Configuring Your Fax Settings on your computer

In order to start faxing with Windows 2000, you first have to tweak your fax modem to get it properly set up. If you want to establish (or change) a setting for the fax modem, follow these steps:

1. Click the Start button and then choose Programs, Accessories, Communications, Fax, and Fax Service Management from the menus that pop up.

2. Click on Devices on the left side of the window. This brings up a list on the right-hand side of the window showing the fax device(s) attached to your computer.

3. Right-click the device you want to fix, and choose Properties from the menu that pops up.

4. On the General tab of the Properties page, check the Enable Receive box in the Receive section. This prepares your fax device to receive incoming faxes.

The only other setting you might want to change here is Rings Before Answer, which determines how many times the incoming phone line will ring before the fax device picks up the call. Use the little up and down arrows to put your favorite number in the box, or just type it in.

5. Click the Received Faxes tab to specify what happens to incoming faxes on your computer.

Basically, you can do one of three things with incoming faxes: print, save to a folder on your computer, or send to an e-mail box.

6. Click OK to return to the Fax Service Management screen and the hard part is all done.

7. Click the close box in the upper-right corner of the Fax Service Management window to make it go away.