Free Fax Software for Windows XP

Avoriaz

I normally use the fax software included with Windows XP but I cannot get it to work properly since I reinstalled XP a few months ago. I don’t know why as it worked fine for four years previously. I have installed it and tested it but my document just sits in the queue with status “pending” and nothing I do gets it to transmit.

I want to be able to fax documents, usually Word documents.

I only send the occasional fax, one a month or fewer.

Can anyone recommend any good, free and simple to use fax software?

I don’t need bells and whistles, just the ability to fax a Word document occasionally.

Even better would be a suggestion as to what I am doing wrong with the Windows fax software which suited me fine for years.

Thanks

redux

I hope this won't sound daft:

I assume your internet is on broadband, but did you plug the dial-up modem back in to the phone line? Also, my modem stopped working on unplug and reconnection of both power and phone line; I know it will work if I do it in the right order, but I've forgotten and haven't experimented with it yet.

Avoriaz

Thanks Redux.

Yes, I did plug the phone line into the laptop modem.

When I reinstalled XP a few months ago I did it on a brand new 80gb disk, keeping the original 80gb disk with a four year old XP install as a backup.

Last night I put the original four year old disk back in and successfully sent a fax so I know the modem, cable etc are not the problem.

I just don’t know what I am doing wrong with the fax software on my new disk. I installed it on the original disk four years ago and it worked fine without any problems for four years.

It is simple software with little to configure and therefore presumably little to go wrong. Everything looks correct but when I try and send a fax it just sits in the outbox. Normally, as soon as it goes in the outbox, the software starts to send it.

espresso

This may explain it here

Conor_3

Avoriaz wrote: »

Thanks Redux.

Yes, I did plug the phone line into the laptop modem.

When I reinstalled XP a few months ago I did it on a brand new 80gb disk, keeping the original 80gb disk with a four year old XP install as a backup.

Last night I put the original four year old disk back in and successfully sent a fax so I know the modem, cable etc are not the problem.

I just don’t know what I am doing wrong with the fax software on my new disk. I installed it on the original disk four years ago and it worked fine without any problems for four years.

It is simple software with little to configure and therefore presumably little to go wrong. Everything looks correct but when I try and send a fax it just sits in the outbox. Normally, as soon as it goes in the outbox, the software starts to send it.

XP has built in fax capabilities. You need to add it. Go to Control Panel, Add Remove Programs, Add/Remove Windows Components and tick Fax. It'll install "Fax" as a printer. In whatever program you're in, select Print, then select the "Fax" and it'll kick off the Faxing wizard.

espresso

Conor wrote: »

XP has built in fax capabilities. You need to add it. Go to Control Panel, Add Remove Programs, Add/Remove Windows Components and tick Fax. It'll install "Fax" as a printer. In whatever program you're in, select Print, then select the "Fax" and it'll kick off the Faxing wizard.

Surely he has:

Avoriaz wrote:

I have installed it and tested it but my document just sits in the queue with status “pending” and nothing I do gets it to transmit.

Avoriaz

espresso wrote: »

This may explain it here

Thanks for that.

I will check it out later and se if it sorts me out.

Avoriaz

Conor wrote: »

XP has built in fax capabilities. You need to add it. Go to Control Panel, Add Remove Programs, Add/Remove Windows Components and tick Fax. It'll install "Fax" as a printer. In whatever program you're in, select Print, then select the "Fax" and it'll kick off the Faxing wizard.

Thanks Conor.

I know you meant well but I have already installed the XP fax software.

You must have missed the first paragraph in my OP.

Anthony2oo5

Lmao, How does someone skip past the first paragraph in the first post.

Avoriaz

Anthony2oo5 wrote: »

Lmao, How does someone skip past the first paragraph in the first post.

I suspect that he probably just read the thread title.

At least he was trying to be helpful.

Avoriaz

I finally got XP fax working.

I eventually found that the modem driver was not properly installed.

Why on earth Fax Console didn’t report a modem problem only God and Bill Gates know.:rolleyes:

Thanks to everyone for your suggestions.