Windows XP, Vista and Window-7 all have standard faxing built into them provided that you have a modem capable of sending faxes attached to YOUR computer. You cannot use Windows XP faxing to send faxes via a fax/modem installed on another computer (unless that computer is a Windows 2003 or Windows 2008 server). Once it has been setup all you need to do is print ANY document and select the FAX as the printer you wish to use. Windows will then ask you for the fax number and automatically send the fax without you having to print it out first. The print quality of the fax that is received is also MUCH better quality than a fax sent via a normal fax machine.

• Install the Fax component
• Configure the Fax service
• Change the Fax configuration
• Automatic Fax Reception
• Manual Fax Reception
• How to view the status of the fax
• Scan and View a Document to be Faxed
• Select and Format a Scanned Image
• Create and Send a fax using the Fax Wizard
• How to Start the Send Fax Wizard
• How to Create and Send the Fax
• Sending Bulk Faxes using FaxStream

Install the Fax component

By default, the Fax component is not installed during Windows Setup. To install the Fax component, follow these steps:

1. Click Start, click Control Panel, and then double-click Add or Remove Programs under Pick a category.
2. Click Add/Remove Windows Components to start the Windows Components Wizard.
3. In the Components list, click to select the Fax Services check box, and then click Next. Setup installs the Fax services.
4. If you are prompted to do so, insert the Microsoft Windows XP CD, and then click OK.
5. Click Finish, and then click Close.

Configure the Fax service

To configure faxing capability in Windows XP, follow these steps:

1. Click Start, select All Programs, select Accessories, select Communications, select Fax, and then click Fax Console. The Fax Configuration Wizard should start. If it doesn't then click on the TOOLS menu and then CONFIGURE FAX
2. Click Next, type the information that you want to appear on your fax cover page, and then click Next.
3. Click the modem that you want to use in the Please select the fax device list.
4. If you want to disable the ability to send faxes from this computer, click to clear the Enable Send check box. (Note By default, the Enable Send check box is selected.)
5. Click to select the Enable Receive check box if you want the computer to receive faxes. (Note When this check box is selected, you can click Manual answer if you do not want the computer to automatically receive faxes. By default, automatic answering is enabled.)
6. Click Next.
7. Type the Transmitting Subscriber Identification (TSID) that you want to use in the TSID box. (Note The TSID is mandatory in some areas). This information appears in the header area at the top of the faxes that you send. It lets the recipient know who sent the fax to them. You can enter either your fax number and/or business name here.
8. Click Next.
9. Type the Called Subscriber Identification (CSID) that you want in the CSID box. (Note When someone sends you a fax and you use your computer and fax/modem to receive the fax then your CSID will appear on the display of the fax machine that is sending you the fax. This helps confirm to the sender that the fax is being sent to the correct recipient.)
10. Click Next.
11. Click to select the Print it on check box if you want each of the faxes that you receive to be automatically printed. When you select this check box, you can select a specific printer where you can print the fax you receive.
12. Click to select the Store a copy in a folder check box if you want to create an archived copy of each fax. When you select this check box, you can specify the storage location for the fax copy.
13. Click Next.
14. Confirm the configuration settings in the Configuration Summary list, and then click Finish. The Fax Configuration Wizard should close and the Fax Console window should open. The computer is now configured to send or receive faxes.

Change the Fax configuration

You can start the Fax Configuration Wizard from the Fax Console window. To start the Fax Configuration Wizard, follow these steps:

1. Click Start, select All Programs, select Accessories, select Communications, select Fax, and then click Fax Console.
2. In Fax Console, click Configure Fax on the Tools menu to start the Fax Configuration Wizard.

Automatic Fax Reception

If you have configured Windows Faxing to automatically receive faxes in the Fax Configuration Wizard, (ie you have selected the Enable Receive check box in the Fax Configuration Wizard) you should be able to receive faxes automatically. Your fax modem will automatically answer the fax line after the number of rings that you specified and attempt to receive the fax and to print it on your printer if you have asked for this to happen.

Manual Fax Reception

To manually receive a fax when your fax line is ringing, use either of the following methods.

• Either From the Fax Console:
  1. Click Start, select All Programs, select Accessories, select Communications, select Fax, and then click Fax Console to open the Fax Console.
  2. On the toolbar, click the Receive Now button (this button is displayed as a telephone handset overlapping a document).
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  3. On the File menu, click Receive a fax now.
• Or From the Fax Monitor:
  1. Start Fax Monitor if it is not running by clicking Start, select All Programs
  2. select Accessories
  3. select Communications
  4. select Fax
  5. Then click Fax Console to open the Fax Console
  6. Then on the Tools menu, click Fax Monitor.
  7. In the Fax Monitor dialog box, click Answer now.

How to view the status of the fax

You can view the status of the fax in the Fax Console. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Click Start, select All Programs, select Accessories, select Communications, select Fax, and then click Fax Console to open the Fax Console.
2. In the left pane, expand the Fax folder (if it is not already expanded). The Fax folder contains the following folders:
   • The Incoming folder contains faxes that are currently being received.
   • The Inbox folder contains faxes that have been received.
   • The Outbox folder contains faxes that are scheduled to be sent.
   • The Sent Items folder contains faxes that have been successfully sent.
3. In the left pane, click the folder that you want.
4. In the right pane, right-click the fax that you want, and then click Properties.
5. On the General tab, view the Status line. When you are finished, click Close.

Scan and View a Document to be Faxed

1. Use your scanner or digital camera to create an image file.
2. Save this file in the location that you want.
3. Open the folder that contains the image file, and then double-click the image to start the Windows Picture and Fax Viewer.
4. On the toolbar, click the Print button, which appears as a printer icon, or press CTRL+P. (This starts the Photo Printing Wizard).

