Faxing and XP

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This morning one of my coworkers, who just got a new XP machine, said he was fooling around and somehow got something asking him if he wanted to set up faxing on his computer, he said he did not know he could fax right from his machine.

I told him that most new computers come standard with a fax modem and XP (most versions of 9x also)comes with fax software, though it is not typically installed with the default installation.

He then asked how would he do this as he has his ISP through the cable company. I informed him that he would have to hook up to his fax modem with a telephone connection and it would not interfere with his online access through the cable and that I do the same thing with my DSL connection with no problems.

If you have Windows XP and a computer with a fax modem you to can send and receive faxes right from your computer, without the need of a separate fax machine or special software.

Note: If you are on a dial up connection, you will have to disconnect your online service to send or receive a fax.

Here are some links, from Microsoft, to help you get faxing up and running with XP:

How to enable and configure the Fax service in Windows XP

How to Send a Fax in Windows XP

How to receive a fax in Windows XP

How to fax a scanned document or image in Windows XP

For even more information try the results of Google search: “Windows XP” “how to fax”

XP Command Prompt Shortcut

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I know I am a throwback, but even in these days of graphical everything, I still prefer to use the command line for some things such as utilities and older software. (Yes you can get older software to work in Win 9x and XP, with some fiddling around.)

To that end, I find it useful to have a shortcut readily available. The easy way to do this in XP is as follows:

Click Start, All Programs, Accessories, Right Click on Command Prompt (at least that is where I have usually found it) click Send To and then Desktop (Create Shortcut).

Now you have a shortcut to the command prompt easily available.

For even easier access, find the shortcut you created on the desktop and drag and drop to the Quick Launch Toolbar, provided of course that you use the toolbar.

Disabling the New Program Highlighting in XP

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I don’t know about you, but I find this “feature” in XP to be quite annoying.

I know I installed the new program, so why do I have to be told? This might be useful and less annoying if it only showed something I did not specifically install myself like malware, but I know of no way to set it up for that, if someone does let me know.

If you are like me and find this annoying follow the instructions below to turn it off:

  • Right-click the Start button and click “Properties” to open the “Taskbar and Start menu Properties” window.
  • Click the “Customize” button to open the “Customize Start Menu” window and then click the “Advanced” tab.
  • Remove the check in the check-box labelled “Highlight newly installed programs”.
  • Click “OK” to save the changes and exit the “Customize Start Menu” window.
  • Click “OK” again to exit the “Taskbar and Start menu Properties” window.

Of course this is reversible, should you ever want to return to having the balloon pop up and tell you just installed a program that you just installed and highlight it in the start menu.