Windows XP Pro: The Missing Manual, Second Edition

Faxing

It’s a good thing you bought a book about Windows XP. If you hadn’t, you might never have known about one of Windows XP’s most spectacular features: its ability to turn your PC’s built-in fax modem into a fax machine. This feature works like a charm, saves all kinds of money on paper and fax cartridges, and may even spare you the expense of buying a physical fax machine—but it isn’t installed in the standard Windows installation.

Here’s the basic idea: When faxes come in, you can opt to have them printed automatically, or you can simply read them on the screen. And sending a fax is even easier on a PC than on a real fax machine; you just use the regular File→Print command, exactly as though you’re making a printout of the onscreen document.

If this sounds good to you, grab your Windows XP CD-ROM and read on.

Installing the Fax Software

To turn on the hidden fax feature, open your Printers and Faxes window (Section 1.5), and then click “Set up faxing” on the task pane on the left side (Figure 13-12, left). After a moment, you’ll be asked to insert your Windows XP Professional CD.

Tip

When the big blue “Welcome to Microsoft Windows XP” screen appears, just click its close button. It’s obscuring the real action in the Configuring Components dialog box behind it.

When the installation is over, you’ll find a new Fax icon in your Printers and Faxes folder (Figure 13-12, right). You’ll also find a few fax utilities in your Start→All Programs→ Accessories→Communications→Fax submenu, which ...