Select and Format a Scanned Image

1. On the Welcome to the Photo Printing Wizard page (see above), click Next.
2. On the Picture Selection page, click to select the check box of the image that you want to print to Fax
3. Then click Next. (Note: The check box appears at the top-right corner of each image.)
4. On the Printing Options page, click Fax in the What printer do you want to use? list.
5. To adjust the fax properties, click Printing Preferences. The Fax Properties dialog box appears.
6. Select the properties that you want, and then click OK.
7. On the Printing Options page, click Next.
8. On the Layout Selection page, click the layout that you want in the Available layouts list
9. Then click Next.

Create and Send a fax using the Fax Wizard

1. On the Welcome to the Send Fax Wizard page, click Next.
2. On the Recipient Information page, type the recipient name in the To box.
3. Type the recipient fax number in the Fax number box
4. Then click Next. (Note: If you want to send the fax to more than one recipient, type the recipient information in the appropriate boxes, and then click the Add button. The recipient appears in the list, and the boxes are cleared so that you can enter additional recipient information.
5. When you have finished adding recipients, click Next.)
6. On the Preparing the Cover Page page, click the template that you want in the Cover page template list.
7. If you want to edit the information that appears on the cover page, click the Sender Information button.
8. Type the subject that you want to appear on the cover page of the fax in the Subject line box.
9. Type a cover page note in the Note box.
10. Click Next.
11. On the Schedule page, click the time that you want to send the fax. For example, Now.
12. Under What is the fax priority, click the priority that you want (a higher priority selection will allow this fax item to be sent before another similarly scheduled lower priority item)
13. Then click Next.
14. On the Completing the Send Fax Wizard page, confirm the selections
15. Then click Finish.

How to Start the Send Fax Wizard

To start the Send Fax Wizard, use one of the following methods:

• In the Fax console:
  1. Click Start, select All Programs, select Accessories, select Communications, select Fax, and then click Fax Console.
  2. In the Fax console, click New Fax or click Send a Fax on the File menu.
• In the Print dialog box:
  1. Start the program that you want. For example, start Microsoft Word 2002.
  2. On the File menu, click Print.
  3. In the Print dialog box, click Fax in the Name box, and then click OK.
• In Control Panel:
  1. Click Start, and then click Control Panel.
  2. In Control Panel, click Printers and Other Hardware in the Pick a category box.
  3. pick a Control Panel icon box, click Printers and Faxes.
  4. In the Printer Tasks box, click Send a fax.

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  How to Create and Send the Fax

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  1. In the Welcome to the Send Fax Wizard dialog box, click Next.
  2. In the Recipient Information dialog box, type the recipient name in the To box, type the recipient fax number in the Fax number box, or use the Address Book to click the recipient name, and then click Next. (NOTE: If you want to send the fax to more than one recipient, type the recipient information in the appropriate boxes, and then click Add. The recipient appears in the box and the boxes are cleared so that you can type additional recipient information. When you finish adding recipients, click Next.
  3. In the Preparing the Cover Page dialog box, click the template that you want to use in the Cover page template box.
  4. If you want to edit the information that appears on the cover page, click Sender Information.
  5. Type the subject that you want to appear on the cover page of the fax in the Subject line box, and then type a cover page note in the Note box if you want to include a note.
  6. Click Next.
  7. In the Schedule dialog box, click the time that you want to send the fax, for example, click Now.
  8. In the What is the fax priority box, click the priority that you want (a higher priority allows this fax item to be sent before another similarly scheduled and lower priority item), and then click Next.
  9. In the Completing the Send Fax Wizard dialog box, confirm the options that you selected, and then click Finish.

  How to create and print the document

  1. Start the program that you want, for example, Microsoft Word 2002, and then create the document that you want to send by fax.
  2. On the File menu, click Print.
  3. In the Print dialog box, click Fax in the Name box.
  4. If you want to view the fax properties, click Properties. The Fax Preferences dialog box is displayed. Click the properties that you want, and then click OK.
  5. In the Print dialog box, click OK. (The Send Fax Wizard should start.)

  How to send the created fax

  1. In the Welcome to the Send Fax Wizard dialog box, click Next.
  2. In the Recipient Information dialog box, type the recipient name in the To box, type the recipient fax number in the Fax number box, and then click Next. (NOTE: If you want to send the fax to more than one recipient, type the recipient information in the appropriate boxes, and then click Add. The recipient appears in the list and the boxes are cleared so that you can type additional recipient information. When you finish adding recipients, click Next).
  3. In the Preparing the Cover Page dialog box, click the template that you want in the Cover page template box. If you want to edit the information that appears on the cover page, click Sender Information.
  4. Type the subject that you want to appear on the cover page of the fax in the Subject line box, type a cover page note in the Note box, and then click Next.
  5. In the Schedule dialog box, click the time that you want to send the fax, for example, click Now.
  6. In the What is the fax priority box, click the priority that you want (if you choose a high priority, the fax item is sent before another similarly scheduled fax with a lower priority), and then click Next.
  7. In the Completing the Send Fax Wizard dialog box, confirm the selections, and then click Finish.

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  Sending Bulk Faxes using FaxStream

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  If you need to send faxes to multiple recipients on a regular basis you could use the FaxStream service offered by Telstra and other phone companies (eg AAPT). To do this go to faxstream.telstra.com. This is NOT a free service (I think it costs $0.40 per delivered fax) but it simplifies bulk faxing quite a bit without tying up your computer while it it attempting to send multiple faxes.

  Another alternative is to send bulk faxes from your computer but don't start sending the faxes until you are ready to go home and just leave your computer turned on to complete sending the bulk faxes.

  Bulk Email is a an even better format as it is FREE.