Understanding Faxes

Windows Fax and Scan is a program that allows you to send and receive faxes, fax or e-mail scanned documents, and forward faxes as e-mail attachments from your computer. From Windows Fax and Scan, you can monitor the progress of incoming and outgoing fax activity.

Before you can use Windows Fax and Scan, you need a fax device for sending and receiving faxes. The fax device can be directly attached to your computer, known as a local fax, or located on a network, known as a fax server. Window Fax and Scan makes it easy to setup a fax device with the Fax Setup Wizard. You can only connect to one local fax, however you can connect to multiple fax servers or devices on a network. To start the Fax Setup Wizard and set up a fax, start Windows Fax and Scan, click Fax in the left pane, click the Tools menu, click Fax Accounts, click Add to start the Fax Setup Wizard. In the wizard, click Connect to a fax server on my network, and then follow the on-screen instructions.

Once your fax is installed, you can use Windows Fax and Scan to send and receive faxes, manage incoming and outgoing faxes, and change fax device properties. You can also send faxes from a folder window or the Print dialog box in a program. When you print using a fax printer, Windows Fax and Scan starts and opens the New Fax window, where you can send a fax just like you send an e-mail message.

With the Fax Cover Page Editor, you can create and edit cover pages to use when you send a fax. The Fax Cover Page Editor is a full page editor that makes it easy to insert common fax page items, such as recipient, subject, number of pages, and message, and to format the page to create a professional look. You can also customize a few samples that come with the program.