| Before you can use your fax modem to send and receive faxes, you must set it up in Windows, which involves entering information about the fax phone number and fax device. To help you with this process, Windows XP includes the Fax Configuration Wizard. This program starts the first time you open the Fax Console. To start Fax Console, click Start, All Programs, Accessories, Communications, Fax, and finally Fax Console. You'll see the welcome screen of the wizard. To start the Fax Configuration Wizard manually (if it does not start when you open Fax Console), click Tools from within Fax Console and then click the Configure Fax command. caution  | If the fax component is not installed, you can install it through the Add/Remove Programs Control Panel (see Chapter 20, "Upgrading Windows"). You can also find information by searching for this topic at support.microsoft.com. |
To set up your fax, complete each step in the wizard, entering information and clicking Next to move to the next step. You can expect to complete the following: - Enter your contact information (name, fax number, email address, company, and other phone information). Figure 10.1 shows the first screen you see after the welcome wizard screen.
Figure 10.1. To use your fax, you need to set it up, which involves entering information about your setup. 
- Select the fax device for sending and receiving. To do so, select the fax device from the drop-down list. You can also enable Send and Receive by checking the respective check boxes. Finally, you can select to manually answer a fax call or to automatically answer the call after the number of rings you designate. Figure 10.2 shows this step of the Fax Configuration Wizard.
Figure 10.2. Set up your sending and receiving options in this step of the Fax Configuration Wizard. 
- Enter the TSID. A TSID is a text line that identifies your fax machine when it sends a fax. You can type your business name or fax number.
tip  | Be sure to check Enable Receive in this wizard step. A common problem is being unable to receive faxes, and this occurs if this option is not checked. (You can make this change later if you forget to do so here.) |
- Enter the CSID. The CSID is a text line that identifies your fax machine when it receives a fax.
- Select how received faxes are handled (either printed directly or stored in a folder). If you choose to print the faxes upon receipt, you can select the printer from the drop-down list. If you select to store the faxes in a folder (which you can then open and use to view the faxes), check this option and then select the folder to use. Figure 10.3 shows these options.
Figure 10.3. When you receive a fax, you can choose to print it on a printer or store it within a folder. 
The fax is now set up and ready for use. |
