Fax Services

[Marmic]

I have had the Fax Services capability up and running since I bought this machine.

2 days ago, I inadvertantly deleted the service via the Add & Remove Windows Components capability.

When I tried to re-initialize the Fax service, it asked for an SP2 Cd to be installed. In that the Restore Disc that came with the system does not allow me to do anything except completely re-install windows XP, I tried to run from the I386 directory of Windows on my hard drive.

For a while the re-installation seemed to be working, but then several .dl_ files were requested and while in the I386 directory, the re-installation process said it could not open them. My choice was to cancel the process (with a warning that windows did not recommend cancelling) or ignoring the requested file(s) which I did.

The result was that the re-installation said it was finished, but there was no Fax listed next to my printer.

I tried again and it goes thru the configuration process, but still no Fax. In addition, I get an error message saying the wrong printer name was used.

Can anyone suggest a solution other than slicking my hard drive and reinstalling windows.........and all the updates/changes?

Mike

[F1]

See if you can borrow a legit copy of XP/SP2; the currently installed version should accept the disc and perform the task you requested.

[Marmic]

See if you can borrow a legit copy of XP/SP2; the currently installed version should accept the disc and perform the task you requested.

I have for another laptop a copy of XP (Professional) that I purchased. When I tried to use it, XP goes through the configuration process to the Finish stage. After clicking finish, I go to Control Panel > Printers and Other Hardware > Printers and Faxes. On the resultant screen, just my printer is listed. When I click on setup faxing, XP again goes through the configure fax process with the same result.

Seems to me that somehow XP may be corrupted, but I am looking for possible solutions prior to killing the existing setup and starting all over from scratch.

Mike

[F1]

Based on what you've said, my guess is Xp is partially corrupted to the point that a repair is not possible. Since the genuine XP disk did not fix the problem, it appears some other components of the OS are also compromised. A clean install may be your only option rather than spend endless hours trying to repair the current install.

[Marmic]

Based on what you've said, my guess is Xp is partially corrupted to the point that a repair is not possible. Since the genuine XP disk did not fix the problem, it appears some other components of the OS are also compromised. A clean install may be your only option rather than spend endless hours trying to repair the current install.

Thanks.....that is sort of what I guessed, but thought I would ask anyway.

[TurcoLoco]

Have you checked to see if 'Fax Services' component is installed or not under:
Control Panel > Add-Remove Programs > Windows Components > Fax Services (the box should be checked)?

If it is already checked, then try unchecking it, then OK all the way out, reboot your PC, then go back and tryi checking and re-installing it.

~TL

[Marmic]

Have you checked to see if 'Fax Services' component is installed or not under:
Control Panel > Add-Remove Programs > Windows Components > Fax Services (the box should be checked)?

If it is already checked, then try unchecking it, then OK all the way out, reboot your PC, then go back and tryi checking and re-installing it.

~TL

Hi ~TL

Went in and Fax Service was not checked. Checked it and clicked next and eventually Windows said it was finished and for me to click Finish which I did. The fax icon was listed on my Printer & Faxes screen.

I clicked on FAX Icon and got a message that either the Printer Name was entered incorrectly or the printer was disconnected from the server.

I have only one printer and it works fine. I am not on a network.

When I went back to the Windows Components Fax is not checked.

So it looks like it goes through the initialization of FAX OK, but once it is finished, I cannot use/access the fax.

By the way, even though the Fax box is not checked it shows 3.8 Meg.

Actually the only box that is checked is the Windows Media Player. When I check other boxes, the install process asks for the Windows Home Edition disk. When I insert it, it says it cannot find the files it wants. When I point the process to windows/I386, it finds the files it wants (*.dl_) but then says it cannot load them.

Any ideas.

Mike

[TurcoLoco]

Sorry for the delayed reply, I was in the process of moving to another state.
Anyhow, I figured I would give it a quick shot but according to the odd occurences that you'd mentioned, I'd have to agree with F1 about his previous post, you just might have to do a clean install because there seems to be some sort of a corruption and I am not even sure if it is fixable since I do not know what else to do. But I believe the problem is that you installed the fax services on a standard or SP1, then update the system to SP2, then removed the service, now you are trying to re-install using the SP1 or earlier version of the service where some of the required/shared system files were already update to SP2 versions so it fails to install it again.

Couple of ideas prior to a full, clean install would be: Start > Run > sfc /scannow > OK (Windows CD might be required again). When this is done, reboot and re-do the previous steps to see if it helped or not.
If not, then you try to uninstall SP2 and go back to the previous version, re-install Fax service and then update Windows again.

If all was a no-go, I am afreaid, clean install might be the only sure-fire fix.