How to receive a fax in Windows XP

This article describes how to receive a fax by using the Fax service in Microsoft Windows XP.

How to receive a fax

To receive a fax from within Windows XP, you must first enable and configure the Fax service; you have to select the Enable Receive check box in the Fax Configuration Wizard to receive faxes. For additional information about using the Fax Configuration Wizard, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

Automatic configuration to receive a fax

If you have configured Fax to automatically receive faxes in the Fax Configuration Wizard, it will attempt to answer the fax line after the number of rings that you specified.

Manual configuration to receive a fax

To manually receive a fax, use either of the following methods.

• Method 1: From the Fax Console:
  1. Click Start, point to All Programs, point to Accessories, point to Communications, point to Fax, and then click Fax Console to open the Fax Console.
     • On the toolbar, click the Receive Now button (this button is displayed as a telephone handset overlapping a document).
       
       -or-
     • On the File menu, click Receive a fax now.
       
       Now the Fax service attempts to receive the fax.
• Method 2: From the Fax Monitor:
  1. Start Fax Monitor if it is not running:
     1. Click Start, point to All Programs, point to Accessories, point to Communications, point to Fax, and then click Fax Console to open the Fax Console.
     2. On the Tools menu, click Fax Monitor.
  2. In the Fax Monitor dialog box, click Answer now.
     
     Now the Fax service attempts to receive the fax.

How to view the status of the fax

You can view the status of the fax in the Fax Console. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Click Start, point to All Programs, point to Accessories, point to Communications, point to Fax, and then click Fax Console to open the Fax Console.
2. In the left pane, expand the Fax folder (if it is not already expanded). The Fax folder contains the following folders:
   • The Incoming folder contains faxes that are currently being received.
   • The Inbox folder contains faxes that have been received.
   • The Outbox folder contains faxes that are scheduled to be sent.
   • The Sent Items folder contains faxes that have been successfully sent.
3. In the left pane, click the folder that you want.
4. In the right pane, right-click the fax that you want, and then click Properties.
5. On the General tab, view the Status line. When you are finished, click Close.

For additional information, click the following article numbers to view the articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: