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://members.shaw.ca/bsanders/FAQFAX.htm#_Toc88835132
2. Why can't the XP Fax Installation Program find the Installation Files?
In this case, it found everything, but didn't install it correctly. Its
likely you have security data base corruption as documented here:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/884018/EN-US/
You cannot add a Windows component in Windows XP
You can either:
1. Get the hotfix mentioned in the KB article and install it. Microsoft
does not charge 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.
