Microsoft Fax Services and Shared Driver

[Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]]

Interesting info. Any repros out there?
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

Hi,
At the suggestion of a friend, I have found a "temporary" solution to
starting the Fax function. Here are the steps that I took:

1. Go to Control Panel> Admin Tools> Services> Fax (at this point, the
Start/Stop/Pause/Resume buttons are grayed out on my screen, and cannot be
selected)
2. For Startup type, click Disabled
3. Reboot computer
4. Go to Control Panel> Admin Tools> Services> Fax
5. For Startup type, click Manual
6. The Start button is black, while the Stop/Pause/Resume buttons are
grayed
out
7. Click Start
8. A message that says "This service started and stopped
automatically......"
9. The Start button is still black, while the Stop/Pause/Resume buttons
are
still grayed out.
10. Click Start again
11. Click OK to exit
12. Click "Printers and Faxes", click Fax
13. Fax Console opens and the Status at the bottom says "Ready"
(Previously
when I opened the Fax Console, the status at the bottom says "refreshing"
and
could not work.)
14. OK to send faxes

Thanks to Russ Valentine for suggesting to look into Control Panel> Admin
Tools> Services to check in the first place.

While the fax function does not startup automatically and cannot function
normally as it had in the past for me, at least now I can still send faxes
using the above method until I can find a permanent solution.

Many users who have updated an older version of Windows XP to SP2 before
they try to install the fax service appear to be encountering a problem
installing the fax service. In these cases there is no error message
during
the installation (distinguishing this from the very common problem where
the
installation routine states it cannot find the necessary files). The
installation appears to proceed without error, but when it is over there
is
no fax printer apparent and any attempt to send a fax results in the
error
message "Fax server information cannot be retrieved. The Fax Wizard will
now
close." This problem appears to occur because the security data base is
corrupted as documented here:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/884018/EN-US/

--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

Hi Folks, I am new to these forums and yet again - I have exactly the
same
problem as you have discussed here. Fax works fine when I
uninstall/reinstall the fax component of XP. As soon as I reboot the
PC,
I
get the dreaded msg when I try to send a fax - Fax Erver Information
cannot
be retrieved". And the fax process shows as "stopping".

I too would love to hear a resolution.
Any updates ?
Thanks Joe.

:

Hi Russ Valentine,
I have an identical problem with Fax service, and status is
"Stopping".
Is
there any solution for fixing this? Thanks.

:

Also, what were these "different messages" with which fax failed?
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
Only lucky enough to get some form of recovery CDs with package so
no
Support
Tools so semi tedious route
Somewhat out of my depth but ...
(1) Tried opening fax console to send new fax also to print word
doc
to
fax.
Also open fax in printers and faxes. All failed with different
messages.
However no log entries on Application, security or system in
admin
tools

Event Viewer (if this is where I should have been)
(2)(a) [fxs*] various files including application files either
5.2.2600.2180
or 5.2.1776.0 or 0.3.2600.2180 [winfax.dll] = 5.2.1776.0
(2)(b) six files of which five 5.2.2600.2180 and one 0.3.2600.2180
(3) No. System as purchased plus Microsoft updates. No sharing. No
fax
software additions to my knowledge.

I had to send a fax yesterday so reinstalled fax as in first post.
This
log
entry recorded the event. Dont know whether it helps.

Event Type: Warning
Event Source: Print
Event Category: None
Event ID: 20
Date: 23-03-2005
Time: 17:38:14
User: NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM
Computer: Home
Description:
Printer Driver Microsoft Shared Fax Driver for Windows NT x86
Version-3
was
added or updated. Files:- FXSDRV.DLL, FXSUI.DLL, FXSUI.DLL,
FXSWZRD.DLL,
FXSTIFF.DLL, FXSRES.DLL, FXSAPI.DLL.

For more information, see Help and Support Center at
http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/events.asp.

:

And the manufacturer did not provide you a backup CD for Windows
XP?

We'll need the following to track this down further:
(1) Any eventvwr message from FaxSrv or Print, when you invoke
the
Send
Fax
Wizard.

(2) The version number of the fax binaries in the system. Run
FileVer.exe
(from Windows Support Tools) for:

(a) %windir%\system32\fxs* and %windir%\system32\winfax.dll

(b) %windir%\system32\spool\drivers\w32x86\3\fxs*

You can alternately right click on these files on explorer and
send
us
version numbers but that would be tedious.

(3) Did you ever connect to a "shared fax server" from Windows
Server
2003
or SBS2000 or any other shared fax server?
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
message
No XP CD as came preinstalled. Willing to help find a solution
or
will
have
to buy a stand alone fax!!

