winxp/server 2003 fax issues

[penchair]

I've got 5 workstations with XP SP2 hooked to a server running Windows Server
2003. For some reason, the network all-in-one printer I have which acts as
the fax has stopped working.

When I went around to reinstalling the fax service under Windows Components,
it lets me uninstall initially but then I can't reinstall anymore. It gets to
halfway and says its done but there's no record of faxes set up at all!

I can't even uninstall the fax service component anymore as it doesn't let
me even see it. Any suggestions?

 

[Hal Hostetler [MVP-P/I]]

You may have Security Database corruption, a common problem experienced by
many who attempt to re-install the Fax service after applying SP2; 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 listed in Printers &
Faxes 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

This article describes a hotfix users can obtain that might fix the problem
and states that Microsoft does NOT recommend simply running the Esentutl.exe
utility (also referred to in the article, it can repair/rebuild the corrupt
file) to recover from security database corruption.

You can either:

1. Get the hotfix mentioned in the KB article and install it. Microsoft
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 fix the bad database file:

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 recommends against using 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
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