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PROBLEM: You want to use your PC to send and receive faxes, but Windows 98 lacks a fax utility. SOLUTION: Install the Windows 95 fax applet from the Windows 98 CD, or try a Web-based fax service. Buying a new system was hardly an impulsive act for Laura Bieber, who sells vintage and used designer clothing over the Internet from her home office in Portland, Oregon. Although Bieber's 386 PC and monochrome monitor met all of her personal word processing needs just fine, once she decided to go into business on her own, she needed a PC that would be more in tune with her home-office tasks. One of Bieber's key requirements was a system with fax capability, to help her avoid the expense and space requirements of a stand-alone fax machine. "I knew other people with Windows who could fax from their computer, so I thought I would be able to as well," says Bieber. But after buying a new PC with Windows 98 loaded, Bieber searched in vain for the fax capabilities she thought were a given. "My techie friends were telling me what to look for over the phone, and it simply wasn't there," she says. Bieber fell victim to a Windows 98 shortcoming that affects millions of PC users. Unlike Windows 95, Windows 98 doesn't include fax software as part of its regular installation; nor does it make available a fax module within Windows Setup. But as Bieber discovered, there is still a way to send faxes from within Windows 98; you just have to work a little to find and install it. And if digging around for software modules isn't your forte, you can turn to other options--including some free ones--that will help you send and receive faxes without shelling out money for a separate machine. |
Microsoft Giveth If you search for "fax" and "Windows 98" on Microsoft's Web site, the site will tell you that Windows 98 includes no fax applet, and that you must purchase fax software to send or receive documents. But as Bieber learned after a little digging, the fax applet that came with Windows 95 works just fine with Windows 98. Furthermore, it's free for the taking on the Windows 98 CD-ROM, if you know where to look. To install the applet, browse your Windows 98 CD and go to tools\oldwin95\message\us. Double-click on wms-fax.exe, which installs the Windows Messaging components that the fax program needs. Reboot your system and return to the same location, then double click on awfax.exe, which loads the applet. You'll need to reboot again to make the applet available. Sending a fax with the applet is a breeze, and you can initiate the process in several ways. To fax a text file, for instance, you can use the Print menu option from within your word processor, and choose Microsoft Fax as your printer. The fax applet will then ask for the recipients' names and fax numbers, allow you to choose a cover page, and even let you schedule the transmission for off-peak hours. You can also configure the software to have your modem receive faxes either temporarily when you're expecting a document to come in, or around the clock. Avoid the latter option if you'll also be using your modem line for voice calls. The biggest drawback to using the applet is that Microsoft doesn't support the Windows 95 fax module under Windows 98, so you're on your own if you encounter problems with it. You may not need the Windows module if your system or modem came with a third-party communications package. If that's the case, you may already have a fax module that comes with at least a modicum of support. Or you can opt for a stand-alone fax program, such as Symantec's venerable WinFax Pro. click here to continue article . . . |
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WinFax Pro 9 lets you send faxes much as you do with the Microsoft applet, but WinFax Pro boasts a slicker interface and adds other features. For instance, you can build a fax from different sources--such as files or open applications--and preview the document before sending it. The program also has features for receiving faxes, such as notification to your pager when a fax comes in. The chief drawback of WinFax Pro is its $120 price. While fax software is great for sending documents, PC users have always faced problems with receiving faxes. Most users balk at having to leave their PC on 24 hours a day to receive faxes or dedicating a second modem and phone line to that function. Now a growing number of Web-based fax services offer an appealing solution to this dilemma. One of the best, e-Fax Free, assigns you a dedicated phone number to which your incoming faxes can be sent, and automatically forwards them to your e-mail address. And, as its name implies, EFax Free won't cost you a cent, though it does subject you to a bit of advertising on its splash screen. |
EFax uses a proprietary file format that compresses files and lets you view them with the EFax viewer that you download upon signing up. If you pay $3 a month for EFax Plus, you can choose the area code of your EFax number, and also send faxes for an additional 5 cents per 30 seconds of transmission time. Like any good entrepreneur, Bieber is keeping an eye on emerging technologies, but for the time being Microsoft Fax gives her the capabilities she needs with minimal fuss and expense. In the end, that's what the best technologies are about.
Reprint from PC World Online
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