:

I see. The previous "line is busy" error (when the line is not
busy)
was
a
symptom of an incompatible modem.

The current problem you are having where the "fax printer
cannot
be
found"
is being reported frequently by users who have installed
Windows
XP
SP2.
Microsoft is aware and is investigating but has no current
solution.
They
need information from people experiencing the problem. If
you're
willing
to
help provide the information I can post instructions. It will
require
your
installing the Windows Support Tools from the Win XP CD.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
message
Somewhere I dont normally dare go! Startup type is
automatic.
Did not mean I tried to send fax when internet connected via
dial
up.
Both
Outlook and fax reported line busy when tried individually
although
the
line
was free. At that time also lost fax monitor but this has
returned.

Some, now cured, problems were definitely pre SP2. Recently
installed
Office
SP3 on going broadband.
Could SP2 disable fax services at PC turn off only (or not
start it
properly
at boot up)? Is there likely to be a fix?

Many thanks for your time.

:

Control Panel > Administrative Tools > Services. What is
the
Status
and
Startup type you see there for the Fax Service?

Of course your phone line would be busy when you are using
it
for
dial
up
internet connection. That's not a conflict, it's expected.
Most likely SP2 has disabled your Fax Service.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
message
Used to work normally (although not often used). Problems
with it
and
Outlook
(phone line busy) when using dial up for email connection
from ??
mid
2004??
so removed fax services. ??Norton conflict. Now using
broadband
for
Outlook
so looking to use modem solely for fax.
I updated for SP2 November 2004 from CD.
Please explain "start up type"

:

Did the fax program ever work normally for you?
Did you update your operating system to SP2 or was SP2
pre-installed?
What is the startup type for the Fax Service?
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
in
message
I use XP Home +SP2 and Office XP Standard + SP3. My
dial
up
modem
is
Conexant
SoftK56

I have added Fax Services from Windows Components via
Add/Remove
Programmes
and all works correctly. However on turning off and
restarting
the
PC
the
facility fails when attempting to Fax as printer
cannot
be
found.
On
checking
'fax' printer via control panel this message is
eventually
given
"Microsoft
shared fax driver" printer driver is not
installed.....

The only way to re-establish Fax Services is to remove
via
windows
components, reboot and reinstall as above.

Any ideas (other than leaving the PC on 24/7)?

 

[i2meek]

I believe i'm having the same problem - windows xp home edition - while
attempting to fax i've got the following error messages "Fax server
information cannot be retrieved, the fax wizard will close", "all fax
printers are inaccessible", "Microsoft shared fax driver is not installed",
"check the fax printer connection".

In Admin Tools-Services (Local)-Fax-Properties it says "Service status:
Stopping"

What do I do to fix it ?

 

[Hal Hostetler [MVP P/I]]

The symptoms you list suggest your security database may be corrupt. Many
users who have updated an older version of Windows XP to SP2 before they try
to install the fax service or who attempt to reinstall fax on an SP2 system
appear to be encountering a problem installing it. In these cases there is
no error message during the installation (distinguishing this from the very
common problem where the installation routine states it cannot find the
necessary files). The installation appears to proceed without error, but
when it is over there is
no fax printer apparent and any attempt to send a fax results in the error
message "Fax server information cannot be retrieved. The Fax Wizard will now
close." This problem appears to occur because the security data base is
corrupted as documented here:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/884018/EN-US/
You cannot add a Windows component in Windows XP

Note that this article describes a hotfix that users can obtain that might
fix the problem and that Microsoft does NOT recommend simply running the
Esentutl.exe utility to recover from security database corruption.

You can either:

1. Get the hotfix mentioned in the KB article and install it. Microsoft
usually waives any charges for support calls to get supported hotfixes
listed in Knowledge Base articles.

2. Try this procedure using the Esentutl.exe utility mentioned in the KB
article to recover from security database corruption:

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/genericDocument?lc=en&cc=us&docname=c00270202
HP and Compaq Notebook PCs: Unable to Install Windows XP Fax Software

I can report that the Esentutl utility has corrected the problem in a number
of cases, HOWEVER, note that Microsoft does NOT recommend that you use the
utility and would prefer you try the hotfix.

Hal
--
Hal Hostetler, CPBE -- (e-mail address removed)
Senior Engineer/MIS -- MS MVP-Print/Imaging -- WA7BGX
http://www.kvoa.com -- "When News breaks, we fix it!"
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