Ethel indicated, you will need to install it via Windows Setup...

Control Panel → Add or Remove Programs → Add/Remove Windows Components → Fax Services

[telboy1938]

I guess my problem is that I am "hooked-up" via a Broadband router so I wont be able to send faxes...Any ideas on an alternative?

[Ethel]

There is nothing to stop you using your internal modem plugged into the phone line for faxing. It won't interfere with your broadband connection, if you have set the connection to 'never dial for a connection'.


http://www.andyrathbone.com/tips/faxing.html

If you have a new pc or laptop without the fax/data modem, you can buy an external one very cheaply, or a laptop card version:

http://www.maplin.co.uk/Search.aspx?criteria=f ax/data%20modem&source=15&SD=Y

[telboy1938]

Ethel, Thank you for all your help but still I am unable to send a fax....It could possibly be me but I have followed the advice given to the letter...Will possibly end up buying a new fax machine although, as I have numerous phones, it might be better to get the usb external fax modem from Maplin. What do you suggest?...I have tried downloading the dll file you indicated for my pc and followed the instructions for finding the hidden fax program for my laptop but I still get a failed reply......Thanks for trying

[Ethel]

Have you got an internal fax modem on your pc? How old is it? Is it a desktop or laptop?