… trying to get bloody Microsoft ^@#$! XP to know that it can FAX stuff.
Had to insert XP SP2 installation CD and then find some 35-some-odd files hither and yon that the installer could not seem to locate on its own power, but at end of process the icon “Fax” proudly rests inside “printers and faxes”.
Trying to configure Fax, it says “well GEE you don’t have any MODEMS installed yet, you’ve got to do that FIRST, wanna do it NOW?”
Which seems odd because when I right-click the “My Computer” thingie it lists the modem (an external USB device) as a piece of hardware that it knows it’s got, but whatever… yeah sure install the modem.
When I opt to let it look for modems on its own, it goes searching for Bluetooth devices, so I tell it “no just let me pick the damn thing from a list” and it does, and there it is, Motorola driver, Motorola SM56 USB Data Fax Modem, select it and click the Next>> button.
That’s when the proverbial wheels come off:
On which ports do you want to install it?, it asks:
All Ports (greyed out, not possible to select this option)
Selected ports
box below “selected ports” contains no ports to select.
The same thing you should always do when you purchase new hardware that Windows doesn’t recognize on it’s own: head to the manufacturer’s website, download the latest drivers for your OS, and follow the installation instructions from that site.
Thanks! OK just to make sure miscommunication has not taken place here, when I right-click on “My Computer” and bring up Hardware Profile, it has a “modem” item and when I expand it it shows the specific modem by manufacturer name. Should I assume from your reply that this, nevertheless, does not mean it has the appropriate drivers and whatnot to recognize and make use of the modem? So your advice still stands?
Yeah, same advice. It’s neat and all the Windows will attempt to install drivers for a device you just plugged in, and sometimes it even works, but more often than not, you get no drivers or incorrect drivers installed. The latest drivers, installed following manufacturer’s instructions, is always the first step. A lot of times it will fix the issue, and other times, the company’s customer support won’t want to talk to you until you’ve done this anyways.
Having a Mac, you are familiar with the PDF print function. I fax a lot of stuff and never even touch paper. I’ve got a jpg of my signature on my Mac and I just fill in forms with a typewriter font. Plus replies come to my email inbox.
Umm, not me, my heels-dug-in girlfriend. I convinced her to buy a Mac Mini, but she only runs Windows on it (Boot Camp), not even remotely interested at this point in playing with MacOS.
Drivers come via Boot Camp. Oughta be current. The Apple USB modem is actually by Motorola and there are indeed Windows drivers. Supplied via Boot Camp which is newer than XP SP2 and therefore oughta work, ja?