XP's Fax Conxole remains open...

[Paul R]

...after faxing a document, so it attempts to answer the phone each time
it rings, which is not what I want.

I notice that the program <fxssvc.exe> remains an active process running
in the background and I find no way to delete it unless going through
the Task Mgr and manually doing so. Is there a way to even prevent the
auto-answer from remaining active? I have it set to "manual."

I use DSL for my internet and only use the modem for faxes, so the only
time it is called up is by XP's fax console as I attempt to fax a
document. I also have my modem's current and latest version so
upgrading doesn't seem to be a possible solution. The only question
remaining is if this could be due to a firewall issue. I use ZoneLabs'
Zone Alarm Pro and wouldn't even begin to know what to look for that
would keep the app in memory...

Any suggestions?

 

[Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]]

Why not just disable autoreception? The Help files will tell you how.

 

[Paul R]

Why not just disable autoreception? The Help files will tell you how.

Simple and intuitive, isn't it? But actually, the reason I don't simply
disable it is because doing so prevents the entire fax progam from
functioning when I call it to fax a document. The initial fax wizard
screen just freezes and stops responding when I call it on if I have it
disabled. There doesn't seem to be a middle ground here, aparently,
like any 3rd party software might offer.

 

[Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]]

Well that's certainly not by design. Something is wrong with your
installation. I can easily disable receptions and still send faxes.
Any error messages that would permit troubleshooting? Is your modem on the
Windows XP HCL list?

 

[Paul R]

Well that's certainly not by design. Something is wrong with your
installation. I can easily disable receptions and still send faxes.

Well, my installation was one of those out-of-the-box HP systems that
came with Win XP Home Edition. The Fax Console is the one that comes
with XP and accessed thru Programs/Accessories/Communication/Fax. All I
did was run the Fax Wizard that sets up the console and subsequent
faxes. So, I guess I'm not sure which part of the installation might
have gone wrong, as per your thinking...

Any error messages that would permit troubleshooting? Is your modem on the
Windows XP HCL list?

No error messages, it just freezes up when the "Send" wizard comes up
(if I have auto-reception "disabled"). My Agere 56K PCI Soft Modem is on
the Win 2000 HCL.

Paul R.

 

[Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]]

The Win 2000 HCL list would not be in play here.
Unfortunately, Windows XP Fax has proven to be incompatible with many common
modems and drivers, particularly older ones, even if the manufacturers claim
they are "compatible" with Windows XP. Modem incompatibility is not apparent
during installation or the initial setup. It only becomes apparent when you
first try to send or receive a fax. The Fax Service will dial or will answer
an incoming fax but then fail with any of a number of unhelpful error
messages such as "Line is busy," "There is no answer," or "Reception error."
There will be nothing in Event Viewer to give a clue as to where the problem
might lie.

These errors have been nearly impossible to track down. To do so requires
enabling both PSS and debug logging of fax transmissions, both of which
require fairly extensive registry changes. For the time being, the best
advice is to attempt to use XP Fax only if you have a modem that is listed
on the Windows XP Hardware Compatibility List and using the latest drivers.

 

[Paul R]

The Win 2000 HCL list would not be in play here.

Actually, I erred and looked it up incorrectly, ending only with the
2000 HCL. Further checking led to the XP HCL which lists my modem
version as one "designed for XP." Whatever that means...I also checked
and found I have the most current driver.

 

[Hal Hostetler [MVP S/U]]

Russ has and can send you the Registry change information required to enable
PSS and Debug logging if you feel like experimenting.

Hal
--
Hal Hostetler, CPBE -- (e-mail address removed)
Senior Engineer/MIS -- MS MVP-S/U -- WA7BGX